What the heck is wrong with US Airways?

astanley

astanley

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Andrew Stanley
I'm sitting in the terminal in RIC.

Through a combination of FlightAware and the ARTSCC website, I know I'm not leaving until 8:02PM. I've known that for 18 minutes now.

US Airways still hasn't told us a thing. The board still says "Departure: 7:20"

At least AA lies to me creatively, this is just plain old lazy.

Cheers,

-Andrew
 
US is desperate. There's a rumor about that they want to joine OneWorld.

There are two airlines I avoid. UA and US. UA lost my business due to numerous incidents worse than what you're experiencing. US lost my business because they started by taking the worst of Allegheny, PSA, and AmericaWorst and making it worse from there.

I predict US or YX will be one of the next two in Chapter 11 (or 7).
 
Monday I had to fly to Denver from Chicago

On Sunday at 8pm CDT I went to get my boarding pass from the UAL website. I noticed my first class seat had changed to 'N/A'

I called up the 1k desk to ask WTF and they told me due to a maintenance issue the plan was going to be changed to a 757 and that they were short first class seats. I would get a seat at the airport the next morning. I basically know better than that and had them put me in economy plus.

The next morning it is a disaster at the gate. The gate agents are telling pax that the plane is late due to storms, then they said it has maintenance problems once they said it got on teh ground. Then they said they will try to fix it, and then finally saying that "they just decided to change to a smaller aircraft"

Now starts a huge mess of people having to get their seats reassigned.

I board and my economy plus seat is really coach (bass poo-poos)

But the thing tha tgets me is UAL knew all of this the night before. THEY TOLD ME. So none of this should have been the CF at the gate that it was!!

It is not US Airways it is all of them

The sooner UAL or AA goes out of business the better for the whole industry. I say that because those monsters have gotten to big to be run effecitently by the biz school drop outs that they seem to have runnign the place.

Once out of business those routes will still need to be flown and perhpas three or four carriers can come on line and run their shops in a more effective manner.
 
wsuffa said:
US is desperate. There's a rumor about that they want to joine OneWorld.

There are two airlines I avoid. UA and US. UA lost my business due to numerous incidents worse than what you're experiencing. US lost my business because they started by taking the worst of Allegheny, PSA, and AmericaWorst and making it worse from there.

I predict US or YX will be one of the next two in Chapter 11 (or 7).
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The only problem is... the only way to my summer place (where I will be working for the rest of the week... yelling obscenities at my laptop in a beautiful setting is somehow better than doing it in RIC) is via US. No AA or my PLT... no AC access either, since I'm in a different terminal.

Except for LAS or PHX, why the hell do people fly this godforsaken airline?

Cheers,

-Andrew
 
smigaldi said:
Monday I had to fly to Denver from Chicago

On Sunday at 8pm CDT I went to get my boarding pass from the UAL website. I noticed my first class seat had changed to 'N/A'

I called up the 1k desk to ask WTF and they told me due to a maintenance issue the plan was going to be changed to a 757 and that they were short first class seats. I would get a seat at the airport the next morning. I basically know better than that and had them put me in economy plus.

The next morning it is a disaster at the gate. The gate agents are telling pax that the plane is late due to storms, then they said it has maintenance problems once they said it got on teh ground. Then they said they will try to fix it, and then finally saying that "they just decided to change to a smaller aircraft"

Now starts a huge mess of people having to get their seats reassigned.

I board and my economy plus seat is really coach (bass poo-poos)

But the thing tha tgets me is UAL knew all of this the night before. THEY TOLD ME. So none of this should have been the CF at the gate that it was!!

It is not US Airways it is all of them

The sooner UAL or AA goes out of business the better for the whole industry. I say that because those monsters have gotten to big to be run effecitently by the biz school drop outs that they seem to have runnign the place.

Once out of business those routes will still need to be flown and perhpas three or four carriers can come on line and run their shops in a more effective manner.
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I don't think UA/AA goes -- It's going to be US I think -- but I don't want to lose my status on AA or my OW RTW ticket in Sept.

Cheers,

-Andrew
 
astanley said:
I don't think UA/AA goes -- It's going to be US I think -- but I don't want to lose my status on AA or my OW RTW ticket in Sept.

Cheers,

-Andrew
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I think that US will be next but I still think one of the last big 2 will go. My money is on UAL as they have demonstrated to be completely clueless about running a business and are seen following, never leading.
 
astanley said:
I'm sitting in the terminal in RIC.

Through a combination of FlightAware and the ARTSCC website, I know I'm not leaving until 8:02PM. I've known that for 18 minutes now.

US Airways still hasn't told us a thing. The board still says "Departure: 7:20"

At least AA lies to me creatively, this is just plain old lazy.

Cheers,

-Andrew
Click to expand...

This can't get any better.

I land in LGA 55 minutes late.

I have 40 minutes until my flight boards.

I've recieved 5 calls -- 5 from Orbitz, each one with a flight delay and time change announcement. I got 2 of them, the other 3 went to voice mail.

1st: 9:59 -> 10:06
2nd: 10:06 -> 10:20
3rd: 10:20 -> 9:51
4th: 9:51 -> 10:08
5th: 10:08 -> 10:36

#@#$$

Cheers,

-Andrew
 
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guess it all depends where you are at PHL US Air is KING. They also have a better ontime record there than I think all but one other airline even better than SWA. for me I prefer USAir or SWA over the others.
 
astanley said:
I don't think UA/AA goes -- It's going to be US I think -- but I don't want to lose my status on AA or my OW RTW ticket in Sept.
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smigaldi said:
I think that US will be next but I still think one of the last big 2 will go. My money is on UAL as they have demonstrated to be completely clueless about running a business and are seen following, never leading.
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I think US goes first. They're doing everything possible to PO their business customers. And they really have no one left to dance with except AA - and I can't see AA pairing up with them, given their treatment of customers. Good riddance.

I'd also bet on UA, but the CO alliance may come soon enough to rescue part of the business. CO is that much better. AA is just arrogant (perhaps learned something from BA...). I think there's a possibility there, but AA seems to still know about treating the business customer a bit better than UA (at least in my opinion). The real determining factor for AA will be whether they have a strike this year.

astanley said:
This can't get any better.

I land in LGA 55 minutes late.

#@#$$
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LGA = mistake #1. It would have been faster to take Amtrak, or to fly WN to MHT or B6 to Boston and thence drive. Even B6 to Boston THEN US would have been better.

There's a reason I'm taking the Acela to/from NYC tomorrow.

You need a good GA plane. Really.
 
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I had to book US when my kids were going to DC for a 10-day smart kids thing. I planned to escort them there and come home, and then have them be unaccompanied minors returning home. Tried to book on the web site, but no go for unaccompanied minors, so I called the 800 number. Yikes! 40 minutes later I was finally on the phone with someone who knew her a$$ from a hole in the ground. Booked the kids and then tried to book mine. "Well, booking with us (remember, this is USAir's 800 number) we'll charge you a $25 processing fee per ticket. You can book your own on the web site, but I see there is only one seat left so I can't guarantee you'll get that if you go online now." So I was forced to book mine with her, too. So that's $75 added to the fare.

Then when I got to the airport on departure day I discovered the instructions she gave me for checking in the kids at the airport were wrong, and the ticket counter agent steered me wrong before the supervisor fixed it. And then there was the $100 unaccompanied minor fee for the return leg. But was it $100 per kid or $100 for both? No one seemed to know.

CF is right!
 
Southwest has it figured it out -- Airline Transport is Bus Service. Get on at this stop, get off at that stop, transfer, get close to your destination.

Most of the other carriers are still under the delusion that airline flight is somehow "romantic" and different than every other mode of conveyance.

From a passenger perspective, it isn't.

(Though we pilots have a clue about what a miracle the whole thing is...)
 
dmccormack said:
Southwest has it figured it out -- Airline Transport is Bus Service. Get on at this stop, get off at that stop, transfer, get close to your destination.
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I refuse to fly Southwest Airlines precisely because I can't stand cattle car boarding and cattle car treatment. I'll pay extra, even if I have to pay for it myself, just so I don't have to fly with them. If other airlines turn into that, I'll quit traveling.
 
I find that SWA is the most pleasant domestic airline experience - I can make the minimal extra effort to get an early boarding priority, and if I don't I still get a seat.

And the staff is friendly and professional. Sometimes they have bad days but on average the service is FAR friendlier than I get on any other coach class ticket.
 
TMetzinger said:
I find that SWA is the most pleasant domestic airline experience - I can make the minimal extra effort to get an early boarding priority, and if I don't I still get a seat.

And the staff is friendly and professional. Sometimes they have bad days but on average the service is FAR friendlier than I get on any other coach class ticket.
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Yep.

I've flown NWA First Class to MT a few times, and that's always nice, but overall SWA provides the most transparent experience. I'm here, I sit, I'm there.

What's the problem?
 
TMetzinger said:
I find that SWA is the most pleasant domestic airline experience - I can make the minimal extra effort to get an early boarding priority, and if I don't I still get a seat.

And the staff is friendly and professional. Sometimes they have bad days but on average the service is FAR friendlier than I get on any other coach class ticket.
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That's been my experience, too. I'll gladly trade an assigned seat for the quality of their staff.

I've found American and USeless Airways to be the exact opposite. Unhappy help and highly unlikely you'll get to the destination anywhere near schedule.


Trapper John
 
Actually now that I recall it the most pleasant flying experiance I have had in the past five years or so was on AirTran.
 
AdamZ said:
Actually now that I recall it the most pleasant flying experiance I have had in the past five years or so was on AirTran.
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I guess if former airlines are fair game, I really liked Piedmont, before USeless Air gobbled them up. They had nice people, like Southwest.


Trapper John
 
If you want really lousy service that is even worse and more rude than UAL, AA, and us Air, fly BA. It stands for Bad Attitude but they want you to think it is British Airways.
 
smigaldi said:
If you want really lousy service that is even worse and more rude than UAL, AA, and us Air, fly BA. It stands for Bad Attitude but they want you to think it is British Airways.
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Wow, it's hard to believe that's even possible!


Trapper John
 
smigaldi said:
My favs. in order of good service

Singapore Air
Cathay Pacific
FinnAir
JAL
ANA
DragonAir
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I haven't experienced Finnair, DragonAir or ANA but I'll vouch for the other three. I've got a leg on ANA on the trip home from Osaka the end of October, so we'll see how they do then.

SAS has also treated me very well over the past few years.

Lufthansa would make my good list if it weren't for the total lack of legroom in coach on their planes. Service has been excellent, but it's not worth the physical pain.

And, I hate to say it, but UselessAir has treated me well the past couple of months. Maybe I've just been lucky.
 
smigaldi said:
If you want really lousy service that is even worse and more rude than UAL, AA, and us Air, fly BA. It stands for Bad Attitude but they want you to think it is British Airways.
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Funny, when I flew BA (Heathrow to Amsterdam and back in 2002) it was probably the best airline experience I've ever had.

Heathrow, however, has to be the worst airPORT experience ever.

I've never flown Southwest. I wouldn't hesitate to, but MDW is the closest they get to me. If I have the choice, I'll fly Midwest (best care in the air!). I'd also try Virgin America if the opportunity arose. Otherwise, I'd take United if for no other reason than Channel 9.

However, the only airline I've flown in the last three years was Air Me; and I've only needed to fly airlines twice in the last 5 years. I hope I never have to again.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Funny, when I flew BA (Heathrow to Amsterdam and back in 2002) it was probably the best airline experience I've ever had.
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DFW - Gatwick in 1999, BA, was also the best airline experience I've had. We were on a cheap CHEAP fare in the very back of a 777, yet it was like first class on any other airplane/airline. Of course, the fact that I got to visit the cockpit over the Atlantic, and then get invited up front by the captain for the entire descent, landing, and taxi to terminal probably influences my opinion.

Somebody speculated above that YX might be one of the next bankruptcies. I keep my fingers crossed for no flight interruptions--they're the first leg of my ride to OSH! This will be my first trip on Midwest. Fresh baked cookies on the flight? Sounds better than what I get on AA.
 
wsuffa said:
CO is that much better.
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I go to Miami quite a bit. I've been using Continental exclusively. I
refuse to get on UA because of the poor service and the number of problems I've had with them in the past. I've found CO to always be very pleasant and their agents act like they actually appreciate me being there.

RT
 
TangoWhiskey said:
DFW - Gatwick in 1999, BA, was also the best airline experience I've had. We were on a cheap CHEAP fare in the very back of a 777, yet it was like first class on any other airplane/airline. Of course, the fact that I got to visit the cockpit over the Atlantic, and then get invited up front by the captain for the entire descent, landing, and taxi to terminal probably influences my opinion.
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I remember mostly that even though the entire flight was less than an hour, they served us a sandwich and THREE drinks during the flight! And the consummate British manners were there the whole time.

Somebody speculated above that YX might be one of the next bankruptcies. I keep my fingers crossed for no flight interruptions--they're the first leg of my ride to OSH! This will be my first trip on Midwest. Fresh baked cookies on the flight? Sounds better than what I get on AA.
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Did you get on the "Signature Service" flight, or one of the new "Saver service" (or something to that effect) flights? The "real" MidEx is the Signature Service - The whole plane is first class (MD8x's aren't 2x3, they're 2x2 and leather), and you get fresh-baked cookies and wine. The "Saver service" is an attempt to stay alive in the current market of cheap bastards, and is pretty much like the rest of the airlines. :(
 
I really do not understand what those who refer to Southwest's boarding as "cattle car" mean; even under their older boarding system, you still lined up and boarded by pass number, which for the life of me I cannot figure out how it's materially different than "rows fifteen and higher..." or "zone one" like most other carriers. Under their new boarding scheme, I find it is much less difficult and disruptive to board than any other carrier's boarding system. YMMV; I tend to prefer Southwest because I rarely have long lead time for booking, and hate being stuck in a center seat between two exceptionally well-fed travelers. Also (at least around here) Southwest tends to be more business travelers and fewer "off to the beach in a tank-top" specials. I believe that their business-traveler focus accounts, in large measure, for their generally better customer treatment (especially in weather disruptions, when they are unmatched at keeping travelers informed and re-routing them).

Of course, bottom-line, all air-carrier flying stinks.

--

Just back from a trip to/from Cancun on Sun Country, whose ground and flight experience were strikingly better than anything I have had on AA in ... well, ever. Ground personnel, in particular, were exceptional. In addition, they have more room in the plane. I'll fly 'em again.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Did you get on the "Signature Service" flight, or one of the new "Saver service" (or something to that effect) flights? The "real" MidEx is the Signature Service - The whole plane is first class (MD8x's aren't 2x3, they're 2x2 and leather), and you get fresh-baked cookies and wine. The "Saver service" is an attempt to stay alive in the current market of cheap bastards, and is pretty much like the rest of the airlines. :(
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I'm not sure, Kent... the reservations don't say either of those things. How would I know?
 
TangoWhiskey said:
I'm not sure, Kent... the reservations don't say either of those things. How would I know?
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Well, now after looking at their site it looks like they may have gotten rid of "saver service." Good riddance! Enjoy your cookies. :yes:
 
I like southwest's scheme because instead of booking a seat next to an annoying person on another air carrier, if they sit next to you (we all try to get as early of a boarding time on SWA, right?) you have an opportunity to pick a new seat.
 
SkyHog said:
What I love is hearing people say Southwest is cheating somehow, or that they're too new to judge successfully.....
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aside from the maintenance problems, how are they cheating?
 
SkyHog said:
What I love is hearing people say Southwest is cheating somehow, or that they're too new to judge successfully....

Sour apples. They were smart with the fuel game. Southwest is going to stay for a long, long time. I'm flying Continental in a few weeks, and I tell you what, I'm not looking forward to it.
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I fly for Cont, US, United, American & Delta depending on the day.

Continental treats their cust best of all of them. They also have the best handle on communcation.

The problem with COMM is really that the gate agents really have no idea how to read the info on their computers. In fairness, in bad WX, crews time out, planes get swapped, etc.... All at the last min.


I am based in LGA. It doesn't matter who you fly out of LGA. Traffic in NYC (EWR, LGA, JFK) just sucks.

Southwest is also smart for staying away fro NYC, BOS, O Hare, etc. It really helps with on-time & money savings. Planes only make money in the air. Sometimes I sit in Dullass for 3 hrs to get back to LGA
 
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Eamon said:
Southwest is also smart for staying away fro NYC, BOS, O Hare, etc. It really helps with on-time & money savings. Planes only make money in the air. Sometimes I sit in Dullass for 3 hrs to get back to LGA
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If by that you are also inferring that the hub and spoke system is hurting airlines, I would have to agree.
 
US Air has the distinction of being the only airline on my DO NOT FLY list.

We sat in the plane for fifteen minutes waiting for someone to pull the jetway up. When they finally let us off the plane, we sprinted to the connecting gate to find the door to the jetway had been shut. They refused to let us (party of ten) on the plane, even though it sat there for twenty five minutes before getting a push-back. They wouldn't put us on another airline, so we had to wait six hours for the next flight.
 
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