For frequent travelers, nothing may be more annoying than a poorly designed website or app that slows down the overall travel experience.  Fortunately, many travel companies have upgraded their technology to make apps extremely helpful and the improvements are getting awarded. 

This week, J.D. Power recognized the best of the best in travel websites and apps in their J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Travel App & Website Satisfaction Study, which surveyed travelers for their favorites and analyzed the data to build the rankings. 

The top three airlines were Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue Airways for Overall Customer Satisfaction in the Travel App category, and all three also ranked in the top three for airline websites as well. 

“Travel apps and websites are unique because they are most frequently used when travelers are experiencing some level of stress, like when they are in travel mode, juggling bags, watching the clock or trying to navigate an unfamiliar place,” said J.D. Power’s Managing Director of Travel, Hospitality, and Retail in its report.

In the hotel category, World of Hyatt claimed the top spot, while Choice Hotels and Hilton Honors rounded out the top three in apps. 

For the rental car category, National, Alamo, and Enterprise were the top three in both website and apps. All three companies are owned by the same privately-owned parent company, Enterprise Holdings. 

Alaska Airlines, which landed the top spot for both airline app and website says that the technology helps passengers navigate their system easier. 

“Alaskaair.com and the Alaska Airlines mobile app are essential tools that allow us to care for our guests throughout their journey. We are happy to hear that they value the effort and investment we’ve put into both, and we look forward to continuing to identify new ways to maintain our number one ranking in the industry,”  Alaska Airlines’ Managing Director of Product & Digital Experiences Natalie Bowman shared in a statement to Travel + Leisure. 

While apps have become critical for travelers at airports and hotels, they have also become extremely helpful for navigating destinations and finding new places to explore. T+L recently published a guide for the best travel Apps, which includes hiking trail recommendations and tips to prevent jet lag.