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@usatoday.com.
