We’ll be honest — 2021 was a tough year for domestic airlines, between staff shortages, cancellations galore, and long customer-service line wait times. So when T+L readers voted on the best domestic airlines, their top choices went above and beyond to do their best by passengers. “I am not in love with any airline right now,” said one voter, who praised JetBlue (No. 3) for “doing the best job they can.”
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. In the airlines category, readers rated carriers on cabin comfort, in-flight service, food, customer service, and value.
It’s been 12 years since we saw 10 airlines instead of five on this list, thanks to the growing number of carriers in the U.S. One of the newcomers even made the list: Breeze Airways, which only launched in May 2021, took the No. 2 spot. “Breeze Airways is very affordable. The legroom was nice and the attendants were friendly and helpful,” one T+L reader said. “Very easy to book and pay for tickets online. I even accrued a few dollars to apply to my next ticket.”
The addition of Breeze Airways bumped one of the regulars out of the top half of the rankings: Southwest Airlines, a WBA Hall of Fame honoree, came in at No. 6 after having claimed a top-five spot for more than a decade.
The other airlines at the top of the list include Delta (No. 5), which has held that spot since 2019; JetBlue, also a WBA Hall of Fame honoree; and at No. 1, Hawaiian Airlines, another WBA Hall of Famer.
Read on to learn why readers picked Hawaiian Airlines as the World’s Best domestic airline and see the full list of winners.
- Hawaiian Airlines
Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines has ascended to the No. 1 spot on the World’s Best domestic airlines list for the first time ever — despite ranking in the top five for more than a decade. “Hawaiian Airlines delivers true Hawaiian hospitality. They used to say Hawaii starts with the flight, and that is indeed true,” one WBA respondent said. While most T+L readers focused their attention on Hawaiian’s long-haul flights — and particularly its meals, which are even served in economy — some noted the airline’s excellence on inter-island hops, too. There’s only one complaint: “Serve more mainland cities,” one voter implored.
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 82.04
More information: hawaiianairlines.com
- Breeze Airways
Courtesy of Breeze Airways
Score: 81.76
More information: flybreeze.com
- JetBlue Airways
Courtesy of JetBlue Airways
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 79.75
More information: jetblue.com
- Alaska Airlines
Courtesy of Alaska Airlines
Score: 79.23
More information: alaskaair.com
- Delta Air Lines
Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
Score: 77.90
More information: delta.com
- Southwest Airlines
Stephen M Keller/Courtesy of Southwest Airlines
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 76.20
More information: southwest.com
- United Airlines
Courtesy of United Airlines
Score: 68.94
More information: united.com
- Sun Country Airlines
Courtesy of Sun Country
Score: 68.4368.94
More information: suncountry.com
- American Airlines
Courtesy of American Airlines
Score: 66.23
More information: aa.com
- Allegiant
Courtesy of Allegiant
Score: 65.50
More information: allegiantair.com
We’ll be honest — 2021 was a tough year for domestic airlines, between staff shortages, cancellations galore, and long customer-service line wait times. So when T+L readers voted on the best domestic airlines, their top choices went above and beyond to do their best by passengers. “I am not in love with any airline right now,” said one voter, who praised JetBlue (No. 3) for “doing the best job they can.”
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. In the airlines category, readers rated carriers on cabin comfort, in-flight service, food, customer service, and value.
It’s been 12 years since we saw 10 airlines instead of five on this list, thanks to the growing number of carriers in the U.S. One of the newcomers even made the list: Breeze Airways, which only launched in May 2021, took the No. 2 spot. “Breeze Airways is very affordable. The legroom was nice and the attendants were friendly and helpful,” one T+L reader said. “Very easy to book and pay for tickets online. I even accrued a few dollars to apply to my next ticket.”
The addition of Breeze Airways bumped one of the regulars out of the top half of the rankings: Southwest Airlines, a WBA Hall of Fame honoree, came in at No. 6 after having claimed a top-five spot for more than a decade.
The other airlines at the top of the list include Delta (No. 5), which has held that spot since 2019; JetBlue, also a WBA Hall of Fame honoree; and at No. 1, Hawaiian Airlines, another WBA Hall of Famer.
Read on to learn why readers picked Hawaiian Airlines as the World’s Best domestic airline and see the full list of winners.
1. Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines has ascended to the No. 1 spot on the World’s Best domestic airlines list for the first time ever — despite ranking in the top five for more than a decade. “Hawaiian Airlines delivers true Hawaiian hospitality. They used to say Hawaii starts with the flight, and that is indeed true,” one WBA respondent said. While most T+L readers focused their attention on Hawaiian’s long-haul flights — and particularly its meals, which are even served in economy — some noted the airline’s excellence on inter-island hops, too. There’s only one complaint: “Serve more mainland cities,” one voter implored.
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 82.04
More information: hawaiianairlines.com
2. Breeze Airways
Score: 81.76
More information: flybreeze.com
3. JetBlue Airways
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 79.75
More information: jetblue.com
4. Alaska Airlines
Score: 79.23
More information: alaskaair.com
5. Delta Air Lines
Score: 77.90
More information: delta.com
6. Southwest Airlines
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 76.20
More information: southwest.com
7. United Airlines
Score: 68.94
More information: united.com
8. Sun Country Airlines
Score: 68.4368.94
More information: suncountry.com
9. American Airlines
Score: 66.23
More information: aa.com
10. Allegiant
Score: 65.50
More information: allegiantair.com
