It’s been another eventful 12 months for air travel. These include long waits at TSA checkpoints due to three government shutdowns, soaring prices for fuel and checked baggage, and flight cancellations due to weather or war.
But despite these significant challenges, overall passenger satisfaction with North American airlines rose eight points (out of 1,000) compared to last year, according to J.D. Power’s 2026 North American Airline Satisfaction Study released Wednesday.
“Despite the many challenges, airlines have gotten back to the basics of communicating with passengers, providing friendly service, and offering slightly better value for money than in years past,” said Michael Taylor, J.D. Power’s senior managing director of travel, hospitality, retail and customer service.
But he added: “With airfares on some routes tripling in the past few weeks and baggage fees increasing to compensate for rising fuel costs, it is becoming increasingly difficult for airlines to maintain high customer satisfaction ratings in this year’s survey.”
How airlines measure passenger satisfaction
The 2025 edition of the survey found that overall passenger satisfaction has improved, due in part to improved ratings for economy and basic economy. In 2026, the increase in overall satisfaction was driven by a 17-point increase in satisfaction among first and business class passengers, followed by a 14-point increase in premium economy passengers and a six-point increase in economy and basic economy passengers.
The study divides airlines into three categories: first class and business class. premium economy. and economics and basic economics. So which airline performs best in each class of service? JetBlue Airways ranked best for first class and business class service for the second year in a row. JetBlue calls this Mint Class. What better time to try JetBlue Airways’ routes to Europe?
The company overtook Delta Air Lines, which was ranked No. 1 for in-flight service in 2024. But Delta Air Lines maintained its top spot in premium economy service (one of Afar’s editors’ favorite premium economy service). And despite a fundamental change to Southwest Airlines in May 2025, the airline remained No. 1 in economy and basic economy.
The report is based on a survey conducted between March 2025 and March 2026 that collected responses from 10,914 passengers who flew on major North American airlines in the past month.
The 2026 North American Airline Satisfaction Survey measured overall passenger satisfaction based on seven factors:
- airline staff
- digital tools
- ease of travel
- level of trust
- Onboard experience
- Pre-flight and post-flight experience
- value for money paid
In J.D. Power’s 2026 North American Airline Satisfaction Study, points are based on a 1,000-point scale. The airlines are summarized as follows:
Best North American Airlines for First and Business Class
| 2026 ranking | 2025 ranking |
| JetBlue Airways – 759 points | JetBlue Airways – 738 points |
| Delta Air Lines – 750 points | Delta Air Lines – 724 points |
| Alaska Airlines – 720 points | Alaska Airlines – 709 points |
| United Airlines – 700 points | United Airlines – 690 points |
| American Airlines – 698 points | Air Canada – 686 points |
| Air Canada – 694 points | American Airlines – 684 points |
Best North American Airlines for Premium Economy
| 2026 ranking | 2025 ranking |
| Delta Air Lines – 720 points | Delta Air Lines – 717 points |
| JetBlue Airways – 701 points | JetBlue Airways – 699 points |
| Alaska Airlines – 682 points | Alaska Airlines – 691 points |
| United Airlines – 665 points | United Airlines – 652 points |
| American Airlines – 657 points | American Airlines – 650 points |
| WestJet – 641 points | Air Canada – 616 points |
| Air Canada – 633 points | WestJet – 614 points |
Best North American Airlines for Economy and Basic Economy
| 2026 ranking | 2025 ranking |
| Southwest Airlines – 670 points | Southwest Airlines – 694 points |
| Delta Air Lines – 667 points | JetBlue Airways – 663 points |
| JetBlue Airways – 655 points | Delta Air Lines – 662 points |
| Alaska Airlines – 648 points | Alaska Airlines – 645 points |
| Allegiant Air – 630 points | Allegiant Air – 636 points |
| American Airlines – 624 points | United Airlines – 603 points |
| United Airlines – 608 points | American Airlines – 597 points |
| Air Canada – 576 points | Air Canada – 561 points |
| Spirit Airlines* – 560 points | WestJet – 537 points |
| WestJet – 533 points | Spirit Airlines – 526 points |
| Frontier Airlines – 533 points | Frontier Airlines – 520 points |
*This survey was conducted and data compiled before Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2, 2026.
Related: 8 ways to secure a business class seat on your next flight without paying full price
This article was originally published in 2023 and last updated on May 6, 2026.