What Makes a Good Airline? What Do You Think?

[Aeolus]

Below is the list of factors that the readers of a Wall Street Journal column (The Middle Seat, by Scott Mccartney) believe are important for being a good airline.

#1, of course, denotes the most important factor.

What do you guys think?

PS: I don't think it is correct to post the whole column here, so I just put the list here instead.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD AIRLINE?
1. On-time performance
2. Fair pricing
3. Adequate seat room
4. Friendly, helpful employees
5. Frequent flights and direct service
6. Elite-level frequent flier perks
7. Assigned seats
8. Fast check-in/automation
9. Clean planes
10. Food

Source: Middle Seat readers

[Airigami]

Definitely the colour scheme. That is the key factor to success or failure.

[cal99]

The definition of a good airline varies from person to person, but any airline that can keep repeat passengers is doing something right. Whether it is from low fares or excellent cust service..it just depends on the person traveling..

[AJ]

Astounding how safety doesn't warrant a mention!

[uy707]

what makes a good airline

- safety, reliability, punctuality, quality service from front to last row.
In the 1980 and 1990s Lufthansa, Swissair and Varig were good in coming up with the right equation.
Regards
Alain

[Aeolus]

Astounding how safety doesn't warrant a mention!

Sorry, I couldn't post the whole article here.
But the columnist says that safety is already a given, so he doesn't put it in the list.

I would say safety is even more important than the #1 factor in this list.

[FlyCharlestonSC]

I know what makes a good airline...David Neeleman (the JBLU CEO)

[Greg J.]

I agree, safety should come first! I think customer service should be second because if you don't have good customer service, a lot of your passengers may not come back.

[Ansett]

safety and customer satisfaction i reckon

[ATLcenter]

I doubt you can enjoy a Meal prepared by Emirill if your plane is crashing into an ocean....so I shall go with safety!

then food- because even if the flight is late, and your seat is the size of a pea, the food will lift ya right up!