Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

And the Airline With the Most Complaints Is...

...Delta. Overall, complaints about US airlines rocketed 28% last year

By Mark Russell, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 4, 2011 3:43 AM CDT

(Newser) – If you think flying has gotten worse lately, you're not alone. Airline complaints soared an astounding 28% last year. Oddly, though, actual data reveals that planes improved their performance in a number of areas, with fewer lost bags and bumped passengers, and more on-time arrivals. A co-author of the Transportation Department report speculates that the complaints are due to an increasing number of travelers and fewer flights and seats. Flights tend now to be packed, making it tougher to rebook. "Even though airlines are vocal about saying they want to please the customer, when it comes right down to it, they're going to make money first," she tells AP.

The report tallies problems in four categories—on-time arrivals, mishandled baggage, denied boardings, general complaints. At the top of the Department of Transportation's list of complaints per 100,000 passengers:

Delta Airlines, 2 per 100,000
United, 1.64
US Airways, 1.53
Continental, 1.48
American, 1.44

The best of the bunch? Southwest, with just 0.27 complaints per 100,000 passengers. For the full list, see the AP story.

Delta Air Lines topped this year's list of passenger complains, according to the Department of Transportation. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

10%

25%

44%

13%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Aging Airlines Can't Catch Up to Younger Rivals

Recent changes haven't helped 'legacy' carriers

(NEWSER) - Despite many rounds of cost-cutting, so-called legacy airlines—United, Delta, US Airways—still face costs 35% higher than low-fare carriers like JetBlue and Southwest, the Wall Street Journal reports. The younger outfits have maintained a “cost gap” analysts thought their older peers could close over time. For one thing, having more top-scale workers keeps aging carriers at a disadvantage. “Even if the scale is the same, the cockpit costs are different,” says US Air’s CEO. More»

Airline Bag Fees Hit $400

At least for an overweight international bag on some airlines

(NEWSER) - How crazy have airline baggage fees gotten? Well, checking an overweight (that's a 71- to 100-pound) bag will now cost you a whopping $400 on most Continental Airlines international flights. And Continental isn’t alone either, according to a survey of major carriers by USA Today ; United Airlines also charges $400 for such a bag on any flights to other continents, and American Airlines charges $450 if that bag is headed to Asia. More»

5 Airlines Agree Not to Charge Fee for Carry-On Bags

American, Delta, United, US Airways, JetBlue make a deal

(AP) - Five major carriers agreed today not to follow the lead of a small Florida airline that plans to charge for carry-on bags. Their commitment comes just in time to keep travelers from running for the exits during the peak summer flying season, but it is doubtful that it marks a change in strategy. The promise to Sen. Charles Schumer from American, Delta, JetBlue, United, and US Airways comes even though some of the carriers are expected to report first-quarter losses next week. More»

Airlines Banning Short-Faced Dogs

Bulldogs, pugs, boxers prone to overheating during hot flights

(NEWSER) - More and more airlines are banning flat-faced breeds of dogs and cats for the animals’ safety. Snub-nosed dogs—think pugs, bulldogs, and boxers—and certain exotic cats face full or partial bans on American, Delta, United, Continental, and most recently, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific airlines, CNN reports. These breeds are prone to breathing problems and overheating on planes, accounting for half of in-flight canine deaths from 2005 to 2010. More»

Airline Customer Satisfaction Rises (for Once)

Continental, Alaska, JetBlue and Southwest earn top marks

(NEWSER) - After three straight years of losing altitude, airline customer satisfaction ratings are on the rise, according to a study released today by JD Power and Associates. Overall satisfaction with North American carriers rose 15 points on a 1,000-point scale, the Chicago Tribune reports, with 10 of 12 airlines improving their scores. Alaska and Continental airlines were the top-rated major carriers, with JetBlue and Southwest taking home the low-cost honors. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

And the Airline With the Most Complaints Is...

...Delta. Overall, complaints about US airlines rocketed 28% last year

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Delta Air Lines • US Airways • United Airlines • American Airlines • Southwest Airlines • Continental Airlines • Department of Transportation • airlines

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Aging Airlines Can't Catch Up to Younger Rivals

Recent changes haven't helped 'legacy' carriers

Airline Bag Fees Hit $400

At least for an overweight international bag on some airlines

5 Airlines Agree Not to Charge Fee for Carry-On Bags

American, Delta, United, US Airways, JetBlue make a deal

Airlines Banning Short-Faced Dogs

Bulldogs, pugs, boxers prone to overheating during hot flights

Airline Customer Satisfaction Rises (for Once)

Continental, Alaska, JetBlue and Southwest earn top marks

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?