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T&L names 2008's best, worst airlines for on time arrivals
Travel & Leisure magazine has put together its annual list of the best and worst airlines for 2008 in terms of on time arrivals.The rankings deal with airlines' records for punctuality, with those oft-delayed carriers necessarily showing up on the worst list, and those that arrive on time figuring on the best list. No great science there. But before I list the magazine's picks for best and worst, it's worth noting the remarkable improvement -- in T&L's eyes, anyway -- of US Airways.
Last year it ranked third on the worst carriers of the year list, with the magazine saying fewer than 68 percent of its flights having arrived on time. This year, it's at the third spot on the best list, with nearly 80 percent of its flights arriving on time.
Anyway, here are the best:
- Hawaiian Airlines (92% on time)
- Southwest (80%)
- US Airways (79%)
- Frontier (78%)
- Skywest (78%)
- American (68%)
- United (69%)
- Comair (70%)
- American Eagle (71%)
- Atlantic Southwest (72%)
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Raymond Hannon Nov 22nd 2008 2:30PM
I would not name an airline "best" simply because it had the most "on-time" arrivals. Fare, safety, comfort, and a host of other features mean more than exact punctuality.
Rachel Nov 22nd 2008 4:10PM
I wonder if these rankings also take into account WHAT could be causing the airlines to have better or worse arrival times. Weather is always a big factor in whether or not a plane leaves or arrives on time, and it would seem to me that the two "best" airlines, Hawaiian and Southwest, would also have some of the best weather in the country. No snow or frigid temperatures and very little rain would make it significantly easier to get planes off the ground and land them faster.
Sharon Nov 22nd 2008 5:12PM
And then there's the fact that Southwest calls their departure time at pushing back from the gate, whereas most other airlines log departure times as wheels in the well . . .
Marcus Nov 22nd 2008 6:23PM
US Air may be in the top 5 with on time airlines, but that is probably because they don't seem to care where they send your bags too !
Never taken a US Air flight yet where my checked bags actually got where I was going in 8 years. I would rather take a taxi, then take their flights
airlinepilot Nov 22nd 2008 6:29PM
Sharon, you don't know jack Sh*t about the airlines. Southwest does not get special treatment from the DOT for reporting times. The time starts when the aircraft brakes are released and the front door is closed. duh.... maybe you should get a pilot's license first before you comment. oh wait maybe not.....