Survey reveals the most unreliable airlines in the U.S. and U.K

You might want to take note before booking your 2023 trips.
plane on tarmac


The Daily Navigator strives to help you make the best decisions in travel. While we produce content according with strict editorial integrity this post may contain references to partner products. Here’s a full explanation for how our team makes money .

Is it just me, or are airlines getting a lot of flack right now? Maybe it’s because they’re knowingly scamming us out of seats. Maybe it’s the prehistoric technology of the FAA. But as the damage of the pandemic subsides and travel revs up, it’s helpful to know which airlines to be wary of. 

The summer of 2022 travel debacle

Last summer’s air travel was a doozy. As people booked their long-awaited trips to Mykonos and other European hot spots, short-staffed airlines and airports struggled to keep up with the demand. Travel insurance experts at Compare the Market reviewed which airlines were the most and least reliable following the revenge travel craze of summer 2022, and you might want to take note before booking your 2023 trips. 

The most unreliable U.S. airline is…

Taking into account flight cancelations, delays, lost luggage, the number of filed complaints, the cause of complaints, and resolved complaints, the survey determined the worst airline in the United States to be American Airlines. The airline recorded 2,183 flight problems, 157 cases of overselling tickets on flights, and 1,476 reported issues with refunds. 

And the second most unreliable U.S. airline is…

United Airlines was a close second in the survey, with 763 cases of lost or delayed baggage, 470 cases of misinformation on fares, and 22 cases of discrimination. JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier had low scores as well. 

It’s no surprise which U.K. airlines tanked

As if you didn’t already assume, easyJet was the most unreliable U.K.-based airline, receiving 10,494 complaints over a 12-month period, and only resolving 54 percent of them. TUI, Ryanair, British Airways, and Thomas Cook rounded out the five. 

Navigate the News Better

Take a five-minute trip through the news that matters most to travelers with our daily newsletter.

Related Stories

No more posts to show

Built with ❤️ by travelers, for travelers.

© 2024 Dollar Flight Club Inc. All Rights Reserved

Stay in the know with
The Navigator Newsletter

A five-minute trip through the news that matters most to travelers. Past Edition

A five-minute trip through the news that matters most to travelers. Past Edition

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The relationship may impact how an offer is being presented. Our site doesn’t include all the offers available. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.

The Daily Navigator Featured Card Popup 3
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card​ 2023
Huge Intro Bonus!

EARN UP TO $2000 IN Free Travel

Our favorite card with a $0 annual fee. 

Partner offer. Terms apply.

DFC Partner Perks App Link Image
Special Discounts for Our Members

Save Big with Perks

Get $5,000+ in immediate travel savings with Perks. Unlock next level travel benefits, for life. Get discounts from the world’s best travel brands you won’t find anywhere else. No credit required.

DFC Concierge App Link Image
Special Discount for Our Members

93% off lifetime access

Save $1,200 and 10 hours of your time on every vacation. With Lifetime access to DFC Concierge, get fully customized trip itineraries to make every vacation unforgettable.

Dollar Flight Club App Link Image
Special Discount for Our Members

50% Off PREMIUM

You can save up to $500 on your next adventure without lifting a finger get email alerts when we find flights up to 90% off leaving your home airport. Just let us know your departure airport and we’ll do the rest.

The Navigator Commitment

The Daily Navigator is the cornerstone of the DFC Media family. Through each of our brands, we’re dedicated to helping our readers travel, spend, and live smarter.

With products dedicated to affordable travel, daily news, hospitality, and personal finance, we deliver the day’s essential content with none of the filler — all in a way that’s fast, easy, and fun to read. Every morning, over 2 Million travelers trust DFC to deliver the latest news and information so that they can make informed decisions faster. We hope you’ll join them.

We’re happy to have you here!