Most Reliable Airlines in the US - Top Carrier Rankings 2026 by AirAdvisor
Discover the most reliable airlines in America for 2026 in this overall rating by AirAdvisor. Explore the top airlines for flight and baggage reliability.
Reliability is one of the most crucial factors when choosing an airline. We analyzed data for 2024 and 2025 to settle once and for all which US airline is the most reliable for flights and bags.
We reviewed over 8.8 million flights and 770 million checked bags from 9 US airlines, evaluating the following:
- Delayed, canceled, and diverted flight rates
- Denied boarding rates
- Mishandled baggage rates
And we found that:
- Over 300,000 passengers were denied boarding
- 4 million bags were mishandled
- 1.8 million flights were delayed (21%)
- 103,446 flights were canceled (1.2%)
After our team of 5 skilled researchers compiled and reviewed the data over many weeks, we can finally tell you the 3 most reliable airlines in the USA and how the other major US carriers stack up.
Top 3 Most Reliable Airlines in the US
#1 Hawaiian Airlines - The USA's Most Reliable Airline
If you're looking for the most reliable airline in 2026, that title is awarded to Hawaiian Airlines for the second year in a row.
So, it's good news if your next flight is with Hawaiian. The chances are high that both you and your bags will arrive as scheduled.
- On-time flights 2025: 81.95% (best)
- Canceled flights 2025: 0.82%
- Passengers denied boarding 2025: 0.0004%
- Bag mishandling rate 2025: 0.54%
#2 Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is the second-most reliable airline for the second year in a row. Southwest's 2025 denied boarding rate was the best of the bunch, and the airline also scores well for on-time flights.
- On-time flights 2025: 80.92%
- Canceled flights 2025: 0.85%
- Passengers denied boarding 2025: 0.0001% (best)
- Bag mishandling rate 2025: 0.38%
#3 Allegiant Air
First, the good news: Allegiant Air tops 2 out of 4 reliability categories - cancellations and bag mishandling. The bad news, though, is that Allegiant has a below-average on-time flight rate.
Overall, the news is positive for Allegiant this year. Compared with the 2025 rankings, this discount carrier moved up 4 places from 7th.
- On-time flights 2025: 74.46%
- Canceled flights 2025: 0.47% (best)
- Passengers denied boarding 2025: 0.039%
- Bag mishandling rate 2025: 0.09% (best)
Have you been denied boarding due to overbooking by any of the top US airlines?If so, check out what compensation you may be owed now.Check compensation
The Other US Airlines - Spots 4 through 9
#4 United Airlines
Choosing United Airlines is a real mixed bag. When you want to avoid flight cancellations, it's a solid choice. On the other hand, you really don't want to trust United with your checked luggage. The airline had the highest baggage mishandling rate in 2025, tied with American Airlines.
- On-time flights 2025: 77.65%
- Canceled flights 2025: 0.82%
- Passengers denied boarding 2025: 0.0002%
- Bag mishandling rate 2025: 0.7% (worst)
#5 Alaska Airlines (tied with Delta)
Alaska Airlines' spot in 5th place makes sense - basically all of the carrier's scores are average. So, you can do better, but you can also do worse.
- On-time flights 2025: 75.75%
- Canceled flights 2025: 1.21%
- Passengers denied boarding 2025: 0.0006%
- Bag mishandling rate 2025: 0.5%
#5 Delta Air Lines (tied with Alaska)
The previous reliability winner from 2023 and 2024 is on the decline. In 2025, Delta was in third place, and now it's 5th. Although tied with Alaska Airlines, Delta scores better for flight reliability in 2025 with a better on-time rate and lower cancellation rate.
- On-time flights 2025: 79.12%
- Canceled flights 2025: 1.08%
- Passengers denied boarding 2025: 0.045% (worst)
- Bag mishandling rate 2025: 0.45%
#7 JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is another US airline on the rise for reliability. On our 2025 list, JetBlue was the worst overall, so moving up to the 7th spot shows good progress. Although most of JetBlue's scores for 2024 and 2025 are average or worse, in 2025 this airline had the second-best bag mishandling rate, so if you're planning to check a bag, only Allegiant is better.
- On-time flights 2025: 72.3%
- Canceled flights 2025: 1.65%
- Passengers denied boarding 2025: 0.0006%
- Bag mishandling rate 2025: 0.31%
#8 Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines actually had the lowest on-time flight rate of any major US airline in 2025. The airline's other scores are also below average, so the 8th place finish isn't all that surprising. One positive trend to mention is Frontier's cancellation rate - in 2024 it was 2.39%, and in 2025 it decreased to 1.77%.
- On-time flights 2025: 70.68% (worst)
- Canceled flights 2025: 1.77%
- Passengers denied boarding 2025: 0.0389%
- Bag mishandling rate 2025: 0.41%
#9 American Airlines - Worst US Airline for Reliability
At the bottom of our list, we find American Airlines, which isn't exactly where you want to see the country's airline with the most seat capacity. The decline has been steep with American. In both 2024 and 2025, it ranked 6th overall.
With the worst cancellation rate in the group, you may want to have a contingency plan next time you book with American. Plus, keep up to date with your flight cancellation rights to make sure you don't miss out.
- On-time flights 2025: 72.70%
- Canceled flights 2025: 1.82% (worst)
- Passengers denied boarding 2025: 0.03%
- Bag mishandling rate 2025: 0.7% (worst, tied with United)
When passengers have their flight canceled by the airline, they often have rights in the form of refunds or compensationCheck your eligibility with AirAdvisor today.Check my eligibility
Changes in Rankings 2025 vs. 2026
Sometimes it's fun to see whether your favorite airlines are improving (or getting worse) over time. This year, with the closing of Spirit Airlines, we're ranking out of 9 instead of 10, but it's still interesting to see who has improved and who hasn't.
To summarize: Allegiant had the biggest gain and American Airlines had the biggest fall.
Airline | Ranking 2025 | Ranking 2026 | Change in position |
Hawaiian Airlines | 1 | 1 | None |
Southwest Airlines | 2 | 2 | None |
Delta Air Lines | 3 | 5 | -2 |
Alaska Airlines | 4 | 5 | -1 |
United Airlines | 5 | 4 | +1 |
American Airlines | 6 | 9 | -3 |
Allegiant Air | 7 | 3 | +4 |
Frontier Airlines | 9 | 8 | +1 |
JetBlue Airways | 10 | 7 | +3 |
AirAdvisor US Airline Reliability Rating - Top Carriers Ranked
Below is the complete side-by-side comparison of the 9 major US airlines ranked by our 2026 reliability score.
Airline | Rank 2026 | On-time flights | Cancellations | Denied boarding | Mishandled bags |
Hawaiian Airlines | 1 | 81.95% | 0.82% | 0.0004% | 0.54% |
Southwest Airlines | 2 | 80.92% | 0.85% | 0.0001% | 0.38% |
Allegiant Air | 3 | 74.46% | 0.47% | 0.039% | 0.09% |
United Airlines | 4 | 77.65% | 0.82% | 0.0002% | 0.7% |
Alaska Airlines | 5 | 75.75% | 1.21% | 0.0006% | 0.5% |
Delta Air Lines | 5 | 79.12% | 1.08% | 0.045% | 0.45% |
JetBlue Airways | 7 | 72.3% | 1.65% | 0.0006% | 0.31% |
Frontier Airlines | 8 | 70.68% | 1.77% | 0.0389% | 0.41% |
American Airlines | 9 | 72.70% | 1.82% | 0.03% | 0.7% |
Criteria and Methodology
To get the most comprehensive result, we knew that it was not only important to look at flights but also at the instances of mishandled baggage and denied boarding as well. Since each airline handles different amounts of baggage and passengers and offers varying numbers of flights, each of our categories was taken as a percentage.
All our data was taken directly from the US Department of Transportation, and we focused on the whole of 2024 and 2025, though mostly 2025 results are presented in the ranking above.
Here's what went into each calculation based on 8,823,791 flights and 772,150,028 bags:
- Delayed percentage: The number of delayed flights out of the total flights offered by the airline.
- Canceled percentage: The number of canceled flights divided by the total number of flights.
- Diverted percentage: Total instances of diverted flights as a percentage of the airline's total flights.
- Bags mishandled percentage: The total number of bags reported as mishandled divided by the total number of bags enplaned (put onto the aircraft).
- Denied boarding percentage: The number of passengers who were denied boarding as a percentage of total flights.
The results were assigned points from 1 (worst) to 9 (best). Points for both years were added together to get the final ranking.
Highlights of the Most Reliable US Airlines Rankings 2026
Category | Best | Worst |
Delayed flights | Hawaiian Airlines | Frontier Airlines |
Canceled flights | Allegiant Air | American Airlines |
Diverted flights | Hawaiian Airlines | JetBlue Airways |
Denied boarding | Southwest Airlines | Delta Air Lines |
Mishandled bags | Allegiant Air | American Airlines & United Airlines |
If you're curious about how these same airlines are rated for other categories, like comfort, price, customer reviews, and family travel, check out our post on the Top 9 Airlines in the US for 2026.
Allegiant is the best at handling your precious baggage. Hawaiian Airlines has the overall lowest percentage of diverted flights and excels at getting you to your destination on time. And if you're worried about canceled flights, Allegiant should be your top choice, and American Airlines should be avoided.
Now you'll know exactly what to expect the next time you board a flight using one of these US airlines, and if you run into trouble, AirAdvisor can help you claim compensation for certain delayed flights or even get a refund if your flight is canceled.
Just because an airline is reliable doesn’t mean you’ll never experience a delayIf you get delayed for 3 hours or more, even flying with the most reliable airlines in the US, compensation may be possible.Check my flight
FAQ
How do you determine airline reliability rankings?
The data involved in the AirAdvisor Reliability Score is comprehensive and includes over 8 million flights. We reviewed delayed, canceled, and diverted flights to get each US airline's percentage of total flights in each category. We also used the occurrences of mishandled baggage and denied boarding as a percentage of total bags or flights. The result is an overall score that takes into account every factor related to reliability.
What is the most reliable airline in the US?
For 2026, Hawaiian Airlines is the most reliable US airline for the second consecutive year, thanks to the best on-time performance and the lowest diverted flight rate. Southwest Airlines and Allegiant Air round out the top three.
Why do some US airports have more delays than others?
Large hub airports often experience more congestion, which can lead to delays. Weather, runway capacity, and air traffic volume also play significant roles in airport reliability.
Should I avoid the last flight of the day?
If possible, yes. When the final flight is canceled, there may not be another departure until the following day. Earlier flights often offer more rebooking options if something goes wrong.
Are budget airlines less reliable?
No, not necessarily. Based on our study, both Southwest and Allegiant are in the top 3 for reliability. On the flip side, American Airlines, which is definitely not a budget carrier, is the worst overall.
Author:
Amy LancelotteJob/Position: Senior Writer & Content Creator
Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with more than seven years of experience producing research-driven articles for global audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.
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