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We’ve all scoured the internet for the best deals.
Sometimes you may find a better price on an airline you are reluctant to take, while other fares may have a higher price point on an airline that is considered more reliable.
Decisions decisions…
The points man is here to help with their latest insightful research published this week.
The popular travel resource did a deep dive for travelers and revealed the most reliable and affordable US airlines for 2024.
The Points Guy scored each airline on a system of 1 – 100.
The combination of key factors from the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and the overall customer experience gives travelers peace of mind when booking their next trip.
No stress! These are the Most Reliable US Airlines Books
It is difficult to choose the right airline, but reaching your destination on time and safely is of course the most important thing.
Budget airlines certainly have their drawbacks, but some are making huge improvements and will surprise you.
The 3 most reliable airlines are:
Surprised by any of these?
Travelers may put Allegiant in the “Is that my only option?!” category, but all of their flights are nonstop making them a very reliable source to get you where you need to go. Although, to be fair, their route network is smaller than that of major airlines.
Delta, on the other hand, has long been a favorite airline with comfortable amenities and excellent service.
Spoiler alert – Delta has been named the top airline For six years in a row now, with an impressive score of 65.74 on the Points Guy scale, even though Allegiant takes the cake in reliability.
Alaska is a West Coast favorite, especially with their unique flight plan. More importantly, they are efficient and have made fliers happy enough to expand to new destinations like Ixtapa and Guatemala City, among others.
Cha Ching! These are the most affordable US airlines
If there’s one thing that holds people back, it’s the often wrong perception that traveling has to be expensive.
The Points Guy raises a valid point in their research. Ultra-low-cost airlines often offer the cheapest airfares and live up to their name. However, these budget airlines won’t get you far.
On the rare occasion that it does, you might have a few strange layovers that turn the trip into a real nightmare and leave you wondering why you chose this airline just to save a few bucks.
While airlines like Spirit and Frontier continue to exist by offering super low airfares, like the $19 flight I just booked.
The 3 most affordable airlines are:
- Southwest
- United
- American
It’s important to note that Spirit and Frontier recently overhauled their previously stingy business model and are now a lot more traveler-friendly with the exciting news that they won’t charge change or cancellation fees, which could at least damage Southwest’s ego considering their famous Bags fly free slogan.
Sit back and relax: these are the airlines for the best travel experiences
Those looking for the best flying experiences often don’t give budget airlines a fighting chance, and for good reason.
Who wants to be crammed in like a pack of sardines for a few hours? It’s not the most ideal situation, right?
Taking into account lounges, cabin features, family treatment and customer satisfaction according to DOT data, these are the 3 best airlines for flying experiences:
With Alaska flying to more and more destinations, travelers can treat themselves to the airlines’ luxurious lounges, the main reason why Alaska came out on top in this category along with customer satisfaction.
The big surprise here is that JetBlue comes in fifth place with such notable cabin features and free Wi-Fi on all flights.
But Delta and American ultimately ended up ahead, simply because there are many more flight options and comfortable lounges.
The top 10 airlines in total for 2024
These are the top 10 airlines ranked by the Points Guy based on overall scores.
- 10) Border – 10:35 p.m
- 9) Ghost – 34.55
- 8) Allegiant – 43.36
- 7) Hawaiian – 48.91
- 6) JetBlue – 49.38
- 5) Southwest – 58.54
- 4) American – 60.84
- 3) United – 60.90
- 2) Alaska – 64.38
- 1) Delta – 65.74
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
