US Airways, American top list of most complained-about airlines

Q. What kind of complaints are customers making about USAirways? It makes no sense to say that they get the most complaints without telling us what kinds of complaints. I fly USAirways most of the time (out of Binghamton, NY, USAir probably has 70% of the market) and although I have my gripes, they are no more than my gripes with American, United, or Northwestern. How about putting some meat into these kinds of reports? Thanks, Mike Senio

I fly a lot 2-3 round trips monthly. Mainly I fly American, US Air and Southwest. By far US Air is the worst. The surliest work crews, the dirtiest planes and oh by the way luggage lost twice this year alone, once not found until the business trip was over. American can definitely run a close second because they typically fly ancient planes and are often late but so far in the last 8 years no luggage lost. Southwest gets my votes for always flying larger planes, friendly service better on time and no lost luggage. The downside they don’t fly everywhere and long trips often require 3 segments instead of 2.

US Airways Express, two flights 6 months apart, same flight, same time, both flights were 3-4 hours late, leaving my wife and I to run through terminals or stand in long lines to get subsequent connecting flights. First time was due to a single safety card being missing. A mechanic had to be called out of bed(5 AM) to inspect the plane and give the OK to fly. Second time due to no pilot to fly the plane (aircraft and First Officer present), and equipment problems delaying backup flight. Difficult to recommend US Air.

I was seated in Row 24 Seat E. Just before the plane reached cruising altitude I got up to go to the lavatory, which was one row back. I was met by the flight attendant who advised me that I could not and must return to my seat, because the fasten seat belt light was one. She gave me no choice and no warning, but merely in a very loud voice, so that at least 3 rows could hear, that I return to my seat. Another passenger, who I later learned was a USAirways employee informed me that the flight attendant acted in a rude and improper manner. I asked another flight attendant, Verna, if she could give me the name of the rude flight attendant, which name she muttered, but which I could not understand. I asked if she could please get me the name of the rude flight attendant from the rude flight attendant, but Verna refused. The rude flight attendant (who was of Asian ethnicity) remained in the back galley and did not come out to give me her name. In fact, being one of the last passengers off of the plane, I noticed she never did appear from behind the galley. I later learned that this same rude flight attendant refused to provide a pregnant passenger with ice to ease her nausea. She told that passenger that she had locked away the ice. Another passenger, who I learned was furloughed by USAirways was aghast at how rude the flight attendant was and how Verna chose to protect her rude colleague, rather than to uphold customer service. Moreover, when my wife and I came out of the airplane the flight crew were not to be found, so I was unable to discuss my displeasure with the pilot or copilot. The flight was an awful experience and because of the rude flight attendant, Verna and the absence of the flight crew, I would make USAirways the last choice for air travel. Give me Southwest Airlines any day over USAirways. The USAirways bankruptcy case should have been a liquidating case and the executive management fired, as the apparent prevailing corporate attitude and policies are reflected in the crew of Flight 603 – the rude flight attendant, Verna and the captain and his crew!