SmarterTravel readers once again gave top marks to
Southwest Airlines
. We asked you to consider booking and changing tickets, fees, counter or online check-in, cabin comfort and cleanliness, in-flight perks, and customer service when casting your vote, and the low-cost king dominated the category, beating out its 13 other competitors with 32 percent of the vote.
Other low-cost favorite JetBlue had a strong showing, taking second place with 12 percent of the vote. Delta took third, the highest ranking among legacy carriers.
AirTran, our Editors' Choice award winner for 2010's
Best Value Airline
, received just 3.3 percent of the vote. It will be interesting to see how the low-cost airline fares next year, now that it's been acquired by Southwest.
So let's hear a little more feedback: What are your favorite elements of a Southwest flight? What makes the experience topnotch once again this year? And, dare we suggest it—are there any ways this fan-favorite could improve its services to stay in the top spot for another year running?
First Place
: Southwest
Second Place
: JetBlue
Third Place
: Delta
Voting Breakdown:
| Airline | Percentage of Votes Received |
|---|---|
| Southwest | 32.0% |
| JetBlue | 12% |
| Delta | 11% |
| American | 7.3% |
| Continental | 7.2% |
| United | 5.1% |
| Alaska | 4.1% |
| Virgin America | 3.4% |
| AirTran | 3.3% |
| US Airways | 3.0% |
| Frontier/Midwest | 1.8% |
| Hawaiian | 1.6% |
| Allegiant | 1.0% |
| Spirit | 0.1% |
See All Readers' Choice Winners
Favorite International (Non-U.S.-based) Airline
|
Friendliest Flight Attendants and Crew (Domestic Airline)
|
Favorite Free Airline Amenity
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Favorite Airport
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Favorite Mobile Travel App