The deal-hunter's airline guide
Not who has the best lounges — who actually drops cheap fares. Ranked by how often each airline shows up on our radar, how fresh the activity is, and how premium the deals run.
88/100
Qatar AirwaysQR
oneworld
full-service
30% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Top-tier long-haul business class with generous premium options.
88 deals · 90d
2% award
— Privilege Club
deals to: ADD · ALA · AMD · Asia · ATQ · BKK
86/100
American AirlinesAA
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Huge U.S. network with lie-flat long-haul and premium economy.
139 deals · 90d
2% award
1.5¢ AAdvantage
deals to: ACK · ANC · AUA · AUS · BGR · BNA
84/100
United AirlinesUA
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Big global network and widespread lie-flat international service.
124 deals · 90d
6% award
1.3¢ MileagePlus
deals to: AKL · BKK · BOS · BQN · BRU · BUR
83/100
Cathay PacificCX
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Polished long-haul service with excellent business and premium economy.
107 deals · 90d
1% award
— Cathay
deals to: BJS · BKI · BKK · CAN · CEB · China
83/100
Delta Air LinesDL
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Reliable long-haul comfort and broad domestic coverage.
106 deals · 90d
6% award
1.2¢ SkyMiles
deals to: AAL · AES · AKL · ANC · ATL · AUA
▲ trending
81/100
Scandinavian AirlinesSK
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Easy-to-use loyalty program with solid premium-economy options.
102 deals · 90d
0% award
— EuroBonus
deals to: AAL · AAR · AMS · BER · BGO · BOM
80/100
Etihad AirwaysEY
full-service
lie-flat J
Premium long-haul flying with excellent business-class hard product.
73 deals · 90d
1% award
— Etihad Guest
deals to: Bali · Bangkok/Phuket · BJS · BKK · Cambodia · CMB
▲ trending
76/100
Air CanadaAC
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Excellent award program and solid long-haul premium cabins.
66 deals · 90d
0% award
1.4¢ Aeroplan
deals to: AKL · Bahamas · BKK · CPH · HKG · MIL
▲ trending
75/100
China SouthernCZ
full-service
38% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Guangzhou mega-hub — trans-Pacific and Australia fares that frequently undercut the alliance carriers.
24 deals · 90d
0% award
— Sky Pearl Club
deals to: Cambodia · China · DPS · LON · MAD · PEN
▲ trending
74/100
Wizz AirW6
low-cost
Ultra-low fares, but expect strict fees and no frills.
55 deals · 90d
0% award
— WIZZ Discount Club
deals to: AGA · ATH · AUH · BAK · BDS · BUH
73/100
Korean AirKE
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Reliable long-haul comfort with strong premium cabin offerings.
50 deals · 90d
0% award
— SKYPASS
deals to: BJS · BKK · CAN · CEB · Chiang Mai · CNX
72/100
JetBlueB6
hybrid
Extra legroom and good value on transcon routes, with no business class.
49 deals · 90d
0% award
1.3¢ TrueBlue
deals to: ACK · AUA · BOS · BQN · BUF · CTG
72/100
RyanairFR
ultra low-cost
Europe's fare-war machine. Deals here are shameless €10–30 hops — watch the bag fees, but the flash sales are real.
47 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: AGP · AMM · BCN · BLQ · BRI · Canary Islands
72/100
Hainan AirlinesHU
full-service
lie-flat J
Large Chinese carrier with long-haul business and premium economy.
31 deals · 90d
0% award
— Fortune Wings Club
deals to: AKL · BJS · BKK · China · CTU · HAK
▲ trending
69/100
Air ChinaCA
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Beijing-hub fares to Asia that regularly beat the market, especially in shoulder season.
27 deals · 90d
0% award
— PhoenixMiles
deals to: BKK · DEL · HAN · HKG · MEL · MNL
66/100
Turkish AirlinesTK
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Massive network, strong business class, and good award value.
22 deals · 90d
0% award
— Miles&Smiles
deals to: Asia · BKK · BUE · CMB · Europe · HAN
▲ trending
62/100
IcelandairFI
full-service
Transatlantic via Reykjavik with a free-stopover gimmick and regular US–Europe sale waves.
20 deals · 90d
0% award
— Saga Club
deals to: AMS · BOS · DUB · Faroe Islands · FRA · HEL
61/100
Air FranceAF
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Strong long-haul premium cabins and solid awards via Flying Blue.
19 deals · 90d
5% award
1.3¢ Flying Blue
deals to: Botswana · COL · CPT · FAE · LIM · MEX
61/100
China EasternMU
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Quietly one of the cheapest ways across the Pacific — Shanghai-hub itineraries often undercut everyone by hundreds.
12 deals · 90d
0% award
— Eastern Miles
deals to: AKL · DPS · Far East · HKG · MFM · SYD
▲ trending
61/100
FinnairAY
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Helsinki's short polar routing keeps Europe–Asia fares sharp; solid business-class sale habit.
12 deals · 90d
0% award
— Finnair Plus
deals to: Asia · BKK · DEL · HEL · MEL · SIN
▲ trending
60/100
British AirwaysBA
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Huge route network with Club World and frequent Avios sweet spots.
14 deals · 90d
0% award
— Executive Club
deals to: BGI · CMB · CUN · JNB · NYC · SFO
58/100
KLMKL
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Amsterdam hub with a famous annual World Deal Weeks sale and steady Europe-origin long-haul discounts.
14 deals · 90d
0% award
1.3¢ Flying Blue
deals to: Africa · CPT · JNB · MEX · OSL · Riga
55/100
IberiaIB
oneworld
full-service
43% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Often a bargain for Europe to long-haul premium seats on points.
7 deals · 90d
14% award
— Iberia Plus
deals to: DKR · DSS · FOR · MAD · SAO
54/100
Alaska AirlinesAS
oneworld
hybrid
Great miles value and a strong premium economy on many flights.
17 deals · 90d
6% award
1.5¢ Mileage Plan
deals to: FAI · LAX · RAR · SAC · SAN · Tokyo or Seoul
54/100
LufthansaLH
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Massive hub network with dependable long-haul premium cabins.
17 deals · 90d
0% award
— Miles & More
deals to: BKK · CPT · DPS · IBZ · JSI · LAX
53/100
Singapore AirlinesSQ
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Benchmark long-haul product with premium economy and top-tier service.
12 deals · 90d
25% award
— KrisFlyer
deals to: BKK · DPS · NYC · SGN · SIN · TYO
50/100
Copa AirlinesCM
Star Alliance
full-service
Panama hub makes for useful regional connections and value fares.
15 deals · 90d
0% award
— ConnectMiles
deals to: BOG · BUE · CLO · CTG · FLN · GYE
49/100
Royal JordanianRJ
oneworld
full-service
57% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Amman hub — periodic deep sales to the Levant and beyond.
7 deals · 90d
0% award
— Royal Club
deals to: BKK · BOM · HKG · SYD · TAS
48/100
Malaysia AirlinesMH
oneworld
full-service
67% premium cabin
lie-flat J
KUL hub fares to Asia and Oceania that dip hard in promo windows.
3 deals · 90d
0% award
— Enrich
deals to: TYO
46/100
Swiss International Air LinesLX
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Premium Swiss product that still shows up in Lufthansa-group sales — Zurich long-haul deals run deep.
7 deals · 90d
0% award
— Miles & More
deals to: CMB · CPT · DPS · Namibia · TFS · TYO
45/100
QantasQF
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Strong premium cabins and extensive long-haul network from Australia.
6 deals · 90d
17% award
1.2¢ Qantas Frequent Flyer
deals to: AUS · CHC · HNL · JFK · SYD
40/100
Gulf AirGF
full-service
67% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Bahrain's boutique Gulf carrier — occasional deep business-class fares between Europe and Asia.
3 deals · 90d
0% award
— Falconflyer
deals to: NBO · SIN
38/100
WestJetWS
low-cost
lie-flat J
Canada's challenger — seat sales out of YYC/YYZ land monthly.
7 deals · 90d
0% award
— WestJet Rewards
deals to: ATL · ICN/TPE/KHH · West Canada · YHZ · YYC
37/100
ScootTR
low-cost
Cheap long-haul-ish travel, with extras sold separately.
10 deals · 90d
0% award
— Scoot Insider
deals to: ATH · CEB · DPS · KUL · PEN · PQC
37/100
Air IndiaAI
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Post-revamp Air India throws surprisingly cheap long-haul fares, including nonstops to North America.
6 deals · 90d
0% award
— Flying Returns
deals to: SGN · SYD · Tokyo & Delhi
35/100
JetstarJQ
low-cost
Australia's sale addict — Friday Frenzy and birthday sales drop fares across Asia-Pacific on a near-weekly rhythm.
17 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: AKL · CHC · DPS · DUD · OOL · SGN
35/100
Fiji AirwaysFJ
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Friendly South Pacific service with solid long-haul comfort.
8 deals · 90d
0% award
— TABua Club
deals to: LAX · NAN · TYO · YVR
32/100
Ethiopian AirlinesET
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Africa's biggest network and a repeat source of aggressive Europe–Africa and intra-Africa fares via Addis.
6 deals · 90d
0% award
— ShebaMiles
deals to: JNB · Namibia · SEL · TYO
32/100
Japan AirlinesJL
oneworld
full-service
67% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Excellent service and comfortable cabins, especially on long-haul.
3 deals · 90d
67% award
— JAL Mileage Bank
deals to: TYO
32/100
Turkmenistan AirlinesT5
full-service
100% premium cabin
Cheapest Europe–Asia one-stops you've never considered — via Ashgabat.
3 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: Asia · BJS · BKK
29/100
AirAsiaAK
ultra low-cost
Southeast Asia's promo cannon — BIG sales and route promos land constantly out of KUL and BKK.
10 deals · 90d
0% award
— airasia rewards
deals to: LON
28/100
CondorDE
leisure
lie-flat J
Leisure-focused fares with surprisingly good long-haul premium cabins.
4 deals · 90d
25% award
— Condor Bonus
deals to: CPT · POP · Seychelles · TLV
28/100
Virgin AtlanticVS
SkyTeam
full-service
100% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Transatlantic specialist with a genuine sale culture — Upper Class deals appear more often than you'd think.
2 deals · 90d
0% award
— Flying Club
deals to: ATL · MBJ
28/100
ZIPAIRZG
low-cost
50% premium cabin
Bare-bones long-haul fares with à la carte extras.
2 deals · 90d
0% award
— ZIPAIR Points
deals to: HNL · TYO
27/100
SmartwingsQS
low-cost
Czech leisure carrier — Prague-origin holiday fares that mostly fly under the radar.
8 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: BOJ · EFL · KGS · MAH · RHO · SMI
27/100
AeromexicoAM
SkyTeam
full-service
33% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Good connectivity in the Americas with decent premium cabins.
3 deals · 90d
0% award
— Club Premier
deals to: LAS · MEX
23/100
Air CaraïbesTX
leisure
100% premium cabin
lie-flat J
French Caribbean specialist — Paris–Antilles fares that regularly beat Air France.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: CAY
23/100
China AirlinesCI
SkyTeam
full-service
100% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Taiwan's flag carrier — solid trans-Pacific sale participation via Taipei.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— Dynasty Flyer
deals to: SYD
23/100
EgyptAirMS
Star Alliance
full-service
100% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Cairo hub — quietly cheap Europe–Africa and Middle East connections.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— EgyptAir Plus
deals to: TYO
22/100
Austrian AirlinesOS
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Vienna hub with regular Lufthansa-group sale participation — good long-haul value from Central Europe.
5 deals · 90d
0% award
— Miles & More
deals to: BOG · LAX · MRU · NYC
20/100
Shenzhen AirlinesZH
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Major Chinese network carrier with long-haul business-class options.
4 deals · 90d
0% award
— PhoenixMiles
deals to: TPE
13/100
El AlLY
full-service
lie-flat J
Israel’s flag carrier with solid long-haul business class.
2 deals · 90d
50% award
— Matmid
deals to: TLV
13/100
Vietnam AirlinesVN
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Comfortable long-haul flights with a mainstream premium economy.
2 deals · 90d
0% award
— Lotusmiles
deals to: DEL
8/100
Air Tahiti NuiTN
full-service
lie-flat J
Long-haul leisure specialist with comfy premium cabins.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— Club Tiare
deals to: PPT
8/100
Batik AirOD
full-service
lie-flat J
Value-focused full-service flying with some long-haul business cabins.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— Batik Air Malaysia Privileges
deals to: KUL
8/100
French BeeBF
low-cost long-haul
French low-cost long-haul — Paris to the US, Réunion and Tahiti at fares that look like typos.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: RUN
8/100
Nexus AirlinesGD
hybrid
Regional operator with limited premium features and short-haul focus.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— N/A
deals to: BME
8/100
NouvelairBJ
leisure
Tunisian leisure carrier — Mediterranean holiday fares from European cities.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: DJE
8/100
Royal BruneiBI
full-service
lie-flat J
Tiny network, big surprises — London–Asia fares via Brunei occasionally go very low.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— Royal Skies
deals to: TYO
8/100
Southwest AirlinesWN
low-cost
No change fees and lots of domestic routes, but no premium cabins.
1 deals · 90d
100% award
1.3¢ Rapid Rewards
deals to: Hawaii
8/100
Spring Airlines9C
ultra low-cost
China's Ryanair — intra-Asia hops for pocket change.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: SYX
8/100
TAP Air PortugalTP
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Lisbon's stopover king — repeat source of cheap Europe–Brazil and US fares, business class included.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— TAP Miles&Go
deals to: BUE
aircraft photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors — individual credits on each airline's page.