How is quality of service evaluated?
A minimum service standard is set for each airline city pair. This minimum applies to the number of flights per day in each direction, a maximum ground time of 90 minutes domestic, and 180 minutes international, and limits on circuity (how far out of the way the carrier can take the traveler). Service standards change year to year based on service availability. To determine best value, a technical evaluation is conducted to evaluate the quality of each offeror’s service based on the following considerations: Time and Type of Service: This factor looks for flights offered throughout the day. Nonstop service, at convenient times, scores best under this factor. Flight Time: This factor looks for the shortest total flight times based on each carrier’s routing. Nonstop service scores best under this factor. Number and Type of Flights: This factor considers the number of flights offered throughout the day in order to provide the traveler with several choices. Carriers with several nonstop fl
