Winner: JetBlue
Low-cost carrier JetBlue earned top marks in J.D. Power鈥檚 annual North America Airline Satisfaction study for the eighth straight year in 2012. The survey evaluates airlines according to seven criteria: reservation experience, check-in experience, aircraft experience, staff experience, service experience and cost and fees experience (among its advantages: 1 free checked bag per customer). JetBlue also got top honors for a domestic low-cost carrier in Travel + Leisure magazine鈥檚 2012 鈥淲orld鈥檚 Best Service鈥 awards for 2012 and earned a winning ACSI score of 81 (the industry average is a 67). It鈥檚 a rare bright spot for weary travelers, whose overall satisfaction with the airline industry remained disappointing.
Sources: J.D. Power and Associates, Travel + Leisure, American Consumer Satisfaction Index