How NerdWallet Rates Airlines and Airline Rewards Programs

NerdWallet's travel experts analyze six full-service airlines tied to major loyalty programs.

6 major airlines

1.6k+ destinations

50+ data points

NerdWallet's travel team rates airlines and airline rewards programs on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars being the highest rating. The goal of these ratings is to highlight truly excellent carriers and help you book your next trip with confidence.

Use our ratings as a starting point for understanding your options, but don't forget to factor in your own preferences. The best option for you might be the airline you fly with most — say, because it offers plenty of routes from your home airport — even if it doesn't have a perfect rating.

Best airline rankings

NerdWallet rates major full-service U.S.-based airlines ranked in the top six for airline domestic market share: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Full-service carriers offer multiple cabin types, and generally don’t charge extra for items like carry-ons.

Here's what we analyze:

5.0

Overall score

We determine the dollar value of each program’s rewards miles and the earnings rate of miles in August of each year. To determine the rewards rate, we multiply the value of each mile by the earnings rate and then multiply by 100. For example, if an airline’s rewards miles are worth $0.01 apiece (the value of rewards miles) and 10 miles are earned per dollar spent (the earnings rate of miles), its program would have a 10% rewards rate. (In this example, the two equations would be: first $0.01 x 10 = 0.1, then 0.1 x 100 = 10, or 10%.)

Operations (20%)

We rate each airline according to on-time performance, cancellations and baggage mishandling.

Route network (20%)

The number of domestic and international destinations served by each airline is provided by FlightConnections annually.

Add-on fees (20%)

We compare and rank each airline by the cost of (1) bag fees and (2) economy seat assignment fees.

Travel team review (20%)

In addition to quantitative metrics, we also consider qualitative factors. The qualitative portion is based on a composite of editorial team members’ review using the same criteria listed above.

Best airline rewards program

To find the best airline rewards program, we look at the same six airlines as above. We analyze how easy it is to earn miles through each program by flying and spending on credit cards, while also factoring in rewards rates, route networks and travel team reviews.

Here's what we analyze:

5.0

Overall score

Rewards rate (25%)

We determine the dollar value and earnings rate of miles in each program in August of each year. To determine the rewards rate, we multiply the value of each mile by the earnings rate and then multiply by 100. For example, if an airline’s rewards miles were worth $0.01 apiece (the value of rewards miles) and 10 miles were earned per dollar spent (the earnings rate of miles), its program would have a 10% rewards rate. (In this example, the two equations would be: first $0.01 x 10 = 0.1, then 0.1 x 100 = 10, or 10%.)

Ability to earn miles (25%)

Each rewards program is scored on the ability to earn miles through flying and credit card spending (through airline-branded cards or general travel cards). Some of the airline-branded cards reviewed include products from NerdWallet partners, but this did not influence our selection of the winner.

Route network (25%)

The number of domestic and international destinations served by each airline is provided by FlightConnections annually.

Travel team review (25%)

In addition to quantitative metrics, we also consider qualitative factors. The qualitative portion is based on a composite of editorial team members’ review using the same criteria listed above.