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Long security lines, layovers, and crowded airports can make flying a frustrating experience. The last thing you want to do is make your trip more stressful by booking with a subpar airline! Here are eight airlines you should consider avoiding due to their history of problems such as poor customer service and frequent delays.
1. Spirit Airlines
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Spirit is a low-cost carrier that charges extra for just about everything according to Nerdwallet, including beverage service, seat selection, and printing a boarding pass. The airline also has a limited flight schedule, which can make it difficult to rebook your flight if it gets canceled. Spirit only earned 1.4 stars from customers on Consumer Affairs, which suggests that you should steer clear.
2. Ryanair
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Another airline to think twice about flying with is Ryanair, a budget European carrier. To cut costs, they usually fly in and out of small airports, which may be inconveniently located. Plus, flights may land at odd hours such as the middle of the night.
Similar to Spirit, Ryanair charges customers additional fees for bringing more than one personal item, selecting their seats, and more. Reportedly, the customer service is also lackluster, so you may want to think twice about flying with this airline.
3. Allegiant Air
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According to Gizmodo, Allegiant has a history of safety issues during flights. Investigations performed back in 2016 and 2017 revealed that Allegiant was up to four times more likely than competitors to have mechanical problems such as engine failures and aborted takeoffs. Although the company has taken steps to rectify these issues, some customers may still find their safety record concerning.
4. Frontier Airlines
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Frontier Airlines, another budget carrier, was ranked last in J.D. Power’s 2023 North America Airline Satisfaction Study. Customer complaints include uncomfortable seats, excessive fees, lack of in-flight entertainment, and poor customer service. Plus, Frontier is one of the least reliable airlines due to many cancellations and delays.
5. American Airlines
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American Airlines offers more frills than budget carriers, such as better legroom, free entertainment, and complimentary beverage service on longer flights. However, the company only ranks slightly higher than Frontier when it comes to customer satisfaction and reliability, so you may not enjoy your flying experience.
6. JetBlue
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In 2022, JetBlue had one of the worst customer complaint ratios (9 per 100,000) among U.S. airlines. According to Boston.com, the majority of the complaints were regarding flight cancellations and delays, missed connections, refunds, and mishandled baggage.
7. Wizz Air
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Wizz Air is a budget European airline that’s been ranked as one of the worst carriers in the world alongside RyanAir. A customer survey revealed that over half of respondents had experienced delays when flying with Wizz Air. The company’s customer service is also reported to be lacking.
8. easyJet
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British airline easyJet has received customer complaints for its uncomfortable seats, lack of cleanliness, and subpar food. The budget carrier also nickels and dimes customers by charging extra fees. The company earned just one star from dissatisfied passengers on the ConsumerAffairs website, suggesting that the flying experience is anything but easy.
Start Your Trip on the Right Foot
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A stressful flight is no way to start your next vacation. To avoid hassle and disappointment, do some research to confirm that the airline you’re considering has a good reputation.
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Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.