Tough Economic Conditions Lead to Decline in Satisfaction, Although Airline Timeliness Improves
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. , June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines ranks highest in customer satisfaction among traditional network carriers, while JetBlue Airways ranks highest among low-cost carriers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.
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The study measures overall customer satisfaction based on performance in seven measures (in order of importance): cost and fees; flight crew; in-flight services; aircraft; boarding/deplaning/baggage; check-in; and reservation. Carriers are ranked in two segments: traditional network and low-cost. Traditional network carriers are defined as airlines that operate multicabin aircraft and use multiple airport hubs, while low-cost carriers are defined as airlines that operate single-cabin aircraft with typically lower fares.
Traditional Network Carrier Rankings
Alaska Airlines ranks highest in the traditional network carrier segment for a second consecutive year, and performs particularly well in five of seven measures: flight crew; aircraft; boarding/deplaning/baggage; check-in; and reservation. Continental Airlines and Delta Airlines, respectively, follow Alaska Airlines in the rankings. Continental Airlines performs particularly well in the in-flight services and cost and fees measures.
"Alaska Airlines has made notable improvements in the courtesy and knowledge of its check-in staff from 2008," said Dale Haines , senior director of the travel practice at J.D. Power and Associates.
For a fourth consecutive year, JetBlue Airways ranks highest in the low-cost carrier segment. JetBlue Airways performs particularly well in two of seven measures: aircraft and in-flight services.
Following JetBlue in the segment rankings are Southwest Airlines and WestJet, in a tie. Southwest Airlines performs particularly well in the cost and fees and reservation measures. In addition, Southwest Airlines is the only airline in the 2009 study to demonstrate overall improvement from 2008, with the most notable increases occurring in the reservations, check-in and boarding/deplaning/baggage measures.
WestJet, included in the study for the first time in 2009, performs well in the boarding/deplaning/baggage; check-in; and flight crew measures.
"It is particularly impressive that JetBlue has ranked highest in the highly competitive low-cost carrier segment for four consecutive years," said Haines. "However, competition in the low-cost carrier segment is heating up, with Southwest Airlines and WestJet closing the gap with JetBlue."
Additional Airline Industry Findings
The study finds that overall customer satisfaction with airlines in 2009 has declined for a third consecutive year to a four-year low. The decline is driven by decreased passenger satisfaction with in-flight services, flight crew and costs and fees, compared with 2008.
Despite the overall decline in satisfaction, the study finds that the customer-reported length of flight delays decreased by eight minutes in 2009 from 72 minutes in 2008. Among passengers who visit an airline's main counter to obtain their boarding pass or check baggage, average wait times have decreased to 12 minutes in 2009 from 14 minutes in 2008.
In addition, on-time arrival rates have improved from 2008. According to Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the overall rate of on-time arrivals has improved by more than five percentage points from 2008 to 78 percent in 2009. Analysis of BTS data by J.D. Power and Associates indicates that 70 percent of this improvement comes directly from improved performance in areas within airlines' control, rather than conditions related to weather, air traffic control or security concerns.
"Despite the economic stresses that airlines are under, they are recognizing the value of passengers' time and trying to make air travel more expedient and efficient," said Haines. "Unfortunately, any improvements in customer satisfaction are being offset by passenger displeasure with cutbacks on in-flight services, increases in fees and issues with the helpfulness and courtesy of flight crews."
The 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction Study measures customer satisfaction of both business and leisure travelers with major North American carriers. The study is based on responses from more than 12,900 passengers who flew on a major North American airline between April 2008 and May 2009 . The study was fielded between May 2008 and May 2009 .
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Traditional Network Carrier Segment Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking J.D. Power.com Power Circle Ratings (Based on a 1,000-point scale) For Consumers Alaska Airlines 671 5 Continental Airlines 669 5 Delta Air Lines 641 4 Traditional Network Carrier Segment Average 626 3 Air Canada 623 3 American Airlines 618 3 Northwest Airlines 614 3 United Airlines 604 2 US Airways 599 2 Low-Cost Carrier Segment Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking J.D. Power.com Power Circle Ratings (Based on a 1,000-point scale) For Consumers JetBlue Airways 750 5 Southwest Airlines 736 4 WestJet 736 4 Low-Cost Carrier Segment Average 726 3 Frontier Airlines 692 2 AirTran Airways 687 2 Power Circle Ratings Legend: 5 - Among the best 4 - Better than most 3 - About average 2 - The restAbout J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif. , J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2008 were
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