Quick -- which airline has rudest flight attendants? The most comfortable economy seats? The worst food?
SeatGuru, the website for airline information has just come out with its latest airline passenger survey. It provides some interesting food for thought, which is about the most nourishment you'll get on any flight these days.
Surveyed travelers overwhelmingly said that getting a full meal was the thing they value most in an airline. And they voted Singapore Airlines as having the best food, followed by British Airways, Continental, and Air France. U.S. carriers -- who were rated as having the worst -- included American, United, and US Airways.
Seat-wise, 42% said they would pay a 10% ticket premium to get five additional inches of legroom, and 83% said upgrades were worth it, which suggests just how bad things have gotten in the back of the plane. JetBlue led the pack with the most comfortable economy-class seats (11%), with USAirways voted as having the least-comfortable.
As for flight attendants, Singapore Airlines placed first for having the most polite attendants (19%), followed by British Airways (8%) and Southwest (7%). United was tagged with having the rudest attendants (14%), followed by American (13%) and US Airways (11%). It's interesting that the rudest were all employed by American carriers, so perhaps as a nation we better start acting a bit more civilized.
And these American carriers may also want to become a bit more image conscious -- 80% voted U.S. carriers more unsafe than their international competitors, likely the reason 17% of people surveyed said they medicate themselves before flying. SeatGuru did not ask whether the meds came from the pharmacy or liquor store.
The greatest fear of both U.S. and international travelers (assuming that not arriving at your destination was not one of the choices offered) was that of overweight seatmates, which is likely the reason a majority (56%) said they'd rather not sit between anyone. Another interesting tidbit was that the next greatest fears among U.S. travelers were sickness and coughing on a plane, while international counterparts fear body odor.
And among the most disgusting things flyers have seen left on aircraft seats -- dirty diapers, vomit, tissues, and "mystery stains."
So you airline execs would do well to take note -- forget peanuts and pretzels and instead pass out the Robitussin and Right Guard. And don't relegate those seat covers just to the lavatories.
Jim Ferri
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