Summary
Highlights
JetBlue, at $200, delivered an amazing pre-flight experience with excellent communication regarding a delay, allowing for alternative plans. The A220-300 had a unique blue aesthetic and a comfortable 2x3 configuration. Seats included a premium seatback screen, power outlets, and free Wi-Fi. Space was generous across all measurements. JetBlue excelled in food and drink, offering multiple free snacks, full cans of drinks, and appetizing food for purchase like a ham and cheese croissant and a Farro salad bowl. The 'extra snack test' was passed with flying colors, as the crew generously provided all snack options, making it the best economy flight experience.
United, at $250, had a solid pre-flight experience despite a delay, with clear and organized boarding. Flying on a new A321 Neo, the cabin was beautiful with a large seatback TV, USB/UBC ports, and decent legroom. Comfort was solid but felt it could be better for the price. Food was a highlight, with complimentary full cans of drinks and an amazing snack selection like stroopwaffles and quinoa crisps. A beef patty melt from their bistro menu was surprisingly good. The 'bathroom test' showed a spotlessly clean, modern bathroom, maintaining JetBlue's lead.
Alaska Airlines, priced at $300, provided a chaotic and messy pre-flight experience due to a 2-hour delay from a tech outage and disorganized boarding. The Boeing 737 Max cabin felt like a downgrade, lacking entertainment screens and offering less space than previous airlines. Food was a mixed bag: limited free snacks (just pretzels) but exceptional hot food for purchase, including a pulled pork sandwich and a grain bowl, rated as the best food yet. The 'call button test' resulted in lightning-fast service, scoring 10/10.
Delta, at $500, offered potentially the best pre-flight experience—smooth and hassle-free. The A220-100 cabin was sleek, featuring a seatback screen, large tray table, double seat pockets, and the largest measurements yet for knee, pitch, and shoulder room, earning a 9/10 for comfort. The 'one-star review test' debunked claims of a dirty plane, confirming it was spotless. The service was excellent, with attendants offering full cans and extra drinks. Delta also offered a full meal option, with a stunning cheese plate and a large chicken sandwich, rated as the best food of the trip, putting Delta in the lead.
American Airlines, the most expensive at $1000, had an unbelievable and seamless pre-flight experience, rated 10/10 for efficiency. However, the 20-year-old Boeing 737 cabin was a disappointment for the price: no TV (entertainment via phone), expensive Wi-Fi, and cramped seating similar to budget airlines (9 inches knee room). Food options were limited to a complimentary drink and snack, and few for-purchase items like a turkey wrap and chips with salsa, which felt inadequate for the premium price. The 'temperature test' revealed an unacceptably hot cabin at 82 degrees Fahrenheit, heavily impacting its score.
After flying on every airline, the conclusion is that the airline itself matters less than the destination and travel companionship. Delta was crowned the top airline overall due to its excellent service, comfort, and food. However, JetBlue was deemed the most 'worth it' for its incredible value, superior amenities, and generous offerings at a more accessible price point.
The journey begins with Frontier, a budget airline with tickets starting at $10. The pre-flight experience was surprisingly efficient with no delays or hidden fees. The cabin, an A321, appeared new, but the bare-bones seats lacked entertainment screens and recline. Legroom and shoulder room were minimal. Food and drinks were for purchase, with vegetable ramen and a cheese platter receiving low ratings. However, the call button test revealed exceptional and quick service from the crew, making it a 10 out of 10 for service despite the basic amenities. In Atlanta, Lucille experienced authentic soul food at Mary Max T-room.
Next up is Spirit at $50 per ticket. The pre-flight experience was chaotic due to unorganized boarding, though there were no delays or unexpected bag fees. The seats were even more basic than Frontier's, with minimal padding and a tiny tray table. While legroom was slightly better, pitch was less. Spirit did offer Wi-Fi strong enough for streaming. Food options were limited to a purchasable snack box. The 'temperature test' on the wheel of truth revealed the cabin was 4 degrees outside the recommended range, decreasing its score. In Orlando, Lucille tried Taco Bell for the first time.
Allegiant's $100 ticket came with the roughest pre-flight experience, including app issues leading to a $5 charge for printed boarding passes. The cabin appeared worn, with ripped fabric on seats and a tiny tray table. Seat comfort was rated poorly due to minimal padding. However, Allegiant surprisingly offered a 'fancy' food menu for purchase, including a wine and charcuterie board, receiving a good food score. The 'one-star review test' confirmed cleanliness issues mentioned in an online review (crumbs on the floor, trash in seat pockets), but the flight attendants were friendly and helpful.
Southwest, priced at $150, featured an impressive ground crew but suffered a 3-hour delay with poor communication, resulting in the worst pre-flight experience so far. Unassigned seating was unique. The seat comfort was a significant upgrade, offering full-size pockets, recline, adjustable headrests, and ample leg, pitch, and shoulder room. Free movies were available via phone. Southwest was the first to offer a free snack and drink, but lacked other food for purchase. The 'bathroom test' revealed a surprisingly clean but dimly lit, flickering bathroom.