Flying in 2026 hasn’t been easy on wallets or nerves, but The Points Guy’s tenth annual Best Airlines Report still manages to sort out who’s getting it right. The rankings evaluate airlines across four weighted categories – reliability, experience, loyalty, and cost and reach – using Department of Transportation data, airline policies, network information, and loyalty program analysis. This year’s list also looks a little different than in the past, and the reasons why say a lot about where the industry stands right now.
The Points Guy ranked eight airlines this year, down from 10 in years past, after originally planning to include Spirit Airlines before dropping the carrier when the budget airline ceased operations earlier this month. TPG also gave extra weight to the cost category in this year’s ranking, citing cost pressures tied to the Iran war, with cost contributing 25% of an airline’s score compared to 20% in 2025, while reliability still carried the greatest weight at 30%, loyalty programs accounted for 25%, and travel experience made up the remaining 20%. Here’s how each airline stacked up, from top to bottom.
1. Delta Air Lines
For the eighth consecutive year, Delta Air Lines earned the top spot, though United Airlines and Southwest Airlines delivered one of the closest races in the report’s history, finishing second and third, respectively. Delta’s ranking was driven by its operational consistency and overall customer experience, with the carrier scoring particularly well for on-time performance, premium cabin offerings, airport lounges, and handling of mobility devices. It’s a remarkable streak that shows just how hard the airline has worked to stay ahead of a increasingly competitive field.
This year, Delta provided $1.3 billion in profit sharing to its employees, or about 8.9% of its workers’ eligible annual earnings, something TPG founder Brian Kelly says translates into a better passenger experience. “So when you fly Delta, there is a marked difference in the happiness of their employees, which I believe is attributed to that profit sharing,” he said, adding “they’re generally very reliable.” Interestingly, the value of miles was one of the weaker categories for Delta, with SkyMiles valued at about 1.2 cents apiece according to TPG’s June valuations. Even so, its lounge network and premium cabins helped carry the day.
2. United Airlines
United ranked highly with its loyalty program, including its strong frequent-flyer benefits. United’s MileagePlus program led the way when it came to overall frequent flyer perks, thanks in part to the bevy of partners it has through the Star Alliance, such as Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines. That kind of global reach matters a lot to travelers chasing award seats or elite status recognition abroad.
Still, United had a weak spot that kept it from the top. Its poor track record with baggage prevented it from claiming the top spot, as the airline had the highest rate of mishandled bags according to data from the Department of Transportation. Looking ahead, TPG suggested all signs point to United being a formidable foe once again next year.
3. Southwest Airlines
Despite scrapping their free checked bag policy last year, Southwest managed to clinch the No. 3 spot. “Southwest still is, relatively, when you look at fees, lower than most other airlines,” Kelly said, adding that they “run a tight operation.” That combination of network strength and comparatively modest fees kept the carrier firmly in contention near the top.
Southwest again led the cost and reach category thanks to the strength of its domestic route network and its continued affordability on fares and overall fees relative to its peers. Looking to next year, TPG noted if Southwest bolsters its offerings with lounges, as rumored, it could make a run at the top spot. That would be a fascinating twist for a carrier that has traditionally skipped the lounge game entirely.
4. Alaska Air Group
Rounding out the top five were Alaska Air Group, which combines Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines in this year’s analysis, and American Airlines. Combining the two carriers into a single entry reflects how closely integrated their operations and loyalty offerings have become since the merger.
TPG continues to see some of the best redemptions in the airline industry through Atmos Rewards, the new shared loyalty program of Alaska and Hawaiian, calling it a valuable program to consider even for travelers who don’t fly with either carrier. That’s high praise for a program still finding its footing after the merger, and it suggests Alaska Air Group’s loyalty currency punches above its weight.
5. American Airlines
Despite posting the industry’s highest cancellation rate in 2026, American led TPG’s loyalty rankings, driven by the continued value of its AAdvantage miles relative to other carriers, taking the loyalty crown from United. Buoyed by the strength of its earnings and redemption opportunities, American kept its crown by edging out United, though the race was exceedingly tight, meaning American could face a tough fight to keep its title next year. That tension between operational hiccups and loyalty strength really sums up American’s 2026 story.
According to TPG’s new lounge formula, American’s Admirals Clubs led the way for 2026, followed closely by Delta’s Sky Clubs. American also picked up recognition elsewhere, as its top-tier Executive Platinum status took the top spot for Best U.S. Airline Elite Status, knocking out previous winner Alaska Airlines and its MVP 100 status. The airline is clearly betting big on loyalty as its calling card.
6. JetBlue
JetBlue continued its long run as the best U.S. airline when it comes to economy cabin features, with its trademark seatback screens and generous legroom in coach. For travelers stuck in the back of the plane, those small comforts can make a noticeable difference on longer flights.
That said, JetBlue’s edge in another category has narrowed. JetBlue’s competitors have closed its long-running lead on inflight Wi-Fi, as after years of being the only carrier to offer on-board internet for free, most major airlines have slashed Wi-Fi fees as part of the industry’s hottest new loyalty perk. On a brighter note, Allegiant and JetBlue led the industry in baggage handling performance, making them the most reliable carriers for checked bags in 2025.
7. Allegiant Air
Allegiant emerged as the industry’s most reliable carrier overall this year, while Southwest topped the cost-and-reach category. That’s a notable achievement for a budget carrier that often gets overlooked in conversations about premium service or loyalty perks.
Over the past year, Department of Transportation data shows American and Frontier combined involuntarily bumped more than 22,000 passengers while Delta and Allegiant reported zero denied boardings during that time period. Combined with its strong baggage handling record alongside JetBlue, Allegiant quietly put together one of the more consistent operational years in the industry.
8. Frontier Airlines
Frontier ranked No. 1 in terms of offering the most affordable ticket prices, according to the analysis, with Spirit expected to have been a close second before shutting down. Our analysis showed Frontier was the most affordable carrier last year, with Spirit ranking close behind before shutting down operations, leaving a noticeable gap in the market. For budget-conscious travelers, Frontier’s rock-bottom base fares remain its calling card even as its overall ranking sits at the bottom of the list.
By contrast, Delta and United ranked the worst when it came to affordability. That trade-off between premium service and sticker price is really the central tension running through this entire report, and it’s one every traveler weighs differently depending on what they value most.
