A low-cost carrier has been named and shamed as the most hated airline in the US.
Spirit Airlines has received more complaints than any other domestic carrier for five years in a row, according to a study.
Every year from 2009-2013, passengers were three times as likely to have an issue with Spirit than they were the second-place airline.
High complaints: Spirit topped the chart for grievances over the past five years
The figures were calculated based on complaints - from flights and fares, to baggage and refunds – per 100,000 passengers.
‘As the airline has grown in the past several years, complaints against the airline have skyrocketed,’ according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund report.
In fact, Spirit received so many complaints, it had to be excluded from deeper analysis of on-time performance, baggage mishandling, and other issues.
Chart-topper: More complaints have been made about Spirit Airlines than any other carrier in the US
The airline also has its own ‘boycott Spirit’ Facebook page, and a Twitter handle called @hatespiritair.
Southwest Airlines generated the lowest number of grievances, the research found.
The findings added: ‘As the airline has grown in the past several years, complaints against the airline have skyrocketed.’
The report, which analysed consumer complaints filed with the Department of Transportation, said of Spirit: 'Two checked bags, basic meals and snacks, carry-ons, and, often, in-flight entertainment were formerly included in the price of your ticket, but now add-on fees for each of these newly a la carte items can easily add $100 or more to the cost of a one-way ticket.’