Is Southwest 5 star?

Reviews of Southwest Airlines are consistently positive. Skytrax, which publishes certified airline ratings, gives Southwest a rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on the quality of its staff and service, including cabin comfort and cleanliness, additional charges, in-flight food and beverages, and customer interactions.



While Southwest Airlines is frequently ranked as the top U.S. airline for customer satisfaction and operational reliability, it is not officially rated as a "5-Star Airline" by Skytrax. As of 2026, Southwest continues to hold a 4-Star Airline rating, which reflects its high standards of cleanliness, staff service, and unique value-based model (like free checked bags and no change fees). In 2025, The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 U.S. airline based on holistic operational performance, but the "5-Star" designation is a rare tier typically reserved for international luxury carriers like Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines that offer long-haul premium cabins, lie-flat seats, and extensive multi-course dining—features that don't align with Southwest’s efficient, point-to-point domestic mission.

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Only selected airlines worldwide achieve the APEX Five-Star Global Airline Award, and SAS proudly joins this elite group. The APEX Five Star Global Airline Award status was awarded at the 2023 APEX/IFSA Awards Ceremony in Long Beach, California, during APEX/IFSA Global EXPO.

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When it comes to economy and basic economy, Southwest Airlines beat Delta and JetBlue for the top spot. Southwest Airlines scored 827 on the overall customer satisfaction index. It is one of the world's largest low-cost carriers and has services in over 120 destinations in the U.S. and 10 countries.

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If you're choosing between Delta and Southwest When you factor in earnings rates, basic economy considerations, in-flight entertainment and pet friendliness, Southwest just edges out Delta.

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Southwest Is A Safe Airline
They are a favorite among travelers looking for cheap flights without having to compromise on comfort or security. According to the most recent list of the world's safest airlines, Southwest was ranked in the top 15 airlines in the world in 2021, even beating out Delta, American, and United.

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Southwest Airlines reviews Online customer reviews tend to agree with Skytrax's assessment. According to the 2022 Airline Quality Rating report, Southwest was ranked as the No. 1 airline in 2021 and 2020. In addition, Southwest had the second lowest consumer complaint rate in 2021.

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Southwest Airlines is more flexible than most other large airlines. Southwest is the only large U.S. airline that is also a low-cost carrier. Southwest Airlines' strategy emphasizes recruiting and retaining motivated employees. Southwest continues to improve its business model and practices.

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Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries.

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Southwest Airlines is technically considered a Low-Cost Airline, but they do things a little differently than their low-cost competitors. Southwest still offers a cheap basic fare. But unlike other carriers that give you just a bare bones seat and one personal item for that price, Southwest includes some great perks.

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Since its inception, Southwest Airlines has almost exclusively operated Boeing 737 aircraft (except for a brief period when it operated a handful of leased Boeing 727-200 aircraft). Southwest is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 737, and was the launch customer of the 737-300, 737-500, and 737-700.

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Southwest Airlines Co. is a major airline based in the United States and the world's largest low-cost carrier. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has scheduled service to 121 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries.

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As expected, most of the major airlines have all achieved seven out of seven stars. Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin are all on the list. But what's interesting is the number of smaller airlines who have a seven-star ranking. Jetstar, AirAsiaX and EasyJet all made the 7-star list.

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Photo: easyJet. After consultation with the industry, the world's most respected airline rating agency has refined its safety rating criteria to move the focus from audits to real-world outcomes in pilot performance.

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British Airways is currently Certified as a 4-Star Airline for the quality of its airport and onboard product and staff service. With some rating areas dropping to 3-Star Rating levels, the BA rating for 2024 is now subject to review.

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Southwest Airlines Co., American airline founded by Herbert Kelleher and Rollin King in 1966 and incorporated in 1967 as Air Southwest Company. The current name was adopted in 1971. The company features low-fare, no-frills air service with frequent flights of mostly short routes.

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At Southwest, we let you sit where you like. We don't assign seats on our flights, so feel free to sit in any available seat once you board the plane. We have a quick, easy, and efficient boarding process. Look at your boarding pass to find your assigned boarding group (A, B, or C) and boarding position (1 - 60).

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Southwest Airlines, the original low-cost carrier, offers affordable flights, free checked baggage, and a simple business model that prioritizes cost-efficiency and customer satisfaction. JetBlue, on the other hand, is a hybrid carrier that focuses on a packaged service at higher fares.

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1. Singapore Airlines: The Singapore flag-carrier has been named Airline of the Year at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023 in Paris. Click through the gallery to see the best of the rest.

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