Full Breakdown
2026 The Points Guy Airline Rankings: Delta Leads U.S. Carriers
6/4/2026, 12:26:58 AM
Top U.S. Carriers in the 2026 Rankings
The Points Guy’s 2026 annual airline ranking evaluated ten U.S. carriers on reliability (30 % of the score), cost (25 %), loyalty programs (25 %) and travel experience (20 %). Delta Air Lines secured the top spot for the eighth straight year, United Airlines placed second, and Southwest Airlines ranked third. Frontier Airlines earned the highest affordability rating, while Spirit Airlines was omitted after ceasing operations earlier this month.
Background & Context
The 2026 report increased the cost weighting from 20 % to 25 % in response to rising jet-fuel prices tied to the ongoing Iran war. Higher fuel costs have prompted airlines to raise fares and baggage fees, influencing the overall ranking.
Key Players & Groups
Kelly, a spokesperson for The Points Guy, provided commentary to CBS Mornings about the methodology and results. No airline executives were quoted in the source material.
Data & Statistics
- Ranking order: 1. Delta Air Lines – 2. United Airlines – 3. Southwest Airlines – 4. Alaska Air Group – 5. American Airlines – 6. JetBlue – 7. Allegiant Air – 8. Frontier Airlines – 9. (Spirit omitted) – 10. (not listed).
- Weightings: cost 25 %, reliability 30 %, loyalty 25 %, travel experience 20 % of total score.
- Profit sharing: Delta’s 2023 profit-sharing program delivered $1.3 billion to employees, roughly 8.9 % of eligible earnings.
- Baggage handling: United recorded the highest rate of mishandled bags, according to Department of Transportation data cited by The Points Guy.
Official Statements & Responses
Kelly attributed Delta’s ranking to strong employee satisfaction, noting that profit-sharing “translates into a better passenger experience.” He highlighted United’s robust frequent-flyer benefits but pointed to its baggage-handling record as a detractor. Regarding Southwest, Kelly emphasized the carrier’s lower fee structure and its efficient operations, which helped it maintain a top-three position despite eliminating the free checked-bag policy.
Criticism & Opposition
Delta and United received the lowest affordability scores in the survey, reflecting the broader cost pressures identified earlier. Spirit’s exclusion underscores volatility in the low-cost segment, while Frontier’s leading affordability rating contrasts with the higher-priced offerings of legacy carriers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “So when you fly Delta, there is a marked difference in the happiness of their employees, which I believe is attributed to that profit sharing,” — Kelly, The Points Guy spokesperson
- “And they're generally very reliable.” — Kelly
- “run a tight operation.” — Kelly
- “When you go to Google flights, you can put in your home airport on the explore map and put in Europe, the Caribbean, wherever you want to go,” — Kelly
What’s Next: Fare-Finding Tools and Future Rankings
Kelly recommended AI-driven tools such as Autopilot, Junova, PAiback and JetBack for tracking fare changes, and suggested Google Flights for flexible itinerary planning. The Points Guy will publish its 2027 airline ranking later next year, potentially adjusting weightings further if fuel-price volatility persists.
