Delta Air Lines Named Best U.S. Airline Again in The Points Guy's Annual Rankings
Air travel in the United States is a critical industry, with dozens of national and regional carriers fighting for travelers' business. Staying ahead of the curve and in the good graces of passengers is paramount.
There are several different ways to measure airline quality, and popular travel website The Points Guy has been producing its annual Best Airlines report for 10 years now. The outlet unveiled its newest set of rankings Wednesday morning.
"The aviation industry has gone through one of the most challenging years on record," said The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly. "From operational challenges to evolving traveler expectations, airlines have had to adapt quickly. Our Best Airlines Report cuts through the noise to provide travelers with a data-driven look at which carriers are delivering the best overall experience, helping consumers book with confidence and choose the airline that best fits their needs."
When all of the data was collected and sorted through, the result was the same as it has been in recent years. For the eighth consecutive time, Delta Air Lines was named America's No. 1 airline by The Points Guy's study.
The best airlines in the United States, according to The Points Guy
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Alaska Air Group (Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines)
- American Airlines
- JetBlue
- Allegiant Air
- Frontier Airlines
According to a press release provided to Men's Journal, Delta's eighth-straight first-place performance was fueled by "reliable operations, premium cabin offerings, an expansive lounge network and strong customer experience."
However, the Atlanta-based air carrier may be losing its grip on the top spot. United, Southwest and Alaska Air Group all delivered impressive showings, with the The Points Guy saying the only thing that kept United from dethroning Delta was a high rate of mishandled luggage.
How the rankings were determined
The Points Guy's methodology involved evaluating each airline across four weighted categories:
- Reliability (30%)
- Loyalty (25%)
- Costs and reach (20%)
- Experience (20%)
The first category uses data from the Department of Transportation to study each carrier's timeliness, cancellations, involuntary passenger bumps, baggage handling and wheelchair policies. Meanwhile, the loyalty score is based on frequent flyer programs and award availability.
Affordability, routes and bag fees fall under the costs and reach umbrella, with cabin services, lounges, customer satisfaction and family friendliness all factoring into passenger experience.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 5:59 AM.