US Airways/America West Question

[cjsmom5]

Well -- this trip we are using US Airways/America West from Phoenix to Orlando. It is a non-stop trip and it is nice to have seats already assigned. We typically fly Southwest but the airfare for our March trip was as low as I have seen it on these flights ($188 rount trip).

I know the check-in at Phoenix but is there anything we need to be aware of at Orlando? Our flight leaves at 7:23am so we have a 5:30am pick up time. We will use curbside check-in which I assume is similar to that of SW. Any hints are much appreciated.

 

[DebbieB]

Yes, they have curbside check in terminal B. I would consider an earlier pickup time, maybe 5:00am. Security lines in Orlando can be long.

 

[safetymom]

Allow plenty of time for curbside. The line can get long early in the morning.

 

[safetymom]

There is also separate check in desks inside for America West and US Airways so be sure you get in the right line.

 

[cjsmom5]

Thanks ... the electronic ticket reads US Airways so we will make sure we do that. We are traveling on a Wed. morning and right now our flight is almost empty. Some have said since it seems to be the first flight out we might miss most of the crowds.

Does anyone know what time the curbside starts or the ticket counter opens. One time we were traveling SW we got there 2 hours prior but the counter or curbside didn't even open until 1.5 hours ahead due to the fact that the flight was leaving at 6:30am. Now that was horrible to sit there thinking we could have waited another 1/2 hour at home instead of the airport.

 

[DebbieB]

I just checked the online schedule, the 7:23am non-stop MCO/PHX is operated by America West, so you would use their counter. All their flights say USAirways but they are still operating 2 reservation systems. Curbside usually serves both reservation systems. The PHX/MCO non-stops are also America West, so get into the correct line in PHX. There are signs in the airport indicating which line to use. Usually PHX and LAS flights are America West.

 

[cjsmom5]

Right after I posted that about US airways, I went and took a look at my ticket as something just didn't seem right. I was planning on going to Terminal 4 -- America West and SW share it here in Phoenix -- and couldn't figure out why if it was a US Airways flight. Then when I looked at the electronic confirmation I remembered seeing the America West logo and it saying that they were operating the flight.

Do you know what terminal at Orlando America West flies out of?

Thanks again for the info!

 

[DebbieB]

USAirways is also terminal 4 in Phoenix, I've connected through there a few times to the west coast. The gates all say USAirways, it's just the reservation systems and counters that are separate and some of the planes have not been repainted yet. It gets to be a pain when you go up to an agent and they say they don't have the computer system for my reservation. They are supposed to have them combined by mid-year.

According to the MCO website, both are gates 30-59, B side.

http://www.orlandoairports.net/goaa/ops/airlines.htm

 

[cjsmom5]

Thanks DebbieB for the link for Orlando. It was interesting that for America West they don't say there is curbside check-in but they say Yes for US Airways.

Our flight out of Orlando is definitely operated by America West --so am wondering if that means that they will not be able to check our luggage at the curbside US Airways? It makes me think that maybe I should ask prior to actually leaving the airport. Anyone know ... for sure?

I've been in Terminal 4 -- here in Phoenix -- too many times to count and never noticed that US Airways also operates out of there ... shows how observant I am (LOL). I know exactly where the America West and SW curbside check-in as well as counters are ... and now that you mention it ... I know there are a few others in Terminal 4 in Phoenix -- just never paid attention to it. What a great obsever I am .... I should probably pay more attention to stuff like that!

 

[DebbieB]

I think you will be OK at curbside. In Pittsburgh, they have both computers at curbside. The skycaps know which one to use.

 

[cjsmom5]

DebbieB -- You are a wealth of information! Bet you can't wait until tomorrow so you can get back in those airports.