These are the best U.S. airlines, according to WalletHub

Aarthi Swaminathan
·Reporter
Updated

Alaska Airlines (ALK) is the best carrier in the U.S., according to a new study by WalletHub.

The study — which compared 15 metrics ranging from cancellation and delay rates to in-flight comforts across 12 U.S. airlines — found the Seattle-based airline to be not only the best overall, but also the safest.

Frontier Airlines was ranked worst overall, though it did score points for being the cheapest.

(Source: WalletHub)
(Source: WalletHub)

‘The cabin crew was great and the flight landed early’

Alaska Airlines came out on top thanks to a relatively low rate of cancelled flights and mishandled baggage reports, competitive pricing, and most importantly, a low number of accidents.

Alaska also recently ranked the highest in customer satisfaction among traditional carriers in North America for the 11th year in a row in a report by J.D. Power.

Passengers participating in the satisfaction survey also said Alaska’s new overhead bins that fit roll-aboard bags better than traditional bins were a significant improvement.

Following on Alaska’s heels is Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines (DAL).

Delta — which actually beat Alaska on Skytrax’s 2018 rankings — received an honorary title of ‘Most Reliable Airline’ because it specifically had the “lowest rate of cancelations, delays, mishandled luggage and denied boardings,” said the report.

In terms of comfort, New York-based JetBlue (JBLU) ranked first because of the “in-flight experience… free amenities such as Wi-Fi, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and beverages” that passengers enjoyed.

A flight attendant playfully points out the exits while walking the runway during an unveiling of Alaska Airline's new employee uniforms Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, in SeaTac, Wash. The Luly Yang designs have been two years in the making and will eventually clad 19,000 Alaska, Virgin America and Horizon Air uniformed employees starting in 2019. The uniforms will make their official debut next week with 130 flight attendants, pilots, customer service agents and lounge employees testing the outfits for 60 days. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
A flight attendant playfully points out the exits while walking the runway during an unveiling of Alaska Airline's new employee uniforms Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, in SeaTac, Wash. (Photo credit: AP/Elaine Thompson)

Regional airlines

Despite over two million pets and other live animals being transported by air every year according to the Department of Transportation, many airlines have increasing demands placed on them to be pet-friendly.

Among the three regional airlines in particular, ExpressJet Airlines and Envoy Air ranked as the best airlines for pets, reporting no incidents so far this year.

Aarthi is a writer for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @aarthiswami.

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