Check Compensation

Top 10 Airlines in the US - Overall Best Rating for 2024 by AirAdvisor

Our team of 5 people spent weeks compiling all the pertinent data and narrowed the results down to 9 different judging categories, including things like reliability, comfort, safety, reviews, and price.

We used the most up-to-date data available from 2022 and 2023, so you know you’re getting the latest and best information for 2024.

The ranking is based on the following:

  • Reliability - 8.4 million total flights and 792 million bags, 4.7 million of which were mishandled.
  • Comfort, Family, and Pet Travel - 13 different airline policies from 10 airlines.
  • Safety - review of 72 passenger aircraft accidents reported by IATA from 2022 to 2023.
  • Cost - analyzed billions in revenue from public financial reports.
  • Customer reputation - 892,726 total reviews.
  • Airline Lounges - 60,612 passenger reviews.
  • Professional Reviews - 17 different published rankings for 2023.

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 airlines in America:

Top 5 Airlines in the US

1
Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines - Number 1 Airline in the US

Delta Airlines has the capacity to 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 Airlines 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 second 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 and reliability - two of the most important factors in most travelers’ opinions. Overall, Delta scores 68 out of a maximum of 90 points.

7.55
2
Alaska Airlines ranks second using the AirAdvisor Airline Score

Alaska Airlines - Number 2 Airline in the US

With 64 total points, 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 more than 100 domestic destinations as well as cities in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada.

Alaska Airlines’ strengths include the top spot in the customer reputation category and the airline gets high marks in reliability and both pet and family travel.

7.11
3
Hawaiian Airlines - third-best airline in the US

Hawaiian Airlines - Number 3 Airline in the US

Earning 63 points in total, Hawaiian Airlines really 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. What they lack in volume, Hawaiian Airlines makes up for in consistency.

7.00
4
United Airlines is among the top US airlines

United Airlines - Number 4 Airline in the US

United Airlines earned a very respectable fourth spot on our list. The carrier is a solid performer in most categories and tops the group for professional reviews it is the runner-up for lounge reviews. It’s also highly recommended for travel as a family and is better than average for reliability.

At its peak in 2019, United Airlines accommodated over 160 million passengers, making it the fourth-largest airline in the country. In all, with a score of 60 points, United is a good choice for your next flight.

6.67
5
American Airlines’ planes at Chicago O’Hare Airport

American Airlines - Number 5 Airline in the US

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 transports between 200 and 215 million travelers annually and is another good option if you’re traveling with your family. The airline also scores high for comfort on the planes and in their airport lounges. As a result, in 2024, American Airlines received 53 total points to land them in our fifth spot overall.

5.88

Top 5 Airlines in the US

1
7.55
Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines - Number 1 Airline in the US

Delta Airlines has the capacity to 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 Airlines 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 second 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 and reliability - two of the most important factors in most travelers’ opinions. Overall, Delta scores 68 out of a maximum of 90 points.

2
7.11
Alaska Airlines ranks second using the AirAdvisor Airline Score

Alaska Airlines - Number 2 Airline in the US

With 64 total points, 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 more than 100 domestic destinations as well as cities in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada.

Alaska Airlines’ strengths include the top spot in the customer reputation category and the airline gets high marks in reliability and both pet and family travel.

3
7.00
Hawaiian Airlines - third-best airline in the US

Hawaiian Airlines - Number 3 Airline in the US

Earning 63 points in total, Hawaiian Airlines really 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 has them average or better in most categories with a particularly good score for reliability, customer reputation, and price.

4
6.67
United Airlines is among the top US airlines

United Airlines - Number 4 Airline in the US

United Airlines earned a very respectable fourth spot on our list. The carrier is a solid performer in most categories and tops the group for professional reviews it is the runner-up for lounge reviews. It’s also highly recommended for travel as a family and is better than average for reliability.

At its peak in 2019, United Airlines accommodated over 160 million passengers, making it the fourth-largest airline in the country. In all, with a score of 60 points, United is a good choice for your next flight.

5
5.88
American Airlines’ planes at Chicago O’Hare Airport

American Airlines - Number 5 Airline in the US

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 transports between 200 and 215 million travelers annually and is another good option if you’re traveling with your family. The airline also scores high for comfort on the planes and in their airport lounges. As a result, in 2024, American Airlines received 53 total points to land them in our fifth spot overall.

Be among the thousands of AirAdvisor satisfied customers and contact us to start your claim today for disruptions due to delays or cancellations.


Check Compensation

Next 5 Best-rated USA Airlines

Since a list of the top 5 airlines in the US feels incomplete, here are the others that round out the top 10. Wonder who scored the worst…
6
Jetblue Airways is the top budget carrier in the United States

JetBlue Airways - Number 6 Airline in the US

Resting right in the middle of the list, jetBlue is still a fairly good choice for your next vacation. As you might expect, most of JetBlue’s scores are average, but one area where it stands out is comfort - where it takes the second spot after Delta. JetBlue has an overall AirAdvisor Score of 51 and is the highest-ranking budget air carrier in the US.

The airline offers over 100 destinations focused on Canada, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and domestic US cities. In 2023, JetBlue welcomed nearly 40 million passengers who certainly found the airline comfortable (it has the largest seats of any US-based carrier), and it’s great for families, but it should be noted that JetBlue is the worst US airline for reliability.

5.66
7
Southwest Airlines is the seventh-best airline in the USA

Southwest Airlines - Number 7 Airline in the US

With a total score of 49.5, Southwest Airlines is technically classed as a budget carrier, so it’s not all that shocking that the low-cost US airlines are appearing more as we get down the list. The takeaway with Southwest is that it does very well in the customer reputation category, and if we were only looking at that, it would be in second place after Alaska Airlines.

With Southwest, you get more perks than you might otherwise receive from a typical low-cost airline. This includes things like in-flight entertainment, free refreshments, and complimentary checked bags, much to the delight of the over 130 million people who fly with them annually.

5.50
8
Spirit Airlines - not the worst airline in the US

Spirit Airlines - Number 8 Airline in the US

One of the best things we can say about Spirit Airlines is that it’s not technically the worst in the country. Its low AirAdvisor Airline Score of 34.5 doesn’t necessarily deter the over 44 million people who flew with Spirit in 2023. But, those passengers do have something to say about their experiences with the airline, and Spirit Airlines’ customer reputation score is second-to-last, slightly worse than its overall position.

One positive note is that Spirit Airlines offers some of the most affordable flight options, scoring second-best in the price category.

3.83
9
Allegiant Air is the second-worst US airline

Allegiant Air - Second-Worst Airline in the USA

Routinely flying around 15 million annual passengers, Allegiant Air takes our second-last spot, scoring 32.5 out of 90. The positives with Allegiant are its low price point on fares, an average customer reputation score, and its decent score for pet travel. But according to our research, that’s about it.

3.61
10
Frontier is tied for the worst airline in the USA

Frontier Airlines - Worst US Airline

Someone has to be the worst, right? Well, in our case it’s the no-frills carrier Frontier Airlines, which earned a dismal total score of 31.5. Unsurprisingly, many of the airlines’ scores are ultra-low. The one area Frontier can be proud of is that it offers the cheapest fares. That’s definitely something important for anyone with a modest travel budget (more on this later).

3.50

Next 5 Best-rated USA Airlines

Since a list of the top 5 airlines in the US feels incomplete, here are the others that round out the top 10. Wonder who scored the worst…
6
5.66
Jetblue Airways is the top budget carrier in the United States

JetBlue Airways - Number 6 Airline in the US

Resting right in the middle of the list, jetBlue is still a fairly good choice for your next vacation. As you might expect, most of JetBlue’s scores are average, but one area where it stands out is comfort - where it takes the second spot after Delta. JetBlue has an overall AirAdvisor Score of 51 and is the highest-ranking budget air carrier in the US.

The airline offers over 100 destinations focused on Canada, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and domestic US cities. In 2023, JetBlue welcomed nearly 40 million passengers who certainly found the airline comfortable (it has the largest seats of any US-based carrier), and it’s great for families, but it should be noted that JetBlue is the worst US airline for reliability.

7
5.50
Southwest Airlines is the seventh-best airline in the USA

Southwest Airlines - Number 7 Airline in the US

With a total score of 49.5, Southwest Airlines is technically classed as a budget carrier, so it’s not all that shocking that the low-cost US airlines are appearing more as we get down the list. The takeaway with Southwest is that it does very well in the customer reputation category, and if we were only looking at that, it would be in second place after Alaska Airlines.

With Southwest, you get more perks than you might otherwise receive from a typical low-cost airline. This includes things like in-flight entertainment, free refreshments, and complimentary checked bags, much to the delight of the over 130 million people who fly with them annually.

8
3.83
Spirit Airlines - not the worst airline in the US

Spirit Airlines - Number 8 Airline in the US

One of the best things we can say about Spirit Airlines is that it’s not technically the worst in the country. Its low AirAdvisor Airline Score of 34.5 doesn’t necessarily deter the over 44 million people who flew with Spirit in 2023. But, those passengers do have something to say about their experiences with the airline, and Spirit Airlines’ customer reputation score is second-to-last, slightly worse than its overall position.

One positive note is that Spirit Airlines offers some of the most affordable flight options, scoring second-best in the price category.

9
3.61
Allegiant Air is the second-worst US airline

Allegiant Air - Second-Worst Airline in the USA

Routinely flying around 15 million annual passengers, Allegiant Air takes our second-last spot, scoring 32.5 out of 90. The positives with Allegiant are its low price point on fares, an average customer reputation score, and its decent score for pet travel. But according to our research, that’s about it.

10
3.50
Frontier is tied for the worst airline in the USA

Frontier Airlines - Worst US Airline

Someone has to be the worst, right? Well, in our case it’s the no-frills carrier Frontier Airlines, which earned a dismal total score of 31.5. Unsurprisingly, many of the airlines’ scores are ultra-low. The one area Frontier can be proud of is that it offers the cheapest fares. That’s definitely something important for anyone with a modest travel budget (more on this later).

As many as 84% of passengers don’t know their rights related to flight delay compensation. Don’t be one of them. Instead, contact AirAdvisor to start your claim today!


Check Compensation

Comparison 2023 vs 2024

After reviewing all the numbers, we found that the order of the top 10 US airlines did change slightly from 2023 to 2024. Here are the movers and shakers:

Airline

2023 Ranking

2024 Ranking

Position Change

Delta Airlines

1

1

None

Alaska Airlines

4

2

+2

Hawaiian Airlines

2

3

-1

United Airlines

3

4

-1

American Airlines

4

5

-1

JetBlue Airways

6

6

None

Southwest Airlines

6

7

-1

Spirit Airlines

9

8

+1

Allegiant Air

8

9

-1

Frontier Airlines

10

10

None

We saw the largest jump by Alaska Airlines, which moved from joint fourth place in 2023 to second place in 2024. Hawaiian, United, American, Southwest, and Allegiant all lost one spot each.

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 5 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 are the top 3 overseas airlines 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.

As our top overall airline, Delta scores highest for reliability when we look at all the factors together. Alaska Airlines takes the second spot overall, but what stands out is that Allegiant Air actually does better than Alaska and Delta for the sub-category of mishandled baggage. Alaska Airlines and Delta score higher overall because they also offer reliable flights, whereas Allegiant really doesn’t. In fact, the airline is consistently in the bottom half of the list for delayed, canceled, and diverted flights (except in 2023 when they placed second for a low percentage of canceled flights).

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.

Airlines with the lowest instances of mishandled luggage.

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 Airlines is your best option.

If in-flight experience ranks high on your list, Delta Airlines 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 because 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 2022 and/or 2023, and while there were some, none resulted in any fatalities.

Our research identified 3 incidents of note in 2022 that all involved a tail strike. For anyone unfamiliar with the term, a tail strike is when the plane’s tail makes contact with the runway during takeoff or landing. This happens more often during landing.

In 2023, the US-based airline accidents were more varied and ranged from issues with landing gear and turbulence to landing mishaps and abnormal runway contact.

The 5 airlines that had zero safety incidents during the time period we reviewed can all be considered the safest airlines in the US. These are (in alphabetical order):

  • Allegiant Air
  • American Airlines
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • Southwest Airlines
  • Spirit Airlines

In the interest of being thorough, that leaves us with Frontier, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines. The worst offenders for safety incidents in 2022 and 2023 were Delta and United with 3 separate incidents each, according to IATA. As a result, these 2 airlines received the lowest number of points in this category.

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 9 different sources, Alaska Airlines takes the top prize. While it may not seem like much, their overall average of 2.82 out of 5 is the highest, followed closely by Southwest Airlines at 2.8.

To complete the top 5 airlines in the US for customer reputation, Hawaiian is in the third spot, scoring 2.67. Delta Airlines lost its top position and instead scored an average of 2.67 to tie with Hawaiian. Lastly, JetBlue is still reviewed relatively well with a score of 2.62, not far behind our overall winner, Delta.

One interesting thing we noticed when comparing the reviews from 2022 to the reviews from 2023 is that every single airline’s overall rating decreased. It’s likely safe to conclude that passengers are less and less satisfied with the service and value they receive from USA-based airlines.

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. AirAdvisor has already helped over 450,000 clients get what they’re owed.


Check Compensation

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 2 and 3, 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 Airlines ranks the worst in price based on revenue per passenger miles in 2022 and 2023.

At least if you’re going to have to pay more for a Delta flight, you can expect it to be comfortable and on time!

Another noteworthy finding in the price category is that Southwest Airlines is actually the second-most expensive US airline even though it is billed as a low-cost carrier. With its relatively high revenue per passenger mile, you’d hope it would have a higher position - not 9th on our list of the cheapest airlines in the US.

Southwest Airlines is actually the second-most expensive US airline

Worst Airlines in America

It’s probably not a coincidence that the worst airlines in America are both discount airlines offering no-frills, budget-friendly flights. As a result, it’s hard for them to score high on elements like comfort and customer reviews, but in general, you can’t beat their prices.

When we look at all the criteria, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air (unfortunately) stand out as the worst. First, let’s look at what landed Frontier in the bottom spot:

  • They had a safety incident in 2022.
  • They scored the lowest overall in comfort and customer reputation.
  • Even the professionals don’t rate them highly - they have the second-worst professional review score.

Now, for Allegiant, this is why they are second-last in the rankings:

  • They were the lowest scorer for professional reviews.
  • Since Allegiant doesn’t offer lounges, they also scored the lowest in this category.
  • Allegiant is the second-least reliable airline after JetBlue.

With low scores in all these categories, it’s impossible to make up the difference, even if you’re the cheapest airline or good with bags.

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.

Best Airlines for Family Travel

According to the US Family Travel Summary done in 2023, up to 76% of parents are planning to travel internationally as a family in the next 2 years. This will more than likely involve at least one flight so choosing a family-friendly airline is ultra-important.

Using factors like whether or not the airline has a family seating policy, free seat selection for children under 13, in-flight entertainment, and free stroller check-in, we found that the best family-friendly US airline is actually a 6-way tie. The tie at the top is between:

  • Allegiant Air
  • American Airlines
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • Southwest Airlines
  • Spirit Airlines

If you’re planning a family vacation anytime soon, you can’t really go wrong with these 6 winners.

Best airlines in the US for family travel

Best 5 Airlines for Lounge Reviews

Another important component for travelers, especially ones who often take to the skies, is the availability and quality of an airline lounge. This is another 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

4.41

22,806

United Airlines

United Club

4.05

15,676

American Airlines

Admirals Club

4.04

14,254

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Lounge

4

5,807

Hawaiian Airlines

Premier Club

3.3

2,069

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 many airlines top the list. In fact, we have a 3-way tie. So, when it comes to booking a flight for you and your pet, the best airlines are ( in alphabetical order):

  • Alaska Airlines
  • Delta Airlines
  • Hawaiian Airlines

These rank highest because they allow pets as carry-on, also allow them in the cargo hold (with exceptions), 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 in the last 6 years and had your flight unexpectedly canceled, you may be able to claim compensation from the airline. Check our compensation calculator now!


Check Compensation

AirAdvisor Airline Rating: Carriers Ranked


Final RankingAirlineConsolidated scoreMost ReliableMost ComfortableSafest AirlineCheapest AirlineCustomer reputation scoreAir Lounges reviewsProfessional reviewsFamilyPets
1Delta Airline7.5510101171091010
2Alaska Airlines7.11843510771010
3Hawaiian Airlines7.009558864810
4United Airlines6.6778144910107
5American Airlines5.885753385107
6JetBlue Airways5.661936658103
7Southwest Airlines5.50665292.56103
8Spirit Airlines3.83335922.5343
9Allegiant Air3.61415752.5143
10Frontier Airlines3.502131012.5273

Criteria and Methodology

As we mentioned at the start, we looked at 9 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:


Using published data from the US Department of Transportation, we reviewed stats from all of 2022 and 2023. For each airline, we calculated the one-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.

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).

This is another category that was pretty cut and dry. The airline either had a safety incident in 2022 or 2023, 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.

Using information from the airlines’ public data, we calculated the passenger revenue per available seat miles in 2022 and 2023. This is simply each airline’s reported passenger revenue divided by their available seat miles for the year.

Nine was our magic number, and we looked at 9 different review sites for the airlines. These included TripAdvisor, Kayak, Consumer Affairs, Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Trust Pilot, Airlinequality.com, and Influenster.com. We also consolidated all the Google reviews available. In all, we looked at 892,726 reviews to get the overall score.

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.

The professional reviews 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 2023 to the Best Airline Staff in 2023, and in the end, we focused our ranking on where the airlines landed on the World’s Top 100 Airlines in 2023 list and then the Best Low-Cost Airlines in North America 2023 rating. Because we have to give the budget airlines a fighting chance, right?

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 children under 13.

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.

Using published data from the US Department of Transportation, we reviewed stats from all of 2022 and 2023. For each airline, we calculated the one-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.

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).

This is another category that was pretty cut and dry. The airline either had a safety incident in 2022 or 2023, 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.

Using information from the airlines’ public data, we calculated the passenger revenue per available seat miles in 2022 and 2023. This is simply each airline’s reported passenger revenue divided by their available seat miles for the year.

Nine was our magic number, and we looked at 9 different review sites for the airlines. These included TripAdvisor, Kayak, Consumer Affairs, Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Trust Pilot, Airlinequality.com, and Influenster.com. We also consolidated all the Google reviews available. In all, we looked at 892,726 reviews to get the overall score.

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.

The professional reviews 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 2023 to the Best Airline Staff in 2023, and in the end, we focused our ranking on where the airlines landed on the Worldʼs Top 100 Airlines in 2023 list and then the Best Low-Cost Airlines in North America 2023 rating. Because we have to give the budget airlines a fighting chance, right?

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 kidsʼ meal (on request), an entertainment system, and free seat selection for children under 13.

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.

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 10 airlines in the US that passengers can now use to guide their 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 for its high comfort scores and that Alaska Airlines is ranked highest in customer reviews. Happy booking!

 

FAQs

Delta Airlines tops the AirAdvisor Airline Score list and is the answer to the question of which airline was named the best for 2022 and 2023. 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.
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.
Yes. According to our extensive research across 9 different categories, Delta emerges as the best US airline. And why is Delta the best airline? It excels at things like reliability, comfort, and both customer and professional reviews.
Of the airlines in the US with this feature, Delta ranks highest for premium economy, according to Skytrax. In fact, Delta is number 5 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.
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, in terms of what is the best international airline, we found that Delta, American, and United are the leading carriers. They all offer complimentary refreshments, in-flight entertainment, good reliability, and a more comfortable experience overall.
Using the comprehensive AirAdvisor Airline Score, the top 3 airlines in the US are Delta Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and United 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.
Yes. Looking at available IATA data from 2022 and 2023, 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.
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 decent choice for your next flight.
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. Our mission is to ensure that air passengers are fairly compensated for the inconvenience and frustration caused by delays, cancellations, overbooking, and luggage problems.

Why should airlines deny compensation to passengers for flight disruptions, when the average pay of an airline’s CEO is almost GBP 2.4 million? We work to defend your rights as an airline passenger 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 the UK and other 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.

Read more
Check your flight for free

Share this with your friends!

AirAdvisor has been featured in:

AirAdvisor has been featured in: