Airline Flight Delays, Bag Complaints Improve

SelectPlusAirline Flight Delays, Bag Complaints ImproveAirline Flight Delays, Bag Complaints ImproveThe Associated PressThe Transportation Department said Tuesday that the nation's airlines were on time more often in June compared to a year ago, and customers filed fewer complaints about their baggage. (Aug. 6)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] [Notes:file throughout with graphics]If you plan to hop on a plane and head -- well -- anywhere, you might consider building some extra time into your schedule.That's because on-time arrivals are still at just over 70 percent. The Department of Transportation says the July numbers are worse than they were in May, but up a little since June.Nineteen carriers report their numbers to reach the overall on-time arrival rate...but there's a big difference in the individual numbers American Airlines is at the bottom of the pack - with less than 60 percent of flights getting to their destinations on time. United wasn't much better, also coming in under 60 percent.At the top of the list - Hawaiian Airlines can boast a better than 92 percent on-time arrival rate.For most of the carriers, weather is a big culprit. Almost half the delays in July were weather related.As for other things that can wreck your trip - how about lost luggage? Reports of mishandled bags are down to just over 5 complaints for every 1,000 passengers from almost 8 per thousand a year ago. AirTran and JetBlue get bragging rights for topping the list with a low 3 complaints per thousand. American Eagle was last, with 10 complaints per thousand. ___ ___, The Associated Press

Author: AssociatedPress
Length: 01:09
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Tags: airline  bag  complaints  delays  flight  improve