As travelers face the challenge of escalating ticket prices, selecting a reliable and affordable airline becomes increasingly vital. In 2024, airfare saw a notable increase of 7.9%, outpacing the 2.9% rise in the Consumer Price Index for all products, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. A recent report by WalletHub evaluated major domestic airlines, considering factors such as flight cancellations, delays, mishandled baggage, in-flight comfort, pricing, and safety. The analysis was based on 2024 data from the US Department of Transportation.
Among the top 10 airlines, American Airlines was noted for its comfort, including legroom, entertainment options, and complimentary refreshments, despite receiving low scores for mishandled baggage and delays. On the other hand, Frontier Airlines was acclaimed as the second-safest airline for 2025, with high ratings for fleet age, mishandled baggage reports, and pricing. Safety scores were based on incidents from 2019 to 2024 and the average fleet age was reported as 4.6 years in December.
United Airlines, alongside regional carriers SkyWest and Envoy Air, excelled in pet-friendly services, though it lagged behind in mishandled baggage and cancellation rates. Features such as extra legroom, Wi-Fi, and complimentary refreshments were highlighted. Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airlines were recognized for comfort, offering amenities like free Wi-Fi, refreshments, and entertainment, earning the status as the most comfortable airlines of 2025.
Alaska Airlines was praised for safety and comfort, excelling in legroom, entertainment, refreshments, and fleet age. Southwest Airlines topped the ratings for flight cancellations and provided ample legroom, in-flight entertainment, and refreshments, although it faced criticism for pricing, delays, and mishandled baggage.
JetBlue Airlines received high scores for reliability, especially in mishandled baggage and cancellations, tying with Hawaiian Airlines for comfort. Delta Air Lines was deemed the most reliable airline of 2025, showing the lowest rates for cancellations, delays, and mishandled luggage, while excelling in legroom, refreshments, and entertainment despite low scores for pricing and fleet age, which was around 14.9 years.
SkyWest Airlines, a regional carrier, tied with United Airlines for the best pet-friendly airline. Despite lacking in-flight entertainment, it scored well for legroom and refreshments. Finally, Spirit Airlines was named the best airline overall in 2025, recognized as the most affordable and safest, with a high reliability rate for delays and baggage handling. The budget carrier excelled in fleet age but scored poorly on legroom, entertainment, and refreshments, which incur additional charges.