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Best and worst airlines in 2019, according to Airline Quality Rating study

Posted at 5:31 AM, Apr 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-08 15:06:37-04

Which airline is the best when it comes to handling baggage, getting you on your flight, leaving on time and keeping you satisfied?

The 29th annual Airline Quality Rating was released Monday, giving travelers a good idea of which tickets to book ahead of the summer travel season.

The 2019 Airline Quality Rating, reflecting data collected in 2018, is:

1. Delta
2. JetBlue
3. Southwest
4. Alaska
5. Hawaiian
6. United
7. Spirit
8. American
9. Frontier

Delta improved in all four categories (mishandled baggage, consumer complaints, on-time performance and involuntary denied boardings) over the year before and the industry as a whole saw its best ratings in nearly 30 years, slipping only in on-time performance.

This year's data also showed the lowest rate of bumped passengers, the lowest rate of mishandled baggage and the lowest rate of customer complaints for the industry since the AQR started in 1991.

Alaska, American and Frontier all declined in each area. Frontier was at the bottom for late flights and bumping passengers.

American Airlines was found to have lost the most luggage.

The study was conducted with research from W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott.