Though airlines have resumed nearly normal operations after the pandemic, 2022 was still a challenging year for U.S.-based operators. There were numerous meltdowns with delays, cancellations, and lost baggage — yet prices were extremely high. “In general, good value, but post-COVID-19 prices have increased significantly,” wrote one voter about Alaska Airlines (No. 2). As such, iBestTravel readers have taken a critical look at airlines to name the top domestic operators this year, highlighting the very best in their reviews.
How Voting Works
Every year for the World’s Best Awards survey, iBestTravel 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. Nearly 165,000 iBestTravel readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).
Airlines were specifically rated on the criteria below:
- Cabin comfort
- In-flight service
- Customer service
- Value
For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
What Readers Loved
Interestingly, the top five airlines this year are the same as they were in 2022 — though their order has shuffled around a bit. Youngster Breeze Airways, which started operations in 2021 and made its WBA debut last year, has fallen two spots to No. 4. “Started off strong with cheap, on-time flights, but has had growing pains,” one voter observed. JetBlue Airways has also fallen two spots to No. 5.
Moving up two spaces each are Alaska Airlines (No. 2) and Delta Airlines (No. 3), with Delta’s jump being particularly notable — it had ranked No. 5 for the last four years. “I feel bad saying this because my mom was an American Airlines flight attendant for 20+ years, but the customer service for Delta cannot be beat,” one WBA respondent said.
However, the winner is Hawaiian Airlines, which retains its No. 1 spot from last year. Though Hawaiian is a WBA Hall of Fame honoree, this is only its second year in the top spot.
Read on to learn why readers picked Hawaiian Airlines as the World’s Best domestic airline once again, and see the full list of winners.
The Winner
Hawaiian Airlines
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If you’re planning to fly to Hawaii, there’s no better airline than Hawaiian. Voters praise the airline for its exceptional service, friendliness, and food quality. “I think Hawaiian Airlines is seriously underrated. It’s probably the best U.S. airline for service, friendliness, and food,” one voter said. Another customer lauded Hawaiian for its effective communication regarding flight status updates, which is crucial in this era of delays and cancellations. If there’s any room for criticism, it’s primarily for its small route network — though Hawaiian does fly to several international destinations across the Pacific, including Japan, and recently launched nonstop service to the Cook Islands. “Comfort, good food, and good service. All necessary for a long flight,” noted one voter.
The Full List
1. Hawaiian Airlines
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 81.63
2. Alaska Airlines
Reader Score: 77.25
3. Delta Air Lines
Reader Score: 76.87
4. Breeze Airways
Reader Score: 75.94
5. JetBlue Airways
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 75.80
6. Southwest Airlines
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 73.76
7. United Airlines
Reader Score: 68.97
8. American Airlines
Reader Score: 66.56
9. Sun Country Airlines
Reader Score: 66.51
10. Allegiant
Reader Score: 64.54
