And the 2001 quality rankings for major carriers(try not to snicker, now):
1. US Airways
2. Northwest
3. Southwest
4. Delta
5. American
6. America West
7. Continental
8. United
9. TWA

Not consistent with my personal experience, but they're only numbers.

American better than Continental? I don't think so. These results must be curtesy of the Enron school of math.

Northwest not on the bottom? I DOUBT THAT!!!

Please cite the exact source and what the criteria were for the ratings.

Perhaps 'Nick' is the 'Nick' from the 1980's sitcom 'Family Ties'?

I'm only reporting what appeared in the business section of our local newspaper today.
They cited no methodolgy, only stated that results were compiled from annual US DOT data, extracted and prepared by the University of Nebraska and Wichita State University, a report they publish annually.
Sorry for the lack of details.
It made me smile because to me, it simply points out the folly of crunching numbers as a means of painting a picture. Like the Rand McNally stuff that rates Burlington Vermont or Pittsburgh the best city in the USA.