The Best and Worst U.S. Airlines of 2018
Delta shines in a ranking of measures including delays, mishandled baggage and complaints, while American lags behind its largest competitors, its basically a measure of how airlines perform operationally.


7 categories, 1 overall winner.


1st category, On Time Arrivals. An impressive 82.9% goes to Delta Airlines. The rest of the airlines in descending order; Alaska, Spirit, Southwest, United, American, JetBlue and Frontier

2nd category, Lowest rate of tarmac delays. Southwest is #1, follwed by Alaska, Frontier, Spirit, Delta, JetBlue, United and AA in last place

3rd category, Lowest rate of involuntary bumping. This award goes to Delta with only 47 cases in the 12 month period. Next, JetBlue, then UA, AA, Southwest, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier

4th category, Lowest rate of extreme delay - defined in the industry as a flight that arrives 45 minutes or more after its scheduled arrival time. Alaska was the top ranked airline. AS managed only a 5.6% rate of extreme delays so they were the best, The rest came in as follows: DL, SW, Spirit, AA, UA, B6 and last place Frontier

5th category, Lowest rate of cancelled flights - this award goes to Detla, cancelling less than 1% of its flights. Than Spriit, AS, SW, UA, Frontier, B6, and AA in last place

6th category, lowest rate of mishandled bags - Spirit, JetBlue, DL, UA, AS, Frontier, SW and AA in last place

7th category, lowest rate of complaints - (filed with the DOT)- SW, AS, DL, B6, UA, AA, Spirit and Frontier

8th (and last) category, Best airline of 2018 Dela, AS, SW, Spirit, B6 tied with UA for 5th place, AA and then Frontier,


The contents of the video can be seen here:


https://www.wsj.com/video/the-best-and- ... ow_video_2



My overall impression. No surprises that operationally, DL is the best run airline. UA is making inroads but still finds itself in the middle of the pack, getting better but still a long way to go. Oscar and company definitely a good thing for the Chicago based airline and AA, well, they need a lot of help.

Spirit is the worst one in the US. Because it's a 2 star airlines.

jumbojet wrote:

The Best and Worst U.S. Airlines of 2018
Delta shines in a ranking of measures including delays, mishandled baggage and complaints, while American lags behind its largest competitors, its basically a measure of how airlines perform operationally.


7 categories, 1 overall winner.


1st category, On Time Arrivals. An impressive 82.9% goes to Delta Airlines. The rest of the airlines in descending order; Alaska, Spirit, Southwest, United, American, JetBlue and Frontier

2nd category, Lowest rate of tarmac delays. Southwest is #1, follwed by Alaska, Frontier, Spirit, Delta, JetBlue, United and AA in last place

3rd category, Lowest rate of involuntary bumping. This award goes to Delta with only 47 cases in the 12 month period. Next, JetBlue, then UA, AA, Southwest, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier

4th category, Lowest rate of extreme delay - defined in the industry as a flight that arrives 45 minutes or more after its scheduled arrival time. Alaska was the top ranked airline. AS managed only a 5.6% rate of extreme delays so they were the best, The rest came in as follows: DL, SW, Spirit, AA, UA, B6 and last place Frontier

5th category, Lowest rate of cancelled flights - this award goes to Detla, cancelling less than 1% of its flights. Than Spriit, AS, SW, UA, Frontier, B6, and AA in last place

6th category, lowest rate of mishandled bags - Spirit, JetBlue, DL, UA, AS, Frontier, SW and AA in last place

7th category, lowest rate of complaints - (filed with the DOT)- SW, AS, DL, B6, UA, AA, Spirit and Frontier

8th (and last) category, Best airline of 2018 Dela, AS, SW, Spirit, B6 tied with UA for 5th place, AA and then Frontier,


The contents of the video can be seen here:


https://www.wsj.com/video/the-best-and- ... ow_video_2



My overall impression. No surprises that operationally, DL is the best run airline. UA is making inroads but still finds itself in the middle of the pack, getting better but still a long way to go. Oscar and company definitely a good thing for the Chicago based airline and AA, well, they need a lot of help.

So best run airline based on a bunch of metrics that DL happened to do favorably in? I'm not saying the on-time percentage isn't impressive for such a large airline, but that is hardly the only consideration when determining the "best". For example, how does DL's on-time percentage help out of New York where there is nowhere near a 85% on-time rate? The offsetting on-time departures from less congested airports - say SLC and SEA - don't mean squat to the average New York departure.

Where is Hawaiian in all of this? They usually run away with the on-time rankings - maybe they should be the "best."

I would do Delta more often, but I don't, because SkyMiles.

And I know a lot of others feel the same.

SQ789 wrote:

Spirit is the worst one in the US. Because it's a 2 star airlines.

They serve their purpose and really seem to have made incredible improvements in the past couple years.
My trips on them have all been uneventful and pleasant, as well as on time. I never understand the hate... Maybe just too high of expectations for a $50 flight?

American is way overrated for what they are.

richierich wrote:

jumbojet wrote:

The Best and Worst U.S. Airlines of 2018
Delta shines in a ranking of measures including delays, mishandled baggage and complaints, while American lags behind its largest competitors, its basically a measure of how airlines perform operationally.


7 categories, 1 overall winner.


1st category, On Time Arrivals. An impressive 82.9% goes to Delta Airlines. The rest of the airlines in descending order; Alaska, Spirit, Southwest, United, American, JetBlue and Frontier

2nd category, Lowest rate of tarmac delays. Southwest is #1, follwed by Alaska, Frontier, Spirit, Delta, JetBlue, United and AA in last place

3rd category, Lowest rate of involuntary bumping. This award goes to Delta with only 47 cases in the 12 month period. Next, JetBlue, then UA, AA, Southwest, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier

4th category, Lowest rate of extreme delay - defined in the industry as a flight that arrives 45 minutes or more after its scheduled arrival time. Alaska was the top ranked airline. AS managed only a 5.6% rate of extreme delays so they were the best, The rest came in as follows: DL, SW, Spirit, AA, UA, B6 and last place Frontier

5th category, Lowest rate of cancelled flights - this award goes to Detla, cancelling less than 1% of its flights. Than Spriit, AS, SW, UA, Frontier, B6, and AA in last place

6th category, lowest rate of mishandled bags - Spirit, JetBlue, DL, UA, AS, Frontier, SW and AA in last place

7th category, lowest rate of complaints - (filed with the DOT)- SW, AS, DL, B6, UA, AA, Spirit and Frontier

8th (and last) category, Best airline of 2018 Dela, AS, SW, Spirit, B6 tied with UA for 5th place, AA and then Frontier,


The contents of the video can be seen here:


https://www.wsj.com/video/the-best-and- ... ow_video_2



My overall impression. No surprises that operationally, DL is the best run airline. UA is making inroads but still finds itself in the middle of the pack, getting better but still a long way to go. Oscar and company definitely a good thing for the Chicago based airline and AA, well, they need a lot of help.

Where is Hawaiian in all of this? They usually run away with the on-time rankings - maybe they should be the "best."

They weren’t considered because they don’t operate on the same scale on the mainland which is where most of the weather problems are.

richierich wrote:

jumbojet wrote:

The Best and Worst U.S. Airlines of 2018
Delta shines in a ranking of measures including delays, mishandled baggage and complaints, while American lags behind its largest competitors, its basically a measure of how airlines perform operationally.


7 categories, 1 overall winner.


1st category, On Time Arrivals. An impressive 82.9% goes to Delta Airlines. The rest of the airlines in descending order; Alaska, Spirit, Southwest, United, American, JetBlue and Frontier

2nd category, Lowest rate of tarmac delays. Southwest is #1, follwed by Alaska, Frontier, Spirit, Delta, JetBlue, United and AA in last place

3rd category, Lowest rate of involuntary bumping. This award goes to Delta with only 47 cases in the 12 month period. Next, JetBlue, then UA, AA, Southwest, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier

4th category, Lowest rate of extreme delay - defined in the industry as a flight that arrives 45 minutes or more after its scheduled arrival time. Alaska was the top ranked airline. AS managed only a 5.6% rate of extreme delays so they were the best, The rest came in as follows: DL, SW, Spirit, AA, UA, B6 and last place Frontier

5th category, Lowest rate of cancelled flights - this award goes to Detla, cancelling less than 1% of its flights. Than Spriit, AS, SW, UA, Frontier, B6, and AA in last place

6th category, lowest rate of mishandled bags - Spirit, JetBlue, DL, UA, AS, Frontier, SW and AA in last place

7th category, lowest rate of complaints - (filed with the DOT)- SW, AS, DL, B6, UA, AA, Spirit and Frontier

8th (and last) category, Best airline of 2018 Dela, AS, SW, Spirit, B6 tied with UA for 5th place, AA and then Frontier,


The contents of the video can be seen here:


https://www.wsj.com/video/the-best-and- ... ow_video_2



My overall impression. No surprises that operationally, DL is the best run airline. UA is making inroads but still finds itself in the middle of the pack, getting better but still a long way to go. Oscar and company definitely a good thing for the Chicago based airline and AA, well, they need a lot of help.

So best run airline based on a bunch of metrics that DL happened to do favorably in? I'm not saying the on-time percentage isn't impressive for such a large airline, but that is hardly the only consideration when determining the "best". For example, how does DL's on-time percentage help out of New York where there is nowhere near a 85% on-time rate? The offsetting on-time departures from less congested airports - say SLC and SEA - don't mean squat to the average New York departure.

Where is Hawaiian in all of this? They usually run away with the on-time rankings - maybe they should be the "best."

Agreed, Hawaiian offers a hot meal and friendly service from SFO-HNL compared to the other airlines in the states.

richierich wrote:

So best run airline based on a bunch of metrics that DL happened to do favorably in? I'm not saying the on-time percentage isn't impressive for such a large airline, but that is hardly the only consideration when determining the "best". For example, how does DL's on-time percentage help out of New York where there is nowhere near a 85% on-time rate?

Does the competition do a better job out of New York?

Since when was Air Namibia included in the ratings?

Your post became annoying to read since you got increasingly lazier with spelling out the airline names. At least use "WN" for Southwest.

On topic, Frontier being the worst in a lot of these statistics is weird.. maybe has to do with their "tip" memes?

Ziyulu wrote:

Since when was Air Namibia included in the ratings?

Everyone understands that SW, when talking about US Airlines, is Southwest Airlines (IATA Code WN) and not Air Namibia (IATA Code SW)...

AA, "Going for Great." Looks like they have held up their end of the bargain.

SQ789 wrote:

Spirit is the worst one in the US. Because it's a 2 star airlines.

NK came in ahead of B6, UA, AA, and F9. You don't agree?

WayexTDI wrote:

Ziyulu wrote:

Since when was Air Namibia included in the ratings?

Everyone understands that SW, when talking about US Airlines, is Southwest Airlines (IATA Code WN) and not Air Namibia (IATA Code SW)...

Perhaps, but why would anyone use the designation SW for Southwest Airlines? Write out the whole name in English, or use IATA WN or even ICAO SWA, but not SW which is a valid code for a different airline. Lazy and sloppy, IMHO.

Veigar wrote:

Your post became annoying to read since you got increasingly lazier with spelling out the airline names. At least use "WN" for Southwest.

On topic, Frontier being the worst in a lot of these statistics is weird.. maybe has to do with their "tip" memes?

Also there has never been an airline in the USA named Delta Airlines. In the 1920’s the name was changed from Delta Air Service to Delta Air Lines. Three words make up the correct name of the airline you mention in the article.

PW100 wrote:

richierich wrote:

So best run airline based on a bunch of metrics that DL happened to do favorably in? I'm not saying the on-time percentage isn't impressive for such a large airline, but that is hardly the only consideration when determining the "best". For example, how does DL's on-time percentage help out of New York where there is nowhere near a 85% on-time rate?

Does the competition do a better job out of New York?

For on-time percentage and cancellations? Probably no better than DL, but my guess is not significantly worse either.

jumbojet wrote:

The Best and Worst U.S. Airlines of 2018
Delta shines in a ranking of measures including delays, mishandled baggage and complaints, while American lags behind its largest competitors, its basically a measure of how airlines perform operationally.


7 categories, 1 overall winner.


1st category, On Time Arrivals. An impressive 82.9% goes to Delta Airlines. The rest of the airlines in descending order; Alaska, Spirit, Southwest, United, American, JetBlue and Frontier

2nd category, Lowest rate of tarmac delays. Southwest is #1, follwed by Alaska, Frontier, Spirit, Delta, JetBlue, United and AA in last place

3rd category, Lowest rate of involuntary bumping. This award goes to Delta with only 47 cases in the 12 month period. Next, JetBlue, then UA, AA, Southwest, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier

4th category, Lowest rate of extreme delay - defined in the industry as a flight that arrives 45 minutes or more after its scheduled arrival time. Alaska was the top ranked airline. AS managed only a 5.6% rate of extreme delays so they were the best, The rest came in as follows: DL, SW, Spirit, AA, UA, B6 and last place Frontier

5th category, Lowest rate of cancelled flights - this award goes to Detla, cancelling less than 1% of its flights. Than Spriit, AS, SW, UA, Frontier, B6, and AA in last place

6th category, lowest rate of mishandled bags - Spirit, JetBlue, DL, UA, AS, Frontier, SW and AA in last place

7th category, lowest rate of complaints - (filed with the DOT)- SW, AS, DL, B6, UA, AA, Spirit and Frontier

8th (and last) category, Best airline of 2018 Dela, AS, SW, Spirit, B6 tied with UA for 5th place, AA and then Frontier,


The contents of the video can be seen here:


https://www.wsj.com/video/the-best-and- ... ow_video_2



My overall impression. No surprises that operationally, DL is the best run airline. UA is making inroads but still finds itself in the middle of the pack, getting better but still a long way to go. Oscar and company definitely a good thing for the Chicago based airline and AA, well, they need a lot of help.

Frontier is very consistently near the bottom in almost all the catogaries.

Surprised UA isn't ranked higher considering how drastically they've improved in the past year.

spinotter wrote:

WayexTDI wrote:

Ziyulu wrote:

Since when was Air Namibia included in the ratings?

Everyone understands that SW, when talking about US Airlines, is Southwest Airlines (IATA Code WN) and not Air Namibia (IATA Code SW)...

Perhaps, but why would anyone use the designation SW for Southwest Airlines? Write out the whole name in English, or use IATA WN or even ICAO SWA, but not SW which is a valid code for a different airline. Lazy and sloppy, IMHO.

SW = South West (as in the South-West quadrant of a compass rose).
Lazy and sloppy I agree; not linking SW and Southwest Airlines when the article is about Airlines from the United States (which, de facto, excludes Air Namibia) is also being lazy...

WayexTDI wrote:

spinotter wrote:

WayexTDI wrote:

Everyone understands that SW, when talking about US Airlines, is Southwest Airlines (IATA Code WN) and not Air Namibia (IATA Code SW)...

Perhaps, but why would anyone use the designation SW for Southwest Airlines? Write out the whole name in English, or use IATA WN or even ICAO SWA, but not SW which is a valid code for a different airline. Lazy and sloppy, IMHO.

SW = South West (as in the South-West quadrant of a compass rose).
Lazy and sloppy I agree; not linking SW and Southwest Airlines when the article is about Airlines from the United States (which, de facto, excludes Air Namibia) is also being lazy...

I suppose you mean us a.net readers of your postings being lazy by not forming the link between Southwest Airlines and SW in our minds. It would be sloppy and incorrect for any real airline enthusiast to make that link in our minds when a poster like you who obviously knows the correct code, for whatever reason, chooses not to use the proper two letters.

I rode on Trans States several times last year, and it was easily the worst I flew on in 2018.

sonicruiser wrote:

Surprised UA isn't ranked higher considering how drastically they've improved in the past year.

They started from a very low ranking. Improvement after Dr. Dao - I hope so. But not up to DL or SQ yet, sorry to say.

As a loyal and frequent AA flier, I'm really disappointed to see AA at the bottom of the rankings of all legacy US airlines; while I have little complaints with AA, I did experience my worst flights with AA on my trip back home from my Florida trip last summer. From weather delays (not AA's fault) to a slightly rude F/A on the final leg home, I was considering the switch to WN for future leisure travels. While my subsequent AA trip to ABQ last August restored most of my trust in flying AA again, my WN experience on my trips to NY and CA one month later (and their two checked bags fly free promo) would make WN as my preferred carrier over AA (though I won't rule out AA completely when booking future flights).

This May, in addition to flying WN to LAX and OAK, I will be flying UA for the very first time to EWR from SFO; hopefully their service has improved since the David Dao incident and let's see how their service is compared to AA and WN!

richierich wrote:

So best run airline based on a bunch of metrics that DL happened to do favorably in?

Are you implying that the WSJ is paid off by Delta or something to make this post and that these metrics are actually unimportant indicators of a well-run airline?