Best and worst domestic airlines of 2024

The best domestic airline is Delta Air Lines and oh-so-close is Southwest Airlines.

The Wall Street Journal rated all the domestic airlines in the US about a month ago. They rated all domestic airlines from first to worst based on their performance in the twelve months from January to December 2024.

Once this was the rating that made all the difference for business travelers. Today, business travel is still down around 15 percent after the COVID pandemic. Well-heeled passenger traffic fills the seats once sold to business travelers.

This year, the former CEO of Spirit Airlines (Ben Baldanza) died, the Department of Justice denied the JetBlue/Spirit merger, and Delta and Southwest Airlines experienced significant technical problems. Those who follow this closely witnessed a Senate battle over expanding the perimeter rule, a reduction in business travel, and a dramatic board of directors battle during which Southwest decided to start seat selection on its flights.

According to the WSJ and DOT, airlines had more on-time arrivals and lost fewer bags. Delta, Southwest, Alaska, and Allegiant were the best domestic airlines. Best on-time arrivals were Delta, United, Alaska, and Southwest. Fewest canceled flights were Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, and American. The least number of customer complaints were from Southwest, Alaska, Delta, and Allegiant. Southwest, Alaska, Delta, and Allegiant reported the lowest number of two-hour tarmac delays. In terms of baggage handling, the ranking of airlines showed Allegiant as the best, followed by JetBlue, Frontier, and Southwest. Delta and Allegiant were tied for best when it came to lowest number of bumped passengers, followed by United and Southwest.

The best airlines were:

1. Delta Air Lines
2. Southwest Airlines
3. Alaska Airlines
4. Allegiant Airlines
5. United Airlines
6. JetBlue Airlines
7. American Airlines
8. Spirit Airlines
9. Frontier Airlines

On-time arrivals —

1. Delta Air Lines
2. United Airlines
3. Alaska Airlines
4. Southwest Airlines
5. Allegiant Airlines
6. American Airlines
7. Spirit Airlines
8. Jet Blue Airlines
9. Frontier Airlines

Canceled flights, fewest complaints, and tarmac delays

Southwest Airlines had three first-place finishes. It beat Delta Air Lines in canceled flights, and had the fewest passenger complaints. Plus, Southwest had the fewest two-hour tarmac delays.

Here are those lineups as they finished the year in the best and worst domestic airlines 2024.

Fewest canceled flights —

1. Southwest Airlines
2. Delta Air Lines
3. Jet Blue Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Alaska Airlines
6. United Airlines
7. Frontier Airlines
8. Allegiant Airlines
9. Spirit Airlines

 Reported customer complaints —

1. Southwest Airlines
2. Alaska Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines
4. Allegiant Airlines
5. United Airlines
6. American Airlines
7. Jet Blue Airlines
8. Spirit Airlines
9. Frontier Airlines

Fewest two-hour tarmac delays —

1. Southwest Airlines
2. Alaska Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines
4. Allegiant Airlines
5. United Airlines
6. American Airlines
7. Jet Blue Airlines
8. Spirit Airlines
9. Frontier Airlines

Lowest number of mishandled bags —

1. Allegiant Airlines
2. Jet Blue Airlines
3. Frontier Airlines
4. Southwest Airlines
5. Delta Air Lines
6. Spirit Airline
7. Alaska Airlines
8. United Airlines
9. American Airlines

Lowest bumping rate —

1. Allegiant Airlines
2. Delta Air Lines
3. United Airlines
4. Southwest Airlines
5. JetBlue
6. Alaska Airlines
7. Spirit Airlines
8. American Airlines
9. Frontier Airlines

Delta was ranked the best of America’s airlines

It was a close battle between Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, but Delta Air Lines, the best airline in America and internationally, emerged as the winner.

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