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The five worst US airlines
These rankings are straight from the US government (courtesy of the Department of Transportation), so at least they're not entirely biased. Based off the number of complaints, the five worst US airlines are Northwest, Delta, United, American, and US Airways (being the worst).None of this is especially surprising, other than maybe that complaints are surging--as usual. But what is surprising is that America's most hated airline, US Airways (sadly most US travelers will agree with you hands-down on their status), is equally hated, if not more so, by its own employees. Ouch.
In a New York Times story, one worker wrote in, "... I hate to tell you but the interiors of our plans [sic] smell bad and they are filthy. As an employee I am embarrassed to admit working for US Airways." It was also revealed how far the airline will go to cut costs--they're currently on the lookout for a cheaper supplier of their famous pretzels. Right now, each package costs roughly 3 cents.
I've had several bad experiences with US Airways, though to their credit, the last time they randomly canceled my flight--and had the nerves to blame it on the weather--they ended up agreeing to send me a $250 voucher. But I generally go out of my way to avoid flying with them. And so should you!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
Scott Jan 23rd 2008 7:13PM
If you ranked every airline in America from 0 to 10 against Asian airlines none would be higher than 1.
The golden age of flying is long gone here.
But... in Asia it is quite well alive! Having flown many times on SIA I can tell you the experience is so far at the other side of the spectrum you can't imagine.
https://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/exp/new/firstclass/index.jsp
I remember my very first Singapore flight. An FA in the blue kebaya said to me "What can I do to make you happy?" I said "An iced latte would be nice!" (as a joke).
5 minutes later she comes back with an iced latte. I was stunned! I asked her how she made it and she replied "with the espresso machine." I didn't believe it until she showed me. (In fact there were several espresso machines).
On another flight the man next to me fell asleep with his shoes off. The SQ FA actually took the shoes away, polished them and brought them back. (I'm not kidding!).
On another SQ flight we were late and they looked up which passengers weren't going to make their connections while we were on board. The FA changed my connecting flight for me, and wrote out a new boarding pass by hand (which actually worked). No having to go to the service desk in Changi.
And... the Asian airports are all incredible! Changi (Singapore) has a real hotel built into the secure area, a free movie theater, a swimming pool, free WiFi, indoor tropical gardens, and much much more.
The Cathay Pacific biz class lounger in Hong Kong is 50x nicer than any first class lounge in the states.
Mike Jan 24th 2008 6:29AM
It's a shame US Scare bought up America West and turned that great airline into crap as well.
Julie Jan 24th 2008 6:30AM
American is good to me. I fly over to Dublin quite a bit to see my boyfriend and work on my screenplay. Two weeks ago I was coming over and did not have a return date in mind and my boyfriend (who is Irish) suggest Air Lingus. I use to fly Air Lingus some of the time in and around 2000. I will say they are good about booking you a low fare ONE WAY. I cheapened out and took a one way into Dub from Ohare. Worst flight of my life. Horrible service, rude attendants and uncomfortable plane. Food? The food I would not feed my dog. I asked to change seats in order to sleep and was denied. The man beside me who was Irish asked and was given permission. There were loads of anti American sentiments on this flight and to top it all off, by brand new belt from Bebe was stolen from my bag out of Ohare. Still had the price tags on it. Wake up, you need American toursim and frankly many folks in Chicago (wealthy ones too) are not going to Europe this year. Why go thru the hassle of long travel, sub par service, dollar/euro and then have true hags treat you like the attendents on Air Lingus and Air France have treated me in the last three years. I asked a friend where will she and her husband go this year if not Europe, "we are spending our toursim dollars in America this year" More wealthy people need to take this same attitude until our currancy bounces back and their fecking attitudes change. Kind Regards, Julie
Julie Jan 24th 2008 6:36AM
ps: i love my the flight from ORD to Dub on American and it may be a few $$$ more, but well worth it. I am sticking by American for now. The differences in the flights between American and Air Lingus are many. American's planes are newer, more equiped and the service, food and overall experience far out weigh Air Stinkus. Kind Regards, Julie
PS: to the baggage handler who has my belt, a letter is on the way and I hope you lose your job you little thief.
Reese Thompson Jan 25th 2008 4:54AM
To take a broader view, U.S. Air is WORST.
All of them, that is.
And yet, customer service is as passe as playing bridge with the other wives and their husbands ~ the liquor cabinet packed with potent potables, everyone smokin' like fish, drinking like chimneys and feelin' me some Perry Como on the record player.
Ward and June, hello? Anybody out there... Hey, Wally, Theodore!
Where the hell's Hugh Beaumont, and Barbara Billingsley?
You can't just spend our formative years showing us how the world, "...can be our oyster," and thirty years later don't even bother to shut up now, at least to say, "Shuck off, you, you BOOB TUBE BABIES!
"That's what YOU are. BTB'S. But... What am I?"
Yo, Mrs. Cleavage ~ on behalf of Lumpy Rutheford, Whitey and the Beave, I, Officer Eddie Haskell, of the C.H.I.P.S., would like to issue the following warning:
"Junie, hon' ~ You gotta use it.. or you lose it. As for this ticket I could write up, you see ~ I could lose it. Poof! Just like that. GONZO. But, I know you need that $200 the fine would cost... Ya see where I' goin' with this, don'tcha Miss Cleee-verrrrrrrrrr."
Now, back to Gilligan's Island (of Misfit Actors).
mary Jan 24th 2008 8:09AM
Let me tell you I have learned that if a flight is under an eight to twelve hour drive, I choose to drive.
It is a lot easier going from anywhere in the northeast by car. No waiting in line, direct door to door service and you can leave and arrive when you choose. My daughter drives to Richmond from NYC regularly because she figured it was a shorter trip overall. Five hours by car versis waiting in line over an hour for lost luggage, parking,security, air traffic each way, car rentals, and taxi. Auto traffic can be a problem but it is much easier to listen to a book tape and stop at your leisure for a meal of your choosing then be subjected to insulting comments by other frustrated travelers and airline employees. THINK CAR!
Mary Jan 24th 2008 9:47AM
Mary, I absoutely agree. If I have no more than a days drive then I will drive instead of fly. Flying will take a whole day anyway and an added bonus is less if no stress ...
Tom Jan 24th 2008 8:09AM
I've given up on the major carriers flying to Europe. I now fly Silverjet Airlines, all business class, so you don't have to put up with the low life's back in steerage. They fly from Newark to London Luton twice each evening. Great food and wines, very comfortable seats. When you're ready to sleep, you notify an attendant, and they make up your seat into a bed for you...no messing with the controls yourself. It's truely a civilized airline. Try it.
Valerie Jan 24th 2008 8:11AM
Here is my second attempt to post, I will NEVER fly US Air again. I was on a US Air flight from Schiphol in Amsterdam to Philadelphia. Soon after take off we heard mini explosions and as I looked out the window, I saw the left engine on FIRE. The pilot announced that we were having "techical difficulities" and made a emergency landing. We stayed in Amsterdam as they tried to fix the problem. The next day we were placed on the same airplane. This airplane was not allowed to fly over the ocean since it had issues, so we had to fly the longer land route.
Four hours into the flight the woman in the same row started to scream, we all looked over to see a RAT crawling into the overhead bin. Later as my husband listened to music with his eyes closed, to drown out this horrible experience the man next to him tapped his shoulder to inform him that he saw something crawl over his feet. The stewardess was notified as to the RAT problem. She said that they would ground the airplane to look into the problem. Apparently, US Air will ground their airplanes for rodents but not fires. Thanks US Air for instilling the fear of flying in me. I have not flown since!!!!
Valerie Jan 24th 2008 8:14AM
Also I forgot to post this...There were pictures all over the internet of our airplane on fire in the air, some one was taking pictures on the runway and just happened to get this on film. It made the Dutch newspapers.
Missy Jan 24th 2008 8:23AM
I have flown Northwest Airlines my whole life and Ive never had any problems.Everyone was super sweet and the plan was always on time.........
trudy Jan 24th 2008 8:25AM
This is just a cycle of negative complaints about the airlines. I
work for a airline and would like to hear more on the good we do that
never seems to hit the airwaves. Im sure that these folks that have
these negative things to say for the most part do not work with or in
the public. Attitudes have changed over the years. I'am a flight
attendant and consider myself fair. I have been yelled at , told its
my fault. Just last night I had a rude passenger tell me "When are
you going to move that cart it is in my space".She said this so
disrespectful. I was doing my job serving my passengers for goodness
sake. Try dealing with that kind of stuff all day everyday....
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Virginia Jan 24th 2008 8:31AM
THE BEST WAY TO FLY IS JET BLUE...THERE SEATS ARE ALL LEATHER EVERYONE HAS THERE OWN T.V THERE IS PLENTY OF LEG ROOM AND THEY EVEN SERVE DUNKIN DONUTS COFFEE,...BUT THERE NOT CHEAP YOU DO PAY MORE FOR WHAT YOU ARE GETTING,...BUT I WILL NEVER FLY ANYTHING ELSE BUT JET BLUE,..YOU KNOW I REMEMBER WHEN THEY STARTED OUT IN 1999 OR 1998 THE SEATS WERE ABOUT $100 NOW IT'S ABOUT $300 ONE WAY
Carol Jan 24th 2008 9:08AM
If you book early enough you can still get seats on Jet Blue for under $200...depending on where you are going of course. Look for specials and book as far in advance as you can. Then keep checking prices. If you find the price lower for your flight after you already booked it, you can get Jet Blue (and other airlines) to give you a credit toward your next flight.
Burt Bell Jan 24th 2008 8:38AM
I wish Asian and other foreign carriers could fly us in the domestic USA.
the airline companies in asia (which I always use to fly internationally) are at least 10 times better than any US carrier. Asian carriers, feed you good food, are courteous and polite and almost always on time. the planes are in clean and comfortable condition.
example, Thai airways flys a 5 minute flight from Bangkock to Khon Kaen three times a day. On that short flight, every passenger gets a whole meal and drinks. The cost of this flight is about $35 US.
When I fly from the US to asia, the cost on asian carriers are usually about half the price of the US carriers. I would never consider using a carrier from the US. A sad situation indeed, but the companies in the US need to re-learn what the word service means.
Dirk Jan 24th 2008 8:37AM
Until you've flown on a great airline like Singapore airlines you really have no understanding of truly crappy our domestic service is. I wish that everyone could try them just once and then no one would put up with this poor service we have now. What ever happened to the friendly skies?
Tea Jan 24th 2008 8:37AM
U SUCK AIRLINES certainly earned their position! They have always been the worst at least in my experiences. After the last flight I swore never to use them again and I haven't. The flight attendants act like they are some kind of God's and my luggage is always damaged and they NEVER take responsibility!! That is why I call them U SUCK AIRLINES!
Burt Bell Jan 24th 2008 8:41AM
previous coment on asian carriers..... in the example i gave there was an error. It should read a "50" minute flight. not a 5 minute flight. that wouldn't be much of a flight would it?
trashfish Jan 24th 2008 8:58AM
I had to fly to Michigan for a funeral and USAir was my carrier. They were wonderful! Even gave me an open return since I was uncertain about when I'd be able to return. Very helpful and kind...both on ground and in-air crew.
Just flew American (Eagle) to Miami-KWest and back to Savannah. Wonderful crew, great (view of the Coastlines!) ride. The crew on board were all great!
And no...I DON'T work for either..LOL!
Apparently I have been lucky...! ;-)
Linda Jan 24th 2008 8:53AM
When I was a new flyer I flew from Phoenix to Medford on America West. The flight attendant couldn't have been any nicer...he knew I was nervous and checked on me many times as well as kneeling in the aisle to explain noises, etc.