Car accidents are the leading killer of teens, however the number of fatalities resulting from teens being behind the wheel is going down.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of deaths caused by accidents involving teen drivers decreased from about 2,200 in 2004 to 1,400 in 2008.

Experts are crediting tougher driving laws with saving teens’ lives — not teens driving more cautiously — as well as safer cars and highways.

Friday evening, I will be boarding an airplane to return to Chicago to pick up my family (Woot Woot!) and make the cross country trip back to the SOS Radio Network studio city of Las Vegas.  Just in time for my trip, US News and World Report published their report on America’s Worst Airlines.

Worst Major Airlines

5. US Airways-  While US Airways improved five percent in passenger satisfaction according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, they were one of three airlines cited as having the rudest flight attendants and serving the worst food.

Domestic Baggage Fees:
1st Bag: $25
2nd Bag: $35 3rd Bag: $100
Overweight Bags: $50 Extra (51 – 70 lbs) $100 Extra (71 – 100 lbs)
Oversized Bags: $100 Extra (larger than 62″)

4. American Airlines-  This year AA has had frequent incidents of mishandled baggage with an average of 4.07 reports per 1,000 passengers, according to the Air Travel Consumer Reports (this is the worst rating among the major airlines in the study). SeatGuru’s survey named American Airlines as one of the three airlines that have the rudest flight attendants and the worst food.

Domestic Baggage Fees:
1st Bag: $25
2nd Bag: $35
3rd Bag: $100
Overweight Bags: $50 (51 – 70 lbs) $100 (71 – 100 lbs)
Oversized Bags: $150 (larger than 62″)

3. Alaska Airlines- According to Air Travel Consumer Reports, the airline averaged 3.98 incidents per 1,000 passengers last year. However, Alaska Airlines did a stellar job when it came to delays, with 88 percent of its flights having on-time arrivals (in the 12-month period ending August 2010).

Domestic Baggage Fees:
1st Bag: $20
2nd Bag: $20
3rd Bag: $20
Overweight Bags: $50 (51 – 100 lbs)
Oversized Bags: $50 (63 – 80″) $75 (81 – 115″)

STILL TO COME: Click here to check out the top TWO worst airlines as well as full coverage on America’s Worst Regional Airlines.