A report out late last week ranked the best U.S. airlines. We have followed this report for some time and we can report that it has changed significantly since April 2023. We then looked solely at the airlines flying to Hawaii, and here you have it.
As Hawaii airline dynamics continue to evolve, so too do the ratings of those airlines serving Hawaii. This year, WalletHub’s 2024 rankings bring some notable shifts for those airlines compared with the previous year’s scores.
Wallethub’s scoring system used data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, spread across three primary categories: baggage and departures, in-flight comfort and cost, and safety. The results excluded cancellations due to weather, security, and other measures outside the airlines’ control.
Highlights from WalletHub’s 2024 Best Airlines Rankings:
- Alaska Airlines moved up to take the top spot as the Best Airline Overall, a significant accolade following being number five last year.
- Delta Air Lines remains high-performing in WalletHub’s best airline award. It also claimed the prize as the Most Comfortable Airline.
Comparing Yearly Performance:
#4 to Hawaii, #7 in U.S, Hawaiian Airlines. The Hawaii bellwether that was previously praised for its reliability and safety, among other things has seen a drop in its scores, particularly in the areas of canceled flights and mishandled baggage. This year, however, the airline slipped another point in its WalletHub overall ranking.
#2 to Hawaii, #4 in US, Delta Air Lines. This airline continues to excel in the areas of flight cancellations, delays, and mishandled luggage. Year over year performance in this areas is significant, as is their ability to improve in comfort scores. Also mentioned are free WiFi, snacks, and beverages.
#1 Alaska Airlines. After fifteen years flying to Hawaii, the Seattle based airline that’s currently attempting to buy Hawaiian, is now ranked by WalletHub as the best overall airline to Hawaii and across the U.S. That marks a big improvement and is a testament to the smaller carrier’s consistent performance, dedication to quality and desire to improve.
United Airlines (#3 to Hawaii). American Airlines (#5 to Hawaii). Southwest Airlines (#6 to Hawaii). These companies with a wide range of Hawaii flights had modest shifts in 2024 compared with last year. United Airlines maintains a stronger position, while Southwest Airlines has improved compared with 2023 in overall scores but still faces big challenges in both timeliness and baggage handling. In the end, Southwest ranked the worst in the “Most satisfactory airline” ranking, and wasn’t significantly better in the areas of safety concerns, and both delayed and canceled flights. American Airlines ranked at or near the bottom as well, in several categories, including reliability.
With fierce competition for Hawaii flights, what does this mean?
The comparison, if nothing else, shows that some airlines are making significant and noteworthy strides in certain areas that may be of interest to Hawaii travelers. Competition remains fierce, and travelers’ choices are continuing to drive service improvements across all Hawaii flights.
For those flying to Hawaii, these insights can help empower decisions by consumers on which airline might offer the best experience and value on long overwater flights.
And a final note about Hawaiian Airlines as relates to the intended purchase of the company by Alaska Airlines. The strengths that Alaska Airlines possesses could help improve performance at Hawaiian Airlines if the merger is consummated.
Do you resonate with WalletHub’s findings about the airlines flying to Hawaii? Please let us know.
I saw these rankings a day or two ago. The one problem I have with them is that without the publishing of a scoring system and scores it does not tell us much. If Airline A receives a total score of 93 out of 100 and gets ranked number one, what is the difference if airline B gets 90 and is ranked number four? Most readers of BoH understand that Hawaiian Air’s problems with engines on the A321neo is a major contributing factor to flight cancellations and delays.
The Jones Act states that any ship moving goods between two American ports must be…
ONE — Built in the United States,
TWO — Crewed by U.S. Citizens,
THREE — Owned by U.S. Citizens,
and FOUR — Registered in the U.S.
The 103-year-old law called the Jones Act adds to the financial misery of most Hawai’i residents. The requirement that ships be US built makes no sense in the 21st century. The military budget is approaching $trillion/yr. , the Navy has no trouble getting what it wants. Remove the US ship yard requirement!