Choose Southwest if:Southwest isn't always the cheapest, but they're typically cheaper than Delta. You want to avoid the hassle of flying through a massive airline hub. Southwest is largely a point-to-point carrier, meaning that there's less of a chance of having to change planes at a major hub.
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If you're choosing between Delta and SouthwestWhen 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.
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.
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.
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.
Comfort In EconomyYou 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.
In addition to its commercial and financial success, Southwest Airlines is known for its excellent customer service. Southwest has built an impeccable reputation by putting customers first and by making sure their employees are content and financially secure.
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.
A major factor has to be its service, which in my experience is far less surly and prone to power-trips than on other airlines. Their crew members aren't perfect, but it's not uncommon to see Southwest flight attendants smiling, joking and singing as they go about their job.
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.
Their planes are well taken care of and they have great in-flight entertainment, with lots of viewing options, with screens on the backs of seats in most of their planes. But these perks come with a price because as you'll see in the cons section, Delta is a higher-cost airline. Ready to book your next flight?
Southwest Airlines revolutionized air travel by making it affordable and accessible to all. Their success is attributed to offering low fares, utilizing cheaper airports, operating a single fleet type, smart scheduling, and flying point-to-point routes.
The airline's overall score was bolstered by strong reliability results — with WalletHub noting Delta has the lowest rate of cancellations, mishandled luggage and denied boardings. For the third year in a row, Delta has been named the Best Airline in North America at the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
In the battle of airline heavy-hitters, JetBlue shines as a clear favorite for many who value a comfortable flight with spacious seating and hours of entertainment at the ready. However, for those looking for a global network of flights and earning opportunities, Delta is the undisputed champ.
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.
Southwest flies only Boeing instead of Airbus because when it was founded, to keep costs down, they decided to have not only one brand, but one model of airplane — the 737.
Southwest Airlines doesn't actually have a dedicated first-class fare, instead, it's known as Business Select. Generally, first-class tickets are the most expensive fare that you can purchase.