Is Southwest as good as Delta?

When you factor in earnings rates, basic economy considerations, in-flight entertainment and pet friendliness, Southwest just edges out Delta. (See our annual best airline comparison.) Fly Delta if: You live near a hub.



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Differences. Delta uses a hub and spoke model for their route network, while Southwest is a point-to-point carrier. Delta has a wide variety of aircraft in their fleet, while Southwest focuses solely on the Boeing 737. Delta has a large international route network serving 50+ countries.

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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 a perennial favorite for commitment-phobes. Known for its flexible ticket policy and two free checked bags for every passenger, Southwest doesn't charge the fees that come with flying on other airlines.

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Our commitment to our Customers is seen throughout the Southwest travel experience, from our “no change fees1”, “bags fly free2”, and “flight credits don't expire3” policies to the range of benefits available through our Rapid Rewards® program.

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Travelers love Southwest Airlines, according to J.D. Power's annual ranking of the top U.S. air carriers. Southwest finished first in economy and budget airline rankings published by the consumer research firm last May.

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Delta Airlines is a large American airline that has a strong safety record. It has received multiple honors for its devotion to safety, including being named the World's Most On-Time Airline for several years in a row by FlightGlobal.

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The ranking takes into account factors such as reliability, affordability, loyalty programs and customer experience. Despite a slight drop in its score compared to last year, Delta remains the best-performing airline.

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Comfort In Economy You shouldn't have to splash out on first class to travel without bruised knees and neck cramps. Delta's economy class is more spacious than the American average, with wider seats and more legroom. Passengers like it so much that it's been voted the most comfortable economy seat time and time again.

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Delta, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines are tied for No. 2 in passenger comfort. WalletHub names Envoy, a regional airline owned by American, as the safest airline.

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Southwest follows an open seating style, meaning there are no assigned seats. You'll be assigned a boarding group (either A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) upon check-in, which determines your boarding order. Once on board, you choose your seat.

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However, using publicly available data, this is what we found, but feel free to share your findings below!
  1. 1 Delta SkyMiles: 120 million. ...
  2. 2 United MileagePlus: 110 million. ...
  3. 3 American Airlines AAdvantage: 100 million. ...
  4. 4 Miles & More: 36.6 million. ...
  5. 5 Emirates: 30 million.


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Can I take a carry-on and a backpack at the same time on Southwest Airlines? Yes. Your backpack could count as your personal item, as long as it fits underneath the seat in front of you.

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Best Airlines in the United States: A Guide to Flying Domestic
  1. Delta. Delta is one of the safest, most trusted, and overall best airlines in the US. ...
  2. American. For anyone seeking the best airlines in the US, American is always a good choice. ...
  3. Spirit. ...
  4. United. ...
  5. Alaska. ...
  6. Hawaiian. ...
  7. JetBlue. ...
  8. Frontier.


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A graphic of Wallethub's 2023 airline ranking. In terms of other key findings, Delta Air Lines was named the most reliable airline, while the least reliable was Frontier Airlines.

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There's typically more legroom on Southwest. Southwest Airlines ranges from 31 to 33 inches of legroom (seat pitch) across all aircraft types. In comparison, American Airlines average is just 30 inches.

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