World's Worst Airlines
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Travel isn't always fun. Sometimes it's just plain uncomfortable and frustrating. From tiny airplane seats to obnoxious flight delays, we put up with a lot to get to our final destination. That said, there are some airlines that always seem to make the journey just a little bit worse.
Travel company AirHelp, which helps travelers get compensated for flight delays, wanted to find out how dozens of airlines around the world stacked up against each other, so they crunched some numbers to create a ranking. The final list accounts for the quality of amenities, on-time arrivals and how well the airlines resolve flight-delay compensation claims.
Wondering which airline AirHelp named as the best in the world? Qatar Airways, which received high marks across the board, followed by American Airlines and Aeromexico. Wondering which one landed dead last? Read on. These are the world's worst airlines.
Honorable Mention: Spirit and Frontier
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Before we dive into AirHelp's worst airline ranking, let us give a dishonorable mention to two carriers that were not included in the study: Spirit and Frontier.
Both are notorious for cheap fares and horrible service. Expect to be treated like cattle being boarded onto a plane to the slaughterhouse. Nothing is complementary, not a tiny cup of water nor the smile of an employee. If an emergency occurs, we half suspect they'd ask you to pay before letting you use the oxygen mask.
To the detriment of all humanity, on February 2022, Spirit and Frontier announced they would merge into a single airline, but they decided to cancel the deal later that summer. So, for now, passengers will have to stick to one or the other when it comes to bad airlines.
40. El Al Israel Airlines
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On-time performance: 6.1
Quality of service: 8.6
Claim processing: 7.0
Total: 7.24 (out of 10)
* Note: Data and rankings are based on AirHelp's 2019 report before the pandemic dramatically affected travel. However, any airlines that have since shuttered are no longer included.
Bottom Line: El Al Israel Airlines
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This Israeli airline is known for being the only commercial airline in the world to equip its planes with anti-missile defense systems. Whether that's nerve-wracking or reassuring depends on you.
Quality of service ranked high, so you can expect nice and accommodating staff. On the flip side, you can also expect your flight to be delayed, since the airline scored very average on this metric. While there are definitely worse airlines out there, flight delays can be a real pain in the neck.
What Customers Say About El Al Israel Airlines
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"NEVER FLY WITH THEM, AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE, TERRIBLE SERVICE. If there was an option of NO STARS I would have chosen that one.
I was treated very badly by a rude receptionist at the Business Check-in Desk. I spent £1,600, and they wanted to move me to economy with no explanation, just saying the flight was overbooked. I was not even offered any money back, just a flight free flight to Europe, which was of no use to me, as I NEVER have and NEVER will again fly EL AL.
I would rather swim to Israel next time than fly with EL AL. TERRIBLE!!!!!!" — Jim L.
*Reviews may be edited for grammar, punctuation and succinctness.
39. Olympic Air
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On-time performance: 9
Quality of service: 8.5
Claim processing: 4.1
Total: 7.20
Bottom Line: Olympic Air
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A subsidiary of Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air is commonly used for flights within Greece. If you want to be on time, this is the airline to choose — a real consideration given how often Greek regional airlines are delayed. For on-time performance, the airline received an impressive 9.0.
The quality of service is also pretty great, with a score of 8.5. However, the airline is apparently really bad at processing claims. For this category, it received a 4.1. That's a shame, given how well it performed in other metrics.
What Customers Say About Olympic Air
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"Delayed every time. No communication. Check-in was easy, but that was the end of it. Both flights were delayed for over an hour, and no announcements were ever made. Chaos and confusion occurred in the tiny airports with huge lines going nowhere.
The least they could do is inform the passengers the flight was delayed. Customer service was very unhelpful and slow. In fact, the representatives were chatting while a line formed to speak with them.
Cheapish flights (in tiny aircrafts that were a little scary), but beware of delays and bad communication." — Brooklyn M
*Far & Wide note: We can personally attest to most Olympic Air flights being delayed.
38. Aeroflot
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On-time performance: 8.4
Quality of service: 8.6
Claim processing: 4.5
Total: 7.17
Bottom Line: Aeroflot
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Founded in 1923, Russia's Aeroflot is one of the oldest operating airlines in the whole world.
Like Olympic Air, if it weren't for its abysmal claims processing record, the airline would probably rank as one of the better ones. Its on-time performance and quality of service scores are impressively high. However, when it comes to solving problems, it receives a paltry 4.5.
If you fly with hope, just hope that nothing goes awry.
What Customers Say About Aeroflot
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"Thieves and pirates. Canceled all the flights and officially rejected to return the money, including insurance. No one cared." — Denis S.
37. Pegasus Airlines
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On-time performance: 7.5
Quality of service: 8.0
Claim processing: 6.0
Total: 7.15
Bottom Line: Pegasus Airlines
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Named after the mythical winged horse, this Turkish low-cost carrier is a good way to travel around Turkey on a budget.
However, keep your expectations low, as the airline will give you the absolute minimum for free. You'll have to pay for luggage and food, and there is no in-flight entertainment available. Thankfully, you can download Netflix shows and movies onto your phone or bring a book with you.
What Customers Say About Pegasus Airlines
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"Do not choose Pegasus Airlines. It does not understand common courtesy.
My wife, two kids, and I had just gotten off another flight with Turkish Airlines that had been delayed. In the midst of checking in with Pegasus, the system locked. I was only able to get one boarding pass, leaving my kids and wife without one.
I spoke with the manager, and he was absolutely no help. He claimed there was nothing he could do. Our seats were still there, there was still plenty of time before the flight, and there was no reason not to let us in.
They lacked even the bare minimum of flexibility that every customer would expect and refunded us for only 216 Turkish liras (about $13 in total for all four of us)." — Shohreh D
35. Icelandair (Tie)
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On-time performance: 6.2
Quality of service: 7.9
Claim processing: 7.3
Total: 7.14
Bottom Line: Icelandair
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Iceland's national airline is pretty decent for a budget carrier. Seats are roomier than in other low-cost airlines, and the service isn't terrible.
That said, you can expect the very minimum here as well, with food options being scarce and definitely not satisfying. The airline's on-time performance score isn't all that satisfactory either.
What Customers Say About Icelandair
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"Lost bag with absolutely no recourse. Worst travel experience I have ever had.
Flew directly to Reykjavik, and the bag did not make it on the plane, which I can understand happens from time to time. But my bag was never found, and it appears that no one at the company wants to help. I do not believe they even looked for it.
The helpline number that was automatically sent when I filled out a claim had been disconnected. It is impossible to reach anyone who is able to help or find a way to even get compensated. Do not fly this airline." — Emily B.
*Far & Wide note: Multiple reviewers claimed to have had the same issue.
35. Iberia (Tie)
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On-time performance: 8.2
Quality of service: 8
Claim processing: 5.3
Total: 7.14
Bottom Line: Iberia
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Iberia is a flying veteran, operating since 1927. It is now owned by the same company as British Airways.
The airline is plagued with a bad reputation, though, and we're not sure it totally deserves it. After all, its on-time performance and quality of service scores were good. The true problem with Iberia is that it's absolutely terrible at processing and settling claims. Customer service doesn't seem to be the airline's priority, which leads to many disgruntled and unhappy customers.
What Customers Say About Iberia
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"The Spirit Airlines of Europe. This is the worst airline experience I've ever had. It's impossible to get in touch with customer service and get a consistent knowledgeable answer. I booked a flight from Barcelona to London that had a layover in Madrid.
From booking a flight, paying for cancellation flexibility and still having to pay $30 to make a change, to never receiving a refund for luggage fee after calling numerous times, to almost missing the connecting flight because there wasn't enough time allotted to get through passport control, to having no leg room, it was the worst flight and experience I've had in my life.
If you have a choice, don't make this one." — T J
34. Swiss International Airlines
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On-time performance: 6.7
Quality of service: 7.8
Claim processing: 6.9
Total: 7.12
Bottom Line: Swiss International Airlines
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Swiss International Airlines formed in 2002 after the then-national carrier Swiss Air went bankrupt.
It's not that the "new" airline is terrible. It just isn't stellar in any way. Its scores on all categories are underwhelming. Customer service is said to be rigid, which sometimes makes them unhelpful during unforeseen circumstances. In general, you can expect a normal experience, but don't anticipate being wowed.
What Customers Say About Swiss International Airlines
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"Forced downgrade, no refund. I paid $5,300 for a business-class ticket.
At the gate, I was forced to accept a downgrade to economy due to overbooking, despite having a confirmed ticket bought four weeks earlier. To add to the insult, Swiss refused to refund even a single dollar of my ticket. This is literally fraud." — Richard Bouchard
33. Air India
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On-time performance: 6.0
Quality of service: 8.5
Claim processing: 6.8
Total: 7.10
Bottom Line: Air India
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India's national airline has been around since 1948, though the modern company, which is the result of a merger with Indian Airlines, has been flying since 2007.
The airline first began operating in the midst of the Golden Age of travel and, for some time, was highly regarded as a quality airline. Long gone are those days. Today, most people would tell you to avoid flying Air India if possible.
The planes are old and run down, and the airline's on-time performance is pretty terrible. The quality of service earned a good score, though, so that's consolation if you ever find yourself having to fly with them.
What Customers Say About Air India
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"WORST WORST WORST AIRLINE EVER. Where do I begin with? This airline is some kind of a JOKE. Yes, you heard me it's a JOKE. They give lots of surprises to passengers without informing the change of dates/change of flights/of departure times.
The e-ticket will be sent either to the wrong email address or may not be sent at all. I do not know why they are even in a business like this? PLS CLOSE THIS AIRLINE." — Priya R.
32. Croatia Airlines
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On-time performance: 7
Quality of service: 7.9
Claim processing: 6.2
Total: 7.07
Bottom Line: Croatia Airlines
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Croatia's national airline is often the best choice when flying within the country. The airline is decent when it comes to being on time and ranked relatively well for quality of service.
But like many other airlines on here, its downfall is its inability to process claims in a satisfactory manner. People feel frustrated at the lack of good customer service and about how difficult it can be to make a claim. Getting your money back seems to be close to impossible.
What Customers Say About Croatia Airlines
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"Not great, not bad. We had three separate flights on Croatia Airlines last week, and for the most part, I have nothing terrible or great to say about them.
All three flights were on time, though all three planes were definitely much older. The flights were on prop planes, with no entertainment on board, nor a food or beverage service.
Flight attendants were really nice and professional, and flights weren't too expensive." — The World Is My Oyster
31. Air Canada
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On-time performance: 6.6
Quality of service: 7.5
Claim processing: 7.0
Total: 7.05
Bottom Line: Air Canada
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Flying since 1937, Air Canada is Canada's largest airline. By North American standards, they aren't too bad, particularly in the quality of food and friendliness of the employees.
Still, when things go global, they rank pretty low, especially in on-time performance. Flights are often delayed or canceled. Reviewers claim that, when this happens, the airline's response leaves much to be desired.
What Customers Say About Air Canada
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"Plane was four hours late. Missed our connection. Waited two hours in line to get rebooked.
They only had one computer working out of four. Because of the many canceled flights, there were no motels close to the airport available. The staff was not helpful with what we were to do.
Luggage was lost. We are still waiting for it. We had to fill out many forms to try and find it. In one phone call that we made, we were on hold for three hours.
I would walk or drive before I would fly Air Canada again." — Denise H
30. Air China
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On-time performance: 6.7
Quality of service: 7.7
Claim processing: 6.6
Total: 7
Bottom Line: Air China
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Air China may not be the worst airline in the world, but it certainly isn't great. By most accounts, China's flag carrier can mostly be described with a very eloquent "meh."
The food in economy class is subpar and a constant cause of discontent amongst passengers. Getting a refund is also apparently very difficult, borderline impossible. If you do fly with this airline, hope that everything runs smoothly and that you have no cause to ask for your money back.
What Customers Say About Air China
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"Air China still flies with old airbuses and doesn’t offer any entertainment on a nine-hour flight.
There is no service on board, and I mean absolutely no service. You can’t order anything, and there is no digital entertainment or even loading outputs for your own digital devices!
Those nine hours with no room to sleep and no entertainment were literally some of the worst hours of my life!" — John
29. AirBaltic
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On-time performance: 7.3
Quality of service: 7.9
Claim processing: 5.7
Total: 6.97
Bottom Line: AirBaltic
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As the flag carrier of Latvia, Air Baltic is a good way to travel to and from the Baltic region. The budget airline offers a bare-minimum service unless you want to pay for the extras, but this is normal for low-cost carriers.
The service score for Air Baltic isn't too bad for a budget airline, at 7.9. However, its demise is yet again its inability to handle claims in an efficient manner. The airline scored an unimpressive 5.7 in this category.
What Customers Say About AirBaltic
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"Most unreliable airline there is! My last six flights throughout May and June were all delayed! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!
Flown with pretty much every airline there is — this is by far the worst one!" — Stan K
28. Air Europa
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On-time performance: 7.6
Quality of service: 7.8
Claim processing: 5.3
Total: 6.91
Bottom Line: Air Europa
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Air Europa has been flying since 1986. As the third largest Spanish airlines, you'll likely be flying it if you're taking internal flights.
While you can't expect five-star service from a budget airline, reviewers say that Air Europa is worse than they imagined. Phrases like "worst experience of my life" and "worst airline in the world" have been used to describe it. Yikes!
What Customers Say About Air Europa
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"It is the first and the last time I flew with this airline. My flight changed, and I didn’t receive any emails. If I hadn't checked my flight two days before departure, I would never know that there were changes in my itinerary. I called the airline in Amsterdam, and the operator didn’t know anything about it, so they connected me to the main office in Spain, where I was waiting for almost half an hour before someone took the phone.
The phone bill was marked up afterward. I will never, never fly again with Air Europa." — Shavy
27. Thai Airways International
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On-time performance: 7.0
Quality of service: 8.7
Claim processing: 5.1
Total: 6.9 (out of 10)
Bottom Line: Thai Airways International
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Founded in 1960, Thai Airways International is the national flag carrier for Thailand and is hubbed out of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Travelers have complained about the airline’s staff members being unfriendly and that, as a whole, the airline doesn’t do a great job handling luggage — lots of people posted online about late or missing luggage when flying with Thai Airways.
The airline was also involved in a scandal involving bribery payments from Rolls-Royce that came to light in 2017. Rolls-Royce, which was accused of paying more than $36 million in bribes to secure contracts with the airline, eventually settled the case for more than $870 million.
What Customers Say About Thai Airways International
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"Horrible customer service. Still waiting on refund three months on, emails to service email are either not answered at all or their answer just partially covers the question.
Emirates refunded within one to two weeks, which is great. Thai Airways on the other hand will probably never. I will not fly with them ever again." — Rz z
26. Air Transat
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On-time performance: 5.7
Quality of service: 7.0
Claim processing: 8.0
Total: 6.9
Bottom Line: Air Transat
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The third-biggest airline in Canada, Air Transat flies to more than 60 destinations, across Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia as well as 34 countries, mainly European, South American and Caribbean locales.
Founded in 1987, the airline is part of an all-inclusive company, providing low-cost flights, cruises, tours and packages. Just what sort of tours and packages are offered? Air Transat acquired the suddenly defunct Thomas Cook Travel Limited's Canada operations in 2006, if that provides any clarity. The airline's on-time record is laughable, and travelers complain about tightly packed seats with no leg room and poor customer service.
In early 2020, a woman flying Air Transat from Guadeloupe arrived at the airport one hour and 50 minutes before her flight to have her online check-in not work. After waiting in line for 40 minutes to speak to the gate agent, her records could not be located. By the time she received her boarding pass and was checked in, it was less than an hour until departure, so she was refused entry at the gate for checking in too late. (She was awarded damages following the incident.)
What Customers Say About Air Transat
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"Flight was canceled. Was never told. Getting a refund has been a nightmare. Booked my flight with Air Transat in March. When it came time for my flight in June, there wasn't a single Air Transat agent at the airport.
We later found out the flight was canceled, but we were never told. I have been trying to get a refund for over two weeks now and have made very little progress." — Colton B
25. Eurowings
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On-time performance: 6.6
Quality of service: 7.1
Claim processing: 6.9
Total: 6.89
Bottom Line: Eurowings
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Another budget carrier with horrid on-time performance, Eurowings is a German airline and part of the Lufthansa Group. Flights departing from Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich connect to more than 210 destinations in Europe.
Reviews find the airline doesn't score more than two out of five stars across the board for food, entertainment, comfort, service and value. The AirHelp ranking finds the same: It gave 6.89 out of 10 on its score.
Passengers cited "ongoing delays," "they just want you to pay" and "dreadful experience" in reviews as well.
What Customers Say About Eurowings
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"Never again. Do not recommend using this airline. They lost my baggage and completely ignored all my emails and other forms of contact.
Never got my bag back and am still fighting for any compensation through the solicitor, as they are not responding at all." — Lukasz
24. Ethiopian Airlines
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On-time performance: 6.7
Quality of service: 7.7
Claim processing: 6.2
Total: 6.87
Bottom Line: Ethiopian Airlines
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In March 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed, killing 157 people. The second Boeing 737 Max to crash in five months led to a grounding of all 737 Maxs for further inspection, ongoing as of press time.
Prior to the incident, Ethiopian Airlines had a safe track record but not-so-wonderful reviews.
The bad don't outweigh the good in this case. Reviewers and the AirHelp ranking find the carrier middle of the road, and therefore, it slinks onto this list.
What Customers Say About Ethiopian Airlines
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"Ethiopian Airlines flew from London to Addis Ababa and onto Killimanjaro on June 13, 2022. The luggage never arrived and is still sitting in London with the customer's medication in it. Today is June 22, 2022, and the customer only has a few heart medications left.
It looks like Ethiopian is liable if the customer suffers a heart attack. Terrible service." — Rosy
23. Aer Lingus
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On-time performance: 6.8
Quality of service: 8.2
Claim processing: 5.4
Total: 6.81
Bottom Line: Aer Lingus
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Since 1936, Aer Lingus has been the carrier of Ireland. More than 100 flight routes travel to the United Kingdom and Europe as well as 14 cities in North America.
The large airline scored 8.2 on quality of service and nearly nailed a 7 in on-time performance. It couldn't get higher than 5.4 out of 10 on the claim processing, which brought the ranking down.
Most reviews of the airline are pretty nice. Chalk the negative ones to the staff having a bad day.
What Customers Say About Aer Lingus
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"Flight canceled, no options offered. Received notice that the flight was canceled on the way to the airport. On hold for assistance for 45 minutes with no agent available. ABSOLUTELY no customer service available at the airport for rebooking assistance.
Advised by Airport Information Agent that this was typical and should buy a ticket with any other airline if I wanted to return home, as I would probably not get out on Aer Lingus for a few days.
So, no airline agent around the airport, no way to get through on phone … $1,700 one-way ticket purchased on another airline. No Aer Lingus follow-up as of today to refund submission. Will never use." — Bonnie D.
22. Aegean Airlines
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On-time performance: 7.4
Quality of service: 8.7
Claim processing: 4.2
Total: 6.75
Bottom Line: Aegean Airlines
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The largest Greek airline, Aegean Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance and has been in operation since 1999. The World Airline Awards honored Aegean as the Best Regional Airline in Europe — the 10th time it received such a reward.
Still, when you compare the airline to all of the airlines around the world, it doesn't measure up to the top-ranked. Sadly, it's the claim processing that brought down its median score.
At least service quality was 8.7! One reviewer went so far as to say the employees are "always smiling and very professional. Perfect!"
What Customers Say About Aegean Airlines
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"I got scammed by Aegean while boarding the plane. My ticket suggested one carry-on and one personal item. They said that because my carry-on is a hard case, it has to be checked in and charged me extra. Note that my carry-on was just 8 kilos.
I've traveled the world with it; even the cheapest lines like EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizzair allow up to 10 kilos on carry-on." — JK Rogova
21. Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines)
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On-time performance: 7.1
Quality of service: 8.8
Claim processing: 4.1
Total: 6.65
Bottom Line: Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines)
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The story of how Saudi Arabian Airlines, aka Saudia for short, got its start is an interesting one. In 1945, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave King Abdul Aziz an airplane as a gift (super casual, right?). That twin-engine DC-3 HZ-AAX started it all. Today, Saudia has 149 airplanes and flies to more than 80 cities worldwide.
Despite the cute origin story, Saudi Arabian Airlines doesn’t always get rave reviews from travelers. Though you might save a few bucks with Saudia, the savings might not actually be worth it. One customer had some super harsh words for the airline: “Never fly with this airline — pay a few hundred dollars more to fly with someone else, believe me, you will not regret it! Imagine taking a dirty rundown bus, which gets you from A to B — this is what you can expect here, except it's a plane instead of a bus.”
What Customers Say About Saudia
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"This airline is a joke. I was going to Cochin via Jeddah from Heathrow. The flight was two hours late from Heathrow, so we missed our flight to Cochin. They didn't give any kind of compensation, accommodation or food.
The staff was so rude. They didn't care at all. They said they would give us food, but there was nothing here at all. We ended up having to pay around 130 pounds for accommodation for 12 hours and food. All airlines are supposed to help the passengers if they are stranded at a connecting airport because of the airlines. But this airline just doesn't care. They said this is how they do it here in Jeddah airport.
Honestly, the fact that the staff itself says this kind of stuff says a lot about the airline. Worst traveling experience of my life. Avoid at all costs." — Gopika Satheesan
20. Air Dolomiti
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On-time performance: 7.3
Quality of service: 7.7
Claim processing: 4.9
Total: 6.63
Bottom Line: Air Dolomiti
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Partnered with Lufthansa and flying from its home base of Verona, Italy, Air Dolomiti travels 550 times a week to Munich and Frankfort, as it has since 1991.
It's a simple task: Charter between the two countries every day, and for the most part, passengers enjoy the airline. "Pleasant flight and great meal," said one online review.
The AirHelp rankings, however, average a 7 for on-time performance and service, and give Air Dolomiti a 4.9 for claim processing.
What Customers Say About Air Dolomiti
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"The flight was average, but my biggest complaint is with the cabin crew. The pre-flight safety demo was done with no interest like it was an annoyance. And then we basically didn't see them again.
When my wife attempted to use the toilet, the crew was in the galley and blocking the way. When she politely asked to get through, my wife was rudely told to wait while they finished talking.
I appreciate this is a budget regional airline, but there is no excuse for unfriendly rude behavior on the part of the cabin crew." — Mike
19. Air Malta
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On-time performance: 5.2
Quality of service: 7.9
Claim processing: 6.8
Total: 6.62
Bottom Line: Air Malta
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Founded in 1974, Air Malta is a small player in the airline world. Providing service between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, it operates just 10 planes — and yet cannot nail perfect scores. The highest score on its rankings is 7.9 for quality of service.
In February 2020, Air Malta signed a partnership with Qatar Airways, the world's No. 1 ranked carrier. Perhaps its touch will extend to Air Malta and help it get a better spot on this list in the future?
What Customers Say About Air Malta
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"Unfriendly crew. I have been using this airline since 2014, as it’s the only airline that goes direct to Malta from Heathrow. I have never seen the Air Malta crew be friendly with the passengers or the kids.
It’s all about selling you Kinnie and rubbish sandwiches, then perfume. Better not waste money on booking business class, as it’s just a curtain separating the economy from the business class, which will serve you a microwave meal from Iceland.
It’s not a cheap airline, but they won’t provide you with a drop of water for free. Do not expect any refund for your canceled ticket, even if you are in Flexi package." — John G.
18. Finnair
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On-time performance: 7.5
Quality of service: 8.0
Claim processing: 4.3
Total: 6.6
Bottom Line: Finnair
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The Finnish Finnair is part of the Oneworld alliance with the likes of American Airlines, Qantas and British Airways. The difference between them? Finnair lands on the list of worst airlines, and the others don't.
Blame the way claims are processed and poor on-time performance for the ranking. (You won't complain about American's delays after seeing this!)
Still, reviews are mixed. You'll find complaints about delayed bags and economy seats alongside recommendations and claims of excellent service.
What Customers Say About Finnair
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"Didn't get the travel extras I paid for. I had a bad impression of traveling with Finnair.
Prior to the flights, I purchased a seat with extra-large legroom for 119 euros and on-flight wifi access. At check-in, I did not get the seat I paid for, and the wifi on the flight was not good. I ended up sitting in the middle seat with tiny legroom." — Phubet S
17. Avianca
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On-time performance: 6.9
Quality of service: 8.3
Claim processing: 4.4
Total: 6.55
Bottom Line: Avianca
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Founded in 1919, Avianca is one of the oldest airlines in the world. It’s hubbed out of El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, and flies to 108 destinations in 26 countries.
Things have been relatively quiet over at Avianca in recent years, though you might remember the airline’s horrific crash of 1990. The plane ran out of fuel on its way to New York from Bogota, which caused it to crash into a hillside, killing 65 passengers and eight crew members. The year before that, in 1989, a Colombian drug trafficker planted a bomb on an Avianca flight, causing it to explode shortly after takeoff. All 107 people aboard the flight were killed.
Today, however, the biggest complaints about Avianca are related to delays, baggage problems and customer service. “To say that Avianca has bad customer service is a gross understatement,” one traveler wrote. “Avianca has no customer service.”
What Customers Say About Avianca
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"Avianca is the only airline that has a direct flight from San Francisco to El Salvador; that's why they take advantage of their customers.
I was on a business flight of about six hours, and they gave me a box with a cookie and a terrible sandwich. I prefer a flight with a layover than to fly with Avianca ever again." — Marlon O.
*Far & Wide note: Avianca sandwiches really are terrible. Bring your own food.
16. Jet2.com
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On-time performance: 6.4
Quality of service: 7.4
Claim processing: 5.5
Total: 6.44
Bottom Line: Jet2.com
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Jet2.com, formerly known as Channel Express, is a low-cost airline that flies primarily from the United Kingdom to more than 50 vacation destinations.
You can get truly dirt-cheap flights through Jet2.com. Just beware that, if something happens and you need them to process a claim, you might be disappointed.
Also, apparently, the airline really likes to play the Jess Glynne song “Hold My Hand” on repeat, which could get on your nerves pretty quickly. But, hey, not everyone hates Jet2.com — the airline was named to the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award list in 2019.
What Customers Say About Jet2.com
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"Not the best. This was our first time flying with Jet2, and I have to say, despite good reviews, I wasn't impressed.
There was a delay flying out from Birmingham, and we were made to wait in the waiting area for over an hour in the heat. Then, once on the plane we were delayed by another hour or so whilst they refueled the plane. They also said there were other issues, and they had missed their flight slot, so we would be delayed even further. Once we took off, the actual plane was unusually loud and uncomfortable.
Also, our flights were delayed coming back; they left us waiting in the heat outside for well over an hour whilst they got the plane ready. All in all, not a pleasant experience really, and I think I may return to other flight providers." — LD32
15. Tarom
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On-time performance: 7.3
Quality of service: 8.0
Claim processing: 3.9
Total: 6.43
Bottom Line: Tarom
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Offering flights to 50 destinations in 23 countries, Tarom serves 2.4 million people each year with a fleet of 25 airplanes. It’s the national flag carrier of Romania, as well as the country’s oldest airline. Even so, the airline has some room for improvement when it comes to making travelers comfortable and happy in the air.
Complaints from past travelers included random flight cancellations and delays, impolite staff members and poor communication all around from Tarom. “They are a nightmare,” one passenger wrote. Another chimed in, “Strongly advise to avoid, unless your time is not precious.”
One good thing about flying with Tarom, though? Tickets typically won’t break the bank.
What Customers Say About Tarom
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"Not a pleasant experience. The only thing positive that I can state about TAROM is that they were reasonably on time.
The seats are very uncomfortable, and they offer little legroom. If you are of average height or taller, you will not be happy. If the person in front of you reclines, you will have to spread your legs wide.
During our three-plus-hour flight, their flight attendants rarely checked the cabin. While most airlines offer beverages and possibly a snack, they did not.
The back of every set had a video monitor. They didn't work. Even if you have to pay a little more for a different airline, do it." — newengland50
14. Asiana Airlines
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On-time performance: 6.3
Quality of service: 8.0
Claim processing: 4.9
Total: 6.42
Bottom Line: Asiana Airlines
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Asiana Airlines is one of two major airlines in South Korea (the other is Korean Air, the flag carrier). Though the airline has great quality of service, according to AirHelp’s analysis, it falls short in terms of claim processing.
The airline at one point announced that it would reduce its flight load to sort out several issues causing delays, and had some funky troubles with its in-flight meals, though it appears they’re sorting that problem out now.
Asiana Airlines is also apparently facing lots of competition from low-cost airlines in China and the Middle East.
What Customers Say About Asiana Airlines
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"Charged twice for the same ticket. Bought a ticket online, but the site said the purchase failed. I didn't get a confirmation or verification of the reservation because it failed to go through.
Checked my bank and the charge had gone through. Had to call and stay on hold with an agent who couldn't fix the problem." — kari c.
*Far & Wide note: Other reviewers claimed they had the same issue.
13. China Eastern Airlines
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On-time performance: 6.9
Quality of service: 8.1
Claim processing: 4.0
Total: 6.34
China Eastern Airlines
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When you are flying to more than 1,000 destinations and 177 countries, you figure you're doing something right, right?
"Definitely the last time."
"Never fly with this airline again."
"What a joke of an airline."
"Avoid at all costs."
All are actual 2020 reviews of the airline, hubbed in Shanghai and operating since 1988. The airline lands at No. 57 out of 72 on the AirHelp ranking.
What Customers Say About China Eastern
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"China Eastern Airlines kept changing the departure time from Baiyun airport to Pudong airport, which was fine as we still had enough time. The final change was to have the flight leave from Hongqiao airport.
With the new 9:45 a.m. departure time, we would land at HONGQIAO airport at 11:50 a.m. However, we had an international flight at PUDONG airport, all the way across town and had to be checked in by 12:45 pm. We would not be able to make this due to China Eastern Airlines changing not only the flight time but the airport as well!!!
I would not recommend this airline if you need to arrive on time at your destination. In the end, we ended up having to pay DOUBLE what we paid for our original tickets!!!!! I will never be flying with this company again." — Eda
12. GOL Intelligent Airlines
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On-time performance: 7.8
Quality of service: 8.1
Claim processing: 3.1
Total: 6.31
Bottom Line: GOL Intelligent Airlines
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Based out of Rio de Janeiro, GOL was the first low-cost operator in Brazil. The airline literally took off in 2001 and is the biggest Brazilian carrier to date. More than 700 flights depart each day for GOL, and it's pretty middle of the road in terms of service and on-time performance.
Claim processing, however, brings GOL's score down. And the reviews don't lie. One reviewer said, "Complaints line of GOL was totally inadequate."
But not all the reviews are bad. This airline could be summed up in one word: average.
What Customers Say About GOL
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"We traveled around Brazil and had to use this airline in a few places. Each flight has been a terrible experience.
We had problems with buying tickets, adding baggage to our tickets, check-in and worst poor handling of flight cancellation.
Try to avoid as much as possible!" — Gicolyca
11. Czech Airlines
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On-time performance: 6.0
Quality of service: 7.7
Claim processing: 5.2
Total: 6.31
Bottom Line: Czech Airlines
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Czech Airlines has been in business for 95 years, so you’d think they’d have this whole flying thing down pat. But apparently not, based on their ranking as the No. 14 worst airline in the world.
The national flag carrier for the Czech Republic transports passengers to more than 100 destinations around the world on its fleet of 17 airplanes.
Travelers say the airline’s baggage guidelines are confusing and several people described the staff as incompetent. “Avoid this airline at all costs if you value your sanity,” one disgruntled passenger warned.
What Customers Say About Czech Airlines
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"Paid for two tickets from Prague, Czech Republic, to Helsinki, Finland. Getting close to my travel date, and Czech Airlines cancels the flight.
This has happened many times, including earlier this year. I have tried to use this airline many times over the years and more often than not have had flights delayed or canceled." — navyjim58
*Far & Wide note: Multiple reviewers mentioned being unable to get a refund for flights canceled by the airline.
10. Air Mauritius
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On-time performance: 7.1
Quality of service: 8.3
Claim processing: 3.0
Total: 6.11
Bottom Line: Air Mauritius
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The island nation of Mauritius, located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Madagascar, is perhaps best known for its sandy beaches, turquoise sea waters and tropical climate. Its airline, Air Mauritius, however, leaves something to be desired.
Air Mauritius was founded as the national carrier of Mauritius in 1967, the same year the nation gained independence from Britain. Since then, it's garnered a middling reputation, with many people on Tripadvisor particularly grousing about its subpar food.
What Customers Say About Air Mauritius
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"Pathetic services on the ground. No flight delay information was passed on to passengers. Waiting for food in line for around one hour. Non-veg meal provided to purely veg passengers. Rude staff at Mauritius Airport.
Do not travel with them unless you wish to ruin your holidays. Worst flight experience to date." — 988karanm
9. Tap Air Portugal
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On-time performance: 5.2
Quality of service: 7.7
Claim processing: 5.4
Total: 6.04
Bottom Line: Tap Air Portugal
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Based on AirHelp’s analysis, Tap Portugal is a pretty mediocre-at-best airline across the board.
The airline, founded in 1945, has a number of online complaints about delayed and lost luggage, plus some confusion about baggage pricing in general. Still, if you’re flying in and out of Lisbon, where Tap Portugal is hubbed, there’s a decent chance you’ll be traveling on this airline, so prepare yourself.
One passenger was so frustrated he wrote: “Worst airline to fly with, try walking instead.” Now that’s an interesting idea.
What Customers Say About Tap Air Portugal
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"If you can avoid it, do so! Should be classified as a budget company, as they almost charge for toilets on board.
The app is a joke for an airline company. And pray you don't need to speak with their customer service." C. Holland
8. Vueling Airlines
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On-time performance: 6.1
Quality of service: 7.5
Claim processing: 4.4
Total: 6.02
Bottom Line: Vueling Airlines
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Bad communication, disorganized service and frequent flight changes and cancellations are common gripes about Vueling Airlines, a budget carrier based in Spain and the country’s second-largest airline behind Iberia.
The airline also had an embarrassing and strange snafu with professional soccer player Lionel Messi, though they’ve since apologized. Though it touts a decent record for on-time performance and quality of service, Vueling didn’t do so hot on claim processing.
Still, the flights to 131 destinations are super affordable, as long as you don’t mind the possibility of being frustrated during your trip.
What Customers Say About Vueling Airlines
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"Vueling canceled the second leg of our trip to Amsterdam, just before we landed in Barcelona. The flight wasn't even on the board, so it was very unclear, confusing and upsetting for us to find out what had happened.
We spent six hours in a queue to be told that no Vueling flight was available for the next two days. Contrary to EU law, the Vueling person told us he could not offer us a flight on a different carrier. In the end, he offered us a flight to Brussels with the promise of onward travel. We accepted, but while in the queue for boarding, that flight was canceled as well, again via email. No notification on the board.
By this time we were so tired that we did not want to spend another six hours in a queue, and we booked our own hotel and flight with another carrier for the next day." — Edwin L.
7. Aerolineas Argentinas
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On-time performance: 8.0
Quality of service: 8.1
Claim processing: 1.8
Total: 5.97
Bottom Line: Aerolineas Argentinas
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Next on the list is Aerolineas Argentinas, the national flag carrier for Argentina. The airline was founded in 1950 and today flies to 59 destinations in 13 countries, including 35 locations in Argentina. All told, some 11.5 million people fly with Aerolineas Argentinas every year.
Despite its low marks, travelers may still want to consider the airline if flying within Argentina; in 2019, the company launched a "customized fares" option, so passengers pay for only the services they need.
What Customers Say About Aerolineas Argentinas
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"The flight started boarding at the time it was meant to depart; this made us 45 minutes late for our other flight on another booking.
There was no communication as to why it was late. As a result, we incurred £500 extra costs for new flights. I tried to contact the airline on Whatsapp, Facebook and email with no response. I created a new case with them, but again, no response.
I was asking for a reason for the delayed departure, which the insurance wanted when I tried creating a claim but got no response. Very poor airline." — Ray
6. Transavia
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On-time performance: 6.2
Quality of service: 7.4
Claim processing: 3.9
Total: 5.84
Bottom line: Operating since 1965, the Dutch Transavia is the budget carrier of KLM and, in turn, Air France. Flying to more than 110 destinations, Transavia touts free seat selection, free entertainment and free carry-on baggage.
But don't be fooled. Reviewers found flights are not always "low on cost" and don't offer complimentary food or drinks. Complaints about poor service were common.
Yet, if you decide the sacrifice for cheap, it does offer flights in Europe for as low as 25€.
Bottom Line: Transavia
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Operating since 1965, the Dutch Transavia is the budget carrier of KLM and, in turn, Air France. Flying to more than 110 destinations, Transavia touts free seat selection, free entertainment and free carry-on baggage.
But don't be fooled. Reviewers found flights are not always "low on cost" and don't offer complimentary food or drinks. Complaints about poor service were common.
Yet, if you decide the sacrifice for cheap, it does offer flights in Europe for as low as 25 euros, or $30.
What Customers Say About Transavia
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"1. I bought the most expensive ticket because it's called 'flexible.' This turned out to be a trick.
2. It cost two to three times as much as a normal ticket.
3. I then had to pay another $200 when I actually changed the date. It felt like being hustled.
4. It took me 24 hours to change the flight because the person 'helping' me to change my ticket via chat would go silent for an hour or two after asking me a question and then simply went off duty without doing anything." — Alan_D
5. Norwegian
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On-time performance: 7.0
Quality of service: 7.8
Claim processing: 2.3
Total: 5.67
Bottom line: Although there are rumors the discount carrier out of Norway is going belly-up soon — mainly due to the cancelation of multiple routes between the U.S. and Europe — the airline keeps on ticking. In fact, after canceling routes in the summer of 2019, by the fall it added more flights to other destinations, banking on Americans relying on the airline to keep them to their vacations at super-low fares.
Founded in 1993, Norwegian is Norway's largest carrier — with the worst in claim processing, says the rankings. Scoring just 2.3 in the category, online reviews are consistent with words such as "rude," "unhelpful" and "useless."
Bottom Line: Norwegian
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Although there are rumors the discount carrier out of Norway is going belly-up soon — mainly due to the cancelation of multiple routes between the U.S. and Europe — the airline keeps on ticking. In fact, after canceling routes in the summer of 2019, by the fall it added more flights to other destinations, banking on Americans relying on the airline to keep them to their vacations at super-low fares.
Founded in 1993, Norwegian is Norway's largest carrier — with the worst in claim processing, says the rankings. Scoring just 2.3 in the category, online reviews are consistent with words such as "rude," "unhelpful" and "useless."
What Customers Say About Norwegian
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"Customer service is nonexistent. The only thing this airline cares about is getting every cent/dollar they can from you. Will charge for EVERYTHING.
Trust me when I say this airline is not a BUDGET airline. Do NOT be fooled by its prices. There are dozens of hidden fees.
AVOID IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!" — Jon K.
4. Ryanair
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On-time performance: 6.5
Quality of service: 6.8
Claim processing: 3.5
Total: 5.6
Bottom Line: Ryanair
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Coming in at No. 5 on the list of worst airlines in the world is Ryanair, the budget airline based in Ireland. The airline operates 2,000 daily flights from airports in 37 countries, serving more than 130 million customers each year.
It’s pretty hard to beat the airline’s often absurdly low prices, but be warned: The company charges you extra for pretty much everything, including carry-on luggage and the privilege of sitting with loved ones.
What Customers Say About Ryanair
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"You know when you book Ryanair that the conditions will be low class. We book with them, as they're cheap.
But when your flight home is canceled and rescheduled for 3.5 days later, and as a family, you incur hotel, pet care, parking and food costs due to this, and are told in 10 days claims will be addressed, you expect better than a four-month wait.
I am four months in and STILL told every time I call the claim department that they are 'working on it.' You expect a low class of flight, but the low class of customer service is absolutely something else." — Laura G
3. Korean Air
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On-time performance: 6.9
Quality of service: 8.0
Claim processing: 1.6
Total: 5.49
Bottom Line: Korean Air
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This flag-carrier airline for South Korea was founded in 1969 and flies to 124 destinations in more than 43 countries. The family-run company made headlines a while back when two of the CEO’s daughters resigned following several embarrassing incidents and accusations that the family used the airline’s planes to get out of paying taxes on luxury goods.
Alas, due to its formidable presence, if you want to fly in and out of South Korea and other parts of Asia, chances are good you’ll end up flying with Korean Air. At least it earned a solid score for quality of service.
What Customers Say About Korean Air
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"Saddened to say Korean Air has started to follow the lead of other airlines and greatly increased fees.
The airline has increased prices by 350 percent, and contact with any representative is now impossible; you are at their mercy. Good to know there are other alternatives, as Korean has lost my business" — James N
2. Kuwait Airways
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On-time performance: 4.2
Quality of service: 7.9
Claim processing: 4.2
Total: 5.4
Bottom Line: Kuwait Airways
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Based in Kuwait City, Kuwait Airways offers flights to more than 30 destinations in Europe and Asia. The airline has struggled in recent years, including experiencing major losses, a scandal involving a porn star in the cockpit and controversy over its decision to bar an Israeli woman from flying because of her nationality.
Among customers, complaints range from the staff being unprofessional and unhelpful to the planes being dirty and in need of updating.
What Customers Say About Kuwait Airways
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"Kuwait Airways is one of the worst airlines in the world [...] from A to Z. It’s one of the cheapest airlines and a ridiculous airline to fly with. It’s government-owned and has government issues [with] residents." — Khaled A
1. EasyJet
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On-time performance: 6.7
Quality of service: 7.0
Claim processing: 2.2
Total: 5.29
Bottom Line: EasyJet
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The United Kingdom’s budget airline, EasyJet, is now the worst in the world, thanks to the fact that Thomas Cook Airlines has since shuttered. Complaints about EasyJet are primarily related to the airline’s awful claim processing.
The airline flies to 132 airports in 31 countries, making it a popular choice for cheap, short-haul flights. But EasyJet is a fairly young company, with just over 20 years under its belt. And, as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.”
If you’re looking for the cheapest flights and nothing else matters, you might still be satisfied with ridiculously inexpensive EasyJet ... despite its low score.
What Customers Say About EasyJet
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"I have taken several flights with EasyJet now, and not one of the flights has left on time." — westham10000000