US Airways

[DisBabesMan]

Hi,

Have organised our own trip to DisneyWorld next year, for Easter, having been fed up of travel agents inflated, rip-off prices at Easter Time!

We are flying from Manchester to Orlando, via Philadelphia with US Airways. Anybody any exerience of this route, or of US Airways in general? Just wondering about transfer at Philly to domestic flight, etc.

Thanks!

 

[wayneg]

Yes we did it a few years ago at Xmas, no problems. Only thing that I can remember about it was it was in the days where you had to collect luggage and recheck it in on the way home. We got to Philly and no luggage came off. We went to lost luggage and there it was. After we checked in at MCO, a plane had gone between us checking in and our flight, they had put it on this earlier flight and got there before us. Thats only thing I can tell you about them, no other problems. Immigration was a lot easier there than MCO.
If you have Virgin Frequent flyers cards you get 100% miles added to it flying US Airways economy or 150% in other classes. see details here for qualifying codes. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/fcpartners/airlines/usairways.jsp

 

[juliebro]

We've used them on every one of our six holidays to Orlando - always going from Manchester via Philly. We've found them to be very good. I didn't think BA were any better when we flew with them to NY in October. In fact, the seat pitch and the in-flight entertainment are better on US Airways.

You do have to collect your luggage at Philly and take it through customs on the outbound journey - and you go through immigration there too. On the way back the bags go straight through to Manchester.

Philly airport isn't bad - plenty of choices of food and a few decent shops too. The only warning I would give is that on the way home the Orlando flight gets into Philly at one end of the airport and the Manchester flight tends to take off from the furthest gate in the opposite direction! It can seem quite a trek.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

Julie

 

[wayneg]

I didn't think BA were any better when we flew with them to NY in October. In fact, the seat pitch and the in-flight entertainment are better on US Airways.

We have only once done this in 2002, BA, MAN-New York. Definitely was the worst transtlantic crossing we have ever done. Our first experience with BA and have not been with them since. The window was leaking water, I asked cabin staff to report it, they just said its an old plane nothing they can do, staff were miserable, small seats etc etc. BA area last resort for us.
US Airways anyday over BA for us.

 

[catherine]

We've only flown with US Airways once and that was from Man to Las Vegas via Philly Dec '04 and we had more trouble with this airline than all the others put together. All their flights were late, so needless to say we missed our conecting flight in Philly. There was no one to give us any help or advice as to how we should go about getting a new connecting flight. The cabin crew were offhand and unhelpful and the employees at the airport were downright rude!!

While we were stying with DMIL we heard a news report stating that US Airways had lost 1000s of suitcases over the Christmas period. So I suppose that we were lucky that none of our suitcases went astray! The news report also stated that charges were going to be brought against them because of all the problems that had been caused.

I know that lost of other people have flown with them and really good experiences to report, so hopefully this was just a one off!

 

[DisBabesMan]

.....In fact, the seat pitch and the in-flight entertainment are better on US Airways.

Julie

What sort of in-flight entertainment do they offer? travelling with 3 kids,need to be sure whether to stock up on Nintendo DS games and MP3 player batteries!

did your luggage get checked al lthe way through from Manchester on the way out?

Thanks

 

[juliebro]

They have seatback TVs for every seat with choices of films and TV programmes, including some for children. You can fast-forward, pause, rewind etc.

Here is a link to their website.

http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/traveltools/intheair/entertainment/default.aspx

On your way home the bags get checked all the way through to Manchester.

We did have one case go missing last year - but it was delivered to us by the next day. I've had this happen with almost every airline I've flown with, including BA. It's one of those things that happens when flying, I'm afraid.

Julie

 

[DisBabesMan]

Seat Back TV's!!
the kids will be well happy now.............

Thanks again for the PM info too.

 

[DisBabesMan]

sorry - one more Q.

What are the meals like? Are they complimentary or have to be paid for now?

 

[Cochise]

We travelled on this route in October 2005. I just dont understand why people can blame airlines that they have travelled on once for them being late. These things happen on transport with tight turn arounds, late passengers and bad weather cause and many other things cause missed slots and there is nothing the airlines can do!!

Anyway as far as the plane is concerned, the A330-323x they use for the MAN-PHL is some aircraft, the seating is 2-4-2 as opposed to 3-3-3 the UK charters use for the A330-200's they use. The seat pitch in most of economy is 34in, there are i believe a few seats in the back cabin that are 33 but cant confirm. This is a better pitch than any economy across the Atlantic apart from the Thomas Cook 757 that flies to Toronto. Virgin =31in, BA = 31in, Thomas Cook/ My Travel = 30in and BMI 32in. They dont have the foot rests that the 330-200 are equipped with but i found them to be a hinderence if anything. The PTV entertainment is very good indeed, it is the same as most of the 330's with the added bonus you can pause the program for breaks from your seat or meal times. The programming scheduling is brilliant with a good kids presentation. You can check online on the link that was posted on this thread when you are within the month you fly to see what is going to be on.

Staff, as with pretty much all US airline companies the cabin crew are mature staff and are not really smiley dollies who are all about looks. This confuses new travellers to US flights who often think they are being rude etc but i liked them very much.

Meals, well its airline food aint it, i do recall i enjoyed our BMI flight meals much better especially with the tub of Ben n Jerrys ice cream.

Philadelphia airport. This is a seriously busy place BUT dont feel daunted by this at all, everything was well signposted and staff are always extremely happy to help, take your time in security on the way to your terminal and dont send stuff through the scanner until it is clear in front of you as there are thieves who specialise in swiping cameras and mobiles etc by delaying you going through. You clear immigration here rather than at Orlando which i cant comment on as on two visits i have done this at Philly and Chicago. You collect the baggage and do customs then drop the bags off with staff who send them down the big chute. The international terminal you use is about 3 years old and is really lovely, Philly is a big art city and the terminal is very pleasing on the eye. Just watch out for those electric carts!!!

MCO is a breeze to go through, no immigration or double baggage system. You walk straight to the luggage or car area, which ever you want to do first.

All in all have no worries with US Airways, they are are company that we travelled with when they were in the real doldrums in chapter 11 etc in October 2005. Since then they merged with America West and have gone strenght to strength. You should have no worries!

 

[catherine]

We travelled on this route in October 2005. I just dont understand why people can blame airlines that they have travelled on once for them being late. These things happen on transport with tight turn arounds, late passengers and bad weather cause and many other things cause missed slots and there is nothing the airlines can do!!

I don't know whether you meant me or not, but I'll reply to this. My point was that we often fly to the States and we have used several different airlines. In all the times we have flown we have had one late flight and the airline staff that we flew with were extremely helpful. We knew exactly how to sort out our connecting flight etc. On the opposite side of the spectrum was US Airways whose flights were late (yes probably unavoidable) and whose staff were unhelpful and downright rude. So much so that DH had said that he'll never fly with them again!!

 

[carolfoy]

Hi,

Have organised our own trip to DisneyWorld next year, for Easter, having been fed up of travel agents inflated, rip-off prices at Easter Time!

jhuuuuuu879Thanks!

just a grumble! travel agents don't set ANY prices its tour ops that do this!

got that off my chest!

 

[paulh]

on the food frount.Cabin crew anouncement .It`s Beef or chicken,if weve not got your first choice we`ll have your second if not your second its pasta.Wa a usairways flight
Paulh

 

[nbodyhome]

I just did a round-trip overseas with US Air. Besides a very rude flight attendant on the way back, it was fine. The Philly to Orlando flight was late (as it appears to be about 70% of the time).

Virgin and BA are better airlines, no doubt. The one nice thing about the seatback TV's with US Air is that you can stop and start any movie at anytime. You don't have to wait until they all finish to watch a film from the beginning.

The food wasn't great, but you don't have to pay for the overseas meal. You have to pay for alcohol, though. The seats seemed smaller to me than Virgin/BA, I'm not positive on that (there is a website for seat pitch).

 

[Cochise]

I don't know whether you meant me or not, but I'll reply to this. My point was that we often fly to the States and we have used several different airlines. In all the times we have flown we have had one late flight and the airline staff that we flew with were extremely helpful. We knew exactly how to sort out our connecting flight etc. On the opposite side of the spectrum was US Airways whose flights were late (yes probably unavoidable) and whose staff were unhelpful and downright rude. So much so that DH had said that he'll never fly with them again!!

Nope general opinion i have formed over time, nothing personal especially against a red rose buddy.

 

[AliceGardner]

The window was leaking water, I asked cabin staff to report it, they just said its an old plane nothing they can do

It was most likely a "leak" from the airconditioning unit in the ceiling of the plane.

Sometimes airconditioning units leak water (especially during take-off and landing). I had this happen in UC on a Virgin plane (from Gatwick) a few years ago - the flight engineer came down to have a look. The water will find a "line of least resistance" to drip through - it often comes out from between the ceiling/wall panels (in your case it probably dripped down the wall panel and leaked out where the wall panel meets the internal window frame).

It wouldn't have been a "leaky window" as such - if water came through the window, then that window would not have been pressure tight either.

Alice

 

[wayneg]

It was most likely a "leak" from the airconditioning unit in the ceiling of the plane.

Sometimes airconditioning units leak water (especially during take-off and landing). I had this happen in UC on a Virgin plane (from Gatwick) a few years ago - the flight engineer came down to have a look. The water will find a "line of least resistance" to drip through - it often comes out from between the ceiling/wall panels (in your case it probably dripped down the wall panel and leaked out where the wall panel meets the internal window frame).

It wouldn't have been a "leaky window" as such - if water came through the window, then that window would not have been pressure tight either.

Alice

No I agree it was not a gap in the seal, but it was more than aircon water. I would say it was about a pint of water throughout the flight. I am no expert and think it should have been checked out. What annoyed me was the attitude of staff that was just did not care. All they had to say would be yes we will report it when we land, I would not know if they had or not.
I am in retail and no matter how bad a day I have when a customer comes thru the door I smile and do all I can for them. If they dont like their jobs they need to get another not take it out on paying customers. Sorry pet hate of mine, miserable people.

 

[AliceGardner]

It is still likely to be aircon water - if you are sat in "the wrong spot" it is amazing how much water those things can leak... There isn't much else it could be, up there (unless someone had a leaky bottle of something in the overhead compartment above your seat - did it smell of water of alcohol? ).

I could be wrong, but I would guess that I only got a visit from the flight engineer (when I got a leak over my seat) because I was seated in Upper Class. He said that it was quite common and unfortunately there was little that they could do (especially whilst we were in the air). The flight attendant gave me some extra blankets to catch and soak up the water.

Water from the aircon unit is pretty harmless (although annoying if it is you that it is dripping on). It can't be any sort of leak in the fuselage because for any sort of water to be coming in (anywhere), then air pressure must be escaping out. Big commercial airplanes have a lot of "cabin pressure sensors" and warning alarms. Although there have been a couple of cases of crashes due to undetected depressurisation (and pilot hypoxia) - one on a private jet, one on a commercial ariliner - it is incredibly unlikely that leaking water would be a sign of this (depressuraisation would be a lot quicker than any water finding its way into the cabin - i.e. you would be looking at either people passing out or an explosive depressurisation before you notticed the dripping).

I agree regarding poor customer service - big pet hate of mine too...

Alice

No I agree it was not a gap in the seal, but it was more than aircon water. I would say it was about a pint of water throughout the flight. I am no expert and think it should have been checked out. What annoyed me was the attitude of staff that was just did not care. All they had to say would be yes we will report it when we land, I would not know if they had or not.
I am in retail and no matter how bad a day I have when a customer comes thru the door I smile and do all I can for them. If they dont like their jobs they need to get another not take it out on paying customers. Sorry pet hate of mine, miserable people.

 

[Steve and Sarah]

We have travelled US before and they have been great.

The entertainment package on the Airbus's we have been on in first rate - video on demand (ie. Stop and start the movie when you want etc.)

Food was normal airline affair.

Although the change in Philly can be pain - you at least do immigration there and just step off the plane and breeze through at MCO.

Can't comment on lateness (Although I don't think they are any worse than any of the others) but we would definately use them again.

Staff were fine also - as with all flights it depends on what team are on etc.

 

[nbodyhome]

I mentioned the rude flight attendant - I just received a form letter with a voucher for US West made out to another person.

I am flying Continental as often as I can, and Virgin or BA overseas. I would have rather heard nothing from US Airways, really! The flight over otherwise wasn't horrible, but she was the very nastiest flight attendant I've ever encountered - mostly I just want her re-trained.