My wife Linda and I have been flying a lot more lately \u2014 mostly United, because our daughter lives out in Humboldt County, California, and that is the route that works. No complaints. Every flight has been smooth, the crew has been great, and I have made my peace with the stroopwaffle.<\/p>\n
So when WalletHub dropped its Best Airlines report for 2026<\/a> this week, I was curious where United landed. Spoiler: dead last. Number ten out of eleven. Apparently I have been accidentally loyal to the bottom of the barrel \u2014 and somehow I keep arriving on time with my luggage.<\/p>\n Go figure.<\/p>\n SEE ALSO: Newark and Philly made the worst airport list \u2014 and nobody is surprised\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Newark Airport Flight Delays<\/p>\n Newark Airport Flight DelaysThe full WalletHub rankings for 2026<\/p>\n WalletHub evaluated eleven U.S. carriers across 16 metrics using Department of Transportation data \u2014 cancellation and delay rates, baggage handling, safety, in-flight comfort and cost. Here is where everyone landed:<\/p>\n Spirit AirlinesSouthwest AirlinesSkyWest AirlinesAlaska AirlinesHawaiian AirlinesJetBlue AirwaysDelta Air LinesAmerican AirlinesFrontier AirlinesUnited AirlinesEnvoy Air<\/p>\n Spirit took the top spot for the second consecutive year, earning the best marks for affordability and reliability. Frontier \u2014 despite my personal feelings about the experience \u2014ranked highest for safety. JetBlue, Hawaiian, American and Southwest were rated most comfortable. I fly American occasionally and I will give them this: the Biscoff cookie is not nothing. It is a small joy at 35,000 feet and I will defend it.<\/p>\n Frontier, on the other hand, I will not defend. I have flown them once. The seats were so tight it felt like an overpacked elevator that lasted four hours. Hard pass.<\/p>\n The Spirit Airlines problem<\/p>\n Here is where this gets complicated for New Jersey travelers specifically.<\/p>\n Spirit operates out of Newark Liberty<\/a>, Atlantic City International, Philadelphia and LaGuardia. For a lot of people in this state \u2014 especially those flying out of ACY, where Spirit has been a major presence \u2014 this airline is not a novelty. It is how they get somewhere affordable.<\/p>\n