Summary
On-Time Ratings of Airlines
Delta Air Lines emerged as the most punctual airline in the United States for 2022, boasting an impressive on-time rate of 82.1 percent. This information comes from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR). Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled time are categorized as on-time.
According to the DOT, “The ATCR is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines.” Consequently, the DOT utilizes data from the ATCR, alongside consumer complaints and information secured from airlines, to inform its enforcement activities and evaluate existing regulations.
Southwest Airlines Performance in December
Following Delta, Alaska Airlines claimed the second spot with a 79.1 percent on-time rate. United Airlines followed closely with 78.7 percent, then American Airlines at 77.1 percent, and Hawaiian Airlines at 75.8 percent. Despite having a 73.2 percent on-time rate throughout 2022, Southwest Airlines experienced a significant drop during December, plummeting to 60.7 percent due to a massive number of flight cancellations that left many travelers stranded during the holiday season.
Lowest On-Time Rates
Interestingly, Southwest Airlines did not have the lowest on-time rate for the year. That distinction fell to JetBlue, which reported a rate of 64.6 percent, and Allegiant Air, which was last at 63.4 percent.
DOT’s Efforts for Consumer Protection
In an effort to enhance consumer awareness, the DOT launched a informative website detailing cancellation and delay policies, offering insights into compensation practices. Notably, all 10 major U.S. airlines have committed to providing meals upon request when a controllable cancellation or delay results in passengers waiting for three hours or more for a new flight.
Family Seating Policies Update
Recently, the DOT introduced a second dashboard focused on family seating policies, which differ from one airline to another. Currently, only a few airlines, including American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, have pledged to provide complimentary family seating as part of their customer service initiatives.
