These are the best airlines in 2026, according to The Points Guy

MoneyWatch These are the best airlines in 2026, according to The Points Guy .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Mary Cunningham Mary Cunningham Reporter, MoneyWatch Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. She previously worked at "60 Minutes," CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the CBS News Associate Program. Read Full Bio Mary Cunningham June 3, 2026 / 2:39 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Delta Air Lines ranked as the top U.S. airline in The Points Guy's latest annual survey, which evaluated carriers on factors including reliability, customer experience, loyalty programs and cost.United Airlines and Southwest Airlines rounded out the top three in the travel site's 2026 report.The Points Guy gave extra weight to the cost category in its 10th annual airline ranking, citing cost pressures due to the Iran war. Cost contributed 25% of an airline's score this year, up from 20% in 2025. Rising jet fuel prices have prompted several airlines to hike ticket prices and baggage fees. Still, reliability carried the greatest weight at 30% of the score, while loyalty programs accounted for 25%. Travel experience made up the remaining 20%.The Points Guy's 2026 airline rankings:Delta Air LinesUnited AirlinesSouthwest AirlinesAlaska Air GroupAmerican AirlinesJetBlueAllegiant AirFrontier AirlinesHow airlines stack upThe Points Guy ranked eight airlines this year, down from 10 in years past. The site was originally planning to include Spirit Airlines, but dropped the carrier after the budget airline ceased operations earlier this month. Delta's top ranking represents its eighth consecutive win in The Points Guy's survey. Kelly told "CBS Mornings" that Delta's continued success reflects strong employee satisfaction, which he said translates into a better passenger experience. This year, Delta provided $1.3 billion in profit sharing to its employees, or about 8.9% of its...