Frontier near bottom of the pack
A 2018 survey breaking down Americans’ travel preferences found Denverbased Frontier Airlines toward the bottom of the pack when it comes to favorability, beating out only Spirit in a list of eight airlines.
The State of American Travel survey, put out by research data company Morning Consult, found more than 70 percent of surveyed participants were neutral when it came to Frontier — the highest neutral score out of the bunch that included Southwest, American Airlines, Delta, United, Jet Blue, Alaska and Spirit. Ten percent of people had an unfavorable opinion of Frontier while 21 percent felt favorably about the company.
When asked how likely survey participants were to buy a product or service from the eight airlines, Frontier came in seventh again, with 22 percent saying they were unlikely to purchase, 54 percent saying they didn’t have an opinion and 25 percent saying they were likely to purchase.
Southwest Airlines came in first in both survey questions.
The poll was conducted in June among a national sample of 2,202 adults weighted to approximate a target sample based on age, race and ethnicity, gender, educational attainment and region.
Frontier Airlines wasn’t able to be immediately reached for comment.
Survey aside, Frontier Airlines’ perception problems go beyond their customers. Some Frontier Airlines employees aren’t pleased with their company, either.
Pilots upset over a lack of progress in new labor contract negotiations rolled out a “mobile strike center” in Denver last week, broadcasting on the vehicle’s side that they are “100% ready to strike.”
Pilots who make up the leadership of Frontier’s unit of the Air Line Pilots Association labor union boarded the 37-foot-long camper in front of the Denver City and County Building. The camper, decked out with a bedroom turned conference room with a TV trackations ing all Frontier planes, was dismissed as a ploy by the airline. Pilots who choose to walk off the job can see on the television whether the airline brings in replacement crews to fly.
Pilots have made the case that their labor contract is unfair. They have been in negotiations with airline management for two years.
Frontier spokesman Richard Oliver wrote in an email, “We continue to be actively engaged in negoti- with our pilots for a new contract and have exchanged several proposals under the guidance of the National Mediation Board.”
“We look forward to working toward an agreement that is fair, sustainable, and provides security for our collective future,” Oliver continued. “Frontier is disappointed that ALPA is resorting to publicity stunts rather than focusing its energy on negotiations.”