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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Fly Delta vs Southwest Airlines

Fly Delta 4.8★ · Free to download 75
Winner Fly Delta
Southwest Airlines 4.8★ · Free to download 60

While both apps have high lifetime ratings, Fly Delta offers a more reliable and feature-rich experience, particularly for managing flight changes and accessing real-time information, despite some persistent login and booking glitches.

Full reviews: Fly Delta · Southwest Airlines

Fly Delta and Southwest Airlines both boast high lifetime ratings, but recent reviews highlight significant usability issues for both. Fly Delta generally provides better real-time updates and a more comprehensive feature set, though it struggles with login and booking bugs. Southwest's app is often criticized for its inability to save trip information and difficulties with seat selection and baggage management.

Head to head

Features edge: Fly DeltaR2R5R6R8
Fly Delta Fly Delta is praised for its comprehensive flight information, including immediate gate change updates via app and text, and easy access to boarding passes that can be added to Apple Wallet R8R2. Users appreciate its ability to route them through unfamiliar airports with turn-by-turn navigation . However, some users miss previous functionalities like Concur integration R5 and desire features like dark mode R6 and current boarding status . There are also requests for better baggage information and incidental receipts .
Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines users appreciate the app for managing travel, alerts, and changes, especially A-list preferred members . However, the app is frequently criticized for lacking basic features, such as not remembering user data or saved flights . Users also report issues with adding checked bags and managing special assistance requests like mobility scooters . The app also struggles with displaying related reservations for minors and providing direct flight information via chat .
Ease of Use edge: Fly DeltaR3R7R8R9
Fly Delta Many users find Fly Delta's interface generally good and easy to use for check-in and managing flights R3R8. However, a significant number of users report persistent issues with the 'Find Flights' button not working R3R16, login problems R7R9, and the app requiring frequent re-login R18. Some also experience difficulty adding credit card information R15 and issues with the app not linking purchases made through third parties like American Express Travel R12.
Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines is generally considered easy to use for booking flights and check-in . However, many users find the app difficult to use due to frequent errors, especially during account creation and passport scanning . A common complaint is the app's inability to save login information or remember who the user is, requiring manual entry of confirmation numbers for each trip . Users also report a cluttered UI and slow loading times for boarding passes .
Reliability edge: Fly DeltaR1R10R14R19
Fly Delta Fly Delta is praised by some as being reliable, with one user stating it's "always working just as it should" and another calling it the "best airline app in the US" for its consistent performance R14. However, a significant number of recent reviews describe the app as "super buggy" R1, "unreliable" , and constantly giving error messages R1R28. Specific issues include freezing R10, failure to update trips automatically R19, widgets not working consistently , and problems with promotions tabs .
Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines' app is frequently described as "trash" and a "nightmare" due to its unreliability. Users report constant errors, especially when trying to upgrade seats or check in . The app often fails to load boarding passes to Apple Wallet and does not work well with VPNs . Many users also experience issues with the app not saving their flights or remembering their information .
Price/Value edge: Fly DeltaR2R4R8R25
Fly Delta Fly Delta is free to download, and reviews focus on the value of the app's features in enhancing the flying experience, such as real-time updates and easy access to information R2R8. Negative comments about value are typically directed at the airline itself (e.g., seat reassignment after paying extra, R4, R25) rather than the app's cost or features.
Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines is free to download, but many users express dissatisfaction with recent changes to the airline's policies, which they perceive as reducing value. Complaints include new fees for seat selection , baggage , and changes to boarding processes that necessitate paying for priority boarding to avoid poor seats . Users feel that Southwest has become more like other airlines, losing its unique value proposition .
Support tieR7R19R23R59
Fly Delta Some Fly Delta users report positive experiences with customer support, citing timely and patient responses for issues like name corrections R23 and general helpfulness R59. However, other users describe customer support as "dead silent" when facing login issues R7 or unresponsive when trying to troubleshoot app problems R19. One user mentioned that IT wouldn't reach out despite offering to help with an app bug R19.
Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines users have mixed experiences with support. Some praise telephone agents for being very helpful, such as with adding bags . However, others report "absolutely no customer service anymore" and that customer service wasn't much help with seat selection issues . The in-app chat function was also unable to answer simple flight-related questions .
Pick Fly Delta if

Pick Fly Delta if you prioritize real-time flight updates, gate change notifications, and turn-by-turn airport navigation, and are willing to tolerate occasional login and booking glitches R8.

Pick Southwest Airlines if

Pick Southwest Airlines if you are a frequent flyer with A-list preferred status, as the app makes managing travel, alerts, and changes easier for this group .

Evidence note: Both apps have very high lifetime ratings, but a significant portion of recent reviews for both are negative, focusing on app bugs and perceived decline in airline service/value. The free-to-download nature means all users, including those unhappy with the core airline service, contribute to app reviews, which can skew negativity.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for real-time flight information?
Fly Delta has the edge for real-time flight information, with users praising its immediate gate change updates via mobile app and text message, and its accuracy in providing flight details, often surpassing airport flight boards R8.
Do these apps have issues with login and account management?
Both apps have significant issues with login and account management; Fly Delta users frequently report problems logging in, the app constantly logging them out, and difficulty linking external purchases R7R9R12R18, while Southwest Airlines users complain about the app not remembering their account or saved flights, requiring manual entry of confirmation numbers .
Which app is more reliable for booking flights and managing seats?
Neither app is consistently reliable for booking flights and managing seats; Fly Delta users encounter frequent errors when searching for flights, booking, or adding seats, with buttons not working or transactions failing R3R15R16R28, while Southwest Airlines users report issues with the app not allowing them to upgrade or select seats, and problems adding checked bags .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Fly Delta 5/5 · US Fantastic app. Get it: Do not screw this app up! Great communication from delta to your phone. I’m sure if they could carry you to the terminal the app would. Fast comms when you need to see your gate. Love this app!!!!
  2. [R5] Fly Delta 4/5 · US Why did you delete the Concur functionality from the app.: They deleted the Concur functionality from the app. Please bring this back!
  3. [R6] Fly Delta 3/5 · US Dark mode: Add dark mode in the app
  4. [R8] Fly Delta 5/5 · US Such a wonderful user experience: This is simply a wonderful app. I recently experienced 3 flight delays due to thunderstorms across the east coast. The Delta app immediately sends me a gate change update via the mobile app and text message. It has the most accurate flight information, so I don’t have to read the possibly outdated flight boards at the airport. I love how easy it is to access board
  5. [R3] Fly Delta 3/5 · US Good but Needs Work: I like the general user interface. However, often times when I’m searching for flights, I will plug in all the info and the “find flights” button just doesn’t work. It’ll ‘click’ but but not even attempt to load to a new page.
  6. [R7] Fly Delta 1/5 · US Login isn’t working: I have several hours before my flight and I can’t login. Not in app or on website. Customer support is dead silent. Nice…
  7. [R9] Fly Delta 3/5 · US Login process sucks: The login on the app barely works at first
  8. [R1] Fly Delta 1/5 · US Horrible app, horrible costumer support: Super buggy. Always gives error messages. Useless. Not very different from Delta in general.
  9. [R10] Fly Delta 1/5 · US Delta is Awful: Delta is an awful company and its app is just as bad as the rest of it. The app constantly freezes and inundates you with notifications if you don’t turn them off immediately. Don’t use Delta, and don’t use their app.
  10. [R14] Fly Delta 5/5 · US Best airline app in the US: I fly constAntly and have top level status on all major IS carriers. Delta’s app is superior and beyond comparison. You literally never have to call the 1-800 number unless there are very unusual circumstances. As with all things regarding Delta, it’s the best in the industry and the best in the country and they continued to improve every day. I love this airline, I lov
  11. [R19] Fly Delta 2/5 · US App Not Updating Trips: Since mid June 2026 my trip feed stop updating. I thought Delta would fix the issue soon but no it still continues to be an issue. I’ve deleted the app and reinstall and made sure there are no IOS updates too, still didn’t work. I contacted Delta and despite being a Diamond Medallion trying to help, the customer service folks I spoke with said they couldn’t help and told me
  12. [R4] Fly Delta 1/5 · US Garbage: Last year I paid extra for an aisle seat from San Diego to New York. When I boarded the plane my seat had been reassigned to someone else and I was forced to the middle seat. I filed a complaint to be reimbursed. The complaint was ignored. There’s better options out there. I strongly suggest using another carrier
  13. [R25] Fly Delta 1/5 · US Horrible: Bad airline waste of money completely
  14. [R23] Fly Delta 5/5 · US Great service: I needed to correct a misspelled name. After contacting customer service, they responded promptly, were patient, and resolved the issue accurately. · translated
  15. [R59] Fly Delta 5/5 · US Helpful & accommodating: I’m always so happy when I Fly Delta with their helpful staff and great service
  16. [R12] Fly Delta 3/5 · US Ok… does not link purchases: Ok app… but few key frictions… I am diamond medallion , and when purchase tickets via American Express travel ( which is mostly ) the app does not know … so every time I need to add travel … not the case with American or United Please update !! Will give 5 star if you do !
  17. [R18] Fly Delta 3/5 · US Decent but a frustrating experience compared to what’s possible: To the ostriches in the Delta software department who think someone might steal my phone and board a plane after 10 minutes of app inactivity: go kick some rocks. Maybe I just want to check my connection or gate info, which might impact how I approach my layover, but no - I get logged out and can only use the app for checking if my p
  18. [R15] Fly Delta 3/5 · US I’m trying to give you money: Just bugs everywhere trying to add seats. You have one flow that lets you upgrade, but the wording on the other flows make it seem like you can upgrade. Then you go add credit card and years cap out at 23….you hate money.
  19. [R16] Fly Delta 1/5 · US We’re sorry - please try again later: Been trying to book a return flight for about a month. App never allows me past “Find Flights” button. I have other airlines to check as well as the delta website but the app has been useless.
  20. [R28] Fly Delta 1/5 · US Buggy: Flight purchase failed three times and said “invalid last name” even though everything was clearly correct. Two minutes later it asked me to check in for my flight which had apparently been purchased successfully, despite the errors. Not ok.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store