Passengers say they love these 10 U.S. airlines the most

Maybe flying isn’t as bad as we thought.

Customer satisfaction with air travel increased 6 points in 2018, according to a study released this week from global market research company J.D. Power. The increase comes after nearly every airline has added improvements in the past year after a spate of public relations disasters, said Brian Sumers, airline reporter for travel industry site Skift.

“This is a great time to be a traveler,” Sumers said. “For the most part, planes are on-time, cabins are clean, service is acceptable, and the food, while rarely free, is increasingly edible. And when things do go wrong, airlines are empowering customers — especially those who download mobile apps — to make their own decisions about rebooking.”

Some airlines have increased reimbursement for passengers who are bumped from flights in response. Others have revamped menus and added improvements to in-flight entertainment. Airlines in North America saw improvements across all categories measured by J.D. Power, including more efficient ticket booking and better luggage handling.

Here are the major airlines ranked by customer satisfaction:

1. Alaska Airlines

2. Delta Air Lines

3. Air Canada

4. American Airlines

5. United Airlines

And the top budget airlines, according to J.D. Power:

1. Southwest Airlines

2. JetBlue Airways

3. WestJet

4. Allegiant Air

5. Frontier Airlines

“To earn this award for 11 years is a fantastic tribute to our people, especially as we worked to integrate two airlines,” Brad Tilden, the chief executive of Alaska Airlines, said in a statement. A spokeswoman for Delta Air Lines  said the company has been investing in improving customer experience, and said that customers have noticed these changes. (Other airlines listed did not respond to request for comment.)

Not everyone agrees with the improved conditions for air travel. “I’m skeptical of these results,” said Christopher Elliott, founder of consumer advocacy organization Elliott.org, adding that the flying experience is only improving for people willing to pay for first-class tickets.

Some 92% of airline passengers said that air travel leaves “a lot to be desired,” according to a separate 2017 study, and in between March and April of last year airline complaints skyrocketed 70%.

Last year was a public relations nightmare for some airlines. In April 2017, a video of a man being dragged from a full United Airlines   flight went viral online, bringing into question the policy of overbooking flights.

The airport police officer were reportedly been placed on leave, and United’s chief executive, Oscar Munoz, apologized and launched an investigation into the incident. The airline also agreed to an undisclosed financial settlement with the passenger, David Dao, a 69-year-old doctor.

Flyers have complained the travel experience is becoming more uncomfortable, with some airlines are doing away with reclining seats and others are shrinking legroom. Airlines have added a record number of fees in recent years, requiring customers to pay extra to board the plane earlier, have a free carry-on bag, and sit with family members.

The biggest complaint of air travelers, according to the J.D. Power survey, was poor Wi-Fi during flights.

“Airlines would love to solve this problem, but they’re limited because the companies that supply in-flight internet are having challenges,” Sumers said. “It’s not that easy, or cheap, to beam internet into a metal tube flying 35,000 feet above the ground and 550 miles per hour. Some airlines have better connections than others, but they’re all flawed in some way or another.”