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.
90/100
Qatar AirwaysQR
oneworld
full-service
33% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Top-tier long-haul business class with generous premium options.
137 deals · 90d
1% award
— Privilege Club
deals to: ADD · ALA · AMD · AMM · ARN · Asia
86/100
American AirlinesAA
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Huge U.S. network with lie-flat long-haul and premium economy.
206 deals · 90d
1% award
1.5¢ AAdvantage
deals to: AKL · ANC · AUA · AUS · BCN · BGR
85/100
United AirlinesUA
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Big global network and widespread lie-flat international service.
205 deals · 90d
0% award
1.3¢ MileagePlus
deals to: AKL · Aruba · AUS · BCN · BIO · BKK
84/100
Delta Air LinesDL
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Reliable long-haul comfort and broad domestic coverage.
180 deals · 90d
2% award
1.2¢ SkyMiles
deals to: AAL · AES · AGP · AKL · ALG · ANC
83/100
Scandinavian AirlinesSK
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Easy-to-use loyalty program with solid premium-economy options.
165 deals · 90d
0% award
— EuroBonus
deals to: AAR · AES · AMS · ATL · BER · BGO
81/100
Etihad AirwaysEY
full-service
lie-flat J
Premium long-haul flying with excellent business-class hard product.
126 deals · 90d
1% award
— Etihad Guest
deals to: AKL · Asia · Bali · Bangkok/Krabi · Bangkok/Phuket · BKK
▲ trending
80/100
Korean AirKE
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Reliable long-haul comfort with strong premium cabin offerings.
135 deals · 90d
0% award
— SKYPASS
deals to: BJS · BKK · CAN · CEB · Chiang Mai · CNX
79/100
Cathay PacificCX
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Polished long-haul service with excellent business and premium economy.
110 deals · 90d
0% award
— Cathay
deals to: ADL · BJS · BKI · BKK · CAN · CEB
77/100
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.
97 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: ABZ · ACE · AGA · AGP · AHO · AMM
▲ trending
76/100
Hainan AirlinesHU
full-service
lie-flat J
Large Chinese carrier with long-haul business and premium economy.
47 deals · 90d
0% award
— Fortune Wings Club
deals to: AKL · BJS · BKK · China · CTU · HAK
76/100
China SouthernCZ
full-service
36% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Guangzhou mega-hub — trans-Pacific and Australia fares that frequently undercut the alliance carriers.
36 deals · 90d
0% award
— Sky Pearl Club
deals to: Cambodia · China · DEL · DPS · ICN · IST
▲ trending
75/100
Turkish AirlinesTK
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Massive network, strong business class, and good award value.
72 deals · 90d
1% award
— Miles&Smiles
deals to: ADL · Asia · Asia & Africa · Bali · BKK · BOM
73/100
Air CanadaAC
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Excellent award program and solid long-haul premium cabins.
72 deals · 90d
0% award
1.4¢ Aeroplan
deals to: AKL · Bahamas · BKK · CPH · HKG · Hong Kong
70/100
IberiaIB
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Often a bargain for Europe to long-haul premium seats on points.
45 deals · 90d
0% award
— Iberia Plus
deals to: ACE · BIO · CAI · CCS · CMN · DKR
68/100
Wizz AirW6
low-cost
Ultra-low fares, but expect strict fees and no frills.
45 deals · 90d
0% award
— WIZZ Discount Club
deals to: AGP · ALC · ALY · Armenia · ATH · AUH
68/100
British AirwaysBA
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Huge route network with Club World and frequent Avios sweet spots.
34 deals · 90d
0% award
— Executive Club
deals to: Barbados · BKK · BOM · California · CMB · JNB
67/100
Air ChinaCA
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Beijing-hub fares to Asia that regularly beat the market, especially in shoulder season.
38 deals · 90d
0% award
— PhoenixMiles
deals to: BKK · DEL · HAN · HKG · Hong Kong · JKT
65/100
LufthansaLH
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Massive hub network with dependable long-haul premium cabins.
23 deals · 90d
9% award
— Miles & More
deals to: BIA · BKK · BOM · California · CPT · DPS
▲ trending
64/100
Alaska AirlinesAS
oneworld
hybrid
Great miles value and a strong premium economy on many flights.
32 deals · 90d
0% award
1.5¢ Mileage Plan
deals to: AUS · FAI · HNL · KOA · LAS · LIH
63/100
CondorDE
leisure
lie-flat J
Leisure-focused fares with surprisingly good long-haul premium cabins.
16 deals · 90d
0% award
— Condor Bonus
deals to: BKK · CPT · HKT · KGS · LCA · NYC
60/100
IcelandairFI
full-service
Transatlantic via Reykjavik with a free-stopover gimmick and regular US–Europe sale waves.
46 deals · 90d
0% award
— Saga Club
deals to: BCN · BER · BOS · BRU · CHI · DUB
60/100
KLMKL
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Amsterdam hub with a famous annual World Deal Weeks sale and steady Europe-origin long-haul discounts.
22 deals · 90d
0% award
1.3¢ Flying Blue
deals to: Africa · CPT · DEL · FNC · JNB · JRO
56/100
JetstarJQ
low-cost
Australia's sale addict — Friday Frenzy and birthday sales drop fares across Asia-Pacific on a near-weekly rhythm.
15 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: AKL · AYQ · DPS · DUD · MCY · SGN
56/100
Turkmenistan AirlinesT5
full-service
100% premium cabin
Cheapest Europe–Asia one-stops you've never considered — via Ashgabat.
8 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: Asia · BJS · BKK · KUL
55/100
Air IndiaAI
Star Alliance
full-service
57% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Post-revamp Air India throws surprisingly cheap long-haul fares, including nonstops to North America.
7 deals · 90d
0% award
— Flying Returns
deals to: FRA · KTM · SGN · SYD
54/100
Gulf AirGF
full-service
67% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Bahrain's boutique Gulf carrier — occasional deep business-class fares between Europe and Asia.
6 deals · 90d
0% award
— Falconflyer
deals to: Europe · Kenya · Maldives · NBO · SIN
52/100
Air FranceAF
SkyTeam
full-service
lie-flat J
Strong long-haul premium cabins and solid awards via Flying Blue.
23 deals · 90d
13% award
1.3¢ Flying Blue
deals to: Botswana · Europe · FAE · Martinique · MEX · Mumbai
50/100
JetBlueB6
hybrid
Extra legroom and good value on transcon routes, with no business class.
38 deals · 90d
0% award
1.3¢ TrueBlue
deals to: ACK · Aruba · AUA · AUS · BOS · BQN
50/100
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.
8 deals · 90d
0% award
— ShebaMiles
deals to: JNB · MNL · NBO · SEL · SEZ
48/100
Singapore AirlinesSQ
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Benchmark long-haul product with premium economy and top-tier service.
22 deals · 90d
9% award
— KrisFlyer
deals to: ATH · BKK · CMB · DPS · HKG · HYD
45/100
SmartwingsQS
low-cost
Czech leisure carrier — Prague-origin holiday fares that mostly fly under the radar.
11 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: AYT · BOJ · EFL · FNC · KGS · PDL
44/100
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.
10 deals · 90d
0% award
— Miles & More
deals to: CEB · CMB · DPS · REK · SFO · TCI
44/100
Japan AirlinesJL
oneworld
full-service
50% premium cabin
lie-flat J
Excellent service and comfortable cabins, especially on long-haul.
2 deals · 90d
50% award
— JAL Mileage Bank
deals to: OSA · TYO
43/100
Malaysia AirlinesMH
oneworld
full-service
100% premium cabin
lie-flat J
KUL hub fares to Asia and Oceania that dip hard in promo windows.
5 deals · 90d
0% award
— Enrich
deals to: TYO
40/100
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.
16 deals · 90d
0% award
— Eastern Miles
deals to: AKL · Bali · DPS · HKG · Hong Kong · Philippines
39/100
FinnairAY
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Helsinki's short polar routing keeps Europe–Asia fares sharp; solid business-class sale habit.
11 deals · 90d
0% award
— Finnair Plus
deals to: Asia · BKK · HEL · LAX · MEL · SIN
38/100
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 · SYD · TAS
36/100
ScootTR
low-cost
Cheap long-haul-ish travel, with extras sold separately.
11 deals · 90d
0% award
— Scoot Insider
deals to: Asia · BKI · Koh Samui · Laos · Luzon Island · PEN
36/100
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.
11 deals · 90d
0% award
— TAP Miles&Go
deals to: FAO · FNC · LIS · MIA · PDL · RAI
33/100
Copa AirlinesCM
Star Alliance
full-service
Panama hub makes for useful regional connections and value fares.
17 deals · 90d
0% award
— ConnectMiles
deals to: BOG · CLO · CTG · FLN · GYE · MAO
32/100
AirAsiaAK
ultra low-cost
Southeast Asia's promo cannon — BIG sales and route promos land constantly out of KUL and BKK.
7 deals · 90d
0% award
— airasia rewards
deals to: Asia · KUL · LON
32/100
QantasQF
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Strong premium cabins and extensive long-haul network from Australia.
7 deals · 90d
14% award
1.2¢ Qantas Frequent Flyer
deals to: CHC · Domestic · HNL · NYC · SYD · USA and Canada
28/100
WestJetWS
low-cost
lie-flat J
Canada's challenger — seat sales out of YYC/YYZ land monthly.
8 deals · 90d
0% award
— WestJet Rewards
deals to: ATL · ICN/TPE/KHH · West Canada · YHZ · YLW
26/100
Austrian AirlinesOS
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Vienna hub with regular Lufthansa-group sale participation — good long-haul value from Central Europe.
4 deals · 90d
0% award
— Miles & More
deals to: BOG · LAX · Puerto Plata
26/100
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 · SJO
24/100
French BeeBF
low-cost long-haul
French low-cost long-haul — Paris to the US, Réunion and Tahiti at fares that look like typos.
3 deals · 90d
0% award
— no program
deals to: Réunion · Sri Lanka
23/100
ZIPAIRZG
low-cost
100% premium cabin
Bare-bones long-haul fares with à la carte extras.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— ZIPAIR Points
deals to: HNL
20/100
Fiji AirwaysFJ
oneworld
full-service
lie-flat J
Friendly South Pacific service with solid long-haul comfort.
5 deals · 90d
0% award
— TABua Club
deals to: HNL · LAX · YVR
16/100
El AlLY
full-service
lie-flat J
Israel’s flag carrier with solid long-haul business class.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
— Matmid
deals to: NYC
8/100
All Nippon AirwaysNH
Star Alliance
full-service
lie-flat J
Japan's premium benchmark — rare cash sales but legendary award-seat value.
1 deals · 90d
0% award
1.4¢ ANA Mileage Club
deals to: TYO
aircraft photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors — individual credits on each airline's page.