man-phl-las
Join Date: Apr 2009
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I did a similar route last year: MAN-PHL-SFO on US Airways and had similar concerns due to a tight connection. What I hadn't bargained on was being stopped and thoroughly baggage-searched by a grumpy official.
Still managed the connection though. Just. I think you'll be okay but, as others have said, if you're really worried why not just go direct?
Still managed the connection though. Just. I think you'll be okay but, as others have said, if you're really worried why not just go direct?
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: stockport uk
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just returned from our fantastic trip to vegas, heathrow harry asked me to post how we got on so here goes. (still a bit jet lagged so please bear with me).
checked-in at man using the automatic check-in machine which was quick and easy, except for my friend I was travelling with used a different machine so we ended up with seats no where near each other for both flights, there must be a way round this but we didn't get chance to suss it out.
we were booked in to a vip suite a first for me at £18 probably the last.
flight left on time a us airways a330, it wasn't full so we managed to get seats together, uneventful flight but after a couple of hours my bum was numb (not much padding in the seats) the onboard service was ok as was the food. the i.f.e. touch screen was so slow it became annoying.
landed slightly early and cleared immigration etc no problem, as someone mentioned collected bags and dropped them at transfer point.
the onward flight to las was easy to find and we even had time for a couple of beers.
the flight to las was on us airways a320 which was small and cramped compared to the a330, also it was full so we had to sit apart, muggins here ended up with an ailse seat (not great when your trying to sleep).
again flight was on time.
return flight to phl was awful for me, again I ended up with an ailse seat but this time at the back next to the toilets, again no sleep..
shortly after take-off the captain announced we had a slight problem and that the undercarriage heat sensor warning had gone off so we would be slowing down and lowering the undercarriage for 5/10 mins to allow it to cool down, the noise was horrendous.
uneventful flight back to man on the a330.
in conclusion next time id either fly direct or have a lay over at the connection point, its a lot to do in one day and very tiring.
vegas was fantastic and one off the bucket list for me. but what goes on in vegas stays in vegas
.
cheers p.h.
checked-in at man using the automatic check-in machine which was quick and easy, except for my friend I was travelling with used a different machine so we ended up with seats no where near each other for both flights, there must be a way round this but we didn't get chance to suss it out.
we were booked in to a vip suite a first for me at £18 probably the last.
flight left on time a us airways a330, it wasn't full so we managed to get seats together, uneventful flight but after a couple of hours my bum was numb (not much padding in the seats) the onboard service was ok as was the food. the i.f.e. touch screen was so slow it became annoying.
landed slightly early and cleared immigration etc no problem, as someone mentioned collected bags and dropped them at transfer point.
the onward flight to las was easy to find and we even had time for a couple of beers.
the flight to las was on us airways a320 which was small and cramped compared to the a330, also it was full so we had to sit apart, muggins here ended up with an ailse seat (not great when your trying to sleep).
again flight was on time.
return flight to phl was awful for me, again I ended up with an ailse seat but this time at the back next to the toilets, again no sleep..
shortly after take-off the captain announced we had a slight problem and that the undercarriage heat sensor warning had gone off so we would be slowing down and lowering the undercarriage for 5/10 mins to allow it to cool down, the noise was horrendous.
uneventful flight back to man on the a330.
in conclusion next time id either fly direct or have a lay over at the connection point, its a lot to do in one day and very tiring.
vegas was fantastic and one off the bucket list for me. but what goes on in vegas stays in vegas
. cheers p.h.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Northern Ireland
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Purple
As a means of comparison, I'm also just back from Las Vegas last month, but routed there differently. My experiences were -
DUB - ORD Precleared immigration in DUB, which is a godsend. Flight on AA 767-300, almost full, with no seatback IFE, just overhead screens. Crappy interior, with mediocre service. Arrived 30 mins early as a domestic flight into T3.
ORD - LAS My colleague flew on after 2 hour stopover. No problems. Because my overall itinerary was different, I had a separate booking, and I mis-booked my ORD - LAS flight, meaning I had a 9 hour stopover!! Paid to use the AA Admiral's Lounge to pass the time more comfortably - best $50 of the trip. My flight, on an MD-83 was full, but with a window seat I did manage a doze, before arriving into LAS at midnight local time.
Return LAS - ORD 08:25 departure on an MD-82 - almost full again, straightforward with no problems. Arrived 15 mins early. Very mediocre service onboard.
ORD - DUB 767-300 heap of tin and aluminium which looked like it had been trashed inside. One single row of CRT screens down the cabin, above the centre seats, atrocious overhead bins which didn't always stay closed - most noticeably on take off and landing, and were obviously state of the art when the Wright brothers had the idea of leaving home, and mostly uncomfortable seats. As we boarded (we were the first onboard) an engineer was still working on the arm of the aisle seat two rows in front of ours. As the flight progressed the occupants of that seat pair discovered they had no reading lights, and no volume control for their earphones, or indeed any attendant call buttons. They weren't impressed.
Overall - as a means of getting from Ireland to LAS it worked, but I'm not sure I'd choose to fly AA ever again. They had no style, finesse or even the slightest impression they were trying to compete with other carriers on a prime route across the pond. The aircraft were like well used Transit vans nearing an MOT. Clearing US Immigration in DUB is something I've done several times, and can't be beaten - especially now that they're located in the very spacious and pleasant lower floor in DUB's new T2,
As a means of comparison, I'm also just back from Las Vegas last month, but routed there differently. My experiences were -
DUB - ORD Precleared immigration in DUB, which is a godsend. Flight on AA 767-300, almost full, with no seatback IFE, just overhead screens. Crappy interior, with mediocre service. Arrived 30 mins early as a domestic flight into T3.
ORD - LAS My colleague flew on after 2 hour stopover. No problems. Because my overall itinerary was different, I had a separate booking, and I mis-booked my ORD - LAS flight, meaning I had a 9 hour stopover!! Paid to use the AA Admiral's Lounge to pass the time more comfortably - best $50 of the trip. My flight, on an MD-83 was full, but with a window seat I did manage a doze, before arriving into LAS at midnight local time.
Return LAS - ORD 08:25 departure on an MD-82 - almost full again, straightforward with no problems. Arrived 15 mins early. Very mediocre service onboard.
ORD - DUB 767-300 heap of tin and aluminium which looked like it had been trashed inside. One single row of CRT screens down the cabin, above the centre seats, atrocious overhead bins which didn't always stay closed - most noticeably on take off and landing, and were obviously state of the art when the Wright brothers had the idea of leaving home, and mostly uncomfortable seats. As we boarded (we were the first onboard) an engineer was still working on the arm of the aisle seat two rows in front of ours. As the flight progressed the occupants of that seat pair discovered they had no reading lights, and no volume control for their earphones, or indeed any attendant call buttons. They weren't impressed.
Overall - as a means of getting from Ireland to LAS it worked, but I'm not sure I'd choose to fly AA ever again. They had no style, finesse or even the slightest impression they were trying to compete with other carriers on a prime route across the pond. The aircraft were like well used Transit vans nearing an MOT. Clearing US Immigration in DUB is something I've done several times, and can't be beaten - especially now that they're located in the very spacious and pleasant lower floor in DUB's new T2,
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Thanks for the updates guys - confirms something I think a lot of us have norticed traveling domestic in the US - the planes are in awful internal condition and when they get full they are a grim experience
Always go direct if possible!!
Always go direct if possible!!
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Next time, try Thomas Cook Airlines! Now selling scheduled seat tickets MAN LAS in partnership with Condor. The service will be better and the A330s have decent seat pitch. Not sure about the IFE though.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Just back from Miami, flew through Philly from Man US Airways. 1.5 hour layover and had plenty of time. Luggage transfer is simple, pick it off carousel and place on the transfer belt. I think all US Airways flights at PHL are the same terminal but maybe a long walk. I would fly them again although the trolley dollies were older than George Burns.
Join Date: Mar 2012
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I do this same trip every year, same airline same route and i have never missed a connection, been close a few times but never missed it. This year i am looking at Condor as it is direct and not overpriced like Virgin.
