Travel should be fun from start to finish, but sometimes, the journey getting to that long-awaited vacation can come with a few bumps. And we’re not only talking about the turbulence. Sometimes, the airline you pick can make or break your getaway. And AirHelp, an organization specializing in air passenger rights, knows which ones will work in your favor.
AirHelp announced the results of its annual AirHelp Score report, which ranks airlines worldwide on performance and passenger experience. To calculate the airlines’ scores, the team at AirHelp combined several data sources, including their on-time performance (meaning an airline’s arrival and departure statistics and how often they are on time, late, or early) and claim processing (meaning how efficiently airlines handle claims, including how likely they are to pay out compensation for lost luggage and other disruptions). AirHelp also asked passengers about their most recent experiences, which included thousands of responses from travelers across 54 countries, each rating the airline “food, comfort, and crew.”
After reviewing the data, it named Qatar Airways as its top performer with an AirHelp Score of 8.16 out of 10. “Qatar Airways has battled its way back to the top spot, which it held from 2018 to 2023 and only fell to the number two spot in 2024,” the team explained.
Next on the list is Etihad Airways, which nabbed an AirHelp Score of 8.07 and moved all the way up from its 11th-place spot in 2024. Rounding out the top three is Virgin Atlantic, which secured an AirHelp Score of 8.03 and made an astonishing rise in the rankings, moving up from the 30th position last year. It was followed by Qantas, KM Malta Airlines, Aeromexico, Oman Air, Saudia, Brussels Airlines, and LOT Polish Airlines, rounding out the top 10.
As AirHelp noted, “U.S.-based airlines fell a bit in the rankings overall this year, none ranking in the top 10.” The first U.S.-based airline to make the list was American Airlines, which took the No. 11 spot; however, this means it fell seven places from its 2024 ranking. Other top U.S.-based airlines include United at No. 13, Delta at No. 15, and Frontier at No. 36. JetBlue was the worst U.S.-based performer on the list, coming in at No. 89. But there is a bit of good news for the airline: it actually went up one spot from its position at No. 90 in 2024.
See the full AirHelp Score rankings at airhelp.com/en/airhelp-score, and pick an airline that makes you feel like you’re on your vacation from the moment you depart.
