14 Worst Airlines People Should Avoid as They Travel
Travelers, especially international ones who fly to and from their destinations, heavily rely on airlines to transport them comfortably, efficiently, and safely. These are reasonable expectations no matter which company they choose to fly with.
Many airlines meet or even exceed passenger expectations, but others do not. The companies that fall short understandably lose the confidence of their customers. Since feeling safe, comfortable, and respected is key to a pleasant flying experience, you’ll want to avoid those airlines that don’t provide it for you.
1. Airblue
The Pakistan-based economy-class airline receives a 2-star Skytrax rating for multiple deficiencies related to its operations and quality of service. As a low-cost carrier, it’s not expected to replicate a first-class flight experience, but there are areas for improvement.
On a 5-star scale, Airblue gets below-average marks for staff assistance upon arrival, check-in staff service, efficient boarding, baggage delivery times, and the cleanliness of the seats and cabins. The cleanliness of the washrooms received the lowest rating.
2. Boliviana de Aviación
Bolivia’s flag carrier has poor ratings for its services on the ground and in the air. The problem areas on the ground include assistance with transfer services and general staff assistance upon arrival. The Business class lounge rates low for its washroom standards, and access to power outlets and charging ports.
The cabin staff earns higher marks for its welcoming cabin crew, but for long-haul flights, many conveniences don’t meet customer expectations. These include inadequate washroom and cabin amenity kits, inflexible meal service, low-quality beverage selection, a lack of magazines and newspapers, and inadequate in-flight entertainment options.
3. LAM Mozambique Airlines
LAM Mozambique Airlines receives mixed reviews for its onboard short-haul services, earning a two-star rating from Skytrax. The airline received good marks for its staff friendliness and hospitality but fell short in other areas.
Lower marks were given to staff interaction with customers, language skills, and the need for more consistency in the service quality provided by the airline crew. These are areas of concern, especially for international travelers unfamiliar with the region.
4. Nouvelair
A charter airline based in Tunisia, Nouvelair earns less than stellar ratings in many areas, from airport services and onboarding to cabin staff services. This carrier has to work to instill confidence in its customers, something its two-star rating from Skytrax won’t help.
Some of Nouvelair’s deficiencies are its lack of efficiency with boarding and inadequate staff assistance upon arrival. Its cabin staff services are less than average, including their responsiveness to customer requests, worker attention, and presence.
5. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
Pakistan’s flagship airline offers decent food and proficiently trained staff, which are important qualities for travelers. Unfortunately, they’re also its worst attributes, which doesn’t paint a very flattering picture of the organization.
Most of PIA’s issues stem from the airline’s outdated infrastructure. Cleanliness is a major problem at the Karachi airport, along with less-than-optimal customer service. Its long-haul flights don’t fare much better, with cabin temperatures and seat cleanliness receiving lower-than-average scores.
6. Tunisair
With average to below-average feedback on its extended and short-haul services, Tunisair isn’t making a great case for itself as a carrier that’s supposed to represent and reflect the country. The national airline of Tunisia can and should do better.
Its long-haul services are average, but the service for shorter flights runs from average to subpar. Staff interaction with passengers, hospitality, and service personalization are areas of weakness. The carrier’s ground services in Tunis receive low staff and transfer service assistance ratings.
7. VivaAerobus
This low-cost airline in Mexico flies to several destinations in the United States, including Austin, Chicago, New York, and Denver. Unfortunately, VivaAerobus rates poorly in its ground and flight services. It may be an inexpensive carrier, but it should still meet basic standards.
On the ground, the services are less than optimal. The airline is plagued by inadequate staff service at check-in, inefficient boarding, a lack of assistance upon passenger arrival, and lag times for baggage delivery. Issues with the cabin crew include hospitality, friendliness, enthusiasm, and customer responsiveness.
8. Air Canada
One would expect Canada’s flagship airline to offer top-notch service on all of its flights. Customer reviews on Yelp are so bad that the overall rating is 1.5 stars. The number of negative ratings far outweighs the positive ones.
Overbooked flights, delayed flights and luggage, and unsanitary cabin conditions are some of the biggest complaints about the airline. Another grievance? Getting nickel and dimed with extra, unexpected fees on top of what passengers are already paying.
9. Air India
The New Delhi carrier has operated for more than 90 years. That impressive longevity says a lot for the company, but its online reviews also have much to say, and very little of it is good. It’s a surprising and disappointing disparity.
Travelers expressed dissatisfaction with flights canceled on short notice and unsanitary cabin conditions, including washrooms without soap and toilet paper. The most troubling complaint was the spotty electrical service on the plane.
10. Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines has a reputation that precedes it when it comes to low-cost carriers, and not surprisingly, it isn’t a good one. Spirit Airlines has become a national punchline for airlines with bare-bones operations.
Consumers took exception to the unresponsive, untrained customer service representatives, exorbitant baggage fees, unpredictable flight times, and slow internet. One Yelp reviewer called it “the Greyhound bus in the skies.” Ouch.
11. Allegiant Air
When buying anything on the cheap, from clothing to airline tickets, the adage “you get what you pay for” rings true. If you’re going to fly on a bargain carrier, adjust your expectations accordingly, especially if you’re flying with Allegiant Air.
According to the online reviews giving Allegiant its lowest rankings, customer service isn’t its strong suit. Employee interactions are reportedly less than pleasant. Even more distressing are the frequent flight cancellations that occur with little warning.
12. Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines is another budget airline that leaves much to be desired, if the Yelp reviews are to be believed. Canceling flights with little notice and being forced to pay higher prices to book new flights were just some of the indignities fliers had to endure.
Difficulties getting refunds for problems caused by the carrier were a repeated refrain with many online reviewers. Poor communications and difficulties in trying to get in touch with customer service agents were additional complaints.
13. JetBlue
At one point, JetBlue was a well-regarded budget airline that customers enjoyed flying with. Over the last decade or so, however, their reputation has taken a serious hit. Remember back in 2010, when a flight attendant was so frustratedwith his job that he left using the plane’s emergency slide?
That incident reflected badly on JetBlue, and things haven’t changed. A persistent problem reported by JetBlue passengers is the company’s keeping them waiting for hours with unnecessary flight delays only to cancel the flights out of nowhere.
14. American Airlines
With nearly a century in business, you would think American Airlines’s operations would run like a well-oiled machine. According to many Yelp reviewers, the carrier is anything but.
Excessive delays that lead to missed connecting flights and the unwillingness of the company to offer vouchers to fliers, leaving them stranded, were frequently mentioned. Poor to nonexistent customer service was also at the top of customer dissatisfaction with the company.
14 Best Airlines to Use Around the World When Flying
Whether taking a direct or connecting international flight, you want a safe, smooth, enjoyable traveling experience. It makes all the difference in how your trip starts and ends. The key to this is the quality of the airline you use.
14 Best Airlines to Use Around the World When Flying
15 Of the Best Airports to Visit Around the World
Traveling opens doors to new experiences; believe it or not, some of the most fascinating adventures start at airports. Airports are more than just transit hubs—they can be part of the journey, offering unique attractions, exquisite architecture, and top-notch amenities that rival their destinations. From lush indoor gardens and impressive art installations to luxury shopping and gourmet dining, the world’s best airports transform the travel experience.
15 Of the Best Airports to Visit Around the World
19 Cheapest Cities to Fly into Europe Saving You Tons on Vacation Costs
As summer is coming, plans need to be made about where to travel next. Europe is a great destination to embark on an incredible journey by seeing many famous spots, eating fantastic food, and enjoying a coffee at a local shop. However, choosing the cheapest flying destination can take time and effort. After going through google flights, Skyscanner, Hopper, and many other search engines, a list of the cheapest countries to fly into Europe has been curated to help you make your next vacation decision.
19 Cheapest Cities to Fly into Europe Saving You Tons on Vacation Costs
