US Airways ranked number one in on-time performance, baggage handling and customer satisfaction among the major network carriers for May, according to the latest Transportation Department report — a rare trifecta. It’s even more impressive, considering that just a few years ago, the airline consistently ranked near the bottom of the list. I asked Kerry Hester, the airline’s vice president for reservations and customer service planning, to shed some light on the numbers, and what they mean to passengers
ON-TIME
That’s according to FlightStats, which just released its on-time numbers for August. The average for the top 40 North American airports was a 77 percent on-time arrival performance for the month, which is so-so.
This holiday weekend, you might want to consider checking in extra early at the airport. There’s evidence some airlines, in an effort to boost their on-time ratings, are instructing their flight crews to push back a minute or two early — and leaving some passengers stranded at the gate.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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