How do you choose which airline to fly? Cost, scheduling, perks and reliability are all good reasons, but if you lean towards “best” when making flying decisions, then this ranking is for you. The Points Guy has just released a tally for 2023—taking into account a variety of metrics—of the carriers that best meet the needs of travelers. Airlines are ranked for reliability, travel experience, cost and loyalty in addition to an overall ranking.
So who came out on top? For the fifth straight year, Delta is ranked best overall, performing well across most categories (other than affordability). Delta is followed by United, Alaska, American, Southwest, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Spirit, Allegiant and Frontier.
For further insight, The Points Guy reveals that Southwest dropped from second to fifth due to its operational struggles this past year. By other metrics, like affordability, travelers still like the airline. Alaska jumped to the third spot, primarily due to affordability, and Spirit moved up a bit as its customer satisfaction ratings have improved. Overall, however, airline scores were down from last year, as an increase in cancellations, lost luggage, and other operational struggles hit hard during busy travel periods.
Taking a deeper dive into the results, the airlines ranking highest for reliability (based on timeliness, cancellations, bumps and baggage and wheelchair handling), are Hawaiian, Delta and Allegiant. American came in at the bottom, with the most lost or delayed baggage. The airlines offering the most comfortable travel experience are JetBlue and Alaska, with Allegiant (minimal amenities and the narrowest seats) and Frontier (highest rate of complaints) at the bottom. American, United and Delta all ranked high for the number of destinations served, but at the same time ranked low for cost. For frequent flyers, United is tops when it comes to rewards, followed by Delta and American.
If you have a choice, these metrics can help you choose which airline to fly for your next trip. Find the complete report and methodology on The Points Guy website.