WalletHub compared the 10 largest U.S. airlines, plus two regional carriers, in 13 important categories. They range from cancellation and delay rates to baggage mishaps and in-flight comfort.
Traveling by plane costs an average of $370 per trip. And choosing the wrong airline has the potential to take even more from us. For instance, 26 animals died during air transportation in 2016, and seven major U.S. airlines had at least one pet fatality.
While critical to consider, such factors often fly under the radar due to our focus on price. But finding the cheapest airfare is now quite easy for anyone with an internet connection. So this report centers on those other, overlooked aspects of air travel to help consumers make more-informed decisions.
WalletHub compared the 10 largest U.S. airlines, plus two regional carriers, in 13 important categories. They range from cancellation and delay rates to baggage mishaps and in-flight comfort. And while this report focuses on non-price aspects of the flying experience, costs were considered in relation to in-flight amenities for the sake of fairness. For example, it wouldn’t be right to penalize an airline that charges for drinks, when its tickets are far cheaper than an airline offering free in-flight refreshments.
- Best Overall – Alaska Airlines earned the highest overall WalletHub Score (81.02), followed by Delta Air Lines (73.08).
- Most Reliable – Alaska Airlines has the lowest overall rate of cancelations, delays, mishandled luggage and denied boardings.
- Most Pet-Friendly – 1.3 animals died, got injured or were lost for every 10,000 transported by major U.S. airlines in 2016. None were incident-free, but Hawaiian and United had the highest incident rates.
- Most Comfortable – JetBlue leads the pack in terms of in-flight experience, offering free amenities such as Wi-Fi, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and beverages.
