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)
Jan 17th 2008 @ 4:42PM
BARB said...
WE RECENTLY FLEW U.S.AIR TO AND FROM PUERTO RICO......GOING TO OUR DESTINATION, WE HAD FIRST CLASS SEATS..THE FOOD WAS HORRIBLE...RETURNING, THEY COMBINED TWO PLANES LEAVING US TO SIT IN THE REAR OF THE PLANE IN FRONT OF THE BATHROOMS....WE LOST OUR FIRST CLASS SEATS...AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, ANY FOOD WE MAY HAVE HAD IN FIRST CLASS..WE STARVED ALL THE WAY BACK SINCE WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE CHANGE AND DID NOT BUY FOOD BEFORE BOARDING....THEY ARE THE WORST AIRLINES...IF WE CAN AVOID FLYING U.S.AIR, WE WILL.....
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Jan 24th 2008 @ 8:59AM
Spickell said...
USairways has gone down, severly in customer service over the last year. Since I need to fly for my job, I use them only if other airlines cost more. The cabin areas are filthy, I bring wipes to clean my seating areas. I have become sick after flying them on numerous occasions.
Jan 24th 2008 @ 8:58AM
Spickell said...
USairways has gone down, severly in customer service over the last year. Since I need to fly for my job, I use them only if other airlines cost more. The cabin areas are filthy, I bring wipes to clean my seating areas. I have become sick after flying them on numerous occasions.
Jan 24th 2008 @ 11:06AM
MACK said...
I'm sure things like others have written are common, but I wonder if it has to do with certain routes. Our family uses US Airways regularly from Indianapolis to Syracuse NY, via Reagan or Dulles or Philly, and other than some delays and close connections, nothing has gone REALLY badly. Also these use some of the newer jets on that route.
Jan 24th 2008 @ 10:44AM
rich said...
Somehow, I can't believe that a few hours without food is starvation. Of course, in todays America, if you're not putting something in your mouth, you're going to have major psychological problems. This persons problem was most probably that they were so fat they couldn't fit in the coach seats.
Jan 24th 2008 @ 12:58PM
Peter said...
for the past 2 years I have been flying with US air from Puerto Rico to Germany(around 10 times). Over the years I have used all Airline that do transatlantic flights and so far US have been the best, yes the food (can you call it food?) not the best but it ain't better in the other Airlines. what counts for me is that the staff are really nice and the flights are not to late but flying out of Philly whos not late....... but that goes again for all over Airlines to. Over the last years service has gone to the dogs with ALL Airlines it comes down to the Staff on the ground and in the Air.....and US beats the rest as far as I can tell.
Jan 17th 2008 @ 5:17PM
Marco said...
On July 15, 2007, while preparing to board a flight to Edmonton from Phoenix, my wife and I agreed to give up our seats and take a flight that took off 24 hours later. In return, US Airways gave us certificates good for another trip. Their agents clearly told us that we could use these whenever seats were available. Unfortunately, unlike any other airline with which we have ever traveled, their makes using these certificates virtually impossible.
When we first called to make reservations with their certificates, their agents informed us that they had no seats available. We then pointed out that their website showed coach seats available, even at the lowest fare. In spite of this, their agents insisted that they could not book us with using the certificates. One agent even claimed that we could only use the certificates when "Dividend Miles" seats were available, a condition that appears nowhere on the certificates. Even so, we checked their company's website again, and found that "Dividend Miles" seats were, in fact, available for the dates we had selected. Their agent then informed us that these were the "wrong kind" of "Dividend Miles," and that we could now only use the certificates when "Mileage Saver Dividend Miles" were available. Naturally, this further condition also appears nowhere on their certificates. A search of their website shows almost no dates when these so-called Mileage Saver Dividend Miles can be used. (We certainly will be in no hurry to accumulate any.)
Every agent we spoke was anxious to tell us that we could use these certificates to get $300 off a paid fare. After a while, we caught on to the joke; obviously, they knew that we would never get to use the promised free flights. Although we had hoped that US Airways would honor its original commitment, we decided to try for the discount instead. After finding a fare on the website, we called, only to hear an agent tell us that the certificate did not apply to "Web Specials." Suddenly, the $300 discount had turned into a $200 discount. In addition, we found another airline offering the same route at a lower price.
We have tried calling and writing to their Consumer Relations office. At this point, we have realized that our 24 hour delay was made on the basis of a false promise. Obviously, we will try to never fly on US Airways again; if we must, we will certainly never volunteer to be bumped.
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Jan 24th 2008 @ 3:52PM
Ray said...
Very typical of all the airlines. When they want my seat they give me a "cash voucher" and a first class upgrade or they don't get it. I got a grand one time because they were very desperate and it really felt good giving them a little of what they give us.
Jan 24th 2008 @ 8:44PM
Marco said...
You are correct Ray. At one time, however, airlines--or at least the good ones--treated passengers well as a matter of course. Aside from some gentle reminders, one did not have to compel them to provide proper compensation. After my experience with US Scareways, I realize that those days are over, at least at airlines run by drunken drivers. So now I will take Ray's advice and only give up a seat for real, on the spot compensation. No more certificates.
Jan 24th 2008 @ 10:52PM
Hugh said...
We had the same bad experience with flight coupons as Marco. We our family of four agreed to give up seats exchange for seats on USAirways to Europe. I specifically asked if they could be used anytime, and was emphatically told yes, NO blackout dates. Several times I've tried to book flights to/from Europe, including last month for mid-August (yes, not a holiday and a full 8 months in advance) for only 1 seat, but was told no seats available on any of a dozen routes USAirways I asked about. While there are no blackout dates, there are "capacity controls" I was not told about. Apparently, they set the capacity at -0-. I e-mailed customer relations (I never could get them on the phone) and they offered to change my trip to Europe first for a $200 coupon good only on USAirways, after more e-mail exhanges, the offer went to $300 then $400, about 1/3 the cost of a ticket. I'm pretty steamed -- we gave up seats in good faith, and we expected USAirways to honor their commitment -- anthing else really is a breach of contract. Anything short of that is simply fraud or deception. And the hotel they put us up in for the 24 hours was the crummiest Ramada Inn I have EVER seen -- no maintenace since the 1970s, with $7 meal coupons -- try to eat anywhere other than McDonalds for that! Lesson? NEVER accept a coupon from USAirways -- give up your seat only for cold, hard CASH!! (and make sure you know what hotel they're sending you to and demand enough meal coupons). P.S. The next day, the food in first class was lousy and the flight attendants grouchy/unpleasant.
Jan 17th 2008 @ 7:02PM
gerard pawling said...
add TOWER AIR to your list
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Jan 20th 2008 @ 8:25PM
Mommyis said...
We were flying from Arizona to Philadelphia on a US Airways flight we'd booked months before. Because we have three kids, we'd also reserved our seats months in advance. Two weeks before we flew our flight was changed, and we did not have seats on the new flight. I called, and they would not reserve seats for us because it was within two weeks of the trip. The result: My 3-year-old was on one end of the plane, my 10-year-old was in the middle, I was somehow seated with my 8-year-old in the back (switched him out for the 3-year-old), and my husband didn't get a seat at all. The whole flight was late leaving because they were trying to bump people so my husband could get a seat. It was my 10-year-old who was terrified. She cried half the flight. It would've been nice if the person next to her would've switched seats with my husband, but it would've been even nicer if the airline had realized that maybe three kids need to sit with their parents.
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Jan 24th 2008 @ 8:23AM
trudy said...
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....
Jan 24th 2008 @ 8:49PM
Marco said...
I sure hope I never fly with Trudi. Without knowing any of us, she writes, "Im [sic] sure that these folks that have these negative things to say for the most part do not work with or in the public." In fact, I work with the public every day. Unlike employees like Trudi, however, I do feel compelled to make excuses for incompetent--or, in the case of US Scareways, drunken--bosses. Don't blame the hapless consumer, forced to travel on airlines that would go out of business in the face of real competition; blame your bosses for putting you in that position while they drink and drive. Or better yet: find some work with an honest company.
Jan 20th 2008 @ 8:32PM
Karl said...
most of the females now act like nurse Ratchets. They are ill-mannered and bossy. One airline I will not fly on anymore is Alaska due to the attitude some display. Plus Northwest. The wome there also act like nurse Ratchets.
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Jan 24th 2008 @ 8:48AM
Linda said...
I have flown Alaska Airlines many times and have found their employees to be very nice.
Jan 24th 2008 @ 8:54AM
WillPwr said...
All, flying used to be fun and I have flown 4 million miles in the last 20 years. I am lifetime this and that with airlines and hotels but I am looking to reduce my travel because of exactly what you are all saying. Low fares, late flights (1 out of four flights was late in 07), canceled flights (where I had to stay in hub cities overnight at my expense 5 times in 07) and rude people. I also married a flight attendant 20 years ago and she quit the airlines in '98 and doesn't miss the problems. I also feel for the flight crews, they are now underpaid, over worked and have to deal with the low fare (Greyhound) uncaring people. The flight crews are at the mercy of others, including the FAA so flight delays and cancelations very rarely are their responsibility, but they get beat up because they are front line. It is a mess and it will not be fixed soon unless new more expensive transportation becomes available that caters to the ontime requirements and good treatment of both customers AND employees and is willing to rid the system of the NY subway mentality..
Jan 20th 2008 @ 8:39PM
robin said...
well since those are virtually all the major airlines .....im so shocked ........i would have to ask what the price of your ticket was before i could comment on your opinion of service ..one gets what one pays for ...and since no one is making any money working for the airline except the ceos and v.p.s ....what the heck do you expect also the airlines are offering early outs for all the employees that know customer service .....the new people are your children who have no people skills and no feeling of responsibility to the job and no respect for anyone.......including the customer.get ready because the airlines business wont be the last frontier of poor service .......trust me its already started everywhere you go ..........the new work force really sucks ..............................
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Jan 20th 2008 @ 8:42PM
frankie said...
USAir sucks. From Pitt to Philly usually the word "cancelled" is next to USAir while SW and the others keep their promises to the passengers.
Never again will I fly USAIR.
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Jan 20th 2008 @ 8:44PM
ANDY said...
I fly routinely from Ft Lauderdale to Philadelphia when I fly home to work. I book first class because of the spacing and amenities. My last flight with USAirways was lousy, putting it politely and mildly. No services available, including hanging your jacket for you. The attendant pointed to the closet and told me to hang it myself. No beverages were served on the two hour flight, but when I did ask the attendant for a coke, I got attitude. Didn't even get a cup with ice, just a can. I now fly Air Tran.....at least in business class, I can get appropriate services.
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