Best Airline

When planning your journeys, big or small, it's important to pick the airline that meets your needs. Whether you crave spacious seats and gourmet meals or prioritize affordability and no-frills efficiency, these industry leaders deliver the service you're after. We've crafted a list of the best service providers from around the globe, offering everything from great airport lounge service to cut-rate deals.

These 10 airlines were selected by our expert panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.

1. Envoy Air

The largest regional carrier for American Airlines, Envoy Air (formerly American Eagle) just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Operating over 180 top-notch aircraft, it's working on an imminent fleet expansion with its new Embraer partnership. Envoy provides safe, clean flights across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

2. JetBlue

While JetBlue may not serve as many U.S. cities as other lines, it is expanding its network with upcoming offerings in Europe, including Dublin, Edinburgh and Amsterdam. The airline has shown its ability to pivot and grow in changing circumstances. JetBlue also was the first U.S. airline to offer free Wi-Fi and entertainment to all passengers and continues to promote a passenger-friendly experience.

3. Allegiant Air

Renowned for its low fares, Allegiant Air is a popular option for no-frills flyers on a budget. One way Allegiant keeps costs low is by letting customers choose and bundle what services they want to use. Since many of its flights service smaller airports, passengers can also expect less hassle and bustle in the terminals.

4. French Bee

For the many who dream of visiting Paris but have to deal with budget constraints, French Bee helps grant that wish with its low prices. This budget airline offers delicious in-flight fare and friendly customer service, making it a real bargain for the price. In addition to broadening its flights to the U.S., French Bee has added service to French Polynesia.

5. American Airlines

American Airlines has earned accolades based on its flight staff's customer service and its rewards programs. Some changes to the loyalty program actually benefitted members. While other major U.S. carriers have adopted dynamic pricing, making award travel more expensive, American has made loyalty status upgrades easier and continues to reward its frequent flyers with lower award redemption rates, including coveted first- and business-class seats.

6. Delta Air Lines

Flyers seeking a reliable and comfortable travel experience find much to appreciate with Delta Air Lines. Delta consistently offers high levels of customer service, ensuring a safe and secure journey wherever your destination. Its modern fleet boasts updated technology and fresh interiors. Delta also provides excellent in-fight entertainment and business class perks.

7. Alaska Airlines

In recent years, Alaska Airlines has joined the Oneworld airline alliance and pursued merger opportunities to expand its offerings and services to customers. It also has the distinction of being the only major U.S. airline to award loyalty miles based on miles flown versus money spent. In fact, their mileage program was hailed in 2023 by Nerdwallet as the best.

8. Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is an industry unicorn with its bags-fly-free policy; add to that its low-cost flights, and it's not hard to see why the airline has a popular following. Southwest is also in the midst of making numerous flyer-friendly upgrades to its planes and systems, such as increasing the size of overheard bins, adding in-seat power ports and offering digital bag tracking.

9. United Airlines

With excellent customer service, United Airlines provides a positive travel experience domestically and internationally, with comfortable seats and orderly onboarding services. The United Club lounges offer a welcome place to rest during travel with an assortment of complimentary quality snacks and beverages. United also leads the industry in sustainability strategies with an innovative fuel initiative.

10. ITA Airways

ITA is Italy's leading airline. A fairly recent addition to the travel scene, the airline commenced in 2020 as a state operated entity. It is currently a Sky Team member and is in the process of defining an industrial partnership with Lufthansa. ITA Airways offers great service, and the in-flight cuisine provides the quality taste you'd expect from an Italian kitchen.

About Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards

Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com.

Panel of Experts

Allison Tibaldi is an NYC-based travel and food writer for CNN, USA Today, Family Vacationist, Travel Channel and many other print and online publications. Follow her at @gourmetrav.

Ava Roxanne Stritt is a top authority on luxury travel and is called the most influential person in the world regarding spa travel. Followers of @SpaTravelGal will tell you she is responsible for transforming the idea of a spa day into a wellness adventure! Her passion for unique experiences has carried her around the world from "taking the waters" in Europe's thermal spas to hiking waterfalls in the rainforests of Ecuador for a massage surrounded by hummingbirds. She is the founder of Spa Travel Gal and a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and Wellness Tourism Association.

Debbra Dunning Brouillette has always been a tropical girl. Like a fish out of water, she was born and raised in the Midwest, but Florida vacations opened her world to sun, sand and turquoise water. On her first Caribbean trip, a snorkeling excursion introduced her to the incredible world that exists below the surface of the sea. The fish out of water was hooked. As a certified scuba diver, she enjoys exploring the reefs but also loves visiting aquariums. She is also a self-described "foodie" and enjoys savoring the food and wine wherever her travels take her. Learn more at tropicaltravelgirl.com.

Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering the hotel, cruise and airline industry from every corner of the globe. His work has appeared in numerous consumer and industry publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel+Leisure, CNBC, NerdWallet.com, AFAR, Robb Report, Readers Digest, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, Frommers, Fodors, Business Traveler, Airways and AAA magazines. Ramsey regularly flies more than 450,000 miles per year and has traveled to all 7 continents, 50 U.S. states and 174 United Nations countries. Learn more at ramseyq.com.

Susan Lanier-Graham is founder and publisher of Wander With Wonder, an award-winning online travel journalism magazine. She has authored more than 75 books and hundreds of magazine articles while traveling the world over the past three decades. Susan's work has appeared in a variety of publications, including various AAA publications, TravelandLeisure.com, Hotels.com, Modern Luxury, WHERE publications, Fairmont.com, Marriott.com and more. Susan is a member of Society of American Travel Writers, International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association, and North American Travel Journalists Association. She is also a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist.

Tonya Hennessey is a freelance travel and food writer and non-profit fundraiser residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has raised funds for groups including Greenpeace International, American Himalayan Foundation, and The Watershed Project. She has a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master's from the Middlebury International Institute at Monterey. Marrying a passion for travel and food with her love of the written word, she writes for publications including Rovology, Travel By Vacation Rental, International Living, Foodie Flashpacker, and The Savory Traveler. As a Creator for Rug Radio, she produces a new video variety magazine, Create24. Follow her at tonyahennessey.com.

Newsweek contributors speak from a variety of backgrounds and offer expertise in a wide range of subject areas.