Airline Safety Factors
WalletHub evaluated the largest U.S. airlines on 14 different metrics to determine the best airline in the country. These metrics included baggage and departures, animal incidents, in-flight comfort and cost, and safety. The experts looked at factors like safety records, on-time departures, and in-flight amenities. They also considered the airlines’ performance in handling baggage and animal incidents. These metrics were used to compare the airlines across different categories. Spirit Airlines was found to be the top airline overall, scoring 69.12 out of 100.
Awards and Recognition
Spirit Airlines took home several awards and recognitions in the 2025 WalletHub ranking. These included being named the most affordable airline, the safest airline, and the most reliable airline.
Ranking Criteria
WalletHub’s ranking criteria included
- Baggage and departures metrics
- Animal incidents metrics
- In-flight comfort and cost metrics
- Safety metrics
These criteria were used to evaluate the airlines across different categories.
Ranking Results
| Ranking | Airline | Score |
| 1 | Spirit Airlines | 69.12 |
| 2 | Skywest Airlines | 68.08 |
| 3 | Delta Air Lines | 64.24 |
| 4 | JetBlue Airways | 63.38 |
| 5 | Southwest Airlines | 62.19 |
| 6 | Alaska Airlines | 58.38 |
| 7 | Hawaiian Airlines | 57.32 |
| 8 | United Airlines | 56.58 |
| 9 | Frontier Airlines | 47.02 |
| 10 | American Airlines | 45.81 |
| 11 | Envoy Air | 38.56 |
Best Airlines for Specific Categories
Most Affordable Airline
Spirit Airlines was named the most affordable airline in the WalletHub ranking.
Most Reliable Airline
Delta Air Lines was named the most reliable airline in the ranking.
Most Comfortable Airline
JetBlue Airways and Hawaiian Airlines were tied for the most comfortable airline.
Best Airline for Pets
Skywest Airlines, United Airlines, and Envoy Air were tied for the best airline for pets.
Best Airline for Safety
Spirit Airlines was named the safest airline in the ranking.
Improving Flight Reliability
Experts say that one of the easiest ways to improve flight reliability is to prioritize on-time departures.
Joseph P.
