How America’s carriers compare

 Here’s how the airlines ranked in 2012 (as well as their position the previous year).

 The ranking is based on on-time arrivals, mishandled bags, consumer complaints and passengers who bought tickets but were turned away because flights were overbooked.

 Virgin America and ExpressJet are new to the ranking this year. To qualify for inclusion in the report, an airline must carry at least 1 percent of domestic passengers.

1. Virgin America (new to ranking)

2. JetBlue (3)

3. AirTran (1)

4. Delta (6)

5. Hawaiian (2)

6. Alaska (5)

7. Frontier (4)

8. Southwest (7)

9. US Airways (8)

10. American (10)

11. American Eagle (15)

12. SkyWest (9)

13. ExpressJet (new to ranking)

14. United (12)