Performance-wise, 2011 was a very good year for U.S. airlines. As an industry, overall performance was the best in the 21 years of the Airline Quality Rating 2012 (AQR) (PDF), a yearly report that crunches data such as lost bags, delayed flights, bumped passengers and customer complaints.

“This is not opinion. In almost two decades we have not had this level of optimum performance,” Dr. Brent Bowen, the head of the Department of Aviation Technology at Purdue University, told msnbc.com. Bowen conducts the AQR with Dr. Dean Headley, an associate professor at the W. Frank Barton School of Business, Wichita State University. The report was released April 2.

Despite the strong marks, however, air travelers don’t seem to notice. In the Airline Passenger Survey 2012 (PDF), also conducted by Purdue and Wichita State researchers and released Friday, more than half of frequent fliers polled reported being disappointed with the air travel experience.

“By the numbers, 2011 may have been the best year for the airlines,” said Dr. Erin Bowen, one of the survey's authors and an assistant professor at Purdue University's Department of Technology Leadership & Innovation. “But airlines are doing a poor job of conveying these improvements to passengers. The objective improvements don't match up with the experience passengers are getting when they fly,” she said.

Among some other findings from the survey:

• Fifty-four percent of frequent fliers don’t believe airlines are being completely honest by attributing fare and fee increases to rising fuel costs;
• Given a choice of how to offset rising air costs, air passengers put a la carte fees, such as Allegiant Air’s recently imposed fee for carry-on bags, at the bottom of their wish list. “They’d rather pay a higher fee, take alternative transportation or fly less,” Erin Bowen said;
• Passengers primarily rely on price and schedule when choosing an airline. When that is constant, however, travelers consider customer service (36 percent) and on-time arrival (32 percent) as factors.
  

In a ranking of the most passenger-friendly airlines, Southwest was an overwhelming favorite. More than one-third of frequent fliers surveyed put the low-cost carrier ahead of the 14 other airlines on the list. JetBlue was ranked No. 2 (12 percent), followed by Continental and Alaska (6 percent each).

Southwest also ranked No. 1 as the most preferred airline with 17 percent of the vote. Delta and United were close behind at 12 percent, followed by American (11 percent) and JetBlue (10 percent).

The gap between Southwest and its competitors has been shrinking. In 2009, the first year of the Airline Passenger Survey, the discrepancy between Southwest and Delta was 9 percent; the gap fell to just under 6 percent at the end of 2010, and now sits at 5 percent.

“Southwest has the lead, but other airlines are starting to do a better job of meeting consumer expectations and putting out a friendlier message,” Erin Bowen said.

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Courtesy of Cathay Pacific Airways

First class on Cathay Pacific is more of a suite than a seat (which converts into a lie-flat bed). There are privacy screens. and duvets, pillows and sleepsuits are available.

Remember when flying was fun? Retro shows such as "Pan Am" and "Mad Men" offer glimpses of a more civilized time, when flight attendants took care of your every whim, and you didn't have to worry about baggage fees, booking charges or competing with other passengers for limited bin space.

There are still a few oases in the sky, on airlines that offer excellent customer service and special touches that make flying more palatable. Some have won awards from rankings such as Skytrax and J.D. Power and Associates, while others enjoy favorable word of mouth from frequent travelers on forums such as FlyerTalk.

As you look at this list, you may notice that most of these airlines are based in other countries; sadly, most legacy U.S. airlines consistently lag behind their more glamorous foreign rivals as far as amenities and customer service. So for each airline, we've included at least one route from a U.S. airport that might tempt you to rethink long-haul travel after all.

Cathay Pacific

What makes them special: The Hong Kong-based company has won airline of the year several times from Skytrax. Although a sex scandal in 2011 briefly tarnished its reputation, Cathay Pacific continues to be singled out for its comfortable seats across classes, as well as the quality of its meals (rice cookers, toasters and skillets are onboard).

Front of the plane: Cathay Pacific's first-class seat has a massage function and converts into a full lie-flat bed. The quasi-suite also has a closet, an ottoman and an entertainment system in 10 languages.

In the back: Cathay Pacific launched a Premium Economy service in March 2012, which comes with dedicated check-in counters and 8 inches of seat recline. Even the basic economy seats come with more pockets to hold your amenities and ports that allow you to stream entertainment from your iPod or iPad onto the monitor.

Hot route: If you're interested in those Premium Economy seats, look for them on the Hong Kong-New York flight first.

Qatar Airways

What makes them special: Based out of Doha in the Middle East, Qatar's national airline won the coveted airline of the year from Skytrax, the world's largest airline ranking and review site, in 2011. Although its U.S. routes are limited, the carrier scores big for the friendliness of its cabin staff, its entertainment system and the comfort of its seats.

Front of the plane: Eat when you feel like it in first or business class; your meals are served when you want them, not simply when it's convenient for the crew. Amenity kits in first class feature exclusive Prada products, while business class has Molton Brown.

In the back: Even if you're in economy, you'll still get a welcome towel from the attendants. Qatar's economy seats have a higher "pitch" -- the distance between seats in front and in back of each other -- than on other airlines, and you'll be served two hot meals on a six-hour flight.

Hot route: In the U.S., Qatar currently only flies out of Houston, Washington D.C. and New York. All flights are nonstop to Doha; from there, you can connect to hard-to-reach destinations like the Seychelles or the Maldives.

Singapore Airlines

What makes them special: Almost all lists of top-rated airlines include the Singapore-based carrier near the top, and with good reason: The company has centered its brand around customer service. While the iconic "Singapore Girl" image has been categorized as sexist, the carrier still issues strict grooming standards for both male and female crew. All stewards undergo a rigorous 15-week training program.

Front of the plane: The company upped the ante for luxury travel in 2010 by introducing Singapore Airlines Suites, separate compartments blocked off with their own doors. The cabins include a stand-alone bed, a 35-inch leather chair and an LCD TV with full entertainment options.

In the back: Economy seats are designed so that when you recline, you don't intrude as much into the space of the person behind you. Seats also have individual reading lamps (closer and less obtrusive than the overhead lights on most planes) and in-seat power supply.

Hot route: Clocking in at 18 1/2 hours, Singapore flies the world's longest nonstop commercial routes between Newark and Singapore.

Emirates Airlines

What makes them special: Everything is over-the-top in Dubai -- and this airline from the United Arab Emirates is no exception. From the striking draped-scarf headgear that their attendants wear to the entertainment system that offers more channel choices than other airlines, the carrier doesn't shy away from standing out. Emirates was also the first airline to allow people to use their cell phones in flight (the service isn't available on routes from the U.S. yet).

Front of the plane: Your golden ticket comes with perks before you even sit down: In some cities, including San Francisco, elite passengers receive a free, chauffeur-driven ride to the airport. The Emirates lounges are also among the best in the world, with showers, a full buffet and bar service.

In the back: Economy-class customers still receive free wine and cocktails with their meals. For a fee, you can receive text messages and e-mail at your seat.

Hot route: Emirates added nonstop service from Seattle to Dubai in March.

JetBlue Airways

What makes them special: J.D. Power and Associates ranked JetBlue tops in customer satisfaction for a North American low-cost carrier in its 2011 annual survey, scoring the carrier high on its aircraft and in-flight services. Passengers love the New York-based airline's personal entertainment systems, free checked bag policy and unlimited snacks. There's even a JetPaws program for furry guests.

Front of the plane: While JetBlue doesn't have a typical first class, passengers can purchase more legroom by buying an Even More Space seat that has six additional inches of pitch. In some cities, Even More Space comes with Even More Speed -- i.e., expedited boarding.

In the back: Worried about missing the game? JetBlue's entertainment system boasts live DIRECTV, so you can watch ESPN, news or your favorite shows as they broadcast. Look for Wi-Fi aboard all planes by the end of 2012.

Hot route: Anything that goes through JetBlue's amenity-filled T5 terminal at JFK Airport in New York.

Alaska Airlines

What makes them special: Alaska Airlines took top honors for traditional carriers in the 2011 J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey. Passengers praised the Seattle-based airline's usually chipper flight crew; the boarding, deplaning and baggage process (if you don't get your baggage within 20 minutes, Alaska will give you a $20 voucher or 2,000 points), as well as check-in and reservation services. Bonus points for a mobile app that actually works at the gate when you need it.

Front of the plane: You'll notice that the list above didn't include anything about the seats or in-flight amenities; Alaska lags behind the others on this list in this department. First-class seats do come with meals and drinks influenced by the Pacific Northwest or Hawaii, depending on destination.

In the back: Bring your credit card if you want to be entertained: Alaska rents personal entertainment devices pre-loaded with movies and TV shows. Almost all of the planes have Wi-Fi for purchase. The coffee comes from Starbucks.

Hot route: Alaska recently added nonstop service from Seattle to Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale, as well as more regional routes to Portland, Oregon.

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Delta Air Lines's Economy Comfort seats have up to 4 inches more legroom and recline 50 percent more than the airline's standard international economy class seats.

How much is a good night's sleep worth? $40? How about $350? I flew to London recently in Delta's new Economy Comfort section, where a few inches of legroom made the difference between a cramped, miserable night and a peaceful sleep across the Atlantic.

Economy Comfort is the latest "premium economy" section from a U.S. airline. These are sections at the front of coach where, for a fee, you can get the legroom people used to take for granted. The premium economy market is chaotic, though -- the term means very different things at different airlines, for very different prices.

Let's start with Delta. Delta just laid in 36-inch Economy Comfort seats on most of its international flights, with the same class coming to domestic flights soon. Economy Comfort comes with free booze, AC power ports, and those precious few inches of legroom.

I've flown transatlantic in Delta coach before, and the industry-standard 32-inch legroom is just a little bit too tight for a good night's sleep. Just a touch. And I'm 5 feet 7 inches tall. On my Economy Comfort flight over, I sat next to a guy whose knees were up to his nose even in the 36-inch seat.

On my way back, the AC power outlet was the key amenity -- I could watch my own movies without worrying about running out of battery on an eight-hour flight.

Buying the seat was a no-brainer at $40 each way, because I'm a Delta gold frequent flier. For non-status fliers, that would have been $80. I'd still do that one way, though, to keep that good night's sleep.

What Is Premium Economy, anyway?

"Premium Economy" typically means a seat towards the front of the economy class section with more room and early boarding privileges. It isn't nearly as cozy as business class, and you don't get business class food or service. But if it doesn't cost a lot more, it can take some of the edge off of flying.

Along with Delta, United, Virgin America, Frontier, JetBlue and Spirit all offer premium economy seats. Prices vary but they can be reasonable, especially if you need those extra inches of legroom because you're 6-feet tall or want to sleep on a red-eye.

Read more: Compare prices and offerings of most U.S. carriers

Is it worth it?

For a while now, we've been struggling with two competing desires in travel: the desire to pay incredibly low prices and the desire to be treated like human beings. So far, the airlines have found that Americans' and Europeans' cheapness tends to win out -- thus the success of Ryanair, and the shrinking of airplane seats pretty much everywhere on both continents.

Premium economy seems like a good solution, provided it's reasonably priced, and for domestic flights, it usually is. For a little more money, you get a slightly better product. Business class fares are out of the reach of most Americans; $39 for some extra leg room isn't.

Unfortunately, only Delta is right now doing a reasonably-priced premium economy seat for international flights. United almost qualifies, but it's still more expensive, and you don't get any more room than Delta. On some planes, you get less: 35 inches to Delta's 36.

Yes, just-plain-"economy" should be like today's Economy Plus. But for tall travelers, long-haul travelers, or even just slightly cramped travelers, it's definitely worth looking out for, and worth paying a little more for.

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Less-than-desirable seatmates on a flight include the drooler, the chatterbox and the space hog. These days, you could get someone who’s all three: a kid, with nary a parent in sight.

With airlines charging extra for more and more seats in coach, some families who want to sit together in the cheap seats can find themselves scattered about.

“The airlines aren't charging families to sit together, per se,” said Chris Elliott of Consumer Traveler. “They are charging extra for certain economy class seats. So if families want to sit together, and one of the seats is a premium seat, they'll have to pay for it. It's all a matter of perspective, I guess.”

Airlines stress that they do what they can to have families nestled together in the air, but that’s no guarantee.

NPR Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon recently tweeted his frustration upon discovering that booking tickets offered no assurance that he’d be sharing armrests with his two young daughters.

“If there's a problem in air, shouldn't parents be near children? Do you really want strangers entrusted to help them?” Simon tweeted.

Although Simon did not name the airline, American Airlines responded to his tweet, noting that for prices starting at $4 a seat, customers can get “preferred seats” in coach. Tim Smith, a spokesman for the airline later elaborated to msnbc.com, “We always try to seat the younger children in the party with parents and guardians, even if it cannot be worked out for the entire party.”

Seating fees are now as much a part of flying as jet fuel. United–Continental, for example, charges for the first several rows of economy, where there’s more legroom. Discount airlines AirTran Airways and Spirit Airlines charge passengers to reserve a specific seat. But no worries on Southwest Airlines, which doesn’t bother with seat assignments.

Elliott suggests that parents with scattered seat assignments get to the airport early and ask a gate agent to seat them together.  If that doesn’t work, talk to a flight attendant once onboard. And as a last resort, ask fellow passengers to make your flight a wee bit less stressful — just don’t try to trade away a center seat a nose away from the bathroom.

More on Overhead Bin

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Is your airplane seat assignment sacred?

That’s what Dennis Palkoner wants to know. 

Palkoner and his wife are both elite frequent fliers and often receive first-class upgrades for their flights.

Lucky them, right? The only problem: often the upgraded seats are not together.

In an email to msnbc.com’s Overhead Bin, Palkoner said that when this happens his strategy is to “politely ask the person in the seat next to our upgraded seat if they will switch seats so my wife and I can sit together.”

He said this works “100% of the time” but wants to know: First class or not, “Do airlines mind if I change seats with another passenger?”

“I can't speak for all airlines,” said Heather Poole, a long-time flight attendant and author of "Cruising Attitude" (due out March, 2012). “But at mine it is OK for passengers to swap seats in the same cabin they purchased their ticket in.”

Sara Keagle, a flight attendant who blogs at The FlyingPinto.com, said the same policy exists at the airline she works for. “My airline does charge for premium seats such as exit rows and bulkheads, so as long as [an economy cabin passenger] doesn’t choose those seats, it's fine.”

Passengers within the premium zones can trade amongst themselves, said Keagle. “And we do let passengers trade seats from coach to first class, but that is done on the ground and there is no switching back once the door closes for departure.”

How — or why — would someone swap a first-class seat for one in coach? “Sometimes one person in a couple will get an upgrade but they’ll want to sit together, so they will offer their seat in first class to their neighbor in coach,” said Keagle.

“We want our customers to have a safe and comfortable travel experience, so changing seats or moving to an empty seat within the customer’s respective cabin is fine,” said Delta Air Lines spokesperson Anthony Black. “But it is always a good idea to ask the flight attendants if it’s OK to move and the best — and safest — time to do so.”

When swapping or moving to an open seat, there are some things to keep in mind.

Another passenger may have purchased two seats to insure that no one is seated next to them. “Smaller planes may have weight and balance issues, and there are certain requirements passengers must meet in order to sit in an exit row,” said Poole.

Even Southwest Airlines, well-known for its open-seating policy, has given seat-swapping some thought.

“Our policy allows customers to choose seats that fulfill their personal preferences,” said Southwest spokesperson Michelle Agnew. “But it’s not uncommon for our flight attendants to ask customers if they are willing to switch seats to accommodate a family who would like to sit together.”

Agnew says customers are usually very accommodating and flexible in those situations. Perhaps it’s because flight attendants often thank those customers “with a complimentary adult beverage if they are of age.”

Do you have a travel-related question? Send it to Overhead Bin.

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Courtesy of Wizz Air

A low-cost airline, Wizz Air has 15 operating bases in Europe and offers flights on more than 220 routes.

You can find a low-fare flight to just about anywhere in Europe, even tiny Andorra — if you know which airlines to search. Here, your guide to jetting around the Continent for as little as $14 one way.

England

If you want to go to: London
Fly to: Stansted Airport in Essex, U.K.
Distance to city: 32 miles northeast of London 
Best way to get downtown: Stansted Express train to Liverpool St. station, 45 minutes
Cost: $32/£21
Who flies there? Air Berlin, AnadoluJet, Atlantic Airways, BelleAir, Bmibaby, EasyJet, Germanwings, Pegasus, Ryanair, Snowjet, Thomas Cook, Thomson Airways

France

If you want to go to: Paris
Fly to: Beauvais Airport in Tillé, France
Distance to city: 43 miles north of Paris 
Best way to get downtown: Shuttle bus to Porte Maillot, 75 minutes
Cost: $21/€15
Who flies there? Blue Air, Ryanair, Wizz Air

Germany

If you want to go to: Munich
Fly to: Allgäu Airport Memmingen in Memmingen, Germany
Distance to city: 63 miles east of Munich
Best way to get downtown: Allgäu Airport express bus to München Hauptbahnhof, 95 minutes
Cost: $28/€19.50
Who flies there? Flybe, Ryanair, SunExpress, Wizz Air

Italy

If you want to go to: Milan
Fly to: Orio al Serio Airport near Bergamo, Italy
Distance to city: 28 miles northeast of Milan
Best way to get downtown: Autostradale bus to Milano Centrale, 1 hour
Cost: $14/€9.90
Who flies there? Air Arabia, Air Italy, Alitalia, BelleAir, Blue Air, Carpatair, ElbaFly, Jet2, Meridiana Fly, Pegasus, Ryanair, Trawel Fly, Wind Jet, Wizz Air

Spain

If you want to go to: Barcelona
Fly to: Girona Costa-Brava Airport near Girona, Spain
Distance to city: 62 miles northeast of Barcelona
Best way to get downtown: Barcelona Bus to Estació del Nord, 75 minutes
Cost: $17/€12
Who flies there? Ryanair, Transavia, Wizz Air

Sweden

If you want to go to: Stockholm
Fly to: Stockholm Skavsta Airport in Nyköping, Sweden
Distance to city: 62 miles southwest of Stockholm
Best way to get downtown: Flygbussarna Bus to Cityterminalen, 80 minutes
Cost: $22/139 kr
Who flies there? Gotlandsflyg, Ryanair, Wizz Air 

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With full airplanes these days, many frequent fliers seeking upgrades find themselves unable to get a spot in the coveted first or business-class cabin. 

“I know status plays a part,” noted one Overhead Bin reader. “But many times my husband and I — both Diamond flyers with Delta — have not been upgraded when we know there are seats available.”

This same reader wondered: “Who makes the decision? We have never been able to talk to anyone at the airline that knows — or is willing to tell us — why or how.”

For an answer we turned to Delta spokesperson Paul Skrbec, who told us that a lot of the seemingly mysterious details about how the process works are detailed on the airline’s website. “The IT system uses our published criteria to ensure that the best customers get the best seats.”

After that, and if there are still seats in the front of the airplane, “our agents have the ability to upgrade as well. In these cases, it's not unheard of for members of the active military to get a better seat if they can be identified in the gate area,” said Skrbec. Other situations are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. “But generally speaking, first-class seats go to Medallion customers and those who paid for first class.”

The criteria are similar at other airlines.

“Procedures are automated to ensure customers have a consistent, fair upgrade experience," said Rahsaan Johnson, spokesperson for United and Continental airlines. "When space is available, we offer upgrades first to customers in the highest premier levels, taking into account the fares they paid.”

For those without top-shelf, frequent-flier status, though, there may be some secrets — or at least a few strategies to try.

Some travelers believe gate agents often upgrade travelers who ask politely and/or are dressed to the nines. Others say volunteering to be bumped on an overbooked flight, offering to change seats so that a family can be seated together or flat out flirting is the way to win the upgrade game.

And then there’s John DiScala’s upgrade "secret." The founder of the JohnnyJet.com travel website says the best way to get upgraded is “be genuinely nice and bring a box of chocolates to the gate agents and flight attendants.”

Have a travel-related question you’d like answered? Overhead Bin will track it down. Send us your question.

More on Overhead Bin

Find more by Harriet Baskas on StuckatTheAirport.com and follow her on Twitter.