Frontier #4 in Consumer Reports
May 10, 2011 | 8:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,653
Frontier #4 in Consumer Reports
Frontier came in 4th out of 10 in the Consumer Reports ranking of airlines, based on responses from thousands of respondents.
Those familiar with the way Consumer Reports rating grids may recall that they pick a few attributes and then rate them on a five-symbol scale from best (full with a dot) to worst (blacked out). To represent that in an easy way, Im using A through F here, but just think of those letters in relative terms. Its not graded on a curve, so (for example) C does not necessarily mean the median score.
The six things they ranked on are check-in ease (Ck), cabin-crew service (Sv) , cabin cleanliness (Cc), baggage handling (Bag), seating comfort (Sc) and in-flight entertainment (Ent.)
Ck..Sv..Cc..Bag..Sc..Ent
A..A..B.B..C..F..Southwest..87
B..B..B..B..B.A..JetBlue....84
B..B..B..C..D..F..Alaska....79
B..B..B..C..D..D..Frontier..78
B..C..C..C..F..F..AirTran...74
B..C..C..C..F..F..Continental72
C..D..D..F..F..F..American....65
C..D..D..D..F..F..Delta....64
C..D..D..F..F..F..United.....63
C..F..D..F..F..F..USAirways..61
The scores and ranking are not a clear numerical representation of the six gradesnote that Frontier and Alaska scored the same grades in all areas except Frontier had a better score than Alaska on inflight entertainment, yet Alaska scored one point higher.
Survey-based rankings are always somewhat tilted toward perceptionfor example Southwests lost bad rate is relatively crappy while AirTrans is usually tops in the ranking, yet the reported perception was B for Southwest but C for AirTran.
Not a bad showing for Frontier. Clearly a lot of this is about perception, and Frontier should continue to do whatever they can to improve impression.
Those familiar with the way Consumer Reports rating grids may recall that they pick a few attributes and then rate them on a five-symbol scale from best (full with a dot) to worst (blacked out). To represent that in an easy way, Im using A through F here, but just think of those letters in relative terms. Its not graded on a curve, so (for example) C does not necessarily mean the median score.
The six things they ranked on are check-in ease (Ck), cabin-crew service (Sv) , cabin cleanliness (Cc), baggage handling (Bag), seating comfort (Sc) and in-flight entertainment (Ent.)
Ck..Sv..Cc..Bag..Sc..Ent
A..A..B.B..C..F..Southwest..87
B..B..B..B..B.A..JetBlue....84
B..B..B..C..D..F..Alaska....79
B..B..B..C..D..D..Frontier..78
B..C..C..C..F..F..AirTran...74
B..C..C..C..F..F..Continental72
C..D..D..F..F..F..American....65
C..D..D..D..F..F..Delta....64
C..D..D..F..F..F..United.....63
C..F..D..F..F..F..USAirways..61
The scores and ranking are not a clear numerical representation of the six gradesnote that Frontier and Alaska scored the same grades in all areas except Frontier had a better score than Alaska on inflight entertainment, yet Alaska scored one point higher.
Survey-based rankings are always somewhat tilted toward perceptionfor example Southwests lost bad rate is relatively crappy while AirTrans is usually tops in the ranking, yet the reported perception was B for Southwest but C for AirTran.
Not a bad showing for Frontier. Clearly a lot of this is about perception, and Frontier should continue to do whatever they can to improve impression.
May 11, 2011 | 9:19 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,653
It is free on JetBlue.
Remember, too, that this is a customer survey, not an objective rating.
Note that other than JetBlue's top grade, Frontier was the only carrier who got anything other than a bottom mark. Nobody else's Wi-Fi, XM, or inflight video-on-certain-aircraft offerings got them a better score. Not exactly sure what that means. It's not like JetBlue is so huge that most flyers have been repeatedly exposed to their free TV, leaving everyone else's offerings a comparable waste of time and effort.
Remember, too, that this is a customer survey, not an objective rating.
Note that other than JetBlue's top grade, Frontier was the only carrier who got anything other than a bottom mark. Nobody else's Wi-Fi, XM, or inflight video-on-certain-aircraft offerings got them a better score. Not exactly sure what that means. It's not like JetBlue is so huge that most flyers have been repeatedly exposed to their free TV, leaving everyone else's offerings a comparable waste of time and effort.
May 13, 2011 | 7:16 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 28,776
JetBlue: IFE is available at no extra cost on every single flight, whether Airbus or E190. It's a very consistent, predictable experience.
Frontier: IFE is available but costs unless you buy Classic Plus or higher...and it's not available at all on E170s. It's a very inconsistent, unpredictable experience.
Frontier: IFE is available but costs unless you buy Classic Plus or higher...and it's not available at all on E170s. It's a very inconsistent, unpredictable experience.
May 13, 2011 | 3:09 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Premier Silver, AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 813
BTW... I love your signature! Folks, it is horrible out here with all of the snow that even falls in the middle of May. You definitely want to take DenverBrian's advice and stay away.
May 13, 2011 | 4:18 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,653
The only notable piece of differrence not accounted for the the Frontier / Frontier Express differentiation is the onboard entertainment with (current) plans for TV on Airbus and WiFI on E190. I hope they standardize that, too, although most airlines except Jetblue have inconsitant onboard entertainment within their mainline fleets these days.