A Study Named the 'Best Overall' U.S. Airline. It's Not What You'd Expect
Ask any American who travels frequently and they probably have a favorite or go-to airline. There are plenty to choose from in the United States, from the big brands to popular budget options.
A new study from personal finance company WalletHub has attempted to quantify the "best" overall airline in the country, surveying the nine largest airlines and two regional carriers across 16 metrics.
After the numbers were crunched, there was a surprising name atop the list.
How were the rankings calculated?
Nine national companies-Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines--and regional choices SkyWest Airlines and Envoy Air were measured in categories such as "cancellation and delay rates to baggage mishaps and in-flight comfort."
"We also considered costs in relation to in-flight amenities for the sake of fairness," WalletHub said. "For example, it wouldn’t be right to penalize an airline that charges for drinks if its tickets are far cheaper than those from an airline with free in-flight refreshments."
Top 5 airlines by overall score
- Spirit Airlines - 74.33
- Southwest Airlines - 64.44
- SkyWest Airlines - 63.58
- Alaska Airlines - 59.48
- Hawaiian Airlines - 57.96
Spirit Airlines ranks No. 1
Despite a second bankruptcy and rumors of a possible shutdown in its recent history, Spirit outranks all of its competitors, boasting the lowest rate of "cancellations, delays, mishandled luggage and denied boardings."
In addition to being named the Best Overall airline, Spirit also ranked as Most Affordable and Most Reliable.
Other superlatives
JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines led in the Most Comfortable category, thanks to free offerings such as Wi-Fi, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and beverages.
SkyWest Airlines and Envoy Air, the two regional carriers, ranked as the Best Airline for Pets, with Frontier being named the Safest Airline.
You can read through the entire WalletHub report and its methodology here.