How satisfied are you with the current state of commercial air travel?
Based on both my own experience and the feedback I receive from readers, when I had to guess, I’d say that the consensus response would be: Not quite.
Flights are complete. Seats are packed tighter than ever. Niggling fees are budget-crushers. Lines are extended. What’s to enjoy?
Airlines for America, the trade group which represents the interests of U.S. airlines, begs to disagree. According to the company’s latest Status of Air Travel in the United States report, 85 percent of those surveyed were either “somewhat satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their general airline experience. Ten percent were “neutral” on travel, and a mere 6% were either “somewhat dissatisfied” or “very disappointed.”
Does A4A explain the results, which seem so at odds with my own expectations? According to the news release:
Tell that crammed into the middle coach seat of a full flight as he chows down on bitter coffee and over-salted peanuts.
A4A has a vested interest in putting the best face on the airlines’ performance; the company is paid to do that. So it’s not surprising that their surveys’ results reliably align with their assignment. Customers are savvy enough to consider the source.
But as travelers will take A4A’s findings there’s cause for concern. In the event the company’s customers, the U.S. airlines, consider the favorable reviews seriously, they’re not likely to take the measures required to tackle travelers’ very real needs and complaints. Travelers, then, can only expect the airlines follow their guide if assessing the survey outcomes, and also consider the source.
Reader Reality Check
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being “very dissatisfied” and 5 being “very satisfied,” how would you rate your overall satisfaction with aviation?