Alaska Airlines, JetBlue top JD Power airline survey

Passenger satisfaction with North American airlines reached a record high and improved for the second consecutive year, a new J.D. Power survey released Wednesday indicates.

Satisfaction with U.S. and Canadian airlines jumped to an average of 712 on a 1,000-point scale — 17 points higher than last year's survey.

"Passengers are over the sticker shock of being charged more to fly, having to pay for checked bags, expedited security clearance or preferred seating," says Rick Garlick of J.D. Power, the marketing research company that annually conducts the survey.

Passengers aren't satisfied with fees, but they realize fees "have become a way of life with air travel," he says.

Results of the new J.D. Power survey — which was conducted April 2013-March 2014 —are based on responses of 11,370 passengers who flew on a major North American airline between March 2013 and March 2014.

Satisfaction is based on performance in seven categories: cost and fees; in-flight services; boarding, deplaning and baggage; flight crew; aircraft; check-in; and reservations.

Alaska Airlines ranks No. 1 among "traditional" airlines with an average score of 737 — a 20-point improvement over its 2013 score. It is the seventh consecutive year the carrier ranked No. 1 among traditional airlines in the survey.

Delta Air Lines ranks No. 2 with a 693 score, followed by American Airlines at 684.

US Airways ranks last among six traditional carriers with a 656 score.

Among "low-cost" airlines, JetBlue Airways ranks No. 1 for a ninth consecutive year with a 789 score.

Southwest Airlines ranks second with a 778 score, and Frontier Airlines has the lowest score — 676 — of five low-cost carriers.

J.D. Power also surveyed passengers about airline's frequent-flier programs.

Alaska's Mileage Plan ranks No. 1 with an average score of 757, followed by Southwest's Rapid Rewards score of 731.

The "key strength" of Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan, Garlick says, is its "vast partner networks" that allow members to earn points by flying other airlines or staying at hotels.

Alaska CEO Brad Tilden says he "could not be more proud of our employees" for delivering a level of service that "helped us receive our seventh straight J.D. Power award and top honors for our Mileage Plan."

Alaska is very honored by this recognition" from its customers, he says, and remains "committed to being the easiest airline to fly."

US Airways' Dividend Miles program scores lowest — 642 — of seven airlines' frequent-flier programs in the J.D. Power survey.

The AAdvantage program of American, which merged with US Airways in December, ranks second lowest with a 685 score..

Andrew Christie, a spokesman for the two airlines, says "we're committed to restoring American Airlines to the greatest airline in the world, and that means being the airline that customers want to fly"

Christie says American and US Airways employees "independently demonstrated tremendous progress in 2013, and we anticipate continued improvement as one company in 2014."