Ranking Major U.S. Airlines - from my personal experiences

1. Delta Airlines

I’m sure many will agree—compared to other U.S. airlines, Delta stands out in several ways. I’ve rarely encountered rude or unfriendly staff, especially when compared to my experiences with other airlines. The Delta Amex Gold card was one of the first credit cards I got in the U.S., and it was great at first with perks like free checked bags and a 15% discount on mileage redemptions, but then I realized their mileage redemption—it’s notoriously expensive to use SkyMiles or even pay cash for flights. Additionally, Delta doesn't offer as many international flights. Only with Sky Priority partners airline which you don’t often see it on the Delta site, which limits its appeal for global travelers like me.

While I haven’t had the chance to fly Delta One yet, just walking past the cabin gives me the impression that it’s one of the best business class offerings among U.S.-based airlines. In terms of comfort, Delta’s planes are significantly better than those of other U.S. airlines, even in economy class. On top of that, the recent introduction of complimentary in-flight WiFi for all SkyMiles members is a game-changer and solidifies Delta's position at the top of my list for domestic travel. Lastly, they offer this amazing 20 minutes guarantee for your check-in bags upon arrival. Just fill out the form, if it’s past 20 minutes, you will see 2500 miles in your Delta account within minutes.

2. United Airlines

United Airlines is one of the best options for international flights in the U.S., offering routes to destinations all over the world. As a member of the Star Alliance group, United also allows you to book flights with over 20 plus airlines, such as Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa, and many more. Mileage redemption with United can be excellent at times, with some business class seats costing less than 75,000 miles. I plan to share a few great redemption examples in my upcoming newsletter.

I’ve had the chance to fly United Polaris, and while the Saks Fifth Avenue amenities are a nice touch, the seat itself is the smallest lie-flat I’ve experienced. The food is very hit-or-miss—unfortunately, a miss about 70% of the time. The service is also inconsistent. Last year, when I flew Polaris, I was questioned every time I made a request. However, my experience this year was much better, with attentive and friendly staff. That said, there have been incidents in the past with unfriendly or even aggressive staff, that made the news multiple times, so unfortunately, the level of service can vary greatly from flight to flight.

One thing I do appreciate is United’s rewards program. With Star Alliance Gold status(by getting United Status), you get access to many lounges around the world, even without flying business class or having a credit card that grants lounge access. The planes are generally well-maintained, though some older aircraft that still lack personal screens are usually really bad. In one unfortunate incident, my friend had to deal with a seat that had been soiled, which is something you wouldn’t expect from a reputable airline.

3. American Airlines

I’ve recently started to become a fan of American Airlines, despite knowing that many of their aircraft are older and sometimes less well-maintained. However, if you have Hyatt status, flying American becomes much more appealing. You can match your Hyatt status with American Airlines and get an instant trial, with a faster promo spend to maintain the status. With this, you enjoy perks like free checked bags, priority check-in (which saves a lot of time), and complimentary upgrades.

Another major benefit of flying American Airlines is their membership in the Oneworld Alliance, which offers excellent redemption opportunities. For instance, it’s not uncommon to find 57,000-mile business class flights from the West Coast to London—a great value for international travel.

As for service, I’ve flown American fewer than five times, so I don’t have extensive experience. That said, my experiences so far have been pretty good, with no major complaints.

4. Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines offers excellent value, especially when it comes to business class redemptions to Europe and Taiwan. One of the best parts about using Alaska miles is the variety of partner airlines you can book through their site. One of my personal favorites is Starlux, a newer airline from Taiwan, known for its comfortable economy seats and excellent service. For Europe, you can also find great redemptions with British Airways for less than 80,000 miles—another solid option.

With the recent merger with Hawaiian Airlines, you can now transfer miles and further expanding your travel options. This partnership adds flexibility, making Alaska miles even more valuable for travelers looking to explore the islands or connect with Hawaiian’s routes.

Alaska Airlines often runs promotions for affordable flights. For example, I once flew first class from SFO to Las Vegas for just $185 one way, which included the ability to check two bags for free—justifying the cost, especially since economy was priced around $100. Another great perk Alaska offers is their 20-minute baggage guarantee: if your checked bags don’t arrive within 20 minutes of landing, they’ll give you a $25 discount code for future flights or 2,500 bonus miles.

However, I wouldn’t rank their customer service as highly as Delta or Starlux. The planes are also older compared to some other airlines, but considering the great mileage redemptions and new partnership benefits, I think that’s a fair trade-off.

Here’s the link to read more: Alaska Airline 20 minutes guarantee

5. Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines can often be questionable. They have the most unique boarding and seating system, which is set to change in 2025. Customer service can vary greatly from flight to flight, but one thing that remains consistent—and a major perk—is the two free checked bags with every flight. Considering that most other airlines charge nearly $100 for two checked bags, this is a huge advantage. On the downside, they have delays on the time.

I participated in the A-List Challenge through my company for 90 days, and I’m not sure if the status is really necessary. The only significant benefit I noticed was the priority check-in, which definitely saves time. As for priority boarding, while it does allow you to pick your seat and potentially deplane earlier, you still end up waiting for your checked bags, and in my experience, that wait can sometimes be 30+ minutes.

Overall, Southwest is a great airline if you need to check bags and don’t mind a more basic in-flight experience. But if you're someone who values premium service and comfort, there may be better options out there.

6. Spirit Airlines

I’ve flown this airline several times, and I remember my first experience vividly. When I first arrived in the U.S., I wasn’t familiar with the reputation of different airlines, so I booked my first domestic flight with them. My friends from the U.S. were laughing and even told me to pray before I flew, which honestly terrified me. In the end, it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Yes, they charged me heavily for my checked bags at the time, but when flying to Vegas, they’ve consistently been the cheapest option. As long as I don’t check a bag, the overall experience is pretty comparable to other budget airlines.

The service is average—not friendly, but not the worst I’ve experienced either. If you're just looking for a quick, affordable flight and don’t mind forgoing certain comforts, this airline can be a good option.

7. Frontier Airlines

I can’t say much about my personal experience with Frontier, as I’ve only flown with them once on a round trip, and it went fairly well. However, after seeing numerous viral videos of gate agents wrongfully charging customers for carry-on bags and the airline’s notoriously poor customer service, I’ve decided to avoid flying with them in the future. Based on these issues, I don’t see myself booking with Frontier again.

8. JetBlue Airlines

I’ve flown with JetBlue once, and the experience wasn’t great. The seats were cramped, and the service was average. However, what really frustrated me was a recent attempt to book a flight for my dad from Cancun to the U.S. While filling out his passport details, I realized that JetBlue doesn’t list Taiwan or Hong Kong as options for passport-issuing countries. I initially thought it was a technical glitch, but after chatting with an agent, I was told it was due to political reasons and was asked to list my dad’s passport country as China instead.

I’ve seen other airlines list Taiwan as “Taiwan, China,” which, while not ideal, is something I can accept. But to intentionally exclude Taiwan altogether feels like discrimination. I’ve heard great things about JetBlue’s business class, but their stance on this issue makes it unacceptable for me to fly with them again.

In the end, every airline has its strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice often comes down to your personal preferences and travel goals. Whether you're looking for top-notch service, great rewards programs, or just the most affordable flight, it's important to weigh the pros and cons. I would like to emphasize that this is my personal experience so far, and it might change in the future. I hope these reviews help you navigate your options and maximize your travel experience.