Airline Customer Satisfaction Rises (for Once)

After three straight years of losing altitude, airline customer satisfaction ratings are on the rise, according to a study released today by JD Power and Associates. Overall satisfaction with North American carriers rose 15 points on a 1,000-point scale, the Chicago Tribune reports, with 10 of 12 airlines improving their scores. Alaska and Continental airlines were the top-rated major carriers, with JetBlue and Southwest taking home the low-cost honors.

The biggest movers were the typically maligned United Airlines and American Airlines, which jumped 26 and 24 points respectively. But it’s too soon to say if this updraft will last. “It’s positive movement, but not just yet a positive story,” said a JD Power exec. Airlines are still well below their 2006 levels, which was the first year JD Power began tracking them. (More airline industry stories.)