Is United Airlines reliable right now?

Reliability. Out of nine U.S.-based carriers, United ranked eighth for on-time performance, according to a 2020 analysis by OAG, a provider of air travel data. United departed or arrived within 15 minutes of its scheduled times only 76% of the time. When it comes to lost baggage, United ranks in the middle of the pack.



People Also Ask

As of 2021, United Airlines ranked in the top 20 out of over 300 airline carriers in terms of safety, which is very good. The company stands out for long-term innovation and excellence when it comes to safety factors.

MORE DETAILS

For the third year in a row, Hawaiian Airlines scored the top spot as the most reliable U.S. carrier across these metrics. It had the lowest cancellation rate (fewer than 1% of its scheduled flights were canceled) and bumped just four passengers out of the nearly 10 million people it carried in 2022.

MORE DETAILS

In fact, American outranked United on most metrics in our 2023 Best-Of Awards analysis of major domestic carriers. But United has a few things going for it, including its credit card perks, more legroom in economy plus and the luxurious Polaris class.

MORE DETAILS

In the competition of Delta versus United, there isn't a clear winner. Delta charges less baggage fees and makes basic economy more tolerable for a frugal traveler. United, on other hand, has a stronger loyalty program, cheaper award prices and a stronger presence when it comes to global connections.

MORE DETAILS

Frontier Airlines has had the worst on-time arrival performance so far in 2023. Just 65.41% of Frontier flights arrived on time from January through April 2023.

MORE DETAILS

U.S. travelers report that American Airlines is the most unreliable airline in the world when measured by the total flight problems and reported complaints in 2022. American is also the world's largest airline, so this finding may not surprise frequent flyers.

MORE DETAILS

Jakarta-based Lion Air is the world's most dangerous airline, according to new research. The Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC) has just released its annual report on the safest – and most unsafe – of the 60 biggest airlines globally, based on three decades of intelligence on air disasters.

MORE DETAILS

For travel within the U.S. and Canada, our United First® service provides you with extra space and comfort, as well as complimentary dining and alcoholic beverages. You'll also receive Premier Access® benefits as well as two free checked bags and priority baggage handling.

MORE DETAILS

United Airlines ranked third with a score of 848. According to the airline's website, it serves airports in 354 destinations and 48 countries. Delta Air Lines is ranked No. 1 for best in premium economy, with a score of 848.

MORE DETAILS

United Airlines Weaknesses
  • Intense competition from other domestic and international airlines means limited market share growth.
  • Heavy dependence on third-party service providers for customer service, maintenance, fueling operations, etc.


MORE DETAILS

United Airlines The top complaint category was flight issues (92), followed by issues with refunds (69), fares (35), and reservation/ticketing/boarding and baggage (34 complaints each).

MORE DETAILS

The most reliable airlines in 2022 and 2023 in the US were Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines. Our AirAdvisor Reliability Score is based on delayed, canceled, and diverted flights, as well as instances of denied boarding and mishandled baggage.

MORE DETAILS

Here are the ten worst airlines, according to travelers in the United States: American Airlines: 2,183 flight problems and 6,491 reported complaints. United Airlines: 1,583 flight problems and 5,135 reported complaints. Spirit Airlines: 1,102 flight problems and 3,206 reported complaints.

MORE DETAILS

easyJet revealed as the most unreliable airline according to British travelers with 20,906 total complaints.

MORE DETAILS

Spirit. Like Frontier, Spirit has the skinniest rows of any American airline, with a seat pitch of 28 inches — and they don't recline. Spirit lagged at 8 out of 10 American airlines studied in the in The Points Guys' 2021 report.

MORE DETAILS

Domestic airline prices are on the decline in 2023, finally retreating after spiking just a year ago. International fares are still high. After soaring in 2022, prices for domestic airline tickets are on the descent.

MORE DETAILS

Perhaps even more significant is the stark drop over the past year. August 2023 U.S. airfares averaged 13% lower than what they were in August 2022. Things get especially interesting when compared to pre-pandemic prices.

MORE DETAILS

United Airlines (UA) allows 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag) per passenger fee free. Carry-on should not exceed the following size and weight restrictions: 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9 in) or 115 centimeters (56 x 36 x 23 cm) including handles and wheels.

MORE DETAILS

Delta excels in providing a consistently good onboard experience, understandable fees and an extensive range of credit cards that provide a good fit for every type of traveler. However, United offers travelers more destinations and American's loyalty program is easier to use.

MORE DETAILS