TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Air travel is reputable for being the safest mode of transportation. However, it’s not rare for some to experience unexpected delays, lost baggage, or poor customer service. Knowing which airlines have a reputation for reliability can help make your travel experience stress-free.

In this article, we examine which airlines in the United States (U.S.) boast the highest reliability point, offering on-time arrivals and efficient customer care. Read on to see which air carrier tops the list.

List of the Most Reliable Airlines in the U.S.

NerdWallet and Visual Capitalist ranked the 10 major airlines across the U.S. based on on-time percentage, delayed flights, and mishandled baggage to see which one is the most reliable.

The list revealed that Delta was regarded as the most reliable airline in the U.S. in the year 2024, whereas JetBlue would be at the bottom of the list with the lowest on-time percentage. The rest will be as follows:

1. Delta Air Lines

When it comes to reliability, Delta Air Lines takes the crown. The airline, by all factors, showcases good performance, and it particularly stands out for its on-time percentage, coming in at nearly 84 percent. Alongside punctuality, Delta ensures proper handling of passengers’ luggage, as evidenced by the low mishandled luggage rate of 0.42 percent.

2. Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines is another champion in terms of reliability. It consistently ranks high for punctuality and only canceled around 1.26 percent of its flights, making it a great choice for traveling.

3. United Airlines

Flight cancellations might not be the strongest point of United Airlines, since it still needs to work on reducing its cancellation rate, which stood at 1.75 percent from July 2023 to June 2024. Nevertheless, United remains a solid option for travelers seeking on-time flights with minimum luggage mishandling.

4. Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is a strong contender in terms of low scheduled flight cancellation rates, revealing a percentage of 0.83 percent. While it rarely mishandles baggage, there is still room for improvement in Southwest’s on-time percentage (approximately 78 percent).

5. Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air might not be the first airline that comes to mind, but its reliability has earned it a spot on this list. According to Visual Capitalist, the air carrier demonstrates a strong record of punctuality, with only 21 percent accounting for delayed scheduled flights.

6. American Airlines

As one of the largest airlines in the U.S. by passengers, with nearly 165 million fliers in the year 2023, American Airlines is still considered to be reliable in terms of on-time performance and low cancellation rate, revealing a percentage of 77.33 percent and 1.28 percent, respectively.

However, NerdWallet reported that American Airlines is the poorest performer when it comes to baggage handling. The airline sits at the bottom with a 0.77 percent mishandled luggage rate.

7. Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines is often praised for its customer service and punctuality. Coming in exactly behind United, Alaska Airlines boasts an almost 80 percent on-time performance.

8. Spirit Airlines

True fliers know why Spirit Airlines is not for everyone. While indeed you can book a flight for as low as US$18, many complain about the frequent delays they encounter when flying with Spirit. Data from NerdWallet shows that a percentage of 73 percent accounts for Spirit’s on-time flights.

Not to mention, this low airfare comes with unexpected extra charges, such as additional dollars to print a mere boarding pass. Regardless, for those looking for affordable flights, Spirit delivers.

9. Frontier Airlines

With its iconic tagline, “The Sky is For Everyone,” Frontier Airlines promises affordable and comfortable flying experiences, suitable for budget-conscious travelers. However, the air carrier struggles to fascinate a wider range of passengers since Frontier is apparently the worst performer in terms of flight cancellation rates.

Moreover, Frontier’s on-time performance accounts for 68.91 percent, making it among the most delayed airlines in the U.S.

10. JetBlue

Punctuality may not be the strongest point of JetBlue. According to NerdWallet, JetBlue’s on-time flights reveal a percentage of 68.68 percent.

While JetBlue may not be the most reliable airline in the U.S., it is widely known for its extensive network route, transporting customers to over 100 destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and Europe. Not to mention, JetBlue is reputable for being one of the largest airlines in the country.

Choosing a reliable airline can save you from a lot of travel headaches. In addition to reliability, consider opting for a reputable airline that can guarantee a safe flight. Our article on the safest airlines in the world will provide you with the information you need for a worry-free flying experience.

Editor’s Choice: 10 of the World’s Most Dangerous Airports: Mountain Runways to Icy Airstrips

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