Business InsiderBusiness Insider
Delta and Southwest aircraft.
Xackery Irving/Shutterstock
  • The best and worst US airlines were revealed by the Department of Transportation.

  • Delta Air Lines scored high in terms of reliability, comfort, and customer satisfaction.

  • Southwest was dead last, followed by American Airlines and Frontier Airlines.

The best airlines in the US are based on flight data from the US Department of Transportation.

mainline airlines like American and Southwest, and low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier, were ranked from best to worst by the company.

SkyWest Airlines and Envoy Air were included because they make up at least 1% of domestic scheduled service and report data to the DOT.

Each airline was scored based on 16 metrics, including baggage, departures, and complaints, animal-related incidents, inflight comfort, and safety. Delays, legroom, denied boardings, and price were included in the subcategories.

While price is a common dealbreaker for many consumers, WalletHub noted that its report examines overlooked aspects of air travel to help travelers make more informed decisions.

It wouldn't be right to penalize an airline that charges for drinks if its tickets are cheaper than those from another airline.

The best and worst airlines in the US were determined by WalletHub from the four major categories. The number of customer complaints and the rate of delays were some of the criteria used to calculate scores.

The company ranked the points from each category to come up with an overall performance rank. Southwest came in last with just 30.60 points earned, while Delta earned the highest score of 70.48 out of 100.

The weight of each metric and its calculation into the overall score was based on the company's subjective view, as was the maximum number of points an airline could earn. It said points were allocated based on common sense.

The company also gave awards for cheapest airline, safest airline, most reliable airline, the best airline for pets, and most comfortable airline.

Delta took home the most medals, including being the best overall US airline, the most reliable, and tied for the safest for animals. The comfort and affordability spots went to Frontier and JetBlue, respectively.

Here is a closer look at the best and worst US airlines.

11. Southwest Airlines

View from the wing of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft on the tarmac.
Ashlee D. Smith/Southwest Airlines

Southwest was the worst airline in several categories, including being the least reliable and the least safe. Southwest got a score of 7.84 out of 50 for reliability, while the top performers, including Delta and Hawaiian, scored above 30.

Southwest earned a score of 26.80 in the previous year, but that score was 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465. The airline had a multi-day meltdown in October 2021, which left thousands of passengers stranded.

The airline's low safety rating was due to an uncontained engine failure that resulted in the death of a passenger, which forced WalletHub to deduct points.

10. American Airlines

American aircraft.

American was last on the list, earning low scores in reliability, price, and safety. The carrier's low safety rating was caused by at least 50 passenger or employee injuries that required medical care in 2021, according to the data.

The carrier earned a comfort score of 4 out of 5, though it did not earn a reliability score.

9. JetBlue Airways

JetBlue A320 aircraft.
JetBlue A320 aircraft.Marcus Mainka/Shutterstock

The Wall Street Journal named JetBlue the worst US airline due to poor on-time performance and a high number of passenger complaints.

In terms of customer complaints, the data from WalletHub ranked fourth, with a reliability score of 16.22 out of 50.

Not all is bad for the airline. Inflight entertainment, snacks, and beverages, as well as free wi fi, were some of the perks offered by the carrier. The carrier has the most legroom in the economy.

8. Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines
Frontier AirlinesCarlos Yudica

Frontier came in last for comfort due to a lack of inflight amenities like free snacks and drinks, with a score of 13.18.

According to travel magazine AFAR, the lowest legroom in the US is offered by the carrier.

The cheapest plane tickets of any other carrier were offered by Frontier. The data shows that Frontier's airfare was 3.53 cents per mile.

7. United Airlines

A United Airlines plane.
A United Airlines airplane is seen at the Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, United States.ayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The third-best reliability score of 26.67 out of 50 and a high comfort score of 4.5 out of 5 was received by United.

Its high number of passenger complaints can be attributed to its low ranking. According to DOT data, United had 3,581 complaints in the year of 2021, which came out to 29.73 complaints per 100,000 passengers.

6. SkyWest Airlines

SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft
A SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft.Heather Dunbar / Shutterstock.com

SkyWest, which flies on behalf of United, Delta, American, and Alaska, earned high rankings for pet-friendliness and customer satisfaction. DOT data shows that the carrier has a rate of 0.92 complaints per 100,000 passengers.

Skywest is a regional carrier that flies for four other carriers.

5. Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines A319 aircraft.
Spirit Airlines A319 aircraft.Marcus Mainka/Shutterstock

Rounding out the top five carriers, Spirit Airlines performed well in terms of affordability and safety.

The carrier has an average airfare of 3.82 cents per mile. The airline received a score of 19.99 out of 50 for reliability, which is average compared to other airlines.

Unlike Frontier, Spirit did not offer free amenities inflight, except for a seat and a personal item.

4. Envoy Air

American Eagle regional aircraft.
American Eagle regional aircraft.Markus Mainka/Shutterstock

Envoy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American and is one of the top-performing operators. Southwest had a score of 30.60, but the airline earned an overall score of 60.46 out of 100. It scored high for pet safety.

Envoy had an average fare of 12.42 cents per mile. The airfare increases due to the carrier flying on behalf of American to small markets that have higher operating costs.

3. Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines.
Alaska Airlines.Alaska Airlines

The third-best airline in the US is Alaska. The airline scored high in terms of reliability, comfort, and price, and earned the title of the safest airline.

The airline scored 4.5 out of 5 for comfort, tying with Delta and just losing out to JetBlue.

2. Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767Angel DiBilio/Shutterstock

Hawaiian scored high in affordability, reliability, and safety. The airline scored 2 out of 5 in terms of comfort.

The airline had the second-highest number of passenger complaints with 37.63 per 100,000 passengers. The airline received a high score due to its on-time performance.

1. Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines aircraft.
Delta Air Lines aircraft.On The Run Photo/Shutterstock

Delta was named the best carrier in the US. The most reliable airline is based in Atlanta and tied for second with Hawaiian.

The airline reported no animal-related incidents in 2021. The airline had one of the lowest rates of consumer complaints.

The original article is on Business Insider.

Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting
  • There will be a supply chain crunch on the west coast of the U.S. in the coming weeks as a result of China's lockdowns.

  • With rising mortgage rates and high home prices, here are 8 metro areas with average property taxes under $1,000.

  • Will you be ready for the rare wealth event that is taking place in America?

  • After signing a controversial state education law and proposing a GOP-benefitting redistricting map, the bill marks a third legislative win for DeSantis.

  • A bill to allow parents to file lawsuits against Arizona teachers for violating the fundamental right of a parent in raising their children won approval from state Senate Republicans on Monday and is one vote away from the governor's desk. The bill's supporters said it was necessary to bring lawsuits against teachers.

  • The EV6 is an electric option that has a great range, bold styling, and few drawbacks.

  • Few know that Amazon has millions of Prime subscribers.

  • The athlete says that exercises like hanging leg raises and burpee burn body fat.

  • It only requires three ingredients, a pan, and a spoon, and it is possible to make super crisp eggs. This easy breakfast is not required to be flipped.

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said face-masks are still needed to protect public health after the Justice Department filed an appeal.

  • Do you think you can get a cheaper internet package? Maybe you should rethink.

  • It is game-changing in a heat wave.

  • Philadelphia is ending its indoor face-mask mandate just a few days after it was re-imposed because health officials say it is no longer needed.

  • At least four people, including a 12-year-old girl, were shot when a man opened fire in the nation's capital on Friday, leading to a community on edge before the suspect was found dead hours later. Metropolitan Police Department officers conducted door-to-door searches of buildings in the area after the suspected shooter was found dead inside an apartment. Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said that the man had set up a sniper-type setup with a tripod and rifle in his apartment and began firingindiscriminately at people walking below.

  • AdHealthline
    • Why this Ad?
    • Go ad-free*

    Many equally delicious berries are abundant in the wild and are commonly available in grocery stores.

  • The decision was reasonable and fair, but airlines need to think about what to do if the mandate is restored.

  • I have been eating the wrong salsa all along.

  • The shape, texture, and consistency of your poop can tell you a lot about your health.

  • It is time to end insomnia and poor sleep. The genius sleep patch invention will help you wake up refreshed.

  • The second day of the defamation trial was when Kris Jenner took the stand. The family ruined her reality TV career, according to the lawsuit. She accused the grandmother of her and the daughter of her and the reality TV star of being a stalker.

  • He grabbed his wallet and dashed into the rain, like he was going to Target.

  • AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

    It is an imperfect plan that does not solve anything. All seven Colorado River states have agreed to boost Lake Powell.

  • Adsearchlime
    • Why this Ad?
    • Go ad-free*

    There is a Laptops Clearance Sale. Unsold laptops are being sold for less than their worth. You can see prices in Virginia.

  • There was a flying whirlpool over Hawaii earlier this week. Astronomers have offered a different explanation as to why it was strange. The post A mysterious flying whirlpool is not extraterrestrial was written by Marco Langbroek.

  • There was an ugly moment at the park.

  • There are stories behind Robert Eggers' period action movie, including a sword fight and a reunion.