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New York Post
4 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Best US airlines for 2025 revealed — and one topped the list for the seventh straight year
They're flying high. Travel blog The Points Guy (TPG) has named the best airlines in the US for 2025 — with Delta Airlines taking the crown for the seventh year in a row. The top-tier carrier was also named the most reliable on-time airline in America. Advertisement The rankings were devised to 'help consumers navigate the constantly changing aviation landscape' that's rife with 'changing airline policies, systemic delays and increased scrutiny on air travel,' per the site's founder Brian Kelly. 5 Delta Airlines nabbed the top spot for the seventh year in a row. kamilpetran – While they didn't place first across all other categories — notably falling short in affordability and the mileage customers got out of the SkyMiles rewards program — Delta soared above the competition due to their collective performance across four separate metrics. Advertisement 'What put Delta over the top in 2025 was its strength across all the categories we analyzed, from the consistently strong, on-time airline operation it runs to the experience customers have at the airport and in their seats,' TPG wrote in their report. In December, Delta Air Lines collaborated with Shake Shack to bring the fast-food giant's popular cheeseburgers to first-class cabins on domestic flights traveling more than 900 miles. United Airlines came in second place, rising from third last year. The carrier eclipsed Delta when it came to loyalty rankings and also improved in two main categories compared to last year: overall reliability and passenger experience. Advertisement United could potentially fly even higher next year due to the recently announced 'Blue Sky' agreement with JetBlue, which will increase the airline's footprint and improve perks for loyalty members, CBS reported. To compile the list, the Points Guy team analyzed each airline across four categories: reliability (based on delays, cancellations, lost luggage and more), passenger experience (inflight amenities, customer satisfaction, lounges, etc.), the caliber of the airline's loyalty program, and the cost and reach of each carrier. They then rated them on a scale of zero to 10. 5 United placed second overall. robin – Advertisement TPG based its list on 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, including passenger complaints filed with the DOT, along with mishandled baggage reports for each carrier and operational data. TPG also examined international route networks using aviation analytics firm Cirium — although they emphasized domestic networks — as well as each carrier's financials and publicly available fleet information. 'Our Best Airlines Report thoroughly analyzes and compares each airline's performance to help consumers make the right choice for them, because not all airlines are created equal,' TPG's Kelly added. 'Ultimately, we want consumers to know they have a choice so they can fly the airlines that best align with their needs.' 5 Airlines — including Alaska, above, which ranked fourth — were rated across several categories from reliability to the power of their loyalty programs. KKF – Southwest Airlines jumped up two spots to notch the No. 3 position, which TPG attributed, in part, to the carrier boasting the lowest cancellation rate in the industry for 2024. They noted that the carrier maintained its cost and reach last year — thanks, in part, to the lack of add-on fees. However, the budget carrier could face some headwinds next year following some major changes, including the rollout of checked bag fees and the phase-out of their popular 'first come, first served' policy in favor of the more standard assigned seating. Rounding out the top five were Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Advertisement 5 'Our Best Airlines Report thoroughly analyzes and compares each airline's performance to help consumers make the right choice for them, because not all airlines are created equal,' The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly said. 'Ultimately, we want consumers to know they have a choice so they can fly the airlines that best align with their needs.' Lukas Gojda – 5 Southwest Airlines made the top three. Carlos Yudica – TPG's 10 Best Airlines for 2025 Delta Air Lines United Airlines Southwest Airlines Alaska Airlines Hawaiian Airlines JetBlue American Airlines Allegiant Air Spirit Airlines Frontier Airlines Other takeaways included that American Airlines saw the biggest year-over-year decline in rankings, plunging three spots to seventh overall. Advertisement That fall from grace comes as AA plays catch-up to United and Delta in terms of profitability, as well as upmarket amenities such as business-class seats, cabin features and lounges. Budget airlines Allegiant, Spirit and Frontier occupied the last three spots in the rankings, which TPG attributed to their myriad add-on fees, lacking loyalty programs and amenities that paled in comparison to the competition. Unfortunately, U.S. airlines fared poorly on the international stage, too. Advertisement In Skytrax's recent ranking of the best airlines in the world for 2025, Delta placed the highest on list — but in an abysmal 22nd place, followed by United in a miserable 51st. Meanwhile, Air Canada topped the list of North America's top airlines for 2025, Delta came in second, and Canadian carrier Porter Airlines rounded out the top three.
USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
What is the best US airline? This carrier topped The Points Guy's 2025 Best Airlines list
What is the best US airline? This carrier topped The Points Guy's 2025 Best Airlines list Show Caption Hide Caption Preparing for summer air travel? Here's what we know now Summer travel is always busy, but there are tips on how to avoid unnecessary flight issues. Here's what we know now. Delta Air Lines successfully defended its title as the highest-ranked airline in The Points Guy's Best Airlines Report. The carrier topped the 2025 list – which ranks airlines based on reliability, loyalty programs, cost and reach, and other factors – for the seventh year in a row. The airline fell short in some categories, ranking behind others in affordable pricing and the reward power of its SkyMiles, but still boasted a winning combination overall. 'What put Delta over the top in 2025 was its strength across all the categories we analyzed, from the consistently strong, on-time airline operation it runs to the experience customers have at the airport and in their seats,' the company said in the report released Thursday, June 19. Here's how other carriers fared. United makes gains while American drops United Airlines rose from third place in 2024 to second place behind Delta. TPG credited the change in part to improvements in its reliability and passenger experience. Southwest Airlines came in third, up from fifth place last year, and Hawaiian Airlines jumped two spots from seventh place to fifth. American Airlines, meanwhile, saw the largest decline on the list as compared with last year, dropping from fourth place to seventh. 'That fall came as the airline has trailed top competitors Delta and United in profitability of late and seemingly been in catch-up mode to those carriers regarding high-end offerings like business-class seats, cabin features and lounges,' the report said. Alaska Airlines also fell from second to fourth place. What are the best airlines in the US? These are the top airlines in the country, according to TPG's report: 1. Delta Air Lines 2. United Airlines 3. Southwest Airlines 4. Alaska Airlines 5. Hawaiian Airlines 6. JetBlue 7. American Airlines 8. Allegiant Air 9. Spirit Airlines 10. Frontier Airlines Travelers can find the full report here. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
