While travelers are often on a quest to find cheap airplane tickets and/or discount travel packages, when more than one airline offers a similar price customers are faced with the dilemma of how to make their purchase decisions on a basis other than simply price. Travelers perception of the best airline varies widely depending on what an individual traveler values most highly.
Different travelers use different criteria in determining the best airline for them:
One that offers the largest seats or more space
One that makes it the easiest to upgrade to Business or First class or a roomy exit-row seat. Upgrades are often dependent on the route, type of aircraft, time of travel, frequent flier program status or competition with other passengers for better seats. All this means that a fliers favorite airline may be different on each trip taken.
One that offers individual TV screens built into the backs of passengers seats. JetBlue and Frontier are well known for offering this feature.
One that offers the most bonus mileage promotions for its frequent fliers.
Sometimes customers make their airline selection not so much on the basis of which airline is best rather choosing to avoid the worst airlines. Discount airlines, including AirTran and Spirit Airlines, offer very tight 30 pitch (the space between the seat back in one row compared to the seat back next row) vs. a standard 31 to 32 that most domestic airlines offer.
The most highly rated U.S. airlines are JetBlue, Virgin American and smaller regional or niche airlines such as Alaska and Hawaiian. www.cheapfares.com