The numbers cite each carrier's cancellation and mishandled baggage rate for July 2007, the most recent month for which data is available, plus average on-time performance from July 2006 to July 2007.

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Private researchers who analyzed federal data on airline performance also said in a report being released Monday that consumer complaints to the Department of Transportation surged by one-fifth last year even though other measures such as on-time arrivals and mishandled baggage show airlines are doing a better job.

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"The business traveler is seeing fuller planes, more delays, more of their baggage being mishandled, " says David Meyer, editor-in-chief of Business Travel News.

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Virgin America had the best baggage handling rate of all the airlines (0.87 misplaced bags per 1, 000 passengers.) American Eagle showed improvement from 2011 but still came in last, fumbling baggage at a rate of 5.80 mishandled bags per 1, 000 passengers.

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