Just in time for summer vacation season, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) is out with its annual travel report. While satisfaction with U.S. airlines was up, hotels took a dip.

Airline passenger satisfaction rose 1.4 percent for a score of 74 out of 100. Alaska, Delta, United, Frontier and Spirit saw considerable improvement.

While many passengers complain about seat comfort, overhead storage space, luggage fees and food quality, most travelers are satisfied with their overall experience, according to the report.

“Airlines are meeting demands of passengers who require more mobile-friendly options, easy reservation and check-in processes, and courteous staff,” said David VanAmburg, ACSI’s managing director.

Hotels, both large and small, are losing ground with their guests. Satisfaction dropped 1.3 percent from last year to a score of 75.

Traditional hotels are facing some stiff competition from online brokers, such as Airbnb, and as the ACSI survey shows they’re “struggling to keep up.”

Guests say hotel chains have deteriorated in almost every aspect: Staff is less courteous and helpful, room quality has declined, and call center satisfaction plummeted.

The ACSI Travel Report is based on interviews with nearly 13,000 customers, chosen at random and contacted via email between April 2018, and March 2019.

AMERICA’S FAVORITE AIRLINES

Alaska Airlines takes the top spot this year, earning high marks for its inflight service and loyalty program. It’s ACSI score of 80 is up 1 percent from last year. Alaska’s merger with Virgin America “has paid off,” the report says, providing passengers with “an expanded network and lower fares.”

JetBlue and Southwest tied for the second spot at 79. JetBlue’s seat comfort and other amenities helped it secure second place. Southwest’s score dropped 1 percent from last year’s score of 80. Issues stemming from the Boeing 737 MAX crashes may have played a factor in Southwest’s decline. “With approximately 9,400 flights canceled in the first quarter alone due to safety concerns and/or bad weather conditions, that's a significant number of customers impacted,” VanAmburg told NBC News BETTER.

Delta Airlines, with an ACIS score of 75 (up 1 percent from last year) is the top-rated legacy carrier. Passengers appreciate the in-flight amenities: Most of the aircrafts operated by Delta have seatback screens, USB ports and Wi-Fi. Delta is planning to improve its mobile app by rolling out miles as currency, allowing members to upgrade through the app, the report noted.

These airlines all scored below the industry average of 74: