The Best and Worst Airlines for Economy in 2025
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Planning a vacation can be exciting, but it often comes with its fair share of stress. Once you’ve chosen your destination and are ready to book your flight, there are several factors to weigh—most notably the flight time and, of course, the cost. The airline you fly with also matters, whether because of loyalty points, reputation, or personal preference. If you're booking an economy seat, your airline choice can significantly impact your travel experience. J.D. Power recently released their 2025 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, which surveyed over ten thousand passengers between March 2024 and March 2025 to evaluate airlines on economy satisfaction. Here are the best and worst airlines for economy class in North America.
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Methodology
- Airline staff
- Digital tools
- Ease of travel
- Trust
- Onboard experience
- Pre/post-flight experience
- Value for price
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The Worst Airlines for Economy Class
The study’s rankings are based on responses from 10,224 passengers, using a 1,000-point scale which evaluated:
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While economy class satisfaction is on the rise (8 points higher than last year), a significant gap remains between the highest and lowest scores. The main issues passengers had with the economy class of the worst airlines were hidden or excessive fees, poor staff ratings, lack of trust in the brand, uncomfortable seating and no entertainment, and confusing boarding and check-in.
Frontier Airlines
With a score of just 520, Frontier ranks the lowest thanks to its excessive fees, no-frills approach, and dissatisfaction among travelers with the staff.
Spirit Airlines
Not far ahead is Spirit, with an overall score of 526. Spirit is known for its ultra-low fares, but the aggressive upselling and cramped seating they have become infamous for have customers unhappy.
WestJet
Next up is WestJet, with a score of 537. Their inconsistent service and poor value continue to cause frustration.
Air Canada
Air Canada’s consistent delays and weak economy cabin experience earned it a score of 561.
American Airlines
The first airline to score below 600 is American, with a score of 597. The only major legacy carrier in the bottom five, American passengers cited issues with boarding, seating comfort, and customer service for its low rank.
The Best Airlines for Economy Class
The best airlines shine thanks to their lack of surprise fees, friendly staff, strong onboard experiences, and overall customer service, particularly when dealing with delays and rebookings.
Southwest
Southwest was ranked number one in economy class, with a score of 694. It will be interesting to see if this holds up next year, considering one of the heavily weighted factors for passengers was the free checked bags, which Southwest stopped offering May 28, 2025, two months after the study was completed. However, if they can keep up with their friendly staff and flexible policies, they may be able to stay on top next year.
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue may be able to take the top spot next year; their 663 score was primarily due to spacious economy seats, in-flight entertainment, and overall value.
Delta Air Lines
Just behind JetBlue is Delta, with a score of 662. Their reliable, polished service continues to shine and keep travelers happy.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska held strong with a score of 645, thanks to the trust travelers have in the company, its staff, and the overall ease of travel.
Allegiant Air
Beating out United and American for the final spot in the top five is Allegiant Air, with a score of 636. This is thanks to strong scores in value and simplicity, which, when executed well, make for a better passenger experience.