economy
These are the best airlines in 2026, according to The Points Guy
Delta Air Lines ranked as the top U.S. airline in The Points Guy's latest annual survey, which evaluated carriers on factors including reliability, customer experience, loyalty programs and cost.
TL;DR
- Delta Air Lines ranked as the top U.S. airline in The Points Guy's 2026 annual survey.
- United Airlines and Southwest Airlines secured the second and third spots.
- Cost was given extra weight (25%) due to rising jet fuel prices and the Iran war.
- Reliability (30%) was the most heavily weighted factor in the rankings.
- Delta's consistent success is attributed to strong employee satisfaction stemming from profit sharing.
- United's loyalty program was a strong point, but baggage handling issues impacted its ranking.
- Southwest maintained a high ranking despite ending its free checked bag policy.
- Frontier Airlines offered the most affordable ticket prices.
- AI tools and flexible booking on platforms like Google Flights are recommended for finding cheaper fares.