Airline Gripes

Consumer complaints about U.S. airlines were up nearly 60% from January to June this year compared with the same period in 1999. Rankings of the 10 biggest airlines, best to worst:

Rank/Airline/Complaints per 100,000 passengers

1. Southwest Airlines........0.55

2. Delta Air Lines...........2.07

3. US Airways................2.25

4. Alaska Airlines...........2.50

5. Northwest Airlines........2.69

6. Continental Airlines......3.07

7. Trans World Airlines......3.49

8. American Airlines.........4.10

9. United Airlines...........4.37

10. America West Airlines....8.33

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, based on complaints filed with the department and with airlines.