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The least liked airline in America?
Posted by: Sean O'Neill, Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009, 3:29 PM

Picking on airlines is a national sport. Some of this blog's most commented-on posts, for instance, have been about rotten customer service on major airlines.

Which begs the question: What's America's most disliked airline?

Government statistics on poor airline performance only tell part of the story.

So, writer Tim Ferriss surveyed of his 60,000+ readers. Many commented on the webpage he created asking, "What is the worst airline?"

In his (admittedly unscientific) survey, "The Worst" was Delta, especially when you include the votes for Northwest, for a combined 30 percent of the total votes.

Ferriss then tapped Dolores Labs, which analyzed the "passion" of the views expressed about each airline in the posted comments. The result? The airlines that drew comments with the most negative sentiments the most often were Northwest, US Airways, and Delta, which is pretty much the same result. (Details on Dolores Labs' blog.)

Not everyone agrees. One comment on Ferriss' blog says, "Of course Delta, American, and United are going to see more poor reviews because of the sheer volume of spoiled Americans that travel with those brands."

Not to forgive shoddy service, but we ought to be fair in our evaluations.

Consider how Skytrax, which offers a more comprehensive survey, reports that feedback from tens of thousands of customers have led it to give Delta a three-out-of-five stars rating, which isn't bad, relatively speaking. But be careful! The opinions of the folks surveyed by the company aren't adjusted statistically to reflect the flying public at large the way most presidential election polls are adjusted.

When Zagat last surveyed customers about air travel (zagat.com/airline), it found that Delta came in top 5 for "best value" for domestic and international service. Not bad. Though Zagat isn't a statistically valid poll, either.

Ultimately, only you can figure out what's the best airline for you. So what do you think? Which airline's on your personal no-fly list?

EARLIER
The government's data: The best and worst airlines for performance in 2008


196 airlines you should avoid,
according to the European Union, for your safety


The new airline fee I dislike the most
(40+ comments)

Reader Comments

I will not fly US Airways...EVERY flight I have been on has been delayed. I personally prefer Delta and Southwest...good value! They get me there, on time, with the least issues, for the best fare...that's all I ask.

Posted By Tina C on October 6, 2009, 5:04 PM

All US-owned airlines are bad. Bad on service, bad on loyalty benefits, bad on operations, bad on labor issues, bad on financials, bad on value.

US airlines believe customers want CHEAP, not GOOD. They also believe that growth is selling more tickets, not making more money from fewer tickets. The first gets the sales, but the second gets the profits. Sure, airlines can increase sales by shipping more passengers with more planes for less money. Or they can increase profits by filling fewer planes with better margins (lower costs, higher fares).

As a US citizen who travels globally, I see Asian airlines set the Gold Standard on service, profits and loyalty. It comes from listening to your revenue source... the passengers. Give them some respect, service and decent food consistently. They will give you some additional cash and repeat business, consistently. It's no wonder that folks who have sampled international airlines, really hate the US ones. As an American living in the country that invented the airplane, it's a national embarrassment.

Here's food for thought (literally)... Singapore Airlines worked for years to learn how to serve 350 passengers with a 4-course meal on a 50-minute flight with 4 flight attendants. Compare that to the pretzels thrown by US airlines at their revenue source - you and me. Well, the chickens are coming home to roost.

Posted By UrbaNomad on October 6, 2009, 11:34 PM

I adore Delta. As one of their million-mile fliers, I get great service, and I have only had one problem flight in more than 20 years (one Thanksgiving, my bag went to Hong Kong without me, which forced me to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving as I had no clothes to wear in LA). I absolutely HATE American airlines. The flight attendants are rude, the service is terrible, and the prices are too high. I don't fly Southwest simply because I won't fly without a confirmed seat. United is also good. Air New Zealand and Lufthansa are the best, of course.

Posted By Mrs_H on October 7, 2009, 3:51 PM

I've only flown 3 airlines in my lifetime and the most memorable come from SouthWest Air. Yes US Airways gives you a TV and good food...but then there are those fees. Also, Southwest Air makes the flight fun!

Posted By Eric on October 7, 2009, 6:07 PM

I think Delta is a cut above the rest that fly to my specific destination. United is by far the worst airlines. Late flight and terrible customer is consistent.

Posted By dana ann on October 7, 2009, 10:29 PM

Now lets talk safety as well as service. We just returned from Europe using both United and Lufthansa. United had attendants who were so overweight as to not fit the aisles and were relagated to preparing drinks in the galley. Imagine an evacuation under their isle direction. Overhead bins with straps hanging out.(were the bins actually closed)? An attendant, described as an interpretor, physically blocking the isle so passengers couldn't use the center rest rooms. She said it was an FAA rule. My question is: Where is FAA oversight and where is congressional oversight of the FAA?????????

Posted By Peter Horn on October 8, 2009, 11:22 AM

I have not flown Delta in a long time but I have the best luck with Southwest. I can always find the best prices and no hidden charges.

Posted By Kaye on October 8, 2009, 11:31 AM

Have never had a problem with Delta. Once, when a flight was canceled(or delayed), they even got us seats on another airline!. Recently, I gave my son Delta miles for two round-trip tickets from the West Coast, which cost him $10 each for processing. United is an airline I'll avoid; in June, I flew from Atlanta to Chicago, to connect to SAS to Copenhagen. Two of our bags were left behind in Chicago; SAS tracked them down, and they eventually caught up with us(they looked like they'd been around the world).

Posted By Edie on October 8, 2009, 12:53 PM

I hate them all.
Flying has become such an ordeal, that I just avoid flying, if possible. I still take a few overseas trips a year, but have essentially eliminated all domestic trips; no business trips, no conferences, no long weekends, as the hassle of flying just does not make it worthwhile. I can not say, that any domestic airline is better, than the other, they are all awful: cramped seats, endless delays, dirty, smelly, outdated airports, rude staff and some of their planes look like hand me downs from the late Soviet Union. Overseas airlines are slightly less terrible, their attendants are less surly (except for Iberia, the worst airline ever; even in first class, I felt like a sardine). I have limited experience with Asian airlines, but I love Air France, their meals alone are worth the trip.

Posted By Beach Boy on October 8, 2009, 2:18 PM

UrbaNomad says: "US airlines believe customers want CHEAP, not GOOD."?????????

What are you talking about? Customers want CHEAP not Good!

Why else would they use Orbitz, Kayak, etc., trying to save $10 on $300 ticket?

Posted By Rich on October 8, 2009, 3:09 PM

I can't argue that Americans don't want cheap airfares when they fly. Yet amazingly enough, the newer airlines like Southwest and JetBlue can (usually) manage to provide those cheaper fares without nickel-and-diming their passengers to death, and with decent customer service. That's why I put up with silliness like no assigned seats and snacks instead of real meal service (and let's be honest - has airline food ever been good enough that you were glad to pay more money for it?).

The pre-regulation airlines, who made their past reputations based on outstanding customer service, have basically decided to treat anyone who doesn't pay for full fare, business, or first class tickets with utter contempt, believing that since passengers won't pay a small fortune to fly anymore, they're not obligated to provide anything close to decent customer service or amenities for free. I fly with them because I have to, not because I want to. And since, as I recall, that these airlines themselves pushed for deregulation of their industry, they have nobody to blame for their sorry situation but themselves.

Posted By SCHNEBS on October 8, 2009, 4:05 PM

Delta. Absolutely. My worst travel nightmares involve Delta. My father was flying with the spouse of Delta Board member, and THEIR flight was cancelled then their luggage was lost--including their duds for that night's black-tie dinner! My dad's friend called the special Board hot line and STILL had the run-around! Good to know they're equally awful, I guess.

Posted By Susan on October 8, 2009, 5:04 PM

I spent 4 hours on the tarmac & runway with US Air in Chicago one night. After a late start while sitting in the plane, we sat out on the runway at O'Hare for a LONG time. Then the pilot decided to go back to the terminal for fuel! One guy argued and was finally let off to get another flight (hopefully with another airline!) No drinks, etc. They refueled and we went back out to wait another hour or so. Got to my destination about 5 hours later than scheduled. I avoid US Air whenever I can!

Posted By George on October 8, 2009, 8:44 PM

Hey Rich! News for you...

Asian travelers pay less than Americans, and get service that puts our airlines to shame. One example: Roundtrip airfare on Singapore Airlines between Hong Kong and San Fran is less than United. Less than Northwest/Delta. No losses. No bailouts. No labor hassles. No cabin attitude from pretzel serving crew. Brand new aircraft. Great amenities. Infinite loyalty.

Sure, in the US we all want cheap seats. It's just amazing what we Americans are willing to put up with from our own airlines to get it. If that's all YOU want, then shut up and take whatever abuse the airlines dole out without whining.

Posted By UrbaNomad on October 8, 2009, 10:24 PM

I almost never fly Southwest or Jet Blue because they don't fly to the small and mid sized towns I travel to. When they do fly routes they fly, they are almost always more expensive. I pay much less for tickets today than I did before deregulation so I can travel much more often. People need to learn to appreciate what they have.

Posted By GPP on October 8, 2009, 10:55 PM

I will NEVER fly US Air! I can tolerate a lot but their attendants go WAY over the line. I'm treated best on Air Tran and Jet Blue but those two don't go to many destinations that I need to visit.

I've always flown Delta to Europe and Mexico and I haven't been disappointed yet.

But I avoid flying every chance I get. It really has become a tedious ordeal. I'm retired now, so if I can drive it in eight hours or less, I don't even consider flying.

Posted By SGK12 on October 9, 2009, 1:30 AM

Hi, I don't fly often but each time that I flew with AIRTRAN I was amazed by their on time arrival, staff courtesy, excellent Fortnum/Mason tea and online checkin service. In Asia, I fly with JET Airways (now flying EWR/JFK to BRU and onward to India): their service, food and planes are as good as Singapore Airlines. Transatlantic, I fly Lufthansa. You feel safe with LH

Posted By Ganesh on October 9, 2009, 4:04 AM

I will NEVER fly US Air! I can tolerate a lot but their attendants go WAY over the line. I'm treated best on Air Tran and Jet Blue but those two don't go to many destinations that I need to visit.

I've always flown Delta to Europe and Mexico and I haven't been disappointed yet.

But I avoid flying every chance I get. It really has become a tedious ordeal. I'm retired now, so if I can drive it in eight hours or less, I don't even consider flying.

Posted By SGK12 on October 9, 2009, 8:01 AM

I've been elite on two dozen cariers in my lifetime, and my opinion is that the way employees are treated reflects directly in the way customers are treated. Continental, Alaska, and Southwest have good labor relations, and seem to enjoy their jobs (regardless of the frills or no frills. Gimme a pleasant experience over a questionable sandwich.) Northwest and United have poor relationships with their unions, and the confrontational attitude shows all the way down to the check in desk. After multiple millions of FF miles, I have horror stories from nearly all the carriers. (Except VA, but they're new...) There's only one carrier I absolutely will not fly: US Airways. Despite a few good employees, they just can't seem to grasp the concept of consistency in customer service. Nor do they understand that happier customers make the whole operation run smoother.

Posted By JonP on October 9, 2009, 3:58 PM

Tim Ferriss' result is not fair to (pre-Northwest merger) Delta. The deal was sealed officially not even a year ago (end of October 2008) and the operational merger is not yet completed but going well. What would be the result when treating Delta on its own, i.e. BEFORE it acquired NW? Probably much better. Former NW customers have consistently told me that Delta (which they now use, as many NW routes are worked by DL crew and vice-versa) has better customer service (is friendlier), is more punctual, and has better food: they like the positive difference!

This has been my experience as a flight attendant: TWA, Pan Am, American (which I quit due to its attitude toward its own people) and now a GOOD US-based "legacy" carrier whose flight attendants have never felt the need for a union due to what Reuters recently called "a progressive Human Relations department". Delta has (mostly) good people as employees and passengers.

The American public wants cheap and so has had it: One gets what one pays for --- or in this case, a lot more than what one has been paying for. Many ticket prices have been too low for far too long.
Passengers express surprise when they learn that new-hire flight attendants are paid about $400 per week for a normal work load.(Could you live in expensive northeastern cities --- their bases ---on that little?) Think about that when you interact with them.

The point is that one pays for getting from point A to point B safely by air. That's all. Anything else is and should be considered extra. (For perspective, a hundred years ago, the only two people flying flew for only a few seconds. Before that ---thru all of history --- no one was flying.)

Yes, "wide-body" no longer applies only to aircraft but alas, to too many flight attendants. Their fat/lack of self-discipline prevents them from doing the (service part of the) job well (try working with them in those tight galleys!) ---
and I would hate to be at their mercy in an evacuation. But in politically-correct, offense-prone, emotion-over-thought times, try getting them to either slim down or leave the job or fired. Some unscrupulous lawyer would help them scream "Discrimination!", your and my safety be damned.

Also, the proliferation of airports less than 90 minutes (read: western Florida) from one another is needless and their flights have made the skies much more crowded with many smaller aircraft. The pilots agree that it is mostly these regional jets that are clogging up airports. For that "convenience" we have more delays.

From our (flight attendants') point of view, it would be such a blessing to have the carry-on luggage rule enforced BEFORE passengers board: one carry-on and one SMALL personal item: One should follow the rules or stay behind.

UrbaNomad: re: Singapore Airlines. Gorgeous, young female flight attendants too! And they will always be --- because they have a shelf life of a five-year contract and a swimsuit interview.
No career flying allowed for them and probably no job protections either. And their conformist, tribal, non-individualistic culture is not one that you would want to live in, I bet.

Anyone wanting an inside scoop on what flight attendants' lives are like should read "Working The Skies" by Drew Whitelegg, 2007
ISBN-10: 0814794084; ISBN-13: 978-0814794081

Posted By Kanattas on October 11, 2009, 12:49 AM

We just barely returned from a week long trip to Boston. We live in Augusta, GA, so we can ONLY choose Delta or US Air to fly from our city of origin. We never got back (we were supposed to arrive in Augusta at 2:47 PM), and ended up renting a car in Atlanta, rushing back to Augusta to claim our bags by 9 PM (their supposed cut off time), only to sit and wait for an hour for someone to track down a baggage handler to find our bags....one minus the handle! Delta was rude about the mechanical problems, the phone lines to get booked on another flight, and customers were screaming at the gate agents about how many hours they had sat in the Atlanta airport trying to get out to their homes. It was beyond ridiculous! We were told I would be reimbursed miles and get a travel voucher for our major inconvienience, but all we got was rude people on the phone, and so far no restitution. I still have over 300,000 FF miles, but may never use them, thanks to all their little rules on where you can or can't use the miles now, and if I have to drive to and from Atlanta (170 miles), then I might as well drive myself and skip Delta or US Air altogether!! Other airlines are much less $$$ and don't have the "we'll fly if we can fill every seat" mentality and leave people stranded on a daily basis!

We did fly on Korea Air in May to a trip to Thailand, and it was much cheaper to use a different airline, and the flight attendants could not have been a nicer bunch to deal with!! We had no problems, no connection issues, and flew with new planes and individual movie on demand units in each seat, and delicious food served too often, and beverage service every hour.

My new decision after the chaos of yesterday is to get the best airfare from Atlanta, plan on that 2-3 hour drive, and save the cash. I will not be sitting and waiting on Delta ever again.

BTW, the TSA were much better this time...allowing us to travel with our child's cooler of special foods and milk with no hassle, and no food taken away. The TSA had me nearly quit flying also last year! I understand the reasoning behind the rules, but they were just stealing a good lunch most of the time...if they take away a food or beverage, but only want to take away unopened containers, then by all means, open the containers and take a drink, or eat a spoonful before they take the food item!! I can bet you they will then give it back to you!!

Posted By GA Mom of 5 on October 11, 2009, 1:10 AM

I do not fly even first class is what coach used to be not so long ago. Flying is such a hassel it all starts at the gate with "security" Why would anyone pay to be treated with disrespect and in some cases contempt!

Posted By levita mackenzie on October 12, 2009, 12:09 PM

The only airlines I will fly are United Economy Plus,not economy,Continental First Class only, JetBlue 1200 miles and or less and Virgin America for Las Vegas.

Posted By Joseph blazewicz on October 12, 2009, 1:08 PM

Best airlines - American, JetBlue, United. And I've flown US Air a number of times and have been very satisfied with their on-time schedules and service.

Posted By Gale Leonardi on October 12, 2009, 4:49 PM

Alaska Air is WONDERFUL.

Posted By seasongs on October 13, 2009, 2:49 PM

Hands down. Untied, er United. The s l o w e s t agents in the world are United staff at SEA. The magical, disappearing (and surly) flight attendants and the WORST economy class cabin in the United States. Happily, every city they fly non-stop to out of my home airport, I can get a flight on another carrier.

Posted By chris on October 14, 2009, 8:15 PM

Icelandair is by far the best! Roomy seats for us tall people and great service.

Posted By Amanda on October 14, 2009, 9:47 PM

I had one flight cancelled by Delta out of Atlanta and they automatically booked me on a flight out in the morning and set up a hotel and a meal voucher. Northwest lost my luggage somewhere between NC and Prague, but within hours they delivered it to my hotel. U.S. cancelled a flight for maintenance issues and rebooked me on a Delta that had me arriving 15 min.s later than originally scheduled. I guess you could say I have been lucky.

Posted By Mike on October 15, 2009, 12:51 PM

If you're flying NORTHWEST, be sure you use the bathroom in the terminal before boarding. One flight from Minneapolis to Saginaw, AFTER the doors were closed and the plane was rolling to take off, the flight attendant announced the air conditioning was not working, also the toilets were not working. She actually asked the passengers to 'hold it' and if they REALLY HAD TO use the bathroom, not to flush!! When we reached our destination, they didn't bother to repair the toilets, they boarded passengers immediately and turned around to go back to Minneapolis.

Posted By JoD on October 15, 2009, 4:51 PM

Northwest used to be our favorite airline - competitive fares, very good schedules for our trips from NY State to the West, etc. - but it's been all downhill since Delta bought them out a year or two ago.

Posted By Alan Gilbert on October 16, 2009, 12:57 PM

I hate to say this since my sister used to work for USAir, but they are my worst offenders, along with Delta and United. I agree with earlier post that the quality of labor relations dictates the quality of customer relations. I've had better luck with SW, Continental.

Posted By Beth on October 16, 2009, 1:51 PM

I have flown with most U.S.airlines and some foreign ones over 25 years. I have found that they all have problems from time to time,often beyond their control such as delays because weather prohibits flying. I fly with Northwest/Delta most and have no serious complaints. British Air and Lufthansa are the very tops for food and service but they sometimes have delays. I would rather have a late flight or sit on the tarmak for a reasonable time than come down in the ocean or mountainside because the pilot chose to fly in bad weather or the plane had an undetected fault.

Posted By Marykay on October 16, 2009, 4:09 PM

I just don't believe it even matters which airline to fly anymore. It depends really on the distance you would travel in my opinion, but what it comes down to for me is money. I also look at which airline won't charge me to check my bag. For my last trip I went to Vegas and flew Southwest. It was an extra special trip though because I signed up at this site which paid for the airline ticket completely: http://www.mediancs.com/rd_p?p=192462&t=9534&a=25081-scash&gift=25081

By doing this I was able to afford to fly in first class for the first time ever. And on top of it all my first night there I won $225 on a penny slot machine.

Posted By J. Michaels on October 19, 2009, 12:28 PM

It is interesting that so many comments here equate the amount a person pays for a ticket to the quality of service they deserve to get from airline personnel. A cheap ticket buys only lousy service and surly attitudes. This considered, one should get superior service and super attitudes if one pays for an expensive ticket in First Class. But there is no guarantee of this and one should not count on getting it there any more than in coach. There is absolutely no excuse for bad service and lousy attitudes regardless of the cost of one's ticket and this should not even be part of the flight deal. Making a good flight experience goes both ways between customer and flight crew. If a crew member is nasty, the customer is likely to respond in kind and vice versa.

Flying now days can be an unpleasant and grueling experience, expecially considering TSA and their often seemingly ignorant and unreasonable behavior. However, if one chooses to fly or if that is the only option, it just seems as if biting the bullet, so to speak, and getting it over with is the best way to handle the experience. It may be tough at times to deal with the frustrations, but yelling at airline personnel or returning unpleasentness with unpleasentness only makes it all worse.

Smiling and quiet talk with air crew may be what that surly attendant needs once in a while. Unhappy personnel are unhappy for reasons and frendliness rather than demands, smiles rather than growls, may just surprise them into a less unhappy person.

But yeah...I know, I know...it doesn't always work, but it's worth the effort. Surprises work both ways.

Posted By Warren P. Derrick on October 19, 2009, 5:08 PM

I will never fly DELTA. They are so rude and unhelpful. I recently flew with them and they would not let us get on the plane b/c we hadn't checked in our bags. When in fact we couldn't do it online because the system was down and we had actually done that when we got there. I had the receipt with the confirmation. When she realized it was her fault she insisted that no we where the liars and that I hadn't shown her that paper when she had actually scanned all of them. This went on for half an hour with her screaming at us that we could not get on the flight and we had to wait until the next day. I was so appalled at her behavior and talked to a supervisor who had been listening all along and not stepping in. She then informed us that we could go ahead and go. When we got to the gate we realized our flight had been delayed an HOUR!! This is the second time I've had a horrible experience with them...I'm telling everyone I know....DON'T FLY DELTA! They don't care about their passengers only the bottom line.

Posted By Janet on October 21, 2009, 2:37 PM

My choice is 'anyone but Delta'. And I WASN'T on the Delta plane that landed on the taxiway at ATL the other morning. They so control things at ATL you get very few sale deals out of here, and Southwest won't even come here. Thank God for Airtran. Delta employees are rude and arrogant, at least in ATL. I fly out of ATL by price period.

Posted By Craig on October 22, 2009, 5:09 PM

I am an American living in Virginia who has to drive 3 hours to get decent Air Fare. I have flow all over the world except Africa & Russia for 35 years. Air New Zealand is the BEST airline. If the entire US Congress, Armed Forces Commanders were forced to fly US Domestic, they would either fix the flight they are flying or they would fix the entire domestic air system.

Posted By Joe on October 25, 2009, 10:41 AM

I had a passion very early in my life for other cultures, and managed to save up for a trip to Europe that a teacher at my highschool sponsered every year. So, at age 16, I set off for my hard earned trip. it happened to be with American Airlines, and I found the service friendly.

A year later, when I went again to Europe to visit a friend of mine in Sweden. I chose American Airlines. The flight attendants were all very curious as to why a 17-year-old guy was traveling all alone to Europe. They were all nice to me, and even brought me a nice box of chocolates.

Well, I continued using American Airlines for many years. I eventually moved from my home town of Orlando to New York and I always flew American home. I continued traveling to Europe and continued to use American.........that is until about 10 years ago. The service went on the fast track down hill. My biggest complaint is sitting on the tarmac in Miami Florida with the air conditioning shut off. The planes would get so hot. The flight attendants would tell me it's regulation (a lie). I knew times were gtetting tough for the air lines and they didn't want to turn on the AC unless they had to. Then they started doing the same thing IN FLIGHT. The planes would get so hot I thought I would die.

I can have my meals taken away. I can put up with a grouchy flight attendant which is just a reflection of the grouchy American (the country, not the airline) public. But how on earth can you turn the AC off during a flight........or on the tarmac in Miami during the summer.

Horrible. American went from being a class act to being a crass act. Shame.

Posted By Whit on October 26, 2009, 8:01 AM

To Warren: I would agree with you that the cost of the ticket shouldn't reflect the service you get. But consider this, as US Airlines try to vie for customers the decrease the cost of the ticket. At the prices we currently pay, the airline is barely breaking even on each ticket sold.
I fly very frequently for work, and I have to say that I have never had a bad experience on any airline due to poor customer service. I think it is the consumers responsibility to learn what part of the flight is the airlines responsibility. For example, I've had experiences in which I had to wait 9 hours in a plane on the tarmac (these types of delays are generally caused by FAA - weather related re-routing or the like). Gate changes (airline possibly because an earlier flight to that gate is delayed, the plane you were going to use is delayed so they are changing planes so that your flight is not delayed, etc). I think it is futile to get upset and complain if the problem is not caused by the airline and therefore cannot be rectified by them.

Posted By Joanna on October 26, 2009, 6:43 PM

My complaint is not with the airlines so much as with the passengers. The airlines do the best with what they have. I fly mostly American Airlines and I like them. The passengers who bring onboard way too much carry-on luggage is my biggest gripe. These people are either clueless or cheap. Why can't they just pay the luggage fee so it will save the rest of us, most notably the flight attendants, from enduring delays and headaches that result in trying to get all this luggage onboard. I follow the rules. I fly every month and I have NEVER brought more than a small purse and a computer bag on the plane. If everyone would follow the rules it would be so much simpler.

Posted By Sandy on October 27, 2009, 3:32 PM

I don't ask too much when I fly but I really disliked US Airways. Just a lack of concern from the employees. I'm not a fan of Southwest due to a really bad experience with their open seating policy. I usually fly Continental due to schedule and I appreciate the service especially meals at mealtimes. Even though it may not be the best, it's something especially on a 5+ transcontinental flight.

The worst still was and is Eastern. It will live in my memory in infamy for the way my family was treated flying to my grandfather's funeral. I celebrated when that worthless airline went bankrupt.

Oh and the comment from J. Michaels on October 19, 2009, 12:28 PM is spam. Southwest certainly doesn't offer first class. I'm surprised it got past the moderators! :)

Posted By Jennifer on October 28, 2009, 12:23 AM

The hands down best airline, best secret, Frontier Airlines. Very customer oriented Flight Attendants love what they do and it shows. All the aircraft are new and well maintained. Never had a late flight or lost bag.

Posted By Nick Engen on October 30, 2009, 10:14 AM

I must say my personal favorite airling is Continental! They're always on time...on two occasions we actually left early, from Newark...which NEVER happens!

I will definately NEVER EVER EVER fly Delta again...horrible service and we had a 3 hour delay in DC for what reason; I couldn't tell you, because THEY couldn't tell me!! And it wasn't the weather!!!

Posted By krisC on November 2, 2009, 10:11 AM

I fly all over the world as a govt employee. I usually have to fly American carriers, but in certain cases to certain destinations, or on my own nickel, I have flown foreign carriers.
Foreign carriers - particularly Asian carriers (ANA, Singapore, Thai) put U.S. carriers to shame!
I live in DC so United is the most convenient to most destinations, but, blah! Have found NW to be the worst with AA and Delta close behind. While the service is better on Delta than most, I remember, many years, having a horrendously delayed Delta flight. The passengers nicknamed the carrier, D(oesn't) E(ver) L(eave) T(he) A(irport).
Sigh...

Posted By Anonymous on November 6, 2009, 1:01 PM

After receiving a standard form letter from US Airways regarding a humiliating and undeserved experience on a flight, I'd like to speak to Eric Warren, Customer Service Rep at their corporate office. Since everything is done by leaving messages for them on answering machines, I'm wondering, and hoping, if anyone has a direct number on which to contact him. They are among the top companies for customer avoidance.
Thank you.

Posted By Neal on November 13, 2009, 5:42 PM

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