Best & Worst Airlines in the US – 2025 Rankings by AirAdvisor
Discover the Best Airlines in America - 2025 Overall Rating by AirAdvisor. Explore the top 5 and #1 in the US, along with the worst-rated carriers.
With so many choices in the flight market today, choosing an airline can be tricky. Have you ever wondered which airline is actually the best in the US? What about the worst?
Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore. Our team has developed a comprehensive AirAdvisor Airline Score, allowing you to compare how every major airline in the US ranks against one another.
Our team of 5 people spent weeks compiling all the pertinent data and narrowed the results down to nine different judging categories, including things like reliability, comfort, safety, reviews, and price. Using the most up-to-date data available from 2023 and 2024, you’ll get the latest and best information for 2025.
The ranking is based on the following:
- Reliability - 8.7 million total flights and 818 million bags, 4.5 million of which were mishandled.
- Comfort, Family, and Pet Travel - 13 different airline policies from 10 airlines.
- Safety - review of 46 passenger aircraft accidents reported by IATA in 2024.
- Cost - analyzed billions in revenue from public financial reports.
- Customer reputation - More than one million total reviews.
- Airline Lounges - 66,465 passenger reviews.
- Professional Reviews - 30 different published awards for 2024.
In all, we took into account over 25 different individual components, so our data is extensive.
Now, let’s take a deep dive into the best and worst airlines in America:
Top 5 Airlines in the US
Delta Air Lines – The Best US Airline
Delta Air Lines can carry over 200 million passengers annually, so chances are, you’ve flown with them once or twice. Named for the delta between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, Delta Air Lines has been operating in the US since 1928. With all this history, it may not be all that surprising that Delta tops our list for the third year in a row.
With the number of passengers that fly with Delta every year, it’s a good thing that it scores highest in categories like comfort, both pet and family travel, and lounges. A word of caution, though: of the carriers we reviewed, Delta was the most expensive.
- Top 3 for flight reliability.
- Most comfortable airline in the US.
- Best choice if traveling as a family or with pets.
- The highest-ranking US airline on the 2024 list of the Top Airlines in the World.
- Average score: 8.33/10.
Alaska Airlines – The Runner Up
Alaska Airlines is another great choice for your next flight. Considered more of a mid-size airline compared to giants like United, American, and Delta, Alaska Airlines still jets over 40 million passengers annually to over 100 domestic destinations as well as cities in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada.
Alaska Airlines’ strength is consistency. While the carrier tops our safety category (spoiler – all but one airline got maximum points for safety) and is ideal for traveling as a family or with pets, Alaska scored better-than-average for all factors except comfort and price.
- Among the best US airlines for pet and family-friendly flights.
- Top 3 for professional awards.
- Second place based on customer reputation.
- Average score: 7.78/10.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines holds its own when it comes to the best airlines in the US. As the Aloha state’s longest-operating and largest airline, Hawaiian flies up to 10 million passengers per year, significantly less than Delta.
What they lack in volume, Hawaiian Airlines makes up for in consistency. Their AirAdvisor Airline Score is average or better in every category except professional awards. Hawaiian scored in the top 3 for customer reputation and had the best reliability record of any airline.
- The most reliable US airline for 2025.
- Among the best airlines for travel as a family.
- Average score: 7.56/10.
United Airlines
United Airlines earned a very respectable fourth spot on our list. As a solid performer in most categories, United is great if you’re planning some upcoming travel with kids.
It’s the second-place finisher for professional awards, most notably taking third place in the award for the Best Airlines in North America.
United Airlines accommodates over 160 million passengers, making it among the largest airlines in the country. In all, United is a good choice for your next flight.
- One of the best US airlines for family travel.
- Top 3 for comfort.
- Second-best for professional awards.
- Average score: 6.78/10.
American Airlines
When an airline is consistently the largest carrier of passengers in the US, its results can go either way. More flights and more customers mean more opportunities for slip-ups, but American Airlines remains a dependable choice despite this.
American Airlines’ seat capacity exceeds 275 million annually, and is another good option if you’re traveling with your family. The airline also scores well for comfort on the planes and in the Admirals Club airport lounges.
- Runner-up for the best lounges.
- Top points for traveling with kids.
- Fourth-most comfortable US airline.
- Average score: 6.67/10.
Any airline can encounter an unexpected delay that affects their reliability score, so if you’ve had a delay of 3 hours or more, check your compensation entitlement now.Check Your Flight
The 3 Worst US Airlines
Frontier Airlines – The Worst Airline in the US
Someone has to be the worst, right? Well, in our case, it’s the no-frills carrier Frontier Airlines. Unsurprisingly, many of the airlines’ scores are ultra-low.
The one area Frontier can be proud of is that it is the cheapest option overall. That’s definitely something important for anyone with a modest travel budget (more on this later).
- Cheapest airline in the US.
- Worst for comfort.
- Worst for customer reputation.
- Worst for professional awards.
- Second-least reliable airline.
- Average score: 4.17/10.
Spirit Airlines
In 2024, Spirit Airlines had the capacity to carry just over 55 million passengers, and as we get down in the rankings, it’s harder to find positives.
The main thing that will delight frequent flyers is that Spirit is the second-cheapest airline in the US, so budget-conscious travelers may be able to overlook its low scores for things like comfort and reliability.
- The second most affordable US airline.
- Top points for no recent accidents.
- Average score: 4.28/10.
Allegiant Air – Tied with Spirit
Routinely flying around 15 million annual passengers, Allegiant Air is tied with Spirit for the honor of the second-worst US airline.
The positives with Allegiant are its perfect safety record and lower-than-average costs. But according to our research, that’s about it.
- Worst US airline for passenger comfort.
- Accident-free in 2024.
- Average score 4.28/10
It’s good to know what to expect when it comes to the worst US airlines, but it’s also useful to be aware of the worst airports, so check out our post on the Worst 6 Airports in the U.S. Based on Chronically Delayed Flights.
Have you had a terrible travel experience with an airline you would consider the worst? Check if your delay or other interruption qualifies for reimbursement.Check Your Flight
Comparison 2024 vs 2025
After reviewing all the numbers, we found that the order of the top 10 US airlines hardly changed from 2024 to 2025. In fact, the only change was an increase of one position by Allegiant to tie with Spirit Airlines for eighth place.
Airline | 2024 Ranking | 2025 Ranking | Position Change |
Delta Airlines | 1 | 1 | None |
Alaska Airlines | 2 | 2 | None |
Hawaiian Airlines | 3 | 3 | None |
United Airlines | 4 | 4 | None |
American Airlines | 5 | 5 | None |
JetBlue Airways | 6 | 6 | None |
Southwest Airlines | 7 | 7 | None |
Spirit Airlines | 8 | 8 | None |
Allegiant Air | 9 | 8 | +1 |
Frontier Airlines | 10 | 10 | None |
Best Airlines for Overseas Travel from the US
While all of the airlines we reviewed offer domestic flights, not all fly overseas, even if they do offer limited international flights.
Of the airlines that fly overseas, Delta, United, and American are the best. They have high scores for comfort, which we all know is super important when you’re spending more than five hours cooped up on a plane.
When you travel with either Delta, United, or American, you can expect more comfortable seats, in-flight entertainment, and complimentary refreshments. Additionally, these airlines are average or better for reliability, which is essential as these international flights often involve connections.
Most Reliable US Airline with the Lowest Disruption Rate
When we thought about the most reliable airlines in the US, we didn’t only want to look at delayed and canceled flights. Although those are important components for this category, we also wanted to review the occurrences of denied boarding and mishandled luggage – two things that will severely impact your trip. That’s how we came up with our disruption rate score.
Hawaiian scores highest for reliability when we look at all the factors together. Southwest takes the second spot overall, and Delta rounds out the top three.
One thing to note is that this category changed considerably from 2024 to 2025 when Delta was in the top spot, followed by Alaska Airlines.
As for bags, although Allegiant scores low on our overall list, this airline was the best in 2023 and 2024 for mishandled luggage. Only about 0.2% of checked bags didn’t make it to their destination on time and intact.
In 2024, Hawaiian Airlines had the highest percentage of on-time flights (86.54%), whereas Southwest had the lowest rate of canceled flights (0.68%).
It’s never fun when you’re denied boarding when you just want to get to your vacation destination or return home. The best airlines to fly to minimize the risk of denied boarding are Allegiant and Hawaiian.
Reliability is important, but even the highest-ranking carriers still have delays sometimes. Keep in mind that when you experience a delay of 3 hours or more, you may be entitled to claim flight delay compensation.
Most Comfortable Airline for the Best In-flight Experience
No one likes to be stuck on a plane for any amount of time, and unless you’re flying premium or first-class, it’s usually a means to an end. But if you want to maximize your comfort in the skies, Delta Air Lines is your best option.
If in-flight experience ranks high on your list, Delta offers Wi-Fi, comfort items like pillows and blankets, free snacks and drinks, and the all-important entertainment system.
Honorable mention in this category has to go to JetBlue because they have the largest overall seats of any US airline. The only reason they don’t score as well as Delta is that you have to pay if you want any comfort items.
Safest Airlines in America
Before we get too far into this category, we want to stress that every US airline on our list is safe. We looked at whether or not there were any incidents in 2024, and while there were some, none resulted in any fatalities.
In 2024, only one airline had accidents, and that was United, according to IATA. There were two separate incidents, one involving a runway excursion and the other due to abnormal runway contact when the plane was landing. Although the damage was substantial, no fatalities occurred.
The other nine airlines that had zero safety incidents in 2024 can all be considered the safest airlines in the US.
Whether your flight is delayed due to a safety incident or other preventable issue, you may be able to claim up to $650 in compensation.Check Your Flight
Top 5 Airlines by Customer Reputation Score
One of the best indicators of the experience you’re going to have with an airline is peer reviews. The only thing to note here is that, generally speaking, more customers write reviews to criticize than to praise, so even the top scores aren’t that high. In this category, we see a few new top performers.
Based on non-professional reviews from nine different sources, Southwest Airlines takes the top prize. While it may not seem like much, their overall average of 2.81 out of 5 is the highest, followed closely by Alaska Airlines at 2.8.
To complete the top 5 airlines in the US for customer reputation, Hawaiian is in the third spot, scoring 2.77 (up from 2.67 in 2024). Then, it’s JetBlue with 2.73 and Delta with 2.69.
Cheapest Airlines in the US – Best Budget Carriers
Many factors go into determining the best budget carriers in the US, but based solely on price per available seat, the cheapest US airline is Frontier. Spirit and Hawaiian also offer good deals on flights and are number two and three, respectively.
A better indicator of the best budget airlines in America is their overall position on our list. Of the low-cost carriers we looked at, JetBlue appears in the highest position and, therefore, represents the best value due to its combination of the other factors and price.
Most Expensive Airline in the US
It may not come as a huge shock that our overall winner is also the most expensive in the USA. Delta Air Lines ranks the worst in price based on revenue per passenger mile in 2023 and 2024.
At least if you’re going to have to pay more for a Delta flight, you can expect it to be comfortable and mostly on time!
Another noteworthy finding in the price category is that of the US airlines considered low-cost carriers, Southwest is actually the most expensive. It’s the fourth-most-expensive overall on our list of the cheapest airlines in the US.
Best Airlines for Family Travel
About one in four US families plans a trip annually, and many of those involve flights. It’s important to know which airlines are family-friendly before booking anything.
Using factors like whether or not the airline has a family seating policy, free seat selection for children under a certain age, in-flight entertainment, and free stroller check-in, we found that the best family-friendly US airline is a six-way tie. The tie at the top is between:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- JetBlue Airways
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
If you’re planning a family vacation anytime soon, you can’t really go wrong with these joint winners.
Best 5 Airlines for Lounge Reviews
Another important component for some travelers, especially those who take to the skies often, is the availability and quality of an airline lounge.
This is a category where budget airlines don’t really stand a chance since they don’t normally offer a perk like branded lounges. That said, here’s how the top 5 airlines in the US stack up when it comes to airport lounges:
Airline | Lounge Name | Average Score (out of 5) | Number of Reviews |
Delta Airlines | Delta Sky Club | 4.33 | 20,428 |
American Airlines | Admirals Club | 4.14 | 15,896 |
United Airlines | United Club | 3.96 | 21,736 |
Alaska Airlines | Alaska Lounge | 3.9 | 6,167 |
Hawaiian Airlines | Premier Club | 3.28 | 2,238 |
As you can see, Delta is on top of this one as well, with a very positive review score based on over 20,000 customer reviews. If lounges are important to you, once again, Delta is a great choice.
The Most Pet-Friendly Airlines
Anyone who has ever flown with a pet knows how challenging it can be. So, if you’re planning on traveling with your furry friend, the good news is that every one of the top 10 airlines in the US that we reviewed permits pets as carry-on. There are size and other requirements, but if you’re traveling with a cat or small dog, they can fly with you and not in the cargo hold.
This is another category where we have a tie, this time between Delta and Alaska Airlines. These rank highest because they allow pets as carry-on, also allow them in the cargo or luggage hold, and you can even take your pet with you into their lounges. With these airlines, it might almost be fun to travel with your pet. Almost.
If you want more information on the best pet-friendly airlines in the US, we have an in-depth post on that.
If you’ve traveled with your pet and had your flight unexpectedly canceled, you may be able to claim compensation from the airline.Check Your Flight
AirAdvisor Airline Rating: Carriers Ranked
| Ranking | Airline | Consolidated score | Most Reliable | Most Comfortable | Safest Airline | Cheapest Airline | Customer reputation score | Air Lounges reviews | Professional reviews | Family | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Place | Delta Air Lines |  8.33 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 2nd Place | Alaska Airlines | 7.78 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| 3rd Place | Hawaiian Airlines | 7.56 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 7 |
| 4th Place | United Airlines | 6.78 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 |
| 5th Place | American Airlines | 6.67 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 7 |
| 6th Place | JetBlue Airways | 6.56 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 3 |
| 7th Place | Southwest Airlines | 6.17 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 4 | 8 | 3 |
| 8th Place | Allegiant Air | 4.28 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 2.5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 9th Place | Spirit Airlines | 4.28 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 10th Place | Frontier Airlines | 4.17 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 2.5 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
Criteria and Methodology
We looked at nine different categories to come up with our overall score. Are you curious about how we did it? Here’s a summary of each component and the factors we reviewed to get the most accurate and up-to-date result possible:
- Reliability
Using published data from the US Department of Transportation, we reviewed stats from all of 2023 and 2024. For each airline, we calculated the on-time, delayed, canceled, and diverted flight percentages. We also looked at the percentages of mishandled bags and passengers who were denied boarding to truly get the full reliability picture. - Comfort
For the airlines’ comfort score, the data was binary, as in the airline either offered the service or they didn’t. The factors that went into the overall comfort score were seat comfort, Wi-Fi availability, access to comfort items, in-flight entertainment systems, and complimentary snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic). - Safety
This is another category that was pretty cut and dry. The airline either had a safety incident in 2024, according to IATA, or it didn’t. The airline with the highest number of accidents was ranked last, and all the airlines that were accident-free ranked the highest. - Price
Using information from the airlines’ public data, we calculated the passenger revenue per available seat mile in 2023 and 2024. This is simply each airline’s reported passenger revenue divided by the available seat miles for the year. - Customer Reputation
Nine was our magic number, and we looked at nine different review sites for the airlines. These included TripAdvisor, Kayak, Consumer Affairs, Better Business Bureau, Yelp, TrustPilot, Airlinequality.com, and Influenster.com. We also consolidated all the Google reviews available. In all, we looked at 1,015,622 reviews to get the overall score. - Airline Lounges
This is another straightforward one. We looked at whether or not the airline had a branded lounge and then the average customer review score for that same airport lounge. - Professional Reviews
The professional awards component was calculated based on various published top lists for the airline industry. We looked at everything from the Best Airlines in North America in 2024 to the Best Airline Staff in 2024, and in the end, we focused our ranking on where the airlines landed on the World's Top 100 Airlines in 2024 list and then the Best Low-Cost Airlines in North America 2024 rating. Because we have to give the budget airlines a fighting chance, right? - Family Travel
Like the comfort category, family travel is based on binary responses. It was either a yes or no as to whether the airline offers a family seating policy, free stroller check-in, a kids' meal (on request), an entertainment system, and free seat selection for minors. - Traveling with Pets
The factors we looked at here are whether you can take your pet into the cabin and airport lounge with you, and whether the airline permits pets in the cargo hold.
Note: Of the 10 airlines we reviewed, JetBlue and Southwest were the only US airlines not to qualify as the best or worst airlines.
Conclusion
It’s a good thing that after all our hard work crunching numbers, reviews, and features, we came up with this comprehensive list of the top 5 airlines in the US paired with the worst 3. Now, as a passenger, you can make educated flight purchase decisions.
Only you know what’s important to you in air travel, so while Delta is the outright leader, if you value things like price, family travel, or customer reputation, there may be better options available. And don’t forget that honorable mention goes to budget carrier JetBlue due to high comfort scores, and that Southwest Airlines is ranked highest in customer reviews. Happy booking!
FAQs
What is the best airline to fly?
Delta Air Lines tops the AirAdvisor Airline Score list and is officially named the best for 2025. Generally, when you fly with Delta, you can expect a high level of service, a comfortable journey, and on-time arrivals. Plus, this popular airline is ideal if you’re traveling as a family or with pets.
Which airline has the best first-class cabin and perks?
For domestic or international flights, you can’t go wrong with American Airlines aboard one of their A321 planes. The Flagship First Class Section offers lie-flat seats in a one-seat-per-row on each side of the aisle configuration, as well as chef-curated in-flight refreshments. As for which airline has the best business class in the US, that honor goes to JetBlue’s Mint category for its roomy seats, privacy screens, multiple plug sockets, and tapas-style dining.
Is Delta the best airline?
Yes. According to our extensive research across nine different categories, Delta is, in fact, the best US airline. And why is Delta the best airline? It excels at things like reliability, comfort, and both customer reviews and professional awards.
Which airline has the best premium economy?
Of the airlines in the US with this feature, Delta ranks highest for premium economy, according to Skytrax. In fact, Delta is number seven in the world in this category. This is in line with AirAdvisor’s Airline Score as well, where Delta ranks highest in the US for comfort. As for which airline has the best economy seats, JetBlue is the winner with the most passenger room.
What is the best airline to fly internationally?
When flying overseas, passengers want as much space as possible, on-time arrivals, and something to do while on board. According to our extensive research, the best international airlines are Delta, American, and United. They all offer complimentary refreshments, in-flight entertainment, good reliability, and a more comfortable experience overall.
What are the best airlines in the United States?
Using the comprehensive AirAdvisor Airline Score, the top 3 airlines in the US are Delta Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines (in that order). They all have top-notch reliability and in-flight comfort, are family and pet-friendly, and are generally well-reviewed by professionals and customers.
Is Southwest Airlines safe in 2025?
Yes. Looking at available IATA data from 2024, Southwest did not have any safety incidents of note. Also, according to Airlineratings.com, Southwest has a 7 out of 7 safety score currently, and it doesn’t get any better than that.
What airlines are good to travel on?
Although not overall winners based on our AirAdvisor Airline Score, some good airlines to travel on include JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest, and American Airlines. They are all solidly in the middle of the pack and represent a good balance of all the factors included in our study.
About AirAdvisor
AirAdvisor is an airline compensation company with deep expertise in consumer advocacy for air passengers. We fight for air passenger rights in cases of flight disruptions all over the world, and our mission is to ensure that air passengers are fairly compensated for the inconvenience and frustration caused by delays, cancellations, overbooking and baggage problems.
Why should airlines deny compensation to passengers for flight disruptions, when the average pay of an airline’s CEO is almost $288 million? We work to defend your rights because travel should be comfortable, and everyone should be treated fairly.
That’s why we simplified the process of getting flight compensation from airlines for those who lack the time, energy, or resources to do so themselves. With legal partners in countries around the world, we enforce our clients’ flight claims in courts and advocate for their passenger rights before civil aviation authorities. To further our vision, our team of experts lobbies for improved airline regulations that will protect air passengers worldwide.
Author:
Amy Lancelotte
Job/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.
