Also, the number of fliers pleased with boarding, deplaning and baggage averages nearly 60 points hi

Boomer, senior and other airline passengers are more satisfied these days with most of the major U.S. and Canadian airlines in terms of cost and fees and other elements in the flight travel experience, J.D. Power and Associates, the respected market research organization, reported last week.
Many of the same economic conditions that hurt airlines financially, such as lower fares, have led to improvements in satisfaction, said Stuart Greif, the J.D. Power vice president in charge of global travel.
He points out that with fewer fliers in a down economy and fewer flights, on-time performance has improved. What s more, fewer fliers are checking bags now that more carriers charge fees for checked luggage, thus reducing the number of baggage issues and complaints. In a telephone interview with Suite101, Greif said it seems as if passengers are gradually accepting the checked bag fees, so they don t have as big an impact on satisfaction scores.
Greif told Suite101 that Spirit Airlines, which has announced it will charge soon for carry-on bags and as of this writing was dealing with a pilots strike, was not included in the rankings probably because it didn t meet the rating organization s minimum of $1-billion in passenger revenue. The other criterion for inclusion in the survey is at least 100 surveys four seasons hotel atlanta returned by fliers contacted.
The 2010 survey did show passenger four seasons hotel atlanta unhappiness in several areas. Nearly 50 % of those responding four seasons hotel atlanta said that prices for in-flight beverages and food; checked baggage; and preferred seating are unreasonably four seasons hotel atlanta high.
Also, the number of fliers pleased with boarding, deplaning and baggage averages nearly 60 points higher among those who are not charged for the first checked bag, compared with those who are charged four seasons hotel atlanta for the first bag.