Survey lauds JetBlue, slams US Airways

A Consumer Reports air passenger survey reveals that JetBlue Airways is the highest-regarded of the country's 18 leading carriers in terms of the flying experience it offers.

The survey of more than 23,000 readers identified US Airways as the least favorite airline, while Midwest Airlines and Southwest Airlines were voted second and third best respectively.

JetBlue topped the poll despite a series of service setbacks in February, when it left passengers stranded for hours on the tarmac during winter storms. US Airways also suffered as a result of inclement weather, and was blighted by computer problems in March.

Consumer Reports conducted its original survey in early February, but carried out a follow-up survey in light of the service disruptions. While JetBlue's ratings remained unchanged, the view of US Airways was found to have diminished dramatically in just two months.

The magazine attributes the poor perception of the Arizona-based carrier to its protracted and "messy" merger with America West, which finished second-last in the survey.

Doug Parker, Chief Executive of US Airways, vowed earlier in the year to dramatically improve customer service with a series of new measures, after admitting that the airline had experienced its worst quarter since 2005.

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