American Airlines operates the largest fleet globally with more domestic routes and better overall customer satisfaction scores, while United Airlines leads in international destinations and premium cabin revenue, though both carriers have comparable on-time performance around 82-83%.
American Airlines vs United Airlines — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose American Airlines if you prioritize domestic coverage, have more flexibility with booking flexibility policies, and value slightly higher customer satisfaction ratings. Choose United Airlines if you fly internationally frequently, need more premium cabin capacity, or prefer their larger frequent flyer ecosystem with more transfer partners.
Compare American Airlines vs United Airlines
World's largest airline by fleet size and revenue, headquartered in Dallas with extensive domestic network.
Second-largest US carrier with strong international presence, hub-and-spoke operations across multiple US cities.
American Airlines vs United Airlines — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for American Airlines vs United Airlines with 204 attributes.
Business Class Lie-Flat Seats (Long-Haul)
Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2025)
Premium Cabin Seat Pitch (Business/Polaris)
Average Domestic Round-Trip Ticket Price
Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2024)
DOT Complaints Per 100,000 Passengers (2024)
J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Score (2024)
Baggage Delay Complaints (per 100,000 passengers)
American Airlines vs United Airlines — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for American Airlines vs United Airlines.
Which airline has better customer service ratings?
American Airlines scores 738 on the J.D. Power 2025 satisfaction index versus United's 721, placing American 2.3% higher. However, both carriers score in the mid-range for US airlines, and satisfaction varies significantly by route and class of service.
Who has more flight options for domestic travel?
American Airlines operates 350+ domestic destinations compared to United's 330+, giving AA a 6% advantage. American serves more secondary markets and smaller cities, particularly beneficial for connecting passengers.
Which airline is better for international travel?
United Airlines flies to 72 countries versus American's 65, with particularly strong Asia-Pacific routes. United operates more nonstop intercontinental flights from major US hubs like Chicago and San Francisco.
Are baggage policies the same between both airlines?
Both airlines charge identical baggage fees: $40 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second. Elite frequent flyer members at both carriers receive 2-3 free checked bags depending on status level.
Which frequent flyer program offers better value?
United MileagePlus has 210 million members with more transfer partners to premium airlines, while American AAdvantage has 145 million members with strong redemption options within the Oneworld alliance. United's program is larger but American members report slightly better redemption availability.