Which is better, American or Southwest?

Which is better between American Airlines and Southwest Airlines depends entirely on what you value as a traveler, because they have very different business models. American Airlines is a traditional legacy carrier and part of Oneworld alliance. It offers first class, business class, premium economy, assigned seating, extensive international routes to Europe, South America, and Asia, airport lounges, and interline connections. If you need to fly internationally, want a premium cabin, or want to earn alliance miles for global travel, American is generally better. Southwest is a low-cost carrier that only flies within the US, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, with no first class and no assigned seating, boarding by groups. Its advantages are two free checked bags for every passenger, no change fees or cancellation fees, frequent flights, and a very generous Rapid Rewards points program with Companion Pass. Southwest is often better for domestic leisure travel, families with bags, and travelers who want flexibility. For on-time performance and customer service rankings, Southwest often scores higher in domestic satisfaction, while American offers more amenities for long haul and business travelers.