Low cost air carrier rankings - AirTran, Hawaiian, JetBlue

San Francisco Chronicle/Associated Press/Joan Lowy, 4/2/12. "Report: AirTran did the best job for passengers."

Top 15 in category:  AirTran 1st, Hawaiian 2nd, JetBlue 3rd

"For the second year in a row, low-cost carrier AirTran Airways did the best job getting passengers to their destinations with the least hassle, private researchers who have analyzed federal data on airline performance said Monday.  Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways also repeated their performance from last year, ranking second and third, respectively.

Regional carrier American Eagle was last among the nation's 15 largest airlines included in the annual report.

The rankings are based on data airlines supply the Department of Transportation regarding lost bags, delayed flights, and bumpings from full planes, and consumer complaints made to the department.

Overall, the report shows flying is getting better even through passengers grappling with fare increases, canceled routes and a seemingly endless parade of new fees may not feel that way, said Dean Headley, a business professor at Wichita State University who has co-written the annual report for 22 years."  Read more.

Reference - AirTran, a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines.

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh