US airlines lag at bottom of world rankings - frequent fliers reveal why passengers are getting ripped off

Airlines from the United States have ranked as among the worst in the world, a new scorecard shows.

Legacy US carriers Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines took the last three spots on the 2024 league table from AirlineRatings.com.

Smaller US airlines also fared badly. JetBlue came in at number 16, followed by Hawaiian Airlines (17) and Alaska Airlines (18).

They all scored far behind the Asian, Middle Eastern and European carriers that dominate the top 10.

Topping this year's list was Qatar Airways, followed by Korean Air and then Cathay Pacific Airways.

Legacy US carriers Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines took the last three spots on the table

An American Airlines passenger breaks down in tears as she posts about her travel misery

The results have revived a debate about why America's frequent fliers get such a rotten deal.

Geoffrey Thomas, the editor-in-chief of the rankings site, says US airlines need to upgrade their service and invest in new jets.

'The big US carriers continued to do badly due to high fleet age and very poor passenger feedback,' Thomas told Forbes.

The scorecard was released as passengers of US airlines took to social media to complain about their service.

A TikTok post on Tuesday showed a line of 400 American Airlines passengers left 'stranded' at an airport check-in on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. It said the carrier was 'incompetent.'

Other posts showed passengers in tears after being rerouted and bumped off flights.

Frequent fliers say US carriers struggle against their Middle Eastern and Asian counterparts for several reasons.

Qatar Airways and Emirates, for example, focus on long-haul international travel and have to compete harder for business against rivals, says Quora user Christopher McDonald.

'US airlines are spoiled,' he adds. 'They have a massive domestic market shielded from foreign competitors.'

Michael Lee, another user, says it's down to customer service, and US cabin crew effectively being 'tenured.' 

Qatar Airways touts the tasty snacks offered to its well-heeled passengers at a travel show

Economy passengers on this American Airlines flight to Bogota, Colombia, had a less alluring meal selection

Passengers of US airlines frequently take to TikTok and other social media to complain about their travel experiences 

'They've been doing the job for 20 years, so they care less in general,' says Lee.

'They're not going to get fired or reprimanded for not providing optimal service, so why should they pay attention to detail?'

Others noted how passengers on even some short-hop domestic flights in Asia get tasty meals just after take-off.

US domestic travelers, however, are lucky to get a bottle of water and pretzels, they add.

Another commentator, Dick Karp, says US airlines only look at the bottom line — schedules and fares.

'They focus on them to the detriment of all else,' says Karp.

AirlineRatings.com says the league table comes as the airline industry bounces back from pandemic-era travel slumps.

They scored airlines on the age of their fleets, passenger reviews, profitability, safety rating, product rating, innovation, and other measures.

Qatar Airways was named airline of the year thanks to its quality service and innovation, which put it ahead of 2023 winner, Air New Zealand.

The Doha-headquartered airline 'receives very positive passenger reviews across its business class and economy cabins,' says Thomas.