What are the Best — and Worst — Airlines of 2018?
WalletHub is at it again with its annual survey of the “best and worst” airlines. It had the usual suspects, particularly on the bottom with Frontier and Spirit Airlines. United took another hit as well, but no where near the bottom, which is surprising to most observers.
In a statement WalletHub stated:
“Traveling by plane costs an average of $370 per trip. And choosing the wrong airline has the potential to take even more from us. For instance, 24 animals died during air transportation in 2017, and four major U.S. airlines had at least one pet fatality.
“While critical to consider, such factors often fly under the radar due to our focus on price. But finding the cheapest airfare is now quite easy for anyone with an internet connection. So this report examines those other, overlooked aspects of air travel to help consumers make more-informed decisions.
“WalletHub compared the 9 largest U.S. airlines, plus two regional carriers, in 13 important categories. They range from cancellation and delay rates to baggage mishaps and in-flight comfort. We also considered costs in relation to in-flight amenities for the sake of fairness. For example, it wouldn’t be right to penalize an airline that charges for drinks if its tickets are far cheaper than those from an airline with free in-flight refreshments.”
