Delta consistently ranks higher in customer satisfaction and operational reliability, with a 2024 DOT complaint rate 23% lower than United, while United offers more frequent international routes and competitive pricing on economy fares.
United Airlines vs Delta Air Lines — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Major U.S. carrier with 800+ aircraft and most extensive international route network.
Major U.S. carrier with 900+ aircraft and strongest on-time performance in the industry.
2024 DOT Complaints Per 100,000 Passengers. On-Time Performance (2024). International Destinations. Fleet Size (Aircraft). Average Economy Baggage Fee (1st bag). J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Score (2024). MileagePlus/SkyMiles Program Tiers
Delta Air Lines wins for travelers prioritizing reliability and customer service, with superior on-time performance and 23% fewer complaints. Choose United if you value extensive international networks, more departure frequencies on competitive routes, and flexible award availability—otherwise Delta's operational excellence and higher satisfaction scores make it the stronger choice for most passengers.
United Airlines: $54 Billion | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 340+ | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Star Alliance | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 982 | Delta Air Lines: 924
United Airlines: Recently started deliveries | Delta Air Lines: Primary narrowbody focus
United Airlines: 254 (127 each variant) | Delta Air Lines: Declining operations
United Airlines: Aggressive widebody expansion | Delta Air Lines: New A350 orders
United Airlines: Moderate 2026-2032 | Delta Air Lines: Aggressive 2026-2030
United Airlines: Capacity-driven revenue focus | Delta Air Lines: MRO, cargo, loyalty programs
United Airlines: A321XLR and A321neo orders | Delta Air Lines: A350 and A321neo orders
United Airlines: Recent deliveries begun | Delta Air Lines: Second most operated
United Airlines: 254 (737-800/900ER combined) | Delta Air Lines: Legacy 737s present
United Airlines: MileagePlus with Chase partnership | Delta Air Lines: SkyMiles with multiple card options
United Airlines: Domestic high-frequency emphasis | Delta Air Lines: Widebody capacity growth priority
United Airlines: On order for ultra-long-haul | Delta Air Lines: Status unknown
United Airlines: A321neo (delivering), A321XLR (on order) | Delta Air Lines: A321neo (newest addition)
United Airlines: Excellent on international routes | Delta Air Lines: Excellent across all routes
United Airlines: Moderate - varies by route and aircraft | Delta Air Lines: High - polished across all routes
United Airlines: Aggressive expansion & frequency growth | Delta Air Lines: Network optimization & quality focus
United Airlines: United Clubs (comparable features) | Delta Air Lines: Sky Clubs (comparable features)
United Airlines: Expanding network | Delta Air Lines: 56 clubs
United Airlines: Multiple new widebody types | Delta Air Lines: A350-1000 with advanced engines
United Airlines: 16-inch screens (type pending) | Delta Air Lines: 16-inch 4K OLED
United Airlines: New cabin class launching 2026 | Delta Air Lines: Not available
United Airlines: Core airline operations | Delta Air Lines: MRO, cargo, loyalty program expansion
United Airlines: Outstanding YTD performance | Delta Air Lines: Outstanding YTD performance
United Airlines: Yes, available | Delta Air Lines: Yes, available
United Airlines: New privacy wings in Premium Plus | Delta Air Lines: Updated privacy improvements
United Airlines: Boeing 737-800/737-900ER (127 each) | Delta Air Lines: Airbus A321neo and older narrowbodies
United Airlines: 254 (737-800: 127 + 737-900ER: 127) | Delta Air Lines: A321neo fleet expanding
United Airlines: A321XLR on order | Delta Air Lines: A350-1000 expansion underway
United Airlines: Narrowbody high-frequency domestic | Delta Air Lines: Widebody long-haul premium
United Airlines: A321neo and A321XLR | Delta Air Lines: A350-1000s (active)
United Airlines: Boeing 737-800 & 900ER (127 each) | Delta Air Lines: Airbus A321neo
United Airlines: Polaris (Lie-flat) | Delta Air Lines: Delta One (Lie-flat)
United Airlines: A321neo & A321XLR on order (first new Airbus in 20+ years) | Delta Air Lines: A321neo adoption underway
United Airlines: United Club (WiFi, snacks, drinks, seating) | Delta Air Lines: Sky Club (WiFi, snacks, drinks, seating)
United Airlines: +58 aircraft advantage | Delta Air Lines: -58 aircraft disadvantage
United Airlines: 982 aircraft | Delta Air Lines: 924 aircraft
United Airlines: Starlink satellite WiFi (2026) | Delta Air Lines: Standard ground-based WiFi
United Airlines: Airbus A321neo & A321XLR on order | Delta Air Lines: Airbus A321neo
United Airlines: Boeing 787 Dreamliner & 777 | Delta Air Lines: Airbus A350-1000 (launching 2026)
United Airlines: Self-serve snack bar in economy (2026) | Delta Air Lines: Standard beverage/snack service
United Airlines: Fifth Freedom routes (NY-Milan, etc.) | Delta Air Lines: Enhanced European network
United Airlines: Boeing 737-800 (127 units) | Delta Air Lines: Airbus A321neo
United Airlines: Airbus A321neo (first in 20+ years) | Delta Air Lines: Airbus A321neo
United Airlines: Polaris (long-haul focused) | Delta Air Lines: Delta One (all-route)
United Airlines: High (A321XLR on order) | Delta Air Lines: Moderate
United Airlines: High-frequency domestic + widebody expansion | Delta Air Lines: Balanced operational growth
Business Class Lie-Flat Seats (Long-Haul)
United Airlines: Up to 28 seats (new aircraft) | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Enhanced Polaris pods with varied privacy | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: A321neo and A321XLR on order | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Varies by aircraft type | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: United Club with WiFi and refreshments | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: A321neo deliveries underway; A321XLRs on order | Delta Air Lines: A321neo integrated into fleet
United Airlines: Polaris: Excellent internationally; variable domestically | Delta Air Lines: Delta One: Consistently excellent across routes
United Airlines: United Club lounges globally | Delta Air Lines: Delta Sky Clubs in major hubs
United Airlines: First new Airbus in 20+ years (A321neo) | Delta Air Lines: A321neo already integrated
United Airlines: Growing through hub expansion | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Established premium offerings | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Standard program maintenance | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Standard service levels | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 5+ new regional destinations | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 22-hour one-stop flights | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Rising complaints in 2026 | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Crisis situation in 2026 | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Extensive global network | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Hub-and-spoke international | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Aggressive widebody deployment | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: Standard industry programs | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: $15.4 billion | Delta Air Lines: $16.0 billion
United Airlines: 8.5% | Delta Air Lines: 9.5%
United Airlines: 11% | Delta Air Lines: Not disclosed
United Airlines: $250 million | Delta Air Lines: $200 million
United Airlines: 4.8% | Delta Air Lines: 3.0%
United Airlines: Boeing 737-800/900ER (254 total) | Delta Air Lines: Airbus A321neo
United Airlines: A321XLR orders (limited widebody focus) | Delta Air Lines: Airbus A350 active deployment & expansion
United Airlines: A321neo first new Airbus in 20+ years (recent) | Delta Air Lines: A350 in active service, A321neo fleet established
United Airlines: Primarily ticket-driven with long-haul expansion | Delta Air Lines: MRO, cargo, loyalty, premium widebody revenue
United Airlines: Boeing/Airbus mixed (limited A321neo uptake) | Delta Air Lines: Boeing/Airbus optimized (A350 + A321neo focus)
United Airlines: Slower (just beginning A321neo transition) | Delta Air Lines: Faster (A350 + A321neo established)
United Airlines: +58 | Delta Air Lines: Baseline
United Airlines: Boeing 737-800/900ER (127 each) | Delta Air Lines: Airbus A321neo
United Airlines: 16-inch 4K OLED (2026) | Delta Air Lines: Not specified
United Airlines: Airbus A321XLR on order | Delta Air Lines: None announced
United Airlines: Recently began A321neo deliveries (first in 20+ years) | Delta Air Lines: A321neo already operational in fleet
United Airlines: 2026 (Polaris redesign launching) | Delta Air Lines: Not specified
United Airlines: Extended-range capability on A321XLR | Delta Air Lines: Larger wing design on A350-1000
United Airlines: 16-inch 4K OLED | Delta Air Lines: Standard display (size not specified)
United Airlines: Most destinations of any U.S. carrier | Delta Air Lines: Strong long-haul focus
United Airlines: Standard A321XLR engines | Delta Air Lines: Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 (more powerful)
United Airlines: Available on Polaris redesign | Delta Air Lines: Not mentioned
United Airlines: Long-haul and mid-range (A321XLR) | Delta Air Lines: Long-haul primary focus (A350-1000)
United Airlines: Strong performance noted | Delta Air Lines: Strong performance noted
United Airlines: ~900 | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 250+ | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 60+ | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: First bag $35 (Basic Economy) | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: $230 | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 79.1% | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 7.2 | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 1 base | Delta Air Lines: N/A
United Airlines: 79.8% | Delta Air Lines: 82.3%
United Airlines: $312 | Delta Air Lines: $348
Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2025)
United Airlines: 776 | Delta Air Lines: 783
United Airlines: 30,000 | Delta Air Lines: 25,000
United Airlines: 2.1 | Delta Air Lines: 1.8
United Airlines: 350+ | Delta Air Lines: 325+
United Airlines: 18.1 | Delta Air Lines: 17.2
United Airlines: 180 million | Delta Air Lines: 175 million
United Airlines: 73 | Delta Air Lines: 76
United Airlines: 106 million | Delta Air Lines: 118 million
United Airlines: 2.8 | Delta Air Lines: 2.1
United Airlines: 137 | Delta Air Lines: 120
United Airlines: 850+ | Delta Air Lines: 900+
United Airlines: 75 | Delta Air Lines: 78
United Airlines: 31 | Delta Air Lines: 31
United Airlines: $59.8B | Delta Air Lines: $61.2B
United Airlines: 38 inches | Delta Air Lines: 38 inches
United Airlines: 1.5x | Delta Air Lines: 1.0x
United Airlines: 74/100 | Delta Air Lines: 78/100
United Airlines: $58.2B | Delta Air Lines: $63.4B
United Airlines: 741 | Delta Air Lines: 759
United Airlines: $318 | Delta Air Lines: $324
Premium Cabin Seat Pitch (Business/Polaris)
United Airlines: 6.5 feet (direct-aisle on 787) | Delta Air Lines: 6 feet (direct-aisle on select aircraft)
United Airlines: 3.8 stars | Delta Air Lines: 4.2 stars
United Airlines: 81.2% | Delta Air Lines: 83.5%
United Airlines: 342 destinations | Delta Air Lines: 325 destinations
Average Domestic Round-Trip Ticket Price
United Airlines: $289 | Delta Air Lines: $312
United Airlines: 3 primary hubs (Chicago, Houston, Newark) | Delta Air Lines: 3 primary hubs (Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit)
United Airlines: United Extra (3 inches extra) | Delta Air Lines: Delta Comfort+ (2-3 inches extra)
United Airlines: 843 | Delta Air Lines: 902
United Airlines: 4,800+ | Delta Air Lines: 5,400+
Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2024)
United Airlines: 73/100 | Delta Air Lines: 76/100
United Airlines: 8% | Delta Air Lines: 5%
United Airlines: 358 | Delta Air Lines: 312
DOT Complaints Per 100,000 Passengers (2024)
United Airlines: 2.84 | Delta Air Lines: 2.18
United Airlines: 80.2% | Delta Air Lines: 82.1%
United Airlines: 870 | Delta Air Lines: 900
United Airlines: $35 | Delta Air Lines: $35
J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Score (2024)
United Airlines: 740 | Delta Air Lines: 758
United Airlines: 31 inches | Delta Air Lines: 32 inches
United Airlines: 77.2% | Delta Air Lines: 81.5%
United Airlines: 14.1 years | Delta Air Lines: 12.8 years
United Airlines: 2.14 | Delta Air Lines: 1.67
United Airlines: 5,200+ flights | Delta Air Lines: 5,400+ flights
United Airlines: 182 billion RPM | Delta Air Lines: 198 billion RPM
United Airlines: 79.8% | Delta Air Lines: 82.5%
United Airlines: 0.58 | Delta Air Lines: 0.45
United Airlines: 25% | Delta Air Lines: 18%
United Airlines: 2.41 | Delta Air Lines: 1.89
United Airlines: 28% | Delta Air Lines: 44%
United Airlines: 800+ | Delta Air Lines: 900+
United Airlines: 340+ | Delta Air Lines: 300+
United Airlines: $378 | Delta Air Lines: $385
United Airlines: 25,000 miles | Delta Air Lines: 25,000 miles
How to choose between United Airlines and Delta Air Lines
Compare United Airlines vs Delta Air Lines
United Airlines vs Delta Air Lines — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for United Airlines vs Delta Air Lines. Contains 162 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
United Airlines vs Delta Air Lines — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for United Airlines vs Delta Air Lines.
Which airline has better on-time performance in 2024?
Delta Air Lines leads with 82.1% on-time arrivals compared to United's 80.2%, a 1.9 percentage point advantage. This translates to approximately 7 more on-time flights per 100 flights with Delta.
How do baggage fees compare between United and Delta?
Both airlines charge $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second bag in economy. Checked baggage is free for elite frequent flyer members and premium cabin passengers on both airlines.
Which airline flies to more international destinations?
United Airlines serves 142 international destinations versus Delta's 129, giving United 13 additional destinations. However, Delta offers more flight frequency on major international routes through its larger fleet.
What are the customer satisfaction ratings for each airline?
Delta scored 758 on the 2024 J.D. Power North American Airline Satisfaction Study, while United scored 740—an 18-point difference. This reflects Delta's advantage in operational reliability and customer service consistency.
Which airline has fewer complaints to the DOT?
Delta received 2.18 complaints per 100,000 passengers in 2024, compared to United's 2.84—representing a 23% lower complaint rate. Common complaint categories favor Delta in baggage handling, flight cancellations, and customer service responsiveness.
How to Choose Between United Airlines and Delta Air Lines
Consider: 2024 DOT Complaints Per 100,000 Passengers
2024 DOT Complaints Per 100,000 Passengers: United Airlines has 2.84, while Delta Air Lines has 2.18.
On-Time Performance (2024): United Airlines has 80.2%, while Delta Air Lines has 82.1%.
International Destinations: United Airlines has 142, while Delta Air Lines has 129.
Fleet Size (Aircraft): United Airlines has 902, while Delta Air Lines has 938.
Consider: Average Economy Baggage Fee (1st bag)
Average Economy Baggage Fee (1st bag): United Airlines has $35, while Delta Air Lines has $35.
Consider: J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Score (2024)
J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Score (2024): United Airlines has 740, while Delta Air Lines has 758.
Consider: MileagePlus/SkyMiles Program Tiers
MileagePlus/SkyMiles Program Tiers: United Airlines has 4 elite levels, while Delta Air Lines has 4 elite levels.