US: Airline complaints rise despite better performance
US airline performance improved in three of four key categories in 2015, but the flying public still filed complaints at a rate not seen in at least 15 years. The 2016 Airline Quality Rating released Monday found that US carriers did a better job last year of landing flights on time, handling baggage, and making sure everyone who had a ticket for a given flight was able to get on board.“Generally speaking, the system works," said Dean Headley, co-author of the report. But “while (airlines) got better in those three areas, most of that is not going to be noticeable by a particular consumer unless they lose their bag or get bumped off an airplane.’’ The rating, which is based on data from the Department of Transportation’s monthly Air Travel Consumer Report, found that overall, 79.9% of flights landed on schedule last year, vs. 76.2% in 2014. Nine of 13 carriers, including United, Southwest, American and Delta, improved their on-time arrival rate over the previous year. Hawaiian Airlines was the most punctual with an on time rate of 88.4%, while Spirit was at the bottom, with 69% of its flights touching down on schedule. The industry lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered 3.24 bags per 1,000 fliers in 2015, down from 3.62 the previous year. And the rate of involuntary denied boardings – when a passenger loses their seat because the flight has been oversold - dropped significantly for US carriers, to a rate of 0.76 per 10,000 fliers vs. 0.92 the previous year. “Given that the industry is getting more complex, and more people are flying, it says at least the industry is trying to do the right thing," Headley says.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2016-04-04/general/us-airline-complaints-rise-despite-better-performance
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US: Airline complaints rise despite better performance
US airline performance improved in three of four key categories in 2015, but the flying public still filed complaints at a rate not seen in at least 15 years. The 2016 Airline Quality Rating released Monday found that US carriers did a better job last year of landing flights on time, handling baggage, and making sure everyone who had a ticket for a given flight was able to get on board.“Generally speaking, the system works," said Dean Headley, co-author of the report. But “while (airlines) got better in those three areas, most of that is not going to be noticeable by a particular consumer unless they lose their bag or get bumped off an airplane.’’ The rating, which is based on data from the Department of Transportation’s monthly Air Travel Consumer Report, found that overall, 79.9% of flights landed on schedule last year, vs. 76.2% in 2014. Nine of 13 carriers, including United, Southwest, American and Delta, improved their on-time arrival rate over the previous year. Hawaiian Airlines was the most punctual with an on time rate of 88.4%, while Spirit was at the bottom, with 69% of its flights touching down on schedule. The industry lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered 3.24 bags per 1,000 fliers in 2015, down from 3.62 the previous year. And the rate of involuntary denied boardings – when a passenger loses their seat because the flight has been oversold - dropped significantly for US carriers, to a rate of 0.76 per 10,000 fliers vs. 0.92 the previous year. “Given that the industry is getting more complex, and more people are flying, it says at least the industry is trying to do the right thing," Headley says.<br/>
