The Best and Worst Airlines to Fly With Throughout the World

LOT Polish Airlines

LOT Polish Airlines continuously ranks high in on-time performance and exceptional customer service. This airline provides direct flights across the world and flies to most of the well-known airports and interchange hubs.

Most passengers feel at ease as they sit back and relax in their state-of-the-art fleet of comfortable, modern airplanes.

Carry-on baggage is always included in the ticket price, so chances are you won't encounter surprise fees and costs.

Etihad Airways

This five-star airline is well known for outstanding customer service, commitment to excellence and luxurious amenities.

The remote features a plethora of infotainment and games, and sleep kits are available on overnight flights.

Etihad Airways offers competitive pricing for flights between India and the United States, and there are usually special promotions and deals available.

A standard Etihad Airways review sits pretty high amongst passengers.

Austrian Airlines

Austrian Airlines is committed to environmental responsibility and plans to cut its net CO2 emissions in half over the next several years.

This airline is also known for providing top-quality service to customers and for its crew, who go above and beyond to ensure the comfort of travelers.

Many passengers enjoy the food service available on Austrian Airlines, with some saying it's the best they've had on an international flight.

Also, in Austrian Airlines business class, the seats go fully horizontal, so you can enjoy a good night's sleep in the air.

American Airlines

Many travelers are familiar with American Airlines and prefer flying with them due to their reliability, route network and robust rewards program.

They also provide the most domestic flights within the United States, making it an exceptionally convenient option for business travelers.

Most American Airlines aircraft are spacious and comfortable, offering various ticket options for travelers on a budget.

China Airlines

China Airlines is a five-star airline fully committed to providing travelers with exceptional cabin services. This airline is among the best in seat comfort, food and beverage, entertainment and Wi-Fi availability.

China Airlines is also known for its affordable tickets and friendly and attentive cabin crew.

A professional three-Michelin-star chef also designs their in-flight meals, so you're in for a culinary treat when you fly with China Airlines.

Wideroe

This Norwegian airline is the largest regional airline in the Nordic countries. Their fleet serves over 40 international and domestic destinations and offers friendly, efficient and straightforward services.

With their clean aircraft and comfortable seats, there is a decent amount of legroom, even for those flying economy class.

Most travelers find that they often arrive at their destination with time to spare and that the cabin crew always goes the extra mile to assist passengers.

United Airlines

United Airlines has a solid reputation and provides a good customer service experience. Its on-time performance is usually strong, and its planes are clean and well-maintained.

In addition, United Airlines offers a wide selection of complimentary meals and in-flight entertainment, which is beneficial on longer routes.

The Worst Airlines To Fly With

Of course, air travel isn't always fun. Between cramped seats, little legroom and unruly passengers, there are many reasons why some people prefer other modes of transportation.

However, sometimes you can't avoid plane travel to reach your destination.

Following is a list of airline carriers that tend to have fewer amenities, unreliable arrival times and flight-delay compensation issues.

Tunisair

Tunisair is one of the worst-performing airlines in the world for several reasons.

Passengers report that staff are impolite and disrespectful and that flight delays are pretty standard, with some lasting several hours.

Tunisair ranks low on in-flight amenities such as food and beverage service and entertainment. They also rank low for compensation claims and customer satisfaction.

British Airways

While some say British Airways fares poorly among airline rankings due to old planes, dated interiors and slow IT systems, the airline has attempted to improve its fleet over the last several years.

Food service is often subpar, and poor inflight amenities and staff shortages mean you'll likely arrive at your destination hungry and unimpressed with your flight experience.

Frontier Airlines

Lengthy boarding times and low reliability scores have consistently placed Frontier Airlines at the bottom of the airline rankings list for several years.

While it's considered an ultra-low-cost carrier offering significantly cheaper fares than other airlines, you will get what you paid for.

Frontier Airlines focuses on delivering bare-bones service to maintain low ticket prices. However, you certainly won't be traveling in comfort.

In not uncommon Frontier Airlines news, flights are frequently cancelled or delayed.

Czech Airlines

Check-in and baggage claims are the top concerns among those who fly with Czech Airlines.

Many problems regarding Czech Airlines came to light in 2020 during the COVID lockdown, and they have struggled to overcome these challenges since then.

Flight cancellations are common, and getting them to issue monetary refunds is challenging since they mainly provide travel vouchers.

Air Canada

Air Canada's poor reputation mainly stems from inconsistencies in service and limited in-flight amenities.

Passengers report cancellations, uncomfortable seats and prolonged delays as everyday occurrences, although some flights are better than others. Air Canada consistently ranks last in on-time performance among the most prominent airlines.

If you must reach your destination on time, you may be better off choosing a different airline.

Spirit Airlines

Why is Spirit Airlines cheap? While Spirit Airlines is another ultra-low-cost carrier that offers base fares at significantly reduced prices, this means you'll have to pay extra for amenities and services that are complimentary with other airlines.

Many passengers are frustrated with its misleading fee system and, therefore, surprised by unexpected costs.

However, Spirit Airlines flies mainly within the United States along with a few short international routes, which makes their fares among the lowest available on the market.

Is Spirit Airlines safe? While there are always risks when flying and Spirit Airlines is lower quality, ultimately it still is safe to fly.

Azores Airlines

While the Azores is a beautiful destination, many passengers of Azores Airlines are unimpressed with their flight experience, specifically regarding food service and lack of snacks on board the flights.

The fleet mainly consists of older planes, with many still bearing the carrier's old name (SATA).

Many travelers experience flight delays and a less-than-friendly cabin crew. There are also no in-flight entertainment options, so bring a good book or a tablet to pass the time.

Air Austral

The reviews for Air Austral are usually average or relatively poor. Some passengers cite incompetent staff, inadequate entertainment and a lack of Wi-Fi as reasons for their lower ratings.

However, others enjoy the in-flight meals and comfortable seating options. Ground service for Air Austral could be better, and many customers experience difficulties receiving refunds for canceled flights.

It's important to remember that everyone's experiences will vary. However, by being mindful of which airlines consistently fare better and which are less reliable, you can choose a carrier that works best for your itinerary.