Last Updated on March 31, 2024
If you’ve been wondering which US airlines are the best, we have answers based on a recent report from the personal finance website WalletHub.
The report compared 14 metrics, including comfort, cancellation and delays, baggage handling, and the ratio of cost to amenities.
The goal of the report was to offer travelers a way to make more informed choices about which airline they fly.
WalletHub analyzed eleven different US airlines to discover the most comfortable airline, the most reliable, the most affordable, the best airline for pets, and the safest airline.
Let’s kick off with the best airline overall.
6 Best US Airlines According To Report!
Table of Contents
Best Airline Overall
Delta Air Lines came on top as the best airline overall, according to WalletHub.
What makes Delta so great? Flying this airline means space to stretch your legs, free refreshments, and great entertainment.
On the safety side, Delta has had no fatal injuries in airline accidents, no animal-related incidents, and no denied boardings in the past five years.
Photo credit - Wikimedia
Most Affordable Airline
If you’re flying on a budget, Spirit Airlines is a great choice. But in Spirit’s case, affordability doesn’t mean low quality.
Spirit Airlines came in second place as the best airline overall thanks to its high safety rates and minimal baggage mishandling mishaps.
So flying with Spirit means saving your wallet and giving yourself and your bags the best chance of arriving in great condition.
Most Reliable Airline
No one likes delays or getting involuntarily bumped from a flight.
Fortunately, if you fly Delta Airlines, you don’t have to worry because it has gained the distinction of being the most reliable airline in the US.
This airline had zero denied boardings and only 11.5% of delayed flights (the second lowest among the airlines in the report).
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Frontier had over 23% of delayed flights and the highest number of denied boardings.
Most Comfortable Airline
If you have long legs or a big frame, comfort on a flight becomes essential.
So if you like plenty of space to spread out, look no further than JetBlue Airways.
This airline has at minimum 30 inches of legroom in coach and economy, plus entertainment options on all flights.
Most of their aircraft include free wifi, and travelers on domestic flights over 2 hours will be offered complimentary food and beverages.
Best Airline For Pets
If you’re flying with a furry friend, Delta Air Lines, SkyWest Airlines, and Alaska Airlines are tied for being the most pet-friendly carriers.
None of these airlines reported animal-related incidents. Incidents can include losing the animals, animal injuries, or even animal deaths.
Photo credit - Wikimedia
Safest Airline
Rest easy flying with Envoy Air, the safest airline in the US.
Envoy has had zero fatalities in the last five years due to aircraft-related problems and fewer than 15 injuries that required medical care.
Most of the aircraft in the fleet are less than 10 years old, which helps with safety.
Unfortunately, Envoy is also the most expensive airline on the list.
The Airline that ranked last for this distinction was Southwest.
They reported 50 injuries sustained by airline personnel (or passengers) that required medical attention and one air-craft-related fatality.
Best US Airlines FAQs
Which Airline In America Is The Best?
According to WalletHub’s report, Delta Airlines is the best airline in America.
Not only is flying with Delta comfortable, but it also had the fewest flight disruptions and animal-related incidents.
The airline has had zero fatalities due to aviation-related accidents and zero instances of denied boardings (where travelers are involuntarily bumped from a flight).
With complimentary food and beverages, good entertainment options, and decent legroom, you can’t go wrong flying Delta.
Is Delta Better Than United?
Yes–according to WalletHub’s report, Delta is better than United Airlines.
Delta ranked in first place as the best airline in the U.S., well ahead of United Airlines, which came in fourth place.
Delta ranked better than United Airlines due to its combination of safety, reliability, and traveler comfort.
Is JetBlue Better Than Delta?
According to WalletHub’s study and subsequent report on the best airlines in the United States, Delta is a better airline than JetBlue.
While Delta ranked in first place as the “Best Airline Overall in the U.S.,” JetBlue came in seventh place.
However, JetBlue came in on top as the most comfortable airline.
It offers great amenities, free Wi-Fi on most flights, free food and drinks on domestic flights over two hours, and plenty of legroom.
WalletHub’s report takes various factors into consideration, including the number of cancellations, passengers bumped from flights, baggage handling mishaps, aviation-related injuries and fatalities, pet safety, and comfort.
What Is The Safest American Airline?
Envoy is considered the safest American airline thanks to its young fleet and very low number of injuries and fatalities.
In fact, the airline reported zero aviation-related fatalities in the past year and only 15 passenger and/or Envoy personnel injuries.
That’s only 3 a year on average, a much better rate than Southwest’s average of 10 injuries per year.
Final Thoughts: 6 Best US Airlines According To Report
There are more factors to consider beyond affordability when it comes to choosing an airline.
Hopefully, this list has helped you discover the airline that best matches your preferences and values, whether that is safety, reliability, comfort, or pet-friendliness.
To summarize, Delta Airlines is both the best airline overall and the most reliable, with high safety rates, low cancellations, and careful care of traveler’s furry friends.
Spirit Airlines was not only the most affordable but also came in second place as the best airline in America.
The airline offers cheap fares, good amenities, high safety rates, and minimal baggage mishandling incidents.
Delta Air Lines, SkyWest Airlines, and Alaska Airlines are perfect for flying with a pet since none of them reported any animals lost, injured, or killed during transport.
JetBlue is the most comfortable airline, offering legroom and great amenities, while Envoy ranks as the safest airline.
You may be interested in these related articles:
Is Delta A Good Airline? 14 Things To Know (Pros & Cons)
Is American Airlines Good? 12 Things To Know (Pros & Cons)
Is Spirit Airline Good? 14 Things To Know (Pros & Cons)
Is Frontier Airlines Good? 14 Things To Know (Pros & Cons)
Is Air Canada A Good Airline? 14 Things To Know (Pros & Cons)
Is JetBlue A Good Airline? 14 Things To Know (Pros & Cons)
Is United A Good Airline? 14 Things To Know (Pros & Cons)
Is Sun Country A Good Airline? 12 Things To Know (Pros & Cons)
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This is a very helpful article regarding the best airlines in the US. It’s important to have this information when making an informed decision regarding who you’re going to fly with. I’ve always felt Delta was the best!
I’d probably fly Delta more if there was a hub in Denver.