For Your Edification: The Best and Worst Airlines 

I’ve done a fair amount of plane travel in my life. Not millions of miles. But probably close to a million. I’ve traveled domestically at least 1,000 times and internationally at least 100. There are many people that have flown more than I have. In fact, I probably haven’t flown enough to have an informed opinion about which are the best and worst airlines. And yet, I do!

And I compare my opinions to those I see published every year by various travel magazines and newsletters. In a rating recently published by World Airline Awards, the lion’s share of the top 20 spots were divided between Asian and Arab country airlines. That’s been my experience, especially in the first-class cabin. (If you’ve never experienced first-class flight with Singapore, Qatar, or Emirates Airlines, you don’t know how luxurious first class can be.)

In comparison, US airlines generally provide their customers with a distinctly second-class experience. Even in the first-class sections on domestic flights. The equipment (which is how people in the industry refer to the planes) is often old and dirty. The flight attendants are at best officious and, more often, disagreeable. And the efficiency and reliability of the service ranges between average and disappointing. It doesn’t surprise me that only three US airlines made it into the top 50 – and that was Delta at 24, Southwest at 34, and Jet Blue at 48.

As a rule, you’re almost always better off with an Asian, Arab, European, or Australian airline when traveling internationally. In the US, Jet Blue is solid. Southwest is one step down. And Delta and the rest of the US airlines are to be avoided, if you can. (For East Coast to West Coast flights, I would recommend Virgin Airways.)