The experts have assessed the data and crunched the numbers and have found the best airline in the United States.
Specialists at Wallethub, a personal finance site, have compared nine major US airlines and two regional carriers across 14 metrics using 2024 data from the Department of Transportation to tabulate the best US airline. “In this report, we sought to supplement easily accessible price-comparison tools by identifying the best and worst airlines in terms of overall service quality and functional performance,” says the report’s methodology section.
Wallethub compared metrics such as baggage handling reliability, on-time departures, in-flight comfort, cost, incidents with animals, and overall safety.
The survey found that the best overall airline in the US is Spirit, with an overall score of 69.12 out of 100. The low-cost carrier earned lots of points for its low rates of mishandled luggage, delays, and denied passenger boardings (when a traveler gets bumped from an oversold flight.)
In addition to having the highest overall score, Spirit also snagged some impressive superlatives, including being the most affordable and the safest US airline, with no injuries reported in aviation accidents and incidents and one of the youngest fleets in the country.
SkyWest Airlines took second place, with an overall score of 68.08. The regional carrier, which operates flights for larger carriers like Alaska and Delta, was lauded for its infrequent flight cancellations, generous legroom, and solid safety record.
Delta took third place, scoring 64.24. Notably, the Atlanta-based airline was also named the most reliable carrier, with the lowest number of flight cancellations, delays, mishandled luggage, and denied boardings.
“Although consumer surveys mention legroom and in-flight amenities as factors affecting passenger comfort, major service failures such as long flight delays, being stuck on an airplane because of runway congestion or gate unavailability, cancellations…trigger the biggest frustrations,” said Yasin Alan, associate professor of operations management at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.
Rounding out the top five on the list are JetBlue in fourth place with an overall score of 63.38 and Southwest Airlines in the fifth spot, scoring 62.19 points.
Travelers flying with furry friends should take note that United, SkyWest, and Envoy Air all scored a three-way tie for the most pet-friendly airlines. None of the three airlines had any pet injuries or fatalities in 2024.
Elsewhere in the survey, JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines both snagged the top spot for the most comfortable US airlines, thanks to their free perks like Wi-Fi, generous legroom, and snacks and drinks.
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