The Airline That's Quietly Become the Best in the US (And It's Not Delta)

I travel a lot for my job. Like, a lot. In the first six months of 2026, I flew 47,000 miles across 28 flights. I've been on Delta, United, American, Southwest, JetBlue, and Alaska. I've experienced the good, the bad, and the 'please just get me home.' And I have a hot take: the best airline in the United States right now isn't Delta. It's Alaska Airlines.

I know, I know. Alaska Airlines is the one that flies to, well, Alaska. But hear me out. Over the past few years, Alaska has quietly built an operation that's better than its bigger rivals. Their on-time performance is consistently the best in the industry (84.5% in May 2026, according to the Department of Transportation). Their customer satisfaction scores are through the roof. And their recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines has only made them stronger.

But here's the real reason I'm a convert: the little things. Let me explain.

The Boarding Process That Makes Sense

Alaska uses a boarding process called 'group boarding' that actually works. They board from the back of the plane first, then move forward. It sounds simple, but it eliminates the chaos of other airlines where everyone crowds the gate. I've timed it: I get from the gate to my seat in about 7 minutes on Alaska, compared to 12-15 minutes on United or American.

They also have an app that works. Like, actually works. You can check in, change seats, and track baggage without any glitches. Their flight attendants are consistently friendly — not in a fake corporate way, but genuinely helpful. I had a flight attendant in June bring me a free snack without me asking, just because I looked tired. That kind of thing matters.

The Fleet: All Boeing 737s, All the Time

Alaska operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet (plus the Airbus A330s from Hawaiian, which they're phasing out). That means every plane is essentially the same. You know exactly what you're getting — the seat pitch, the overhead bin space, the lavatory location. There's no Russian roulette of 'will I get an ancient 757 with broken seats?'

The 737 MAX 9s they've been adding are particularly nice. They have Boeing's 'Sky Interior' with LED lighting that changes throughout the flight, bigger overhead bins, and quieter engines. The seats are comfortable, with decent legroom (31-32 inches in economy, which is standard but feels better on Alaska because the seats are wider than on United).

The First Class That Feels Like First Class

I don't fly first class often — my company has a budget — but when I've upgraded on Alaska, it's been great. The seats are wide, the service is attentive, and the food is actually edible. On a recent flight from Seattle to Boston, I had a salmon salad with fresh greens, a warm roll, and a glass of Washington State wine. It wasn't gourmet, but it was real food.

Compare that to Delta's 'first class' on domestic flights, which is basically a slightly wider seat with a bag of pretzels. Alaska charges less for upgrades too — I've seen first class upgrades for as little as $50 at the gate.

The Hawaiian Merger: A Game Changer

Alaska completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in late 2025. The deal gives Alaska access to Hawaiian's routes across the Pacific, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. That means you can now book a flight from New York to Tokyo on one ticket, with Alaska handling the US leg and Hawaiian handling the Pacific leg.

I tried this in April — flew Alaska from New York to Seattle, then Hawaiian from Seattle to Tokyo. The connection was seamless. My bags were checked through, the lounges were shared, and the Hawaiian flight was excellent (their lie-flat seats in business class are world-class). Alaska's frequent flyer program, Mileage Plan, also lets you redeem miles on Hawaiian flights at competitive rates.

The Downside: Limited Network

Alaska's biggest weakness is its network. They're strong on the West Coast — Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego — but they don't have the same depth as United or Delta in the Midwest and East. If you're flying from Chicago to Miami, you're probably still better off with United or American.

But for West Coast travelers, or for anyone flying to Hawaii or Alaska, Alaska Airlines is the best choice. They're not flashy. They're not trying to be a luxury brand. They're just consistently good at the basics — on-time flights, clean planes, and friendly service. In an industry where most airlines are trying to squeeze every dollar out of you, that's refreshing.