Anyone flown US Airways?

[Rach78]

Hi All,
Keeping options open for flights for next year. Don't want to many stops (travelling with children) but want to keep costs down. Have looked at Manchester to Philadelphia then to Orlando with US Airways. Has anyone done this? Or does anyone have experience of US Airways they can share?
Thanks in advance!
Rach x

 

[mb187143]

If you're flying into Philadelphia, your better bet is Southwest Airlines. US Airways is one of the WORST airlines to fly. They charge bag fees, they take forever to board the plane because everyone tries to bring carry-ons to circumvent the bag fees, so they offer to check bags at the gate. Then you get on and there's nowhere to put your carry on, except 15 rows back, where you can't get to it while you're waiting in an hour long tarmac delay that US Air always seems kind enough to provide. Sorry for the rant, but I have lived in Philadelphia my whole live, been to Disney about 30 times, and the last time I flew US Air. It was awful. Southwest offers so much more, and the price is usually comparable.

 

[mommyrosa2]

We've flown USAirways a few times with the most recent trip November of last year. We went Providence - Charlotte - Orlando. We don't normally like making stops but, like you, we needed to save on airfare and believe it or not, they were the cheapest of all the airlines last year. I liked being able to pick out our seat, but was really mad when we went to board the aircraft, we were told there was no more room in the overhead bins so we ended up having to check our carry-on bags at the gate. I found it hard to believe as were not one of the last ones boarding but arguing with the tix agents was getting us nowhere so we had to comply of course. Lo and behold when we went to our seats, the entire overhead bin above us was completely EMPTY. I was not happy and this happened to us on both legs of the trip.

 

[notaprincess]

I think OP was looking to fly from the UK, so the luggage allowance is a different story....

If the price is right and you have enough time in Philly- I say why not?

 

[mommyrosa2]

I think OP was looking to fly from the UK, so the luggage allowance is a different story....

If the price is right and you have enough time in Philly- I say why not?

I got that they were flying from the UK, I was merely stating what happened to us with the whole limited overhead bin situation which I know has happened to friends of ours who were traveling abroad as well.. it seems to be an issue with this particular airlines. Just wanted to give this person a heads up is all.

 

[notaprincess]

I got that they were flying from the UK, I was merely stating what happened to us with the whole limited overhead bin situation which I know has happened to friends of ours who were traveling abroad as well.. it seems to be an issue with this particular airlines. Just wanted to give this person a heads up is all.

Thanks... I was only commenting on the poster above you who mentioned a fee to check bags...

 

[catherine]

Flew with them a few years ago to Las Vegas via Philadelphia. They would not be my 1st choice or 2nd or 3rd come to that, but I suppose if they were much cheaper than other airlines I would consider flying with them again!

 

[dixonsontour]

We are flying MAN - PHL - MCO in October.

We have flown with them in the past but this is our first indirect flight with DD aged 5.

Reasons

Price - booked first day released 11 months from return date. They wanted £1540 for the 3 of us, Virgin wanted £2500.

Good flight times - 11.15am Manchester, just under 2 hours in Philly, then arrive 6.19pm MCO having already cleared immigration. Way back we leave MCO 5pm and land back Manchester 8.45 am the next day.

Luggage allowance is great - 23kg checked in and 18kg handluggage.

We actually booked with thomas cook online as they were the same price as US airways but had a deal where you saved another 10% for booking flight and hotel as a package.

 

[Lightning_McQueen]

Hey,

We flew US Airways from Glasgow - Philadelphia - Orlando and our experience was a very good one! One of the best things is that you clear immigration in Philadelphia so when you arrive in Orlando, it's a breeze!

 

[dixonsontour]

Anyone know what the kids meals are like on US airways? Have booked them for DD.

 

[Rach78]

Hi All,
Thanks very much for your replies. I certainly won't rule it out if it saves money!

Dixonsontour if you don't mind will you come back after your holiday and let us know how it went with them. Have a great trip
Rach x

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . does anyone have experience of US Airways they can share? . . .

1) USAir was always "average" for us.
2) Not terribly good, not terribly bad.
3) Until we flew USAir Flight 1016.
4) I have not flown them since.

 

[dixonsontour]

Hi All,
Thanks very much for your replies. I certainly won't rule it out if it saves money!

Dixonsontour if you don't mind will you come back after your holiday and let us know how it went with them. Have a great trip
Rach x

Will do.

Have to say i'm not overally picky when flying - price will always win and I can't ever see us paying for premium/business - would rather go twice. Have even flown Monarch in the past

Just to add our experience with Virgin last October half term (our first time going school hols) wasn't great. Plane delayed - we arrived 3 hours late. Flight totally full so it was chaos when you were waiting to board, old tired plane. Will be interesting to see how US Airways compares.

Other option from Manchester indirect was Continental which was a similar price to US airways when I booked.

 

[Disbabe]

We have flown MAN - PHIL - MCO with US Airways a couple of years back and we have just come back from a MAN - PHIL - LAX with US Airways.

Did not pay for checked in baggage (not charges when flying in/out of europe)

We have never had to check in hand luggage and there was plenty of room in the overhead lockers. They do have restrictions on the size of hand luggage, so whether if its oversized, they ask to check it in?
Positive things with US Airways - they allow 1 piece of hand luggage AND 1 personal item (ie. either a handbag or Laptop/case) - most Airlines these days only allow 1 carry on item full stop.

It takes about 75 mins to get through security, baggage claim etc. once at philly and to get from terminal A to B - fly into one terminal, fly out of the next. we allowed 2 hrs between flights and got to the gate as they were boarding (15 mins to spare!!) - wouldn't have less than 2 hrs between flights going into USA.

Would definately use them again as you can check-in online and choose your seats before flight.

 

[juliebro]

We've used them on every trip to Orlando and, as you can see from my signature, we've been a few times.

They have always been OK. We've had the odd delay (and a missed flight) but they have looked after us pretty well.

Likely to use them again next trip, as long as the price is right.

We've used BA to New York and have to say that we preferred US Airways.

 

[dixonsontour]

We've used them on every trip to Orlando and, as you can see from my signature, we've been a few times.

They have always been OK. We've had the odd delay (and a missed flight) but they have looked after us pretty well.

Likely to use them again next trip, as long as the price is right.

We've used BA to New York and have to say that we preferred US Airways.

We are just under 2 hours for the connection - they moved us onto a slightly earlier flight after we booked so hoping we make it.

What's the adult food like? Is it just one meal on the first plane and then nothing on the second.

I have flown with them in the past but it is 6 plus years ago.

 

[juliebro]

We are just under 2 hours for the connection - they moved us onto a slightly earlier flight after we booked so hoping we make it.

What's the adult food like? Is it just one meal on the first plane and then nothing on the second.

I have flown with them in the past but it is 6 plus years ago.

I wouldn't worry about the connection time. Two hours should be ok - as long as you don't hang around having a meal and drinks etc. If you do miss the plane they'll get you on another one. We once ended up staying overnight in Philly and being on the first plane out to MCO the next morning. It worked out really well. Got eight hours sleep and were raring to go once we go to MCO.

The food isn't great in economy, to be truthful. Over the years I think all airlines have reduced the quality of the food they give their passengers. We've upgraded once or twice and the food in Envoy is fantastic though!

More info on the airline website

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/traveltools/intheair/foodandbeverages/economy.html

In economy, you get a main meal and a snack on the transatlantic flight, and just a drink on the internal flight.

 

[dixonsontour]

Thanks for that

 

[matt&suzanne]

This thread caught my attention because I live about an hour outside Philadelphia and when we go to Disney, it's always PHL to MCO.

I hate US Airways. I've flown them many times for business over the years (Philly is a primary hub for them) and they consistently meet my expectations of failing to meet expectations.

In your case, you're not having to mess around with retrieving bags. You should have a fighting chance. The Philly US Airways crew has to be the slowest baggage service I've ever encountered.

A far better bet would either be Airtran or Southwest.

If you're already booked and can't change, it's fine. You won't have a disastrous start to your vacation. Just be prepared for a sub-par experience until you get off the plane in sunny Orlando. In the future, try one of the other two carriers first if you can.

 

[dixonsontour]

Thanks unfortunately neither are options for us from Manchester, England.

Will post when we are back about how it was.

Will focus on the positives like it being £1000 ($1600) cheaper than Virgin