Learn about the best airlines to work for in U.S! Investigate the best carriers that provide outstanding comfort, dependability, and service. Discover which airlines perform best in terms of on-time arrivals and customer satisfaction. Organize your next journey with assurance now! Find out which airlines provide the finest in-flight experiences, are the safest, and have the best frequent flyer programs. Use our in-depth guide to the top US airlines to help you make well-informed travel selections.
In a world of travel that connects people and organizations across vast distances, quality airline services are critical for a pleasant and enjoyable journey. We intend to learn more about airlines that successfully satisfy consumer expectations, maintain sustainable operations, and prioritize security in a dynamic and ever-changing market by looking at these essential elements.
This article will grade the top 10 Best Airlines to Work For in the U.S. on various critical factors such as reliability, safety, and customer satisfaction.
Ranking of Top 10 best airlines to work for in U.S.
The top 10 best airlines to work for in U.S are listed below:
- Delta Airlines
- United Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Allegiant Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
Here are the top 10 Best Airlines to Work For in U.S. in details.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Airlines scored 66.31 out of 100 for its punctuality and efficiency in managing unintentional bumps. The company’s biggest weakness remained affordability. Delta was ranked (not disclosed) highly the year before.
Delta has received many accolades, both for its quality in-flight services and its facilities on the ground. These include the beautifully designed Sky Clubs located at the major airports of the United States. Consider, for example, the new, $4 billion terminal of the airline at New York’s revamped LaGuardia Airport. It features high ceilings and wood and marble accents as well as eye-catching artwork created by local artists.
Delta wants to make flying as simple as possible by incorporating high-tech innovations during check-in, and boarding. The airline also offers passengers in-flight services such as free texting and the Delta One suites for business class on its new Airbus A350 jetliners.
A growing route map will allow you to enjoy these benefits when traveling to exotic destinations such as Tahiti and Tel Aviv.
United Airlines
United Airlines scored 62.47 out of 100, which highlights its strengths when it comes to family travel, route networks, and frequent flyer programs. United Airlines’ areas of improvement are baggage handling and price. The airline’s ranking for the previous year is not known.
From its eight hubs in the United States, including Guam, the Chicago-based airline offers an ever-expanding and extensive network of foreign destinations.
In response to the pandemic, the airline has increased its fleet size by 270 new Boeing or Airbus aircraft and eliminated change costs for the majority of its trips. These new planes are not only more comfortable and technologically advanced, but also reduce carbon emissions per seat by up to 20 percent.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines scored 60.54 outperforming its competitors in terms of lounges, customer satisfaction and overall. The baggage handling was its weakest point. The ranking of the previous year has not been revealed.
Alaska Airlines has been a favorite for decades. Its dependability, friendly flight crew, and generous rewards program have earned it high marks. It’s hard to believe that Alaska Airlines is now the fifth largest airline in the United States. The onboard service incorporates regional Pacific Northwest touches, such as local wine and craft beer. That its route map has grown well beyond the title is hardly shocking. From the Pacific Northwest to Mexico and Latin America, and from Hawaii to New York.
In keeping with the airline’s home in the tech-friendly Seattle metropolitan region, it recently announced a partnership with twelve, an enterprise that produces sustainable aviation fuels from carbon dioxide collected.
American Airlines
American Airlines scored 59.83 for its award and route availability. The luggage management system and the cost were both obstacles. The ranking for the previous year is unknown.
American Airlines is the largest airline worldwide in terms of fleet and passengers. It has 10 domestic hubs including Miami and Dallas/Fort Worth. Southern Airline has become a major player in Latin America and the Caribbean with new services like San Andres Island (Colombia) and Chetumal (Mexico).
The carrier has 28 cities in Mexico. This is more than any other U.S. airlines. American Airlines has agreed to buy 20 Boom Supersonic Jets in August 2022. This will revolutionize its transatlantic, transpacific, and transatlantic services.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines scored 56.29 out of 100 for removing bag/change fees and ensuring award availability. The difficulties it had in dealing with cancellations and lounge service affected its performance. The ranking of the previous year was not disclosed.
Southwest Airlines has expanded its network of routes beyond the geographical area suggested by the name. It currently covers Latin America and Caribbean. Travellers may benefit from inexpensive tickets and the “bags are free” policy wherever they are flying. They will, however, have to put up with the unusual boarding practices of the airline, such as the “love it or hate it” boarding method.
The airline has improved its basic customer service by adding in-flight Wi Fi and offering a free beverage or snack. However, bargain hunters are unlikely to find a better deal in the sky.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines scored 54.71 out of 100 for its ability to manage cancellations and bumps. The performance of the route network was one area that could be improved. The ranking of the previous year’s report was not disclosed.
Hawaiian started as a local service puddle-jumper and has expanded since to operate a network of services between islands and the U.S. mainland, as well long-distance flight across the Pacific region.
The premium cabin includes lie-flat seats on some long flights. All passengers will enjoy island-inspired foods and beverages such as Honolulu roasted Lion Coffee, furikake, caramel macadamia nuts, and beer from Maui Brewing Company. In 2016, they also created a collection of bottled cocktail drinks in collaboration with On the Rocks, including a Mai Tai and a Molokai mule with passion fruit.
Hawaiian Airlines is the most reliable airline in the United States if punctuality is a priority.
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airlines scored 47.68 out of 100 for its cabin features. However, it had challenges in terms of timing, cancellations, and accommodating wheelchairs/scooters. The ranking of the previous year has not been revealed.
JetBlue customers now have another reason to choose the airline that services their hometown. The company began its long-awaited London flights from JFK Airport starting in 2021, with a Mint Class Premium cabin equipped with large flat-bed sleeping seats. They also added routes to Heathrow and Gatwick from Boston last year.
Travelers are also enjoying the new features, such as extra legroom and new seats. JetBlue offers free Wi-Fi (sometimes called “Fly-Fi”), which is among the fastest internet connections available in the air. The airline also provides free seat-back video, including live TV.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines scored 38.99 out of 100, which highlights affordability as an important area. The airline’s route network was not optimized and it had problems with handling wheelchairs/scooters. The ranking of the previous year was not disclosed.
Spirit Airlines’ low AirAdvisor Airline Score of 37 does not deter the almost 40 million travelers who fly with them each year. Spirit Airlines’ AirAdvisor Airline score of 37 is not enough to deter the nearly 40 million travelers that fly with them every year. Spirit Airlines’ reputation is rated 9th by its customers, which is slightly lower than the airline’s overall ranking.
Allegiant Air
It had a score of 37.04 for handling bags, involuntary bumps, wheelchairs/scooters, and bags. Concerns included the timeliness of flights, cabin amenities, and services for families. The ranking of the previous year is not known.
Allegiant is a popular airline because it offers dependable service at an affordable price. The low-cost airline’s (and admittedly, frill less–bring food!) offers are a favorite among our readers offers.
Allegiant is also a favorite because it’s “the best airline to fly regional airports”, according to one reader. Savannah to Akron/Canton and Grand Rapids to Sarasota (which was the only route mentioned) are just a few of the routes that were mentioned. Tickets for the previous route start at around $120.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines scored 27.74 out of 100, with a focus on affordability. The overall effectiveness of Frontier Airlines was hampered by concerns about involuntary bumps and consumer satisfaction, as well as several fee-related problems. The ranking of the previous year has not been revealed.
Denver’s low-cost airline claims to have the cleanest aircraft in North America, owing to its modest and major efforts, such as lighter seats (30%), fuel-efficient engines and biodegradable cup.
Since the mid-1990s the airline has decorated its tails in the form of larger-than life creatures to show its environmental awareness. These include the newcomers Francie, the piping plover and Crystal, the Florida manatee. Hudson, the bog turtle, is also a recent addition. Frontier has just announced ten additional nonstop flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Latest Analysis of Airlines’ Operation
The latest analysis has revealed some important findings.
Delta has been the top carrier for 6 years in a row, achieving lower prices and showing strong performance across all areas.
Delta Airlines Wins Title for Fifth Consecutive Time
Delta has been the top carrier for 6 years in a row, achieving lower prices and showing strong performance across all areas.
Southwest Airline’s operational setback
Southwest Airlines experienced operational problems during the holiday season, falling from second to fifth position last year. Southwest Airlines’ performance on punctuality and cancellations, as well as luggage handling and customer satisfaction, all dropped by 4.63 points compared to the previous year. This setback would have kept it in second position.
Alaska Spirit Airlines Significant Improvements
Alaska Airlines and Spirit Airlines have both made significant improvements. Alaska improved affordability of fares and fees, and Spirit significantly improved customer satisfaction, leading to rankings increases.
Mixed Performance Trends among Airlines
This year, only a handful of airlines performed better than they did in previous years, such as Spirit, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines. Delta and six companies saw their rankings drop, which indicates a general decline in performance.
A Decrease in Performance of Airlines
Overall, airlines did worse in 2022 compared to 2021. Metrics like an 87.6% rise in consumer complaints, 22.67% in price per 1,000 passenger mile, an 87.35% increase in forced bumps and 54% in cancellations illustrate the difficulty of the industry in meeting the growing demand for air travel.
What is the methodology used to rank airlines?
These categories, which include reliability, experience and cost, as well as reach and loyalty, are used to assess and analyze each airline.
Reliability (30%)
It includes involuntary bumps, timelines, baggage, cancellations, and wheelchairs/scooters.
A number of parameters are used to evaluate the reliability of airlines. These parameters account for 30 percent of the evaluation criteria. The Department of Transportation provides data on the frequency of flight delays.
The Department of Transportation’s (D.O.T.) data is used to examine the frequency of cancellations. As well as a review of the involuntary refused-boarding incidents, to assess the consistency of an airline.
The D.O.T. provides statistics on the mishandled luggage. Using data from mishandled baggage, it is also monitored that wheelchairs and scooters are handled correctly. This contributes a lot to the overall reliability evaluation of an airline.
Experience (25%)
This includes features of the cabin, lounges, families, customer satisfaction and more.
The experience that airlines provide is important when it comes to assessing them. It accounts for 25% of the evaluation criteria. This involves a thorough examination of a number of elements. The in-flight facilities available on airline websites are used to evaluate cabin characteristics.
It considers the airline’s family friendly initiatives such as the onboarding procedure, benefits and quality of the onboard food and entertainment. The D.O.T.’s customer complaint data is used to assess customer satisfaction.
Costs and Reach (20%), Loyalty (25%),
Included in the cost and reach are route network, affordability and bag/change fee. Loyalty can be measured by frequent flyers, award availability and the route network.
In calculating airline rankings, the issue of cost and reach is given a 20% weighting. This takes into consideration several factors. In determining the reach of an airline, it is important to consider the D.O.T.’s monthly average for domestic cities served. The BTS’s financial data is used to analyze affordability, including the airline pricing structure.
A comprehensive analysis of the bag and change fee data produced by BTS is also very helpful in making this judgment. The review includes an analysis of loyalty factors with a focus on the quality and availability of frequent flyer programs offered by airlines, as well as the availability of customer prizes, which influences the ranking process.
Scoring method
Scaled scores range from 0-10.
The airline with the highest score is considered to be “perfect”.
The airline with the worst performance is the one that is evaluated.
The scaled score reflects the performance of the carrier that has the lowest score.
Individual scores are weighted by percentages to obtain the final score.
In order to evaluate the top American airlines, we carefully research over 25 factors in four categories.
These weighted scores are reflected in the cumulative scores.
Best Airlines for Overseas Travel from the US
Even though every airline we evaluated offers domestic service, not all of them offer international flights. Delta, United and American carriers top the list of foreign airlines. These airlines are known for their comfort, especially on long flights lasting over 5 hours.
Delta, United or American will provide a more enjoyable experience, with better seats, in-flight entertainment and complimentary beverages. These three airlines also offer the best alternatives for international travel due to the frequent participation in connections on international flights.
The Most Reliable US Airline with the Lowest Disruption rate
We looked at more factors than just delayed or canceled flights when evaluating an airline’s reliability. We also looked at cases of luggage mishandling and refused boarding, which had a significant impact on your overall travel experience. Our disruption rate was determined by this thorough investigation.
Delta has the highest score for overall dependability. Hawaiian Airlines is ranked second overall. Allegiant Air, however, outperforms Hawaiian Airlines and Delta when it comes to mishandled baggage or refused boarding.
Allegiant has a lower reliability level than Hawaiian or Delta. Allegiant has the lowest reliability rating of all US carriers in terms delayed, canceled and diverted flight.
Even the most reliable carriers can experience delays. Remember that customers can be entitled to compensation if their flight is delayed for three hours or more.
Safest Airlines in America
It’s important to know that all US airlines on our list value safety. The 2022 evaluation revealed a few incidents, but none resulted in death.
In 2022, the investigation identified three major tail strike events. The plane’s rear makes contact with the runway, more often during landing.
These seven airlines, which maintained an impeccable safety record throughout our study period, are the safest alternatives in the United States. Alaska Airlines is listed first, followed by Allegiant Air and American Airlines.
According to IATA statistics, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, and Delta Airlines all have similar non-fatal tail impacts that caused significant aircraft damage. These three airlines had the worst safety record in 2022, out of all the airlines analyzed.
Top 5 Airlines based on Customer Reputation Score
Peer reviews can be a good indicator of a company’s level of service. In general, more bad reviews are posted than positive ones. This means that even the highest scores might not seem so impressive. In this category, several airlines are the top performers.
Alaska Airlines is the winner based on nine non-professional sources. Although Alaska Airlines appears to be a small airline, its total average score is 3.04 out 5 which is the highest. Hawaiian Airlines, at 3.03, comes in second.
Southwest Airlines ranks third in consumer satisfaction among the five top airlines in the United States, with a score 2.97. Delta Airlines is ranked fourth despite losing its top ranking. It receives an overall average of 2.69. JetBlue, which is generally rated positively, has a score 2.64. This falls behind Delta Airlines, the overall winner in this category.
Airlines Reliable
Air travel comfort can be affected by a variety of factors, but the core task for an airline is to get passengers to their destination as quickly as they can. We place a great deal of importance on the operational reliability of an airline, and this accounts for 30 percent our annual research.
Flight delays: Frequency of flight delays
Cancellations – How many flights were cancelled?
Bumps/involuntary denial of boarding: Cases where passengers are bumped off oversold flights without their consent.
Checked luggage: Mishandling of checked baggage.
Wheelchairs/Scooters: Mishandling the frequency of mobility devices.
Hawaiian Airlines has retained its position as the most reliable US airline for a third consecutive year. It has an unintentional bumping rate of less that 1%, and a cancellation rate less than 1%.
Delta Airlines, which excels in punctuality with the least number of passenger bumps, is also a close second.
Allegiant Airlines has different measures of reliability. It excels at involuntary bumps as well as luggage and mobility device handling. However, it is not so good with on-time arrivals or cancellation rates.
Allegiant has a much higher rate of luggage mishandling problems than American Airlines.
Spirit Airlines is behind Allegiant when it comes to the mishandling of mobility equipment. The rate is significantly higher.
Frontier Airlines has a higher involuntary bumping rate than any other airline. A significant number of passengers involuntarily refuse to board, which is far more than on other airlines.
The various indicators show the strengths and weaknesses of airlines when it comes to operational reliability. This affects passenger experience while flying.
Airlines with a Travel Experience
In addition to general reliability, many travelers prefer airlines with amenities like large seats, family friendly services, and inflight connections.
Cabin Features Includes Wi-Fi, seat dimensions and inflight entertainment.
Lounge Access The size and accessibility of airline lounges
Family Services Considerations for families travelling with children
Customer Satisfaction Frequency of complaints to the U.S. Department of Transportation
Travel experience is rated by the top four airlines of the United States.
JetBlue continues to lead the industry in terms of cabin comfort, with free Wi-Fi on all flights, seatback televisions and the largest economy seats available in the United States.
Alaska Airlines leads the industry in providing lounge access. It offers access to not only its own lounges, but to a number of other lounge networks. Alaska Airlines has a good reputation for customer service, with only a few complaints per 100,000 passengers.
Allegiant is the worst airline in terms of cabin amenities, with smaller seats and fewer amenities.
Frontier Airlines has the highest rate of complaints, and outperforms other airlines. This rate is approximately nine times higher than Alaska Airlines and significantly above the industry average.
There has been an increase of 87.6% in the number of complaints per 100,000 passengers between 2021 and 2022.
Airlines are known for their Cost and Reach
In addition to convenience, the decision of an airline is made based on pricing and destination reach. This category accounts for 20 percent of our review and looks at the following factors.
Route network: The extent of the airline’s domestic coverage.
Affordability The value of the airfare based on distance traveled, as derived from Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Additional Fees: Charges for baggage, change/cancellation and other fees.
There is a complex interplay between pricing and destination coverage among the diverse US airlines. This includes legacy carriers that have a broad route network as well as low-cost carriers.
Legacy airlines like United, American and Delta, have extensive routes, with an average of between 210 and 235 destinations per year. Hawaiian, on other hand, serves fewer airports with an average less than 22.
US airlines are more costly, and Delta is the least expensive. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta follow. Spirit Airlines is the most affordable airline, with a price of only $126.15 for 1,000 miles per person. Frontier and Allegiant are close behind.
Allegiant has seen the lowest increase, while other carriers such as American, Frontier Southwest and Spirit have experienced significant increases.
Southwest is the best in terms of extra expenses. It offers two free checked baggage and does not charge any change or cancellation fees. This results in a minimum additional fee per passenger. Allegiant Spirit Frontier and other low-cost carriers charge significantly higher fees for excess baggage.
These indicators show the delicate balance that exists between the route coverage, affordability and ancillary charges, which determines the cost-effectiveness for major US airlines.
Airlines with a Loyalty Record
Our final component, which accounts for 25% of total analysis, is devoted to loyalty. This topic is dear to the editorial staff at TPG. In this category, we evaluated airlines based on the following two factors:
Frequent-Flyer Program: Evaluation of the rewards and benefits, including TPG’s evaluations, elite status and cobranded credit cards.
Award Availability Assessing how easy and valuable it is to redeem rewards, particularly during popular travel periods.
United Airlines is continuing to reward frequent flyers with a variety of partner airlines. This includes a recent agreement between United Airlines and Emirates. The company also offers four consumer credit cards.
Delta is the second most popular airline, closely following United. American, on the other hand, is in a minority, allowing its members to lose their miles (except those under 21).
American Airlines is the best in terms of rewards availability. The majority of flights are checked with American Airlines and they have high redemption values.
Low-cost carriers, on the contrary, have difficulty in the loyalty category because of restricted partners, strict expiration rules and limited award availability.
Frontier Airlines is the worst airline in this category. Allegiant Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Spirit Airlines are all below their competitors when it comes to loyalty programs and rewards.
Conclusion
Your choice of airline can have a significant impact on your overall travel experience. According to our research, Delta Air Lines Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways consistently outperform other airlines in many areas. Each airline has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it is important to match your choice with your needs.
Consider cost, reliability and elite status rewards when choosing an airline to fly on your next vacation. Also, the in-flight service is important. Our yearly analysis, which uses objective data, identifies the airline that best meets the expectations of consumers.
Delta Air Lines has won TPG’s award for best U.S. airline for the sixth consecutive year. Delta’s score fell nearly 6% compared to last year. However, its closest competitors Alaska, American and United scored better this year. This decline is still to be determined if it represents a temporary blip, or a potential challenge to Delta’s continued supremacy.
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