Got air travel on the horizon? Browse this list of the best and worst airlines in the United States before booking your flight.
This Is the Best (and Worst!) Airline in the U.S.
Published on Jan. 27, 2025
For frequent fliers and airlines alike, 2024 was an eventful year. Alaska Airlines passengers were in for an unwanted surprise when a piece of an aircraft ripped off midflight, prompting an emergency landing and the immediate grounding of dozens of planes of the same model. Delta suffered a major tech outage in the middle of the year, and not only did the JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger fail, but Spirit Airlines also faced bankruptcy.
Yet even with all of the turbulence within the airline industry, there were bright spots: Flights remained full, more bags arrived at their intended destinations than in the previous year, and the majority of flights arrived on time. In all likelihood, if you flew last year, you had a fairly smooth ride—especially if you happened to travel on one of the best airlines in the country.
Before you buy your next airline ticket, consider which carrier is the most reliable. A recently released ranking makes that easier, and we have the details. Keep reading to find out which airline earned the title of best in the United States … and which has the furthest to travel when it comes to delivering quality customer service.
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How were the airlines ranked?
For the 17th consecutive year, the Wall Street Journal took on the task of ranking nine major U.S.-based airlines to see how they stack up against one another and where they fall short. Just as it did last year, the newspaper focused on seven key criteria, using data from 2024, to determine the airlines’ overall rankings:
- On-time arrivals
- Canceled flights
- Extreme delays
- Two-hour tarmac delays
- Mishandled bags
- Involuntary bumping
- Customer submissions (essentially complaints)
Which airlines did the study rank?
The report included nine U.S.-based airlines:
- Alaska Airlines
- Allegiant Air
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Frontier Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- United Airlines
While the winner may not be entirely surprising, the rankings certainly had a shake-up this year. Let’s explore.
What is the best airline?
For the fourth year in a row, the Wall Street Journal named Delta Air Lines the best in the United States. This marks the seventh time the airline has earned the No. 1 slot on the list in the past eight years.
It was a close race this year, but there were a few key factors that pushed Delta into first place. For starters, the airline had the highest rate of on-time arrivals—and was the only airline to exceed 80%. Plus, it had the lowest rate of involuntary bumping and the second-lowest number of canceled flights and extreme delays, all of which added to its overall reliability.
Yes, Delta typically charges more for tickets than many of the other airlines in the study. Despite that, it has one of the highest customer satisfaction rates of all airlines.
Still, though Delta hung on to first place, the airline isn’t without its faults. It struggled with bag handling, coming in fifth place for mishandled bags.
What is the worst airline?
This year, Frontier unseated JetBlue as the worst airline in the country. It hovered around the bottom in nearly every category: The airline ranked last for on-time arrivals, and it had the greatest number of extreme delays, customer feedback submissions and involuntary bumpings. While this budget airline may offer airfare for as low as $19, you might end up paying a much higher price for your trip.
Surprisingly, Frontier ranked third for the fewest mishandled bags, placing two slots higher than Delta and just below JetBlue. (Last year’s worst airline ranked sixth this year.)
The full ranking of best and worst airlines
If you’re curious about where your favorite airline falls in the Wall Street Journal‘s ranking, check out the full list of the best and worst airlines in the United States:
- Delta Air Lines
- Southwest Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Allegiant Air
- United Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- American Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
While 2024 saw improvements from the previous year, several still have a long way to go. If you’re getting ready to plan your next trip, consider this list a starting point. Pick an airline that has your ideal mix of reliability and affordability, then go ahead and book that trip.
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Source:
- Wall Street Journal: “The Best and Worst Airlines of 2024”
