These Are The Best And Worst Airlines For Families

Caroline Bologna
Updated

Flying as a family can be a hectic, anxiety-producing experience. But the level of stress may vary based on the airline you choose.

A new report from The Points Guy (TPG) ranks the best and worst domestic airlines for families in 2019. According to TPG’s findings, JetBlue Airways is the most family-friendly airline, overtaking last year’s winner, Southwest Airlines. Allegiant Air took the last-place spot.

The Best Airlines for Families

  1. JetBlue Airways

  2. Southwest Airlines

  3. Hawaiian Airlines

  4. Alaska Airlines

  5. Delta Air Lines

  6. United Airlines

  7. American Airlines

  8. Frontier

  9. Spirit

  10. Allegiant Air

“Families have slightly different priorities when they travel compared to the average traveler,” TPG’s director of travel, Summer Hull, told HuffPost. Hull noted that these rankings differ from the website’s general best airlines rankings because the criteria is not the same. The report draws data from government statistics, published airline policies and procedures, TPG’s team research and other sources.

“We emphasized factors that are important to families ― how easy the airline makes it to get seats together in advance without having to pay extra, availability of built-in entertainment, kid-friendly snack and meal offerings and early boarding procedures, like ‘Do families get to board early?’” she said.

According to the report, JetBlue reigned supreme because of its seat options, free entertainment and Wi-Fi, snack basket and ability for families to pool miles together at no extra charge.

The airline ranked down at No. 7 out of 10 in the overall airline study, however. “Their on-time arrival stats aren’t great. They could do better there.” said Hull.

This is the second year TPG has ranked airlines in terms of family-friendliness.  (Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc via Getty Images)
This is the second year TPG has ranked airlines in terms of family-friendliness.  (Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc via Getty Images)

Southwest dropped to second place in part because it became harder to book travel far in advance, which many families prefer to do for their vacations.

This is the second year TPG has released family-friendly rankings. In addition to JetBlue’s ascent, Hawaiian and Alaska also rose, pushing Delta down to No. 5. The bottom five airlines remain unchanged.

Although the rankings can help families pick a carrier for their next trip, Hull believes the report serves other purposes by breaking down the family-friendly features of each airline.

“You don’t always have a choice of carrier. Sometimes price or route will make that choice for you,” she said. “I hope it helps families know what to expect for different airlines they’re not familiar with. And it can prepare them for some things the airline may make easier and help them figure out things they may have to prepare for on their own because the airline won’t be helpful.”

Hull also hopes the report can act as a wish list for airlines to see the ways they may make flying better for families. “For example, American Airlines lags when it comes to offering early boarding for families with young children, but it wouldn’t cost them that much to do what other airlines do and board families early in the process,” she said.

“I just hope our study is a chance for an airline to get some non-biased feedback,” she added. “Here are some actionable changes we’d love to see you make.”

Visit The Points Guy for more information about the methodology behind this report.

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Also on HuffPost

1930

Often considered the first female flight attendant in history, 25-year-old registered nurse Ellen Church from Iowa welcomes a traveler at the door of a Boeing 80 A for Boeing Air Transport in 1930.
Often considered the first female flight attendant in history, 25-year-old registered nurse Ellen Church from Iowa welcomes a traveler at the door of a Boeing 80 A for Boeing Air Transport in 1930.

1940

Two flight attendants with actor Tyrone Power on TWA’s Stratoliner in 1940.
Two flight attendants with actor Tyrone Power on TWA’s Stratoliner in 1940.

1940s

A Canadian Colonial Airways flight attendant with a tray of food and refreshments in the 1940s.
A Canadian Colonial Airways flight attendant with a tray of food and refreshments in the 1940s.

Circa 1945

Eastern Airlines flight stewards pose in their uniforms in front of their aircraft, circa 1945.
Eastern Airlines flight stewards pose in their uniforms in front of their aircraft, circa 1945.

Circa 1945

Twin sisters Barbara and Sheila Gordon wearing their flight attendant uniforms in England, circa 1945.
Twin sisters Barbara and Sheila Gordon wearing their flight attendant uniforms in England, circa 1945.

Circa 1946

An Air India flight attendant, circa 1946.
An Air India flight attendant, circa 1946.

Circa 1947

Avianca Airlines, Pan American Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines stewardesses in San Juan, Puerto Rico, circa 1947.
Avianca Airlines, Pan American Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines stewardesses in San Juan, Puerto Rico, circa 1947.

1952

A flight attendant looks over the passenger list of a British West Indian Airlines plane at the Piarco International Airport in Piarco, Trinidad, in 1952.
A flight attendant looks over the passenger list of a British West Indian Airlines plane at the Piarco International Airport in Piarco, Trinidad, in 1952.

1955

Uniforms worn in the 25 years since “sky girls” first went aloft, modeled by United Airlines stewardesses. From left, Carol Roos, in United’s original 1930 outfit; Carol L. Smith, 1933; Ruth Warren, 1936; Connie Ammon, 1937; Norma Banks, 1939; Nancy Riley, 1941 and Aldys Holmes, 1955.
Uniforms worn in the 25 years since “sky girls” first went aloft, modeled by United Airlines stewardesses. From left, Carol Roos, in United’s original 1930 outfit; Carol L. Smith, 1933; Ruth Warren, 1936; Connie Ammon, 1937; Norma Banks, 1939; Nancy Riley, 1941 and Aldys Holmes, 1955.

1958

Sue Kehner, a flight attendant for National Airlines, circa 1958 in Miami.
Sue Kehner, a flight attendant for National Airlines, circa 1958 in Miami.

1958

Flight attendants serve food and drinks to passengers on a Japan Airlines plane in 1958.
Flight attendants serve food and drinks to passengers on a Japan Airlines plane in 1958.

1958

Nigerian Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa greets stewardess Christina Twsela after the inaugural flight of Nigerian Airways in 1958.
Nigerian Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa greets stewardess Christina Twsela after the inaugural flight of Nigerian Airways in 1958.

1960

A South African stewardess in 1960.
A South African stewardess in 1960.

1963

Three flight attendants spoke out at a press conference in 1963 about American Airlines’ policy of retiring them at the age of 32.
Three flight attendants spoke out at a press conference in 1963 about American Airlines’ policy of retiring them at the age of 32.

1965

United Airlines’ Capt. L.L. Treece escorts stewardesses Carol DiPasalegne and JoAnn Tartaul to the crew lounge after a trip from Chicago in 1965.
United Airlines’ Capt. L.L. Treece escorts stewardesses Carol DiPasalegne and JoAnn Tartaul to the crew lounge after a trip from Chicago in 1965.

1965

Emilio Pucci designed this 1965 uniform for Braniff International Airways hostesses.
Emilio Pucci designed this 1965 uniform for Braniff International Airways hostesses.

1960s

Flight attendants serving beverages on an LAN Airways flight in the 1960s.
Flight attendants serving beverages on an LAN Airways flight in the 1960s.

1967

Felicity Downer models a new British United Airways stewardess uniform at Gatwick Airport outside London in 1967.
Felicity Downer models a new British United Airways stewardess uniform at Gatwick Airport outside London in 1967.

1967

A stewardess in 1967 in a billboard ad campaign for American Airlines.
A stewardess in 1967 in a billboard ad campaign for American Airlines.

1968

A United Airlines flight attendant in a simulated passenger compartment of a Douglas DC-10 in 1968.
A United Airlines flight attendant in a simulated passenger compartment of a Douglas DC-10 in 1968.

1969

Balenciaga designed Air France crew uniforms that debuted in 1969.
Balenciaga designed Air France crew uniforms that debuted in 1969.

1969

Three Air France air hostesses at London’s Heathrow Airport wearing new uniforms designed by Balenciaga in 1969.
Three Air France air hostesses at London’s Heathrow Airport wearing new uniforms designed by Balenciaga in 1969.

1969

Air Canada stewardesses model new uniforms in 1969.
Air Canada stewardesses model new uniforms in 1969.

1970s

A 1970s hostess uniform by Emilio Pucci for Braniff International Airways.
A 1970s hostess uniform by Emilio Pucci for Braniff International Airways.

1970

A Cambrian Air Services flight attendant uniform in 1970.
A Cambrian Air Services flight attendant uniform in 1970.

1971

Air hostesses just before welcoming passengers in 1971.
Air hostesses just before welcoming passengers in 1971.

1971

Stewardess Cynthia Robertson holds a Bengal tiger cub while modeling the new synthetic tiger fur uniform for National Airlines in 1971.
Stewardess Cynthia Robertson holds a Bengal tiger cub while modeling the new synthetic tiger fur uniform for National Airlines in 1971.

1972

Stewardesses working for Southwest Airlines in 1972, when the company followed the dictum that sex sells seats.
Stewardesses working for Southwest Airlines in 1972, when the company followed the dictum that sex sells seats.

1972

Pan-Am World Airways stewardesses in 1972.
Pan-Am World Airways stewardesses in 1972.

1972

Royal dressmaker Hardy Amies designed these 1972 British Airways uniforms.
Royal dressmaker Hardy Amies designed these 1972 British Airways uniforms.

1976

Dan-Air stewardesses in 1976.
Dan-Air stewardesses in 1976.

1986

Stewardesses on a flight from Madrid to Barcelona in 1986.
Stewardesses on a flight from Madrid to Barcelona in 1986.

1988

Aer Lingus air hostesses in Dublin in 1988.
Aer Lingus air hostesses in Dublin in 1988.

1990

A Tempelhof Airways stewardess in 1990.
A Tempelhof Airways stewardess in 1990.

1999

Flight attendants for Japan’s All Nippon Airways introduce its Pokemon jet, which began domestic operations in 1999, at Tokyo International Airport.
Flight attendants for Japan’s All Nippon Airways introduce its Pokemon jet, which began domestic operations in 1999, at Tokyo International Airport.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.