• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Best in Business Travel

Virgin America named best airline for business travel in U.S.

By
Fortune Editors
Fortune Editors
and
Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Fortune Editors
Fortune Editors
and
Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 10, 2015, 10:00 AM ET
Virgin America Flight
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 12: Passengers on a Virgin America flight to New York stow their bags January 12, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)Robert Nickelsberg—Getty Images

Virgin America claims the top spot among U.S. carriers in the Best in Business Travel survey again this year.

For our second annual survey, Fortune partnered with Travel + Leisure to ask readers about their habits and brand preferences while traveling for work. They named their favorite airlines and rated them using a variety of criteria, including customer service, frequent flier programs, in-flight class experience, food and entertainment options, and airport lounges.

Here’s what’s keeping Virgin America ahead of the competition:

• Two words: live streaming. Satellite wi-fi recently launched on 10 A320s, with more to come. Internet speeds are eight to 10 times faster than any other in-flight system.

• Plush full-size pillows and duvets have spruced up an already standout first-class cabin, complementing the white leather seats and lumbar massagers.

• Its Elevate loyalty program has a “no blackout date” policy—and is a boon for those looking to book on major holidays and during peak travel periods.

• Virgin is the only U.S. airline with on-demand food ordering. Just press a button on the seat-back touch screen, settle in, and wait for your artisanal cheese plate to arrive.

See below for rankings of U.S. airlines by survey categories.

Best U.S. Airlines for Business Travel — Overall

An employee prepares a Virgin America Inc. Airbus A320 plane for take off at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, U.S.

1. Virgin America
2. Alaska Airlines
3. JetBlue Airways
4. Delta Air Lines
5. Southwest Airlines

Best Customer Service

Baggage carts are towed to a Southwest Airlines jet in Little Rock, Arkansas.

1. Virgin America
2. Alaska Airlines
3. Southwest Airlines
4. JetBlue Airways
5. Delta Air Lines

Best Airport Lounges

Travelers relax at the Delta Sky Club in the Delta Air Lines Inc. Terminal D at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York, U.S.

1. Delta Air Lines
2. American Airlines
3. United Airlines

Best Frequent Flier Program & Alliances

Travelers wait in line at JetBlue Airways Corp.'s Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

1. Alaska Airlines
2. Southwest Airlines
3. Virgin America
4. JetBlue Airways
5. American Airlines

Best Economy & Premium Economy In-Flight Experience

1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue Airways
3. Alaska Airlines
4. Delta Airlines
5. Southwest Airlines

Best Business & First Class In-Flight Experience

Seats sit in the first-class cabin on board an American Airlines Group Inc. Boeing Co. 777-300ER aircraft at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Friday, June 13, 2014. American Airlines inaugurated their Hong Kong-Dallas route this month.

1. Delta Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. American Airlines

 

For more on Fortune and Travel + Leisure's  Best in Business Travel 2015, visit travelandleisure.com/best-in-business-travel. To see the survey methodology, go here. 

Read: The Best Hotels for Business Travel 2015

Read: The Best International Airlines for Business Travel 2015

About the Authors
Fortune Editors
By Fortune Editors
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Travel + Leisure
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Kevin Warsh, nominee for chairman of the Federal Reserve, arrives for his Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen building on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
BankingFederal Reserve
Kevin Warsh confirmed as Fed chair in party-line vote amid Elizabeth Warren’s ‘sock puppet’ criticism
By Eva RoytburgMay 13, 2026
3 hours ago
Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) whisper to each other during a Senate committee meeting
CryptoCryptocurrency
The crypto industry’s Clarity Act hits a critical juncture: Where things stand going into Senate markup
By Jack KubinecMay 13, 2026
4 hours ago
America’s data centers are thirsty. Rural towns are paying the price—from tanked water pressure to stolen desert groundwater
EnvironmentAmazon
America’s data centers are thirsty. Rural towns are paying the price—from tanked water pressure to stolen desert groundwater
By Catherina GioinoMay 13, 2026
6 hours ago
geezer
North AmericaAnimals
Debbie Gibson, Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath want you to adopt a beagle rescued from an experimental lab in Wisconsin
By Scott Bauer and The Associated PressMay 13, 2026
7 hours ago
spencer
PoliticsElections
Los Angeles may have its own Zohran in the form of ex-reality star Spencer Pratt
By Jonathan J. Cooper and The Associated PressMay 13, 2026
7 hours ago
charles
PoliticsUnited Kingdom
King Charles lays out government agenda as Starmer fights for survival: ‘absolutely preposterous’
By Pan Pylas, Danica Kirka and The Associated PressMay 13, 2026
7 hours ago

Most Popular

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
1 day ago
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
Travel & Leisure
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
By Catherina GioinoMay 12, 2026
1 day ago
It’s not just Canadian tourists snubbing U.S. cities. Business leaders are cancelling more trips to America as geopolitical tensions continue
North America
It’s not just Canadian tourists snubbing U.S. cities. Business leaders are cancelling more trips to America as geopolitical tensions continue
By Sasha RogelbergMay 12, 2026
1 day ago
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
Success
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
By Preston ForeMay 13, 2026
10 hours ago
Anthropic’s Daniela Amodei says entrepreneurs should go on vacation to road test potential cofounders—if they’re a drain, they’re ‘the wrong choice’
Success
Anthropic’s Daniela Amodei says entrepreneurs should go on vacation to road test potential cofounders—if they’re a drain, they’re ‘the wrong choice’
By Emma BurleighMay 12, 2026
1 day ago
Forget U.S. debt, China's total borrowing is in 'a league of its own'—much worse and deteriorating faster, analyst says
Economy
Forget U.S. debt, China's total borrowing is in 'a league of its own'—much worse and deteriorating faster, analyst says
By Jason MaMay 11, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.