American Airlines – “by far the most hated” airline on social media: analysis

Social media analytics service Amplicate has indicated that 57 percent of all comments on US airlines on social media in the last 12 months were negative.

Social media users expressed intense hatred for a number of the leading lights of US aviation, including Delta, United and US Airways. But people reserved the most ire for American Airlines, the world’s fourth largest airline and by far the most hated on social media. A measly 12 percent of opinions on social media about the airline were positive over the last 12 months. Social media users’ complaints against American ranged from bad customer service to cancelled flights.

According to the company, although the most hated, American Airlines “didn’t put its foot in it as deeply as did Delta Airlines”. In June this year, Delta ignited a firestorm of negative comment on social media after it decided to charge returning US servicemen for extra baggage. Apparently, returning soldiers weren’t able to fit all their equipment from service in Afghanistan into the overhead locker, highlighted the company. Thanks to Delta’s unfortunate decision, there were more negative comments on US airlines in June than in any other month, with Delta accounting for over half of all negative opinions. But despite the faux pas, Delta still managed to avoid being hated as much as American, United, Spirit and US Airways.

Social media users had almost nothing negative to say about Virgin America. 97 percent of opinions on the airline were positive over the last 12 months. The on-board Wifi particularly pleased Virgin America’s fans: they tweeted their happiness from mid-air, while sipping on one of the airline’s alcoholic beverages. Virgin America was not the only airline to make its customers express their joy on social media. The vast majority of social media comments on JetBlue and SouthWest were positive.

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