Before You Travel in 2019, Here Are the Best (and Worst) Airlines, According to Experts and Fliers

Year after year, the Florida-based Spirit Airlines is known for garnering a poor reputation. According to recent 2019 TripAdvisor reviews, Spirit Airlines has tons of hidden fees, super smalls seats, a history of lost baggage, rude gate attendants, and terrible customer service. There was even an alleged recent incident where the plane's staff closed off an entire bathroom for themselves on a plane with more than 200 fliers.

Frontier might not be your first choice of airlines, but when seeking a budget-friendly plane ticket it's usually the lowest there is. The airline often puts out flash sales on domestic flights for as low as $20, but the overall flight experience may not be worth it. More than 35 percent of Frontier's customers rated their experience with the airline as "terrible" on TripAdvisor. The various reports of long delays and canceled flights are what put it so low on this list.

American Airlines is pretty mediocre in terms of on-time departures and customer satisfaction. However, the airline is definitely due to refresh their seats and cushions, as it's not the most comfortable experience. On the up side, Brian Kelly, CEO and founder of The Points Guy, told POPSUGAR, "American Airlines is great because of their flagship lounges, full-meal dining, and delicious food." We all love an airline with quality food!

With more than 50 percent of customer reviews rating Allegiant Air as "average" on TripAdvisor, and through reading reviews based off of firsthand experiences, it's evident that travelers are mostly booking this airline for cheap weekend getaways and last-minute trips. It's a no-frills airline, so you get what you pay for, including cramped seats.

Hawaiian Airlines has made it higher up on the list mostly for its exceptional service and superfriendly staff. They also offer amenities that other airlines don't and pay attention to detail. For example, they serve egg sandwiches for breakfast and complimentary rum punch to get in the Hawaiian mood. A huge plus is that every seat has an easily accessible charging station and a phone or tablet holder.

The key factor when it comes to Southwest: no hidden fees! Kelly said, "Southwest is a favorite of mine for the ability to check bags and change flights without fees." Southwest remains a fan favorite in 2019, mostly due to its transparency, customer service, and efficient travel processes. The pilots and flight attendants are known for having a great sense of humor and making everyone on the flight feel comfortable.

United has an outstanding loyalty program and great in-flight amenities and services. Travelers can choose from a variety of food and drink selections based on the route and duration of each flight, both complimentary snacks or additional purchase options with the "Bistro on Board" menus. United has made an effort to become more passenger-friendly coming into 2019, and it seems to be working in their favor.

JetBlue is a true gem in the airline world. There are free snacks, televisions with complimentary shows and movies, and the ability to bring a carry-on bag for no additional fee. When you're ready to treat yourself to a first class experience, fly JetBlue's Mint class for extra space to lay down, refreshing hot towels upon boarding and landing, plush pillows and blankets, more food options, and attentive flight attendants.

More than 80 percent of Alaska Airlines' customer reviews on TripAdvisor were rated as "very good" or "excellent," which shows why it's No. 1. "Alaska has a peerless frequent-flyer program and a high rate of customer satisfaction, with only 0.58 complaints lodged per 100,000 fliers — less than a third that of other airlines," Kelly said. "Its robust cabin features include one of the youngest fleets in the US and little features, like ensuring that each of its passengers has electric power at their seat."