Best airlines report 2026: Delta tops TPG's rankings for eighth straight year
The Points Guy • • business
Key Points:
- Delta Air Lines has once again been ranked the best U.S. airline in TPG's 2026 Best Airlines Report, maintaining its strong on-time record and overall travel experience.
- United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Alaska Air Group closely followed Delta, with United narrowly missing the top spot due to a high rate of mishandled baggage.
- American Airlines showed mixed results, having the worst cancellation rate but winning the loyalty category thanks to the value of its AAdvantage miles.
- Spirit Airlines was removed from the rankings following its recent collapse, highlighting the loss of one of the most affordable carriers in the U.S. market.
- Reliability, cost and reach, travel experience, and loyalty were key factors in the rankings, with reliability weighted most heavily; Allegiant Airlines stood out for its strong operational performance despite being a smaller budget carrier.