Despite all the hassle that flying involves in general these days, customers have not completely dismissed airline performance as hopeless. According to the annual airline survey conducted by J.D. Power, getting to a destination easily and safelyeven more than ticket priceis the top passenger priority that determines satisfaction with an airline. The 2024 Airline Satisfaction Survey reveals the two airlines that stand out when it comes to customer satisfaction.

　　There are many aspects to the overall air travel experience that airlines cannot control, but one area in which they can profoundly influence is the positive effect that airline staff has on passengers, Michael Taylor, J.D. Powers senior managing director of travel, hospitality, retail and customer service, said in a statement. The big takeaway from this years study is the power of people to positively influence the overall flight experience. Airlines that are investing in staff training and recruitment are finding ways to overcome the negative effects of crowded gates and planes simply by being nice to their customers.

　　So which airlines outperform the rest? In the economy category, Southwest is number one in customer satisfaction for the third year in a row. Delta follows Southwest with its economy service, and Allegiant ranks third. The worst-performing economy carrier? Frontier. The budget airline suffers from delays, uncomfortable seats and other issues.

　　If your flying style is a little more luxurious, Delta ranks number one in both the first/business class category and the premium economy category. JetBlue follows Delta in the first/business class category, while Alaska comes in second in the premium economy segment. Air Canada ranks last in customer satisfaction in the premium economy category.

　　Find more information about the survey on the J.D. Power website.