Options @ PHL on USAir - What Would You Do??

[Bill From PA]

We've got an 8:20 am flight out of a small airport on New Year's Day on USAir, connecting in PHL. I'm thinking we'll be ok getting to PHL, but if the health of the baggage handers there takes a turn for the worst, what will our options be? We're taking a carry-on with a few days of stuff so we can do without our luggage for a while. Will USAir get us on another carrier to MCO and send our bags along after? Should I quickly get on stand-by with them, or is there some other course of action I can take? It's just the 2 of us so we can be more flexible than otherwise. Any advice offered is appreciated.

Bill From PA

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'd double check on the stand-by option. I think you need to purchase a $25 stand by coupon that in non-refundable if they don't let you fly stand-by.

If your flight is cancelled but the airline is still operating they will put you on the next available flight. I'd call them and ask about their flight cancellation policy. Many years ago we missed our flight because they moved it 3hrs up and didn't notify us. I distinctly remember them offering an upgrade to first class on the next flight or taking another carrier which was leaving in an hr.

If you luggage doesn't make the trip with you, it is supposed to be delivered the next day, which happend to us from PHL to AVP. It didn't make the connection in Philly.

PS. I assume your flying out of AVP. I just check the rates for our April trip and the cheapest was Northwest. Have you ever flown NW?

 

[safetymom]

I would have the 800 phone number for USAirways with you in case you need to change your flights.

Also be sure to have your contact information and itinerary in your suitcase in case the luggage tags get ripped off.

Also it wouldn't hurt to have the phone numbers of some hotels in the area in case you can't fly out.

Just relax and realize that getting mad at the ones still working won't get you very far.

 

[Bill From PA]

Thanks for the feedback. No fear, SafetyMom, I'm not one to rant at bad fortune, I just work with the options, and now I have a few.

MaryKatesMom, yep, it's Avoca, and I did consider all carriers including NW, but we've only ever used USAir and Delta . USAir was cheapest by quite a bit at $211 RT for really handy flight times for us. If all goes according to schedule, we'll be at MCO by 12:21 pm NY day and at Epcot by 2.

Bill From PA

 

[safetymom]

Bill, I put that in there for others that think that yelling and screaming at the gate agent is going to get them somewhere.

I fly a lot and have learned it doesn't do you or them much good to get angry. It may take a little longer but I have always gotten home.

 

[mom2of2]

Bill,
I have a flight out of PHL with USAirways on Jan 14th and I called United yesterday to ask them what their policy was regarding cancelling flights. I explained that at this point I didn't feel very comfortable flying USAirways since I HAVE to be in Orlando on the 14th because my son is competing in a National tournament in Taekwondo. I told the woman that I was concerned about luggage since we have to check his weapons and gear and we HAVE to have them when we land. Honestly I wanted to get out of the mess that USAirways has caused with little to no expense . I paid $89 for USAir. I was willing to loose some money but the woman told me it was $100 cancellation fee and that since I bought my tix through United that they would make sure that I got to my destination when I'm suppossed to and that they don't have a direct flight so I would have to change planes. The news keeps saying to make back up plans and that USAir doesn't look like it can recover from the holiday meltdown. I'm at a loss here. If it was a vacation that would be one thing but it's not and we are traveling with my mother and my 76 yr old grandmother so it is on my shoulders. I hate to panic and the woman assurred me that it would be ok and that one way or another I'd get to where we have to be, luggage and all. Keep us up to date on how your travel went!
Good luck

 

[Bill From PA]

Mom2of2,

Your circumstance is different in that apparently you have one of those United ressies that gets 'coded' to USAir and United will take responsibility for you, at least that's how I understand it and I hope so for your sake. If USAir is FUBAR at PHL when we get there either we go on without our checked luggage on a USA flight and get our bags later, OK by me, or we find another carrier that USAir comps us for and we live out of our checked bag until the others arrive, still OK. I just want to know what moves to make to get to MCO reasonably early on 1/1/2005. They can take their good time in getting us home on 1/10. I will post here on our experience, but if you're curious, after your head clears on New Year's Day, go here:
http://fs.usairways.com/abs/flightStatus.do

and punch in flights 3840 and 359 and you'll know if I'm smiling or not.

Good Luck!

Bill From PA

 

[safetymom]

I am not betting that USAir will make it now. I have 4 free tickets to use up so hopefully I can get a few flights in before they go under.

Guess we all have to wait and see what happens. I hope the employees aren't stupid enough to try something on the New Years holiday. If they do that will be the end of US.

Good luck Bill.

 

[jel0511]

I read in the local paper (South Jersey) yesterday that US Airways is asking ALL its employees to volunteer to come in this weekend at PHL and help out for FREE (ie meaning no pay) to help out with any employee outages that might occur. US Airways also said they were going to be looking at the attendence of all those who called out during Christmas and that actions might be taken. With that statement from US Airways it does seem like they are preparing for another possible "sick-out" this weekend.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Many are speculating that US Airways will not come out of it this time. I used to fly them before SWA...I found SWA less expensive and better service. Here's a little more on US Airways.

Key Dates for troubled carrier

Jan. 3-6 - Staffing must be increased to handle greater post-holiday traffic.

Jan. 6 - Deadline for unions to agree on long-term concessions or face possible court-imposed cuts for an indefinite period. Three of four main unions currently work under interim court-imposed cuts.

Jan. 13 - U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing on company's request for extended access to government-backed loans. Current court-approved access expires Jan. 14.

Jan. 27 - Omnibus hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Feb. 15- Expiration of court-imposed wage and benefit cuts. Would be superseded by actions on Jan. 6.

Feb. 17- Omnibus hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Mid-March - When company has previously said it may run out of cash without major savings or cash infusions.

SOURCES: US Airways Group Inc.; U.S. Bankruptcy Court.


Good luck Bill! Let us know how it goes for you! At least you have a positive attitude and seem prepared for all possibilities!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

This is just a random thought, and one that I'm considering for our end-of-January trip on USAir.

Southwest also flies directly out of PHL to MCO and I'm pretty sure it flies from the same terminal. Why not book fully-refundable tickets for SWA for your travel dates? That way, if USAir has problems, you still have a flight to MCO (albeit an expensive one). But if things go smoothly with USAir, you'll get your money back from Southwest.

I have myself and the kids booked to fly out of PHL on 1/28, returning on 1/31. We're using up our USAir frequent flier miles. I'm not so concerned about luggage (short trip, using carryons), but I don't want to get stuck in Orlando. So, I'm thinking about booking one-way, fully refundable tickets on SWA for the return flight...just in case.

 

[jel0511]

Southwest also flies directly out of PHL to MCO and I'm pretty sure it flies from the same terminal.

Actually, they're in different terminals at the same airport. US Airways flies out of terminals B and C, while Southwest flies out of Terminal E. I also don't believe those terminals are connected, so it would involve an outside walk to get to Southwest gates at PHL. Your plan does sound like a good one, it will prevent you from being stranded at either location. I really don't think you need to book tickets in advance, you can just present yourself at Southwest's ticket counter and purchase the one-way fare there, the walkup fare is the same as the full refundable price.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I really don't think you need to book tickets in advance, you can just present yourself at Southwest's ticket counter and purchase the one-way fare there, the walkup fare is the same as the full refundable price.

Yes, but if USAir is having problems, EVERYONE will be walking up to the SWA counter trying to do the same thing. At least by doing the fully-refundable advance purchase, I'm assured seats on the flight, as long as I check in on time.

Thanks for the info on the teminals. PHL is so spread out that it can take quite a bit of time to get from C to E. Fortunately, I'll only be returning to PHL and won't need to make the trek, but it is something Bill may want to consider if he's flying into PHL.

 

[Disney Ella]

Could you UPS your luggage to the place you will be staying? (Don't know if there is a limit on the size of deliveries hotels will accept for guests.) I was a victim of a US Air baggage handler sick out and it certainly adds unneeded stress to the trip. I would avoid letting them touch my bags if I could.