Is US Air doing non stop flights anymore????

[mistydoodles]

We booked our non stop flights for Dec 10-17th with US Air last month. Paid for them and everything.

Yesterday I get a call from the travel agent that there has been a change to our airline tickets. US Air, for whatever reason, has cancelled that non stop flight and she needs to put us on another flight with layovers.

I so badly didn't want any layovers. We had such a hard time with them last year and ended up getting stranded in Philadelphia for a day. (Could have been longer but we decided to forget the airplane and booked train tickets to take us home on Christmas Eve-What a nightmare)

The only reason I am flying with this airline again is because they sent us $500 in travel vouchers to compensate us for all our troubles last year.

Now I am afraid that something like that is going to happen again.

I have checked almost everyday in Decemeber and there isn't one non stop flight. Why aren't they doing non stop flights anymore?????

 

[DebbieB]

I feel your pain. I live in Pittsburgh, which used to be USAir's main hub with over 500 flights daily. They went into bankruptcy, cut our flights in half, very few cities are non-stops anymore, most are connecting through Philadelphia or Charlotte. If you have a choice, I would try to connect in Charlotte. I flew to Jacksonville earlier this month through Charlotte, it was easy to get around.

 

[MAH4546]

Are you referring to US Airways Albany-Orlando or Syracuse-Orlando non-stops? These have been canceled.

TransMeridian offers Syracuse-Sanford service, but there is no non-stops to MCO. Southwest offers Albany-Orlando non-stops.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I'm also from Pittsburgh, and I would go with Debbie's suggestion and connect through Charlotte. Philadelphia is a nightmare, we've had horrible experiences connecting there.

 

[safetymom]

I fly quite often with US Airways. I agree about flying through Charlotte instead of PHL. Less chance of weather delays in CLT and the airport is smaller.

 

[mistydoodles]

Are you referring to US Airways Albany-Orlando or Syracuse-Orlando non-stops? These have been canceled.

TransMeridian offers Syracuse-Sanford service, but there is no non-stops to MCO. Southwest offers Albany-Orlando non-stops.

My flight is currently Syracuse to Orlando but I would be willing to change to Albany if I could get a non stop flight.

I will have to check out those other two airlines. I was having a tough time finding any.

Thanks for the tip. Hopefully the prices will be low enough that I won't have to feel bad about not using the $500 in vouchers.

Thanks again.

 

[mistydoodles]

Thank you SafetyMom, DebbieB and californiadreamin.

I do have a choice between Phil and NC. I will take your advice and choose NC.

I don't want to have any headaches this time. It was so bad last year.

It took over a week to get our luggage back. Plus we had to take 6 hour train ride to get home. Don't want to go through all that again.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[beccasmom]

We're in PHL locale and agree with the advice about Charlotte. I wouldn't want to be stuck in the PHL airport any longer than necessary. Last year was a nightmare that USAirways will not easily live down. The best way of avoiding a repeat is to avoid the airport entirely.

Retrieving luggage at PHL continues to be a hit/miss situation. Sometimes it is very quick; other times it is unbearably long, with no explanations, no apologies and no one to offer assistance. For a local returning home, it may be an inconvenience at best; for visitors, it is not exactly welcoming; for both groups, it is a disgrace.

 

[Tara]

My flight is currently Syracuse to Orlando but I would be willing to change to Albany if I could get a non stop flight.

Thank you SafetyMom, DebbieB and californiadreamin.

I do have a choice between Phil and NC. I will take your advice and choose NC.

Albany hasn't had direct flights to Orlando on USAir (or Delta, United or American) for several years now. Not since MetroJet and Delta Express stopped flying. Only Southwest flies non-stop from here to Orlando now.

I'd agree with taking CLT over PHL, too. Not only do you reduce your risk of weather-related delays, the airport is smaller and looks newer, with nicer shopping. Baggage handling in PHL is becoming infamous, too.

(edited because I realized I didn't quote the post I intended to)

 

[MAH4546]

Albany hasn't had direct flights to Orlando on USAir (or Delta, United or American) for several years now. Not since MetroJet and Delta Express stopped flying. Only Southwest flies non-stop from here to Orlando now.

Yes, they have. US Airways offered seasonal Saturday non-stop Albany-Orlando service last year, running September 2004 through May 2005.

 

[mistydoodles]

We're in PHL locale and agree with the advice about Charlotte. I wouldn't want to be stuck in the PHL airport any longer than necessary. Last year was a nightmare that USAirways will not easily live down. The best way of avoiding a repeat is to avoid the airport entirely.

Retrieving luggage at PHL continues to be a hit/miss situation. Sometimes it is very quick; other times it is unbearably long, with no explanations, no apologies and no one to offer assistance. For a local returning home, it may be an inconvenience at best; for visitors, it is not exactly welcoming; for both groups, it is a disgrace.

You are 100% correct when you say no one to offer assistance. I couldn't believe how no one would tell you anything or try to help you out. I was just so discourage.

The only reason I received any type of compensation is because I started writing letters to US Air, FAA and anyone else I could get ahold of in regards to this situation.

I was able to book our flights again yesterday and we will be connecting in CTL.

Thank you so much for your advice. I really appreciate it.

 

[HayGan]

I just booked non-stop flights on USAirways to MCO from PIT. I'm lucky that they still offer plenty non-stops a day from PIT.

Definately go with a layover in CLT not PHL. I've never flown thru PHL (and I fly ALOT) and not had a delay!!!

Have a great trip

 

[mhf]

I took a chance and booked Independence Air from Dulles to MCO for Dec. I've flown them twice this year. I think they fly to/from Albany as well but you'd probably have to change in Dulles or somewhere.

I tried USAir and they wanted to send me from DC to PHL to MCO in Dec for more $$...no thank you!

I've been stuck in Charlotte a few times for extra hours because of bad summer storms. A couple of cute shops and a nice food court (complete with Krispy Kreme donuts!) made it bearable. ANd rocking chairs!

MHF, with fingers crossed for Dec trip! aw:

 

[Piecey]

My brother and I are connecting in PHL to PIT on our flight home.. Christmas Eve.. Was that a mistake??

 

[rgf207]

I fly usair all the time. I started a few years ago collecting miles with them and since I have over 150,000 miles I dont tend to switch airlines. I have had my share of problems with them recently

I fly out of BWI all them time. There aren't really any direct flights to many places. USAir's major hub on the east coast is Charlotte & Philly. I avoid Philly like the plague. It has to be the worst airport I have ever been in. Everytime, and I kid you not, I have been to the philly airport I have been cancelled or delayed over 4 hours. I love the charlotte airport. It is big but not too crowded and very easy to get from one end to the other. I am flying from BWI to MCO Sept 23 and am connecting in Charlotte. I dont know of any direct flights that usairways offers anymore. I have not had a direct flight in ages with usair

 

[mistydoodles]

My brother and I are connecting in PHL to PIT on our flight home.. Christmas Eve.. Was that a mistake??

I don't want to scare you but Last year we were trying to come home the day before Christmas eve and got stuck in PHL. This was our first time flying and it turned into such a nightmare once we got to PHL.

I thought maybe this was a one time thing with this airport but from the sounds of it people recommend not using this airport. I would see about changing it.

Good luck.

 

[mistydoodles]

I fly usair all the time. I started a few years ago collecting miles with them and since I have over 150,000 miles I dont tend to switch airlines. I have had my share of problems with them recently

I fly out of BWI all them time. There aren't really any direct flights to many places. USAir's major hub on the east coast is Charlotte & Philly. I avoid Philly like the plague. It has to be the worst airport I have ever been in. Everytime, and I kid you not, I have been to the philly airport I have been cancelled or delayed over 4 hours. I love the charlotte airport. It is big but not too crowded and very easy to get from one end to the other. I am flying from BWI to MCO Sept 23 and am connecting in Charlotte. I dont know of any direct flights that usairways offers anymore. I have not had a direct flight in ages with usair

WOW!!! I can't believe how bad Philly is. We kind of figured we just got stuck in a bad situation last time but I was almost willing to take the layover in Philly again this year when our direct flight got cancelled.

I am so grateful for the responses on this board because it made me call my travel agent right back up and switch our new flights to Charlotte.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.!!!!!

I wonder why USAir doesn't offer the direct flights anymore? We almost had one but then they cancelled it. Strange.

Thanks again.

 

[Hopefully]

I have to agree strongly with the admonisions about PHL. I have NEVER flown in or through Philadelphia without a delay. And on top of that, I have found most employees to be pretty discourteous. Of course, in their defense, everyone is yelling at them!

 

[safetymom]

I have flown into and through PHL quite a few times with no problems. Because of the large volume of flights I would choose another airport just in case. Once a delay starts a lot of flights are affected.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I'm so sorry to all of you who have experienced USAirways pain, especially in Philly. My dad has worked for them in PHL for decades. The situation has been so sad for everyone...both workers and customers. Last Christmas was from hades, but there shouldn't be a repeat of that situation this year.

I know its hard, I've been skunked by an airline on more than one occasion, but try to keep a good sense of humor about it all. Be as friendly and courteous as you can. The gate agents and employees are in a very tough spot and have lost their senses of humor. Any smiles, thanks, and general nice behavior goes a LONG way.

Some tips to make PHL transfers more bearable: use the moving walkways between the terminals (there is one hiding behind the shops between B and C); use the maps in the back of the Attache magazine to map your route; wear sneakers and run like the wind! If you're delayed, grab a coffee and enjoy the rocking chairs.

Wishing everyone better flying success....