Airline complaints skyrocket
Air travel customer service standards seem to be getting worse, based on the avalanche of customer complaints filed this year.
The number of airline complaints was up a massive 88% in the first quarter of 2023, compared to a year earlier, the Transportation Department said.
The DOT added that in April and May, the number has kept rising.
In January-March 2023 it received nearly 25,000 airline complaints.
The department said there is delay in publishing the data due to the sheer number of complaints it is receiving.
Travelers made 6,712 complaints in April, which is up 32% year-over-year, and 6,465 in May, up 49%.
The DOT noted a big rise in complaints from disabled travelers.
There were 636 disability related complaints in the first quarter, well up from 380 filed in Q1 of 2022.
Additionally, the DOT said it has opened investigations into ‘several domestic airlines’ for offering packed flight schedules they are unlikely to be able to operate.
The department has probed the infamous Southwest Airlines meltdown late last year and the airline said it could result in a big DOT fine.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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