• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Apps

Don’t travel anywhere without these 10 apps

By
Christopher Elliott
Christopher Elliott
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Christopher Elliott
Christopher Elliott
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 22, 2015, 10:38 AM ET
A 26131
A 26131Photograph by Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

What do US Airways, Hertz and Southwest have in common? They have the worst smartphone apps for travelers, according to a new study.

US Airways scored the lowest of any company, with an aggregate score of 5 out of 100, according to Applause, a service that rates smartphone applications. It was closely followed by Hertz (9) and Southwest (18).

The average travel app received a score of just 40.

“Consumers love apps that deliver clear value, optimize efficiency and simplify presentation,” says Ben Gray, the report’s author and a digital experience analyst for Applause. “Unfortunately, delivering consistently great experiences across both iOS and Android platforms is rare in today’s burgeoning apps economy.”

Here are the worst-rated apps.

1. US Airways (5, iOS) – The lowest-rated travel app the report profiled. US Airways customers are likely looking forward to its end of life as the merger with American Airlines progresses, according to Applause.

2. Hertz (9, Android) – This “improving” app still continues to fall far short of customer expectations, particularly when it comes to elegance and interoperability.

3. Southwest (18, iOS) – Travelers are often unable to change their existing reservations and their reservations are frequently lost, resulting in a manual re-entry of their confirmation code.

4. Marriott (20, iOS) – Members struggle to login and remain signed in. This “quickly frustrates” users.

5. American Airlines (22, iOS) – Reviewers complain frequently about new builds that don’t open on their iPhones. When the app loads, many suggest that it too frequently pushes travelers to its mobile website for core functions.

6. Hertz (29, iOS) – It’s never a good sign when app store reviews warn customers to avoid the app and use the website instead.

7. CouchSurfing (31, Android) – Broken notifications, frequent sign-outs and app crashes frustrate users who expect a digital-first startup to get better than its traditional hotel competitors that are slow to evolve from web to mobile.

8. Delta Air Lines (33, iOS) – Frequent app crashes and freezes suggest the app can improve with real world functional and performance/load testing.

9. Southwest (33, Android) – Lots of app crashes, errors and timeouts all too frequently disrupt the travel journey.

10. JetBlue (34, iOS) – Inconsistent app that users love only when it works. New builds break existing features, suggesting the need for beta testing prior to launch.

If this laundry list of complaints sounds demanding, it’s because, well, it is. “Consumers have incredibly lofty expectations of their mobile app experiences,” notes Gray. And with good reason. Consider how they use these apps. They check availability, compare prices, book tickets, check their status, and select seats.

“These transactions need to work the first time and every time,” he adds. “Because if they don’t, consumers will find a competitor’s app that’s able to serve their mobile needs.”

So who won?

1. Alaska Airlines (87, Android) – Newly redesigned Android app that simplifies the traveler’s experience at every physical and digital touchpoint along their journey.

2. Booking.com (86, iOS) – Cares so much about its customers that it extends testing into the real world.

3. Booking.com (85, Android) – Continuously tests for functional defects as well as localization issues using real world devices and professional testers around the globe.

4. Hotels.com (79, Android) – Impressive hotel selection backed by reviews, all accessible from your pocket.

5. Kayak (79, iOS) – Dynamic search engine with a touch-friendly interface.

6. TripAdvisor (78, iOS) – Friendly travel exploration app that’s backed by reviews and opinions.

7. TripIt (76, iOS) – Organizer that saves customers from the complexities normally associated with travel.

8. Kayak (75, Android) – Powerful desktop search engine that’s been conveniently scaled down for your phone and tablet.

9. TripAdvisor (75, Android) – The most reviewed app that’s established itself as a must-have tool for Android travelers.

10. Alaska Airlines (75, iOS) – The highest-rated airlines app on iOS by a mile, more than doubling up its closest competition.

Overall, the report isn’t good news for the travel industry. The four largest airlines and two of the three most popular hotel chains offer the poorest rated apps, according to Applause. And the lowest-rated industry in travel was airlines, unsurprisingly, with an average score of 33 out of 100. That suggests airlines as a group are totally oblivious to the mobile revolution.

At some level, though, it’s also a sad commentary on the state of customer service in the travel industry. When the top brands ignore the needs of their mobile customers, it makes you wonder what else they don’t care about.

About the Author
By Christopher Elliott
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

GTA 6 release date is finally here—but the $80 price tag and missing disc have gamers furious
Arts & EntertainmentGaming
GTA 6 release date is finally here—but the $80 price tag and missing disc have gamers furious
By Whizy Kim and Tech BrewJune 25, 2026
1 hour ago
Tru Niagen
HealthDietary Supplements
Tru Niagen Review (2026): Our Honest Thoughts
By Emily PharesJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Private equity gets cut of two of Taylor Swift’s biggest pop hits through Max Martin’s catalog sale
Arts & Entertainmentprivate equity
Private equity gets cut of two of Taylor Swift’s biggest pop hits through Max Martin’s catalog sale
By Mia OsmonbekovJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
Exclusive: Hera raises $27 million to tackle the unpaid caregiving that falls on daughters of the sandwich generation
NewslettersMPW Daily
Exclusive: Hera raises $27 million to tackle the unpaid caregiving that falls on daughters of the sandwich generation
By Emma HinchliffeJune 25, 2026
4 hours ago
stock
InvestingMarkets
How one chip stock reversed the global tech selloff, exposed AI’s ‘memory tax’ and made the case for an entire valuation regime change
By Nick LichtenbergJune 25, 2026
4 hours ago
Larry Ellison quietly gave $45 million to a pro-Trump group—then Oracle landed a starring role in a $500 billion AI buildout
PoliticsLarry Ellison
Larry Ellison quietly gave $45 million to a pro-Trump group—then Oracle landed a starring role in a $500 billion AI buildout
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
4 hours ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
13 hours ago
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
2 days ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
Success
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 25, 2026
13 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.