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A new report from WalletHub is shaking up assumptions about the best airlines to book in 2026—and the biggest surprise is who landed at the top.
According to the study, budget carrier and frequent punchline Spirit Airlines ranks as the best airline overall in the U.S., beating out legacy giants thanks to its strong performance across affordability, reliability and safety metrics. That may come as a surprise but, in 2026, reliability may just be the biggest flex an airline can pull.
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WalletHub analyzed the nine largest U.S. airlines plus two regional carriers using a wide range of data points, including delays, cancellations, baggage handling, comfort and cost relative to services. The takeaway? Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean worse. At least not anymore.
Rounding out the top five are Southwest, Skywest, Alaska and Hawaiin airlines, while United and Envoy landed in the bottom two. But the rankings are only part of the picture; WalletHub also broke down winners by metrics, with Spirit taking the top prize for affordability and reliability. JetBlue, Hawaiian, American and Southwest were named the most comfortable.
Frontier scored the highest marks for safety.
For the animal lovers out there, SkyWest and Envoy both earned the distinction as the best option for pet owners
As more and more airlines announce business class perks, the report proves that nothing beats reliability and affordability. Especially when major carriers routinely combine higher prices with inconsistent performance, resulting in cascading costs after factoring in delays, lost luggage and whatever new hell awaits travelers in an airport.
For those looking to book flights, the takeaway really boils down to we can't write off Spirit anymore. Turns out, there was more to it than some of us may have assumed. At least, according to the WalletHb experts.
Here's the full ranking of the best airlines of 2026 to help you plan your next trip.
1. Spirit Airlines
2. Southwest Airlines
3. Skywest Airlines
4. Alaska Airlines
5. Hawaiin Airlines
6. Jetblue Airways
7. Delta Air Lines
8. American Airlines
9. Frontier Airlines
10. United Airlines
11. Envoy Air