https://wallethub.com/edu/best-airlines/20916/
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.
1 BEST AIRLINES
2 KEY FINDINGS
3 DETAILED SCORES
4 METHODOLOGY
2017's Best Airlines
Category Airline
Best Airline Overall Alaska Airlines
Cheapest Airline Spirit Airlines
Most Reliable Airline Alaska Airlines
Most Comfortable Airline JetBlue Airways
Best Airline for Pets Alaska Airlines
Least Complained-About Airline Southwest Airlines
Below, you can see where each major airline ranks, based on overall WalletHub Score.