NEW YORK — Southwest Airlines has been named the best U.S. airline for finding affordable airfare, according to the “Going’s 2025 Flight Deal Awards” report, which was highlighted by news outlets including NDTV and Men’s Journal. The report focused specifically on the frequency and quality of flight deals offered by airlines.
While other carriers like Frontier and Spirit are often recognized for offering the lowest “bare fares,” the Going report, as cited by Men’s Journal, found that Southwest stood out for its overall deals. According to Travel + Tour World, Southwest consistently offers “deep discounts across domestic routes.” The airline was ranked first in the category of “Best Airlines for Flight Deals,” followed by American Airlines and United Airlines, which also offer frequent promotions.
The findings from the Going report contrast with other rankings. For example, the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline awards by SKYTRAX named Allegiant Air the “Best Low-Cost Airline in North America” for 2025. This difference underscores a key point noted by experts. According to a report by Reader’s Digest, travel expert and co-founder of Thrifty Traveler, Jesse Keyes, stated, “There are different metrics to judge budget airlines.” Keyes noted that while some airlines compete on the absolute cheapest “bare fare,” others like Southwest win for on-time performance and baggage policies, such as the two free checked bags they are known for.
