United Airlines ranked 18th out of 19 carriers for long-haul flights in a new index compiled by a travel insurance firm. The analysis incorporated ratings from Skytrax, AirlineQuality, Tripadvisor, and Trustpilot, evaluating categories such as timeliness, value, seat quality, entertainment, and staff service.
United’s low placement was driven by poor scores in several areas. The airline, along with last-place American Airlines, received particularly low marks for seat quality. Other weak categories included in-flight entertainment, staff service, and food and drink offerings.
The report noted that future rankings could change due to ongoing fleet upgrades. United is introducing new cabin transformations for its Dreamliner aircraft, featuring a new Polaris Studio business-class seat and upgraded premium economy and economy cabins with larger screens. The airline expects these changes on at least 30 new aircraft by 2027.