This Airline Outshines Delta And Southwest For The Best Domestic Airline In 2026

When it comes to choosing what airline to book for your next vacation, there are all kinds of considerations. Some people may look strictly at price for a seat, others could be focused on on-time arrival stats, while others might be concerned with comfort and in-flight amenities. But if you're looking for the best of the best for an American domestic airline, book a seat with JSX. It was ranked the "Best Domestic Airline" by Travel+Leisure in 2026, 2025, and 2024 for their "World's Best Awards." None of America's major carriers — American, Delta, United, and Southwest Airlines — made the top three, and Delta came in at No. 5.

JSX is a public charter air carrier. It's not actually a private plane — though there are last-minute hacks where flying private could be more affordable than you'd think. But it's about as close to private as many of us will ever get. You're in a smaller plane with a maximum capacity of 30 passengers and plenty of leg room. There's Starlink WiFi included, so you won't lose internet connection while you're in the air. Passengers also get snacks and drinks, including alcoholic ones, included in the cost of the flight. 

Perhaps the biggest time saver is that flying with JSX lets you skip the standard lines for checking in luggage and security thanks to its dedicated private and separate terminals. You can drive up to the terminal within an hour of your flight, potentially as little as 20 minutes before a domestic flight. There's no looking for an airport parking lot space or having to get on a parking shuttle to get to the terminal, and there's valet parking at most of the terminals.

There are some important considerations when you book with JSX. The company is based in Dallas and flies to 28 destinations, primarily on the West Coast, though there are some routes between New York and Florida. The routes are mostly within the U.S. However, you can also fly to Cabo San Lucas, a Baja California hotspot with upscale resorts and Michelin-star eats.

The flight days and times are inherently more limited than what you can get with major airlines. They also come at a higher price point, though you can get tickets around $199 between locations like Scottsdale and Las Vegas. It's not necessarily prohibitively expensive, especially since you get two or three checked bags included, depending on the type of fare you get. It's really about balancing how much your time is worth, how much baggage you have, and whether luxury and convenience outweigh cost. As one person said on X (formerly known as Twitter): "Chose the $500 Southwest flight over the $1,500 JSX flight. Southwest WiFi didn't work, so I couldn't do my work. JSX has Starlink and also would have got me home two hours earlier. Being cheap is expensive."

The second best domestic airline for Travel + Leisure voters was Aero, another public charter carrier. No. 3 was Hawaiian Airlines, which also ranks highest for easy economy check-in. EVA Air out of Taiwan was voted the best international airline.