WalletHub ranks Southwest as the worst US airline, see which airline was the best

Every year, it seems like there’s a flood of airline rankings for dozens of companies and, yet, I am always at the edge of my seat reading every report. I’m usually the type of person to book with the airline offering up the cheapest airfare, but even I admit that there are some airlines that aren’t worth the hassle. 

An airline experience can really make or break a trip and the folks at WalletHub have ranked the best and worst US airlines. 

The finance site compared the nine largest US carriers and two regional carriers across 14 factors including price, cancellation and delay rates, mishandled baggage, in-flight comfort, entertainment options, legroom, Wi-Fi availability, injuries, and even pet deaths. 

Here’s what they found:

• Delta was named the Best Airline Overall followed by Spirit in 2nd, and Skywest in 3rd. 
• Delta was also the Most Reliable Airline. They had the lowest rate of cancellations, delays, denied boarding, and mishandled luggage.
• Southwest landed dead last, in 11th place, by a landslide which is no surprise given their disastrous meltdown at the end of last year.
• Envoy Air was deemed Safest Airline with Spirit following closely behind. 
• JetBlue Airways is the Most Comfortable Airline with free amenities like Wi-Fi, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and beverages making it stand out from the crowd.
• Spirit Airlines was the Most Affordable.