USA TODAY 10Best
Southwest Airlines wins big with readers
Best Airline (2020)
Flying has become a fundamental aspect of travel for many people. While it may not be the most pleasant part of a vacation, airlines continue to improve the flyer experience with newer planes, better connectivity and improved food and entertainment.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Airline are as follows:
- KLM
- Singapore Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- ANA All Nippon Airways
- Japan Airlines
- Air New Zealand
- JetBlue
- Delta Air Lines
- Alaska Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
No. 10:
KLM wins big for its on-time performance (about 85 percent) and excellent service. Passengers enjoy 24/7 service through social media, the chance to earn miles through the joint Flying Blue program with Air France, and a relatively easy transfer in Amsterdam for trips to Europe. The relatively new fleet comes outfitted with modern in-flight entertainment.
Photo courtesy of Singapore Airlines
No. 9:
Singapore Airlines operates a newer fleet of planes, including Airbus A380s with the latest first-class suites. Service is excellent in every cabin, and every seat enjoys some 150 days-worth of onboard entertainment. Travelers can fly non-stop to Singapore from Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
Photo courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines
No. 8:
Hawaiian Airlines celebrated its 90th birthday in 2019 and remains an American favorite after almost a century of service. The line has an excellent on-time rating, with routes that extend far beyond the Hawaiian Islands. Passengers enjoy hot meals at no extra charge, even in economy class.
Photo courtesy of ANA All Nippon Airways
No. 7:
ANA All Nippon Airways, Japan’s largest carrier, flies to destinations like Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Bangkok and Jakarta from the US. This popular line has been recognized in the industry for its comfort (especially in premium classes), friendly staff and in-flight food options.
Photo courtesy of Japan Airlines
No. 6:
Japan Airlines (JAL) has a well-deserved reputation as having excellent premium cabins. Passengers can choose from numerous routes between the United States and Japan, and economy seats feature more legroom and wider seats than competitors. Service and food are both top notch.
Photo courtesy of Air New Zealand
No. 5:
Air New Zealand, no stranger to the top of Best Airline lists, operates a relatively young fleet with a smaller carbon footprint than the industry average. Beyond environmental leadership, the airline shines with its safety record and amenities, particularly in its excellent premium economy class.
No. 4:
JetBlue caters to passengers with new planes, plentiful routes, inflight connectivity and some of the most legroom in economy for any American-based airline. The airline flies to more than 100 cities across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America, with live TV and inflight wifi available on all flights.
Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines
No. 3:
Delta ranks among the most highly rated US-based carriers due to its on-time record (83 percent of flights arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled time in early 2019), extensive routes, robust frequent flyer program and excellent lounges at airports across America. Even smaller planes have seat-back TVs to keep passengers entertained on their journey.
Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines
No. 2:
Alaska Air, one of the best U.S.-based airlines, has a loyal passenger base thanks to its affordable fares, on-time arrivals and excellent frequent flyer program. The airline and its regional partners fly to some 115 destinations, and passengers enjoy perks like fast satellite wifi, free text messaging and entertainment and craft beer options in the sky.
Photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines
No. 1:
While Southwest Airlines isn’t glamorous — you won’t find first class seats or luxe airport lounges — the popular American-based airline wins over fans with a host of perks, including low fares, free baggage allowance, no change or cancellation fees and spacious seats compared to their competitors. The airline has the highest customer satisfaction rating for any North American airline, according to JD Power.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning airlines!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Gilbert Ott
Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of... Read More
Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly featured on Good Morning America, BBC, The Sunday Times, Travel & Leisure, CNN and other leading news outlets. Obsessed with deals, destinations and luxury travel – Ott is constantly in search of an edge, and shares every travel trick here on GodSaveThePoints.com. Catch him in airports around the world, if you can.
Gilbert Ott
Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly featured on Good Morning America, BBC, The Sunday Times, Travel & Leisure, CNN and other leading news outlets. Obsessed with deals, destinations and luxury travel – Ott is constantly in search of an edge, and shares every travel trick here on GodSaveThePoints.com. Catch him in airports around the world, if you can.
John E. DiScala
John E. DiScala, aka Johnny Jet, has traveled over... Read More
John E. DiScala, aka Johnny Jet, has traveled over 100,000 airline miles a year since starting his newsletter in 1995 and has visited close to 100 countries. He and his website JohnnyJet.com have been mentioned thousands of times in major publications, including USA Today and The Los Angeles Times. He has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, NBC, PBS and the Travel Channel. He was named one of Forbes’ Top 10 Travel Influencers and writes about everything travel, from finding the best deals and innovative new products to family travel and traveling on a budget. Johnny travels the world with his wife @NatalieDiScala, their son Jack and daughter Olivia.
John E. DiScala
John E. DiScala, aka Johnny Jet, has traveled over 100,000 airline miles a year since starting his newsletter in 1995 and has visited close to 100 countries. He and his website JohnnyJet.com have been mentioned thousands of times in major publications, including USA Today and The Los Angeles Times. He has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, NBC, PBS and the Travel Channel. He was named one of Forbes’ Top 10 Travel Influencers and writes about everything travel, from finding the best deals and innovative new products to family travel and traveling on a budget. Johnny travels the world with his wife @NatalieDiScala, their son Jack and daughter Olivia.
Ramsey Qubein
Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist... Read More
Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering hotels, cruises, airlines and loyalty programs from around the globe. His work has appeared in numerous publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel+Leisure, Forbes.com, CNBC.com, AFAR, Robb Report, Readers Digest, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, NerdWallet.com and Business Traveler magazine among others. Ramsey flies more than 450,000 miles per year and has traveled to 168 countries, all seven continents and 50 U.S. states. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter or via his website.
Ramsey Qubein
Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering hotels, cruises, airlines and loyalty programs from around the globe. His work has appeared in numerous publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel+Leisure, Forbes.com, CNBC.com, AFAR, Robb Report, Readers Digest, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, NerdWallet.com and Business Traveler magazine among others. Ramsey flies more than 450,000 miles per year and has traveled to 168 countries, all seven continents and 50 U.S. states. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter or via his website.
Sara Rathner
Sara Rathner is NerdWallet’s travel and credit... Read More
Sara Rathner is NerdWallet’s travel and credit cards expert. She appeared on the “Today” show, Nasdaq and CNBC’s “Nightly Business Report,” and has been quoted in Yahoo Finance, TIME, Reuters, NBC News, Business Insider and MarketWatch. Sara’s held a total of 23 credit cards, using travel rewards points to see the world on a budget. A proud Northwestern University alum, she also has a certificate in financial planning from Boston University.
Sara Rathner
Sara Rathner is NerdWallet’s travel and credit cards expert. She appeared on the “Today” show, Nasdaq and CNBC’s “Nightly Business Report,” and has been quoted in Yahoo Finance, TIME, Reuters, NBC News, Business Insider and MarketWatch. Sara’s held a total of 23 credit cards, using travel rewards points to see the world on a budget. A proud Northwestern University alum, she also has a certificate in financial planning from Boston University.
