US Airways
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US Airways
Recently travelled from LHR to Florida via Philadelphia with US Airways.
US Airways are passable as a US domestic airline but not an international one. Cabin Service was I can only class as between abysmal and terrible with the catering a total joke. I learnt my lesson on the outbound to buy food in the terminal before boarding for every subsequent leg of the trip.
I can only describe the first meal as reminiscent of road kill but not as fresh.
The Cabin crew attitude to safety was ambiguous. For example, they would instruct that the aircraft would not move until everyone was sat down and then watch as passengers stood up whilst taxying to go to the overhead lockers. On one leg a passenger was even holding a child in the process.
On the other hand Philadelphia was a pleasure to travel through. Immigration was devoid of large queues and we were through in 5 minutes.
Baggage was delivered very quickly.
On the return, there was no need to pass through the security check again as we changed terminals unlike other big airports because all the terminals are within the one security zone.
Transferring terminals on arrival into the international arrival hall did require passing through security again.
Would I travel with US Airways, possible but strictly self catering and to pass via Philadelphia.
US Airways are passable as a US domestic airline but not an international one. Cabin Service was I can only class as between abysmal and terrible with the catering a total joke. I learnt my lesson on the outbound to buy food in the terminal before boarding for every subsequent leg of the trip.
I can only describe the first meal as reminiscent of road kill but not as fresh.
The Cabin crew attitude to safety was ambiguous. For example, they would instruct that the aircraft would not move until everyone was sat down and then watch as passengers stood up whilst taxying to go to the overhead lockers. On one leg a passenger was even holding a child in the process.
On the other hand Philadelphia was a pleasure to travel through. Immigration was devoid of large queues and we were through in 5 minutes.
Baggage was delivered very quickly.
On the return, there was no need to pass through the security check again as we changed terminals unlike other big airports because all the terminals are within the one security zone.
Transferring terminals on arrival into the international arrival hall did require passing through security again.
Would I travel with US Airways, possible but strictly self catering and to pass via Philadelphia.
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Your experience mirrors mine. Philadelphia is a very good airport to connect; it is hard to find an airline doing a worse transatlantic job than US. What I recall is that the meals loaded in Amsterdam were "pretty edible" but what they served on the way back was 
. I know "warm salads" are haute cuisine... but not green lettuce warmed by the main course. The cheese for desert was warmed to a rubbery consistency, butter was molten inside the foil package. The main course lost enough heat to be lukewarm, like the """cold""" part of the meal. 
I rate the flight attendant service better than that of some US regionals "We don't serve drinks because the flight is under 1 hour.", but I certainly have seen better than US. (General advice on US national routes is to cater for oneself.)
. I know "warm salads" are haute cuisine... but not green lettuce warmed by the main course. The cheese for desert was warmed to a rubbery consistency, butter was molten inside the foil package. The main course lost enough heat to be lukewarm, like the """cold""" part of the meal. I rate the flight attendant service better than that of some US regionals "We don't serve drinks because the flight is under 1 hour.", but I certainly have seen better than US. (General advice on US national routes is to cater for oneself.)
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Philadelphia has come a long way from the days when the overseas building was a hangar like construction. Today it is a world class airport.
US Air ranks somewhere in the list of US airlines, all of which, since the exit of Pan Am, seem as though they should be avoided. My experiences of US Air have ranged from bad, passenger hat on, to downright shambolically dismal, flight crew hat on, as when we had on board injuries due to an incident over the Bermuda triangle. The cabin crew panicked and the flight crew were not far behind. Shall we, shan't we, might we, should we, divert to IAD?
Having said that, the managment help in terms of hospitalisation of pax was excellent. Immigration at PHL was extremely co operative both on that night and subsequently.
It was an occasion when, rather than apologising for the incident, US Air would have done better to express regret for the way in which their crew failed to instil one iota of confidence in the pax that they had the situation, at any time, under control.
US Air ranks somewhere in the list of US airlines, all of which, since the exit of Pan Am, seem as though they should be avoided. My experiences of US Air have ranged from bad, passenger hat on, to downright shambolically dismal, flight crew hat on, as when we had on board injuries due to an incident over the Bermuda triangle. The cabin crew panicked and the flight crew were not far behind. Shall we, shan't we, might we, should we, divert to IAD?
Having said that, the managment help in terms of hospitalisation of pax was excellent. Immigration at PHL was extremely co operative both on that night and subsequently.
It was an occasion when, rather than apologising for the incident, US Air would have done better to express regret for the way in which their crew failed to instil one iota of confidence in the pax that they had the situation, at any time, under control.
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Friend of mine just had 2 trips with them Man-Phl. early December,and just came back from the second one this week. No problems with either flights,and the connections in philly worked out well.
Jubilee
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Myself and the Missus are using USAir on Friday to Nashville via Philly. I am grateful for the comments so far and will sort out food before flying. I agree most North American carriers are terrible these days as compared with 10-15 years ago. In particular I miss the stunning service on Piedmont Airlines out of Charlotte to LGW, the standard of which bled over into USAir for a while when they bought them out. Now it appears that has gone and we are about to be on the usual ropey service standards if correspondents here are to be believed. Of course none of this matters now really. The overall standard of the travel experience is so bad all round now to be compounded with pornographic pictures to be taken of us routinely here in this country. In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined things would get so bad and invasive when I first started flying in 1962.
US AIR is as bad as it gets in the United States.
Terrible management and poor treatment of employees are reflected in their attitude towards their customers.
Best avoided.
Terrible management and poor treatment of employees are reflected in their attitude towards their customers.
Best avoided.
Not sure what an 'airoline' is but the topic was US AIR.
Amongst a fairly average bunch in the US (with some exceptions) they set a new standard in abysmal travelling experiences.
Amongst a fairly average bunch in the US (with some exceptions) they set a new standard in abysmal travelling experiences.
Join Date: Nov 2008
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I actually prefer US to UA now on Domestic USA routes. Good on-time record, free drinks in their lounges, unlike the UA RCC's and the crew are a pretty cool bunch. Maybe I'm just more weatherbeaten ann got used to them. CO is the way to go though but only just started using them when I can now that they're in Star.
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>US Air best avoided? Doesn't that apply to the vast majority of US based >airolines?
For years I was a regular USAirways patron on many East Coast & Midwest routes but in the last two or three years have switched primarily to Southwest -- not (initially) because of the price, but because Southwest offered a non-stop flight between my most frequently traveled points, and USAir necessitated either a tranfer or a stopover in Philly or Pittsburgh.
After flying Southwest I will never fly USAirways again unless no other option is available. I can't say enough good things about the quality of service on Southwest. It must have something to do with a culture of customer service.
For years I was a regular USAirways patron on many East Coast & Midwest routes but in the last two or three years have switched primarily to Southwest -- not (initially) because of the price, but because Southwest offered a non-stop flight between my most frequently traveled points, and USAir necessitated either a tranfer or a stopover in Philly or Pittsburgh.
After flying Southwest I will never fly USAirways again unless no other option is available. I can't say enough good things about the quality of service on Southwest. It must have something to do with a culture of customer service.
Join Date: Mar 2008
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It must have something to do with a culture of customer service.
I have a fear [no, actually a complete "not an option"] about flying internal in the USA. I've done it a few times [without the option]. Now, I'd sooner go Amtrak, or not go at all. US internal = coach class = Greyhound at 30,000 feet. No way.
Please keep reminding the sub-standard people who pays to keep them operating.
And, for the customers, if you want it cheap, cheap is what you will get - guaranteed.
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I know this thread is about US airways but can I also say how good I found Southwest. On time clean airplane, all soft drinks free, beer and spirits $5 (no cash just cards accepted), only food was a free bag of nuts. They say they are not a nut free airline so if its a problem use another.
As for Amtrak it takes 3 hours to get me to New York and thats all of 120 miles. Also 3 times out of 4 Mrs J has been delayed on Amtrak once for over 3 hours.
As for Amtrak it takes 3 hours to get me to New York and thats all of 120 miles. Also 3 times out of 4 Mrs J has been delayed on Amtrak once for over 3 hours.
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@ Jarvy ... my destination "over there" is DC. I keep reviewing the options [on cost/time grounds] of using NY or PHL and then taking internal, or the train, or driving.
After 8 hours from UK, I don't think I could stand the pain!! Getting to Dulles, going through immigration and picking up the rental car [about 1 hour or so on a good day] and then doing 45 minutes round the Beltway is enough for one day!
You will obviously have different perspectives.
After 8 hours from UK, I don't think I could stand the pain!! Getting to Dulles, going through immigration and picking up the rental car [about 1 hour or so on a good day] and then doing 45 minutes round the Beltway is enough for one day!
You will obviously have different perspectives.
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Never flown into Dulles but avoid NY if at all possible but then again I live nearer Boston. As we don't like most US airlines that only leaves BA or Virgin. Most of our friends and colleges will always try to us a non US airline when going across the pond.
