US Airways??

[Wills Mom]

Has anyone any experience flying with them? We're getting a great price for our dates next year but have no idea what they are like to travel with. Our only must-have is personal tvs, no overhead ones, as these will keep DS1 and perhaps DS2 busy.
We have gotten similar good prices with BA but the negative reports of late have me put off going with them. We'll be flying from Dublin so flights with BA or VA are indirect and we would be anticipating the "lovely" queues once we hit MCO so I'm thinking indirect via a US stopover might be best if direct is too expensive! Any tips or advice for/against airlines greatly appreciated!

 

[chmurf]

I've flown US Airways several times in the last couple of years.

As long as you get an A330 for the transatlantic, you get personnal TVs

(no TV, or pay TV for the domestic part if you're flying indirect)

Crew is like on any other airline, they can be very lovely, or they can be grumpy.

Food is correct, smaller portions than on other airlines, but enough to keep you from starving.

Overall they're not worse than the rest.

 

[Kath2003]

Not yet but booked our next trip with them.
Personal TVs on the transatlantic leg but not on the domestic leg. No problem for us; domestic leg is only a few hours.

 

[ryanl81]

Same here no experience to date but we have booked a trip in May that takes is Via Charlotte. First time we have not flown VA but we are going to give it a go as the prices when compared to Virgin were a no brainer and we get to fly from Heathrow which works well for us living in Hertfordshire.

Also I believe US Airways had now fully merged with American Airlines so the likelihood is that by then we will be flying on a US Airways flight.

 

[dixonsontour]

We've flown with them a few times MAN via Philly to Mco route.

All fine and IFE good

 

[Wills Mom]

Thanks for the replies I am here looking at the website and its saying the aircraft is a Boeing 757. Would that mean that theres no seatback tvs? The price is really good, making a massive saving on direct flights and stopover is minimal which is great with kids but the lack of IFE is a huge deal breaker for us

 

[ryanl81]

From what I can see 757 is overhead entertainment...

 

[Rach78]

Flew with US Airways in March this year, MAN - PHIL - TAMPA. Was fine, would def do it again if the price was right. No complaints at all. There was seatback TV's but I think we were on the 330.

 

[Wills Mom]

Ah well, looks like its back to the drawing board. Personally I couldnt care less about the IFE, the kids will keep me busy enough but I know it might be a useful tactic in distracting them and my inlaws who are travelling also want seatback tvs. Waiting on VA indirect (DUB-MAN/LGW-MCO) to start showing up but so far nothing. Fingers crossed their prices are as good as previous years, I have a maximum spend in my head and theres no way I will exceed it! Does anyone know if airlines have sales for summer flights? We usually go in the off season so flight sales are our usual way to go but I'm almost afraid to wait on a sale in case there won't be one for our dates (any time from June 20th)

 

[Brave5]

We have flown USAir numerous times to a variety of destinations. Have never had a bad experience. A thought to keep in mind - Indirect prices to the USA on USAir are cheapest between 6-7months prior to departure. The past two years we have paid £402pp and £432pp (these were as low as $403 but I wasn't ready with payment until the following week). Both of these were into MCO. First one was for October and the second in February.

Hope this helps

 

[chmurf]

the aircraft is a Boeing 757.

AA and US Airways don't have seatback TVs on their 757-200

it's only overhead TV

and a 757 is a rather cramped aircraft (single aisle plane)
It's a very good and reliable plane, but long hauls in that tin can makes me feel claustrophobic.

and stopover is minimal which is great with kids

what do you call a minimal stopover ?
you might want to allow yourself a minimum of 2 hours (3hrs to be on the safe side)

there are loads of 90 minutes, or less, connections out there, with very cheap fares. But that's really tight, especially with kids and if you have checked luggage.

As far as I'm concerned, a stopover of less than 2 hours and 30 minutes is a deal breaker. (ymmv)

 

[Woodview]

To Wills Mum

Have you look at Aer Lingus Dublin to Orlando Direct. ?

Advantages Arrive in Terminal 2 , check in , then security upstairs ,

into duty free, then along to USA Pre Clearance & customs,

Then when arrive in Orlando ( MCO ) you are a " domestic " passenger.

Also Depart Time allows you to travel from Most parts of Ireland

Without an Overnight stay in Dublin.

NO changing of planes .. And most times you are there in Orlando, well ahead of going In Direct


Against.......... Operates on certain dates during week.

Departure time makes it a long day for non Dublin passengers.

BUT saves money rather than staying overnight.

We catch the 6am train from Cork .. then the Green Bus ( 747 ) Airport

Express from Heuston to Airport ( Yes it does a Tourist Tour of Dublin on the way Stopping at All Hotels )

 

[Wills Mom]

AA and US Airways don't have seatback TVs on their 757-200

it's only overhead TV

and a 757 is a rather cramped aircraft (single aisle plane)
It's a very good and reliable plane, but long hauls in that tin can makes me feel claustrophobic.

what do you call a minimal stopover ?
you might want to allow yourself a minimum of 2 hours (3hrs to be on the safe side)

there are loads of 90 minutes, or less, connections out there, with very cheap fares. But that's really tight, especially with kids and if you have checked luggage.

As far as I'm concerned, a stopover of less than 2 hours and 30 minutes is a deal breaker. (ymmv)

Thanks for that. I got in touch with a travel agent who's a friend and she told me the same about the overhead tvs so for now US Airways are a non runner for us. We would preferably like a stop over of around 3 hours, that would give us time to sort ourselves out (toilet break, snack, get to next gate) We went with VA indirect last year (dub-lgw-mco) with a 3.5 hr layover and it was just right. I wouldnt mind a 90min stopover if it was just me and dh but with kids we need a longer one for sure!

 

[Wills Mom]

To Wills Mum

Have you look at Aer Lingus Dublin to Orlando Direct. ?

Advantages Arrive in Terminal 2 , check in , then security upstairs ,

into duty free, then along to USA Pre Clearance & customs,

Then when arrive in Orlando ( MCO ) you are a " domestic " passenger.

Also Depart Time allows you to travel from Most parts of Ireland

Without an Overnight stay in Dublin.

NO changing of planes .. And most times you are there in Orlando, well ahead of going In Direct

Against.......... Operates on certain dates during week.

Departure time makes it a long day for non Dublin passengers.

BUT saves money rather than staying overnight.

We catch the 6am train from Cork .. then the Green Bus ( 747 ) Airport

Express from Heuston to Airport ( Yes it does a Tourist Tour of Dublin on the way Stopping at All Hotels )

We have went with Aer Lingus in the past and it was so nice flying direct. But their fares for our dates next year are way higher than anything I am getting when I price indirect. I mean nearly €1000 in the difference which is a big deal breaker for us. I'm hoping they have some kind of sale although unless the seats get reduced by a fair bit I don't see us booking direct. It would be lovely to go direct especially with small kids but right now I don't see its an option

 

[Woodview]

What dates are you looking at ?

Look up the Aer Lingus site yourself ..... see the options.

I suppose the children will be classed as Adults No matter which Airline.

Have you looked at AL to Amsterdam & then MartinAir to Orlando

 

[Wills Mom]

What dates are you looking at ?

Look up the Aer Lingus site yourself ..... see the options.

I suppose the children will be classed as Adults No matter which Airline.

Have you looked at AL to Amsterdam & then MartinAir to Orlando

We are fairly flexible on dates, basically any 14-17 nights after June 20th next year. Its peak season though so I know flights will be more expensive than previous years when we have went off peak. With AL our prices for 3 seats and a lap infant (as DS2 will be 1.5) are around 2700 with airlines like Delta and BA coming in at around 1700-2000. We made a decision last night, we will just book whatever is cheapest with decent stopover time and flight times and if they don't have seatback tv we will just make sure the tablet is loaded with games and tv and if need be we will buy a second cheap tablet as this would surely be cheaper and easier than paying for flights with seatback tvs. I told DH we won't get much use out of seatback entertainment anyway, the two boys will be 3 and 1 and are sure to keep us super busy He was less than enticed at the prospect

 

[Kath2003]

We are fairly flexible on dates, basically any 14-17 nights after June 20th next year. Its peak season though so I know flights will be more expensive than previous years when we have went off peak. With AL our prices for 3 seats and a lap infant (as DS2 will be 1.5) are around 2700 with airlines like Delta and BA coming in at around 1700-2000. We made a decision last night, we will just book whatever is cheapest with decent stopover time and flight times and if they don't have seatback tv we will just make sure the tablet is loaded with games and tv and if need be we will buy a second cheap tablet as this would surely be cheaper and easier than paying for flights with seatback tvs. I told DH we won't get much use out of seatback entertainment anyway, the two boys will be 3 and 1 and are sure to keep us super busy He was less than enticed at the prospect

The flights really aren't that long especially when broken up. You can never get on a flight relying on the IFE either - on my last two long haul flights, the IFE was down on both return legs. I pulled out a book, chatted to the people sitting near me, played on my tablet etc. and it was no problem. I did feel sorry for the guy next to me on one of the flights who had brought NOTHING to do

 

[Wills Mom]

The flights really aren't that long especially when broken up. You can never get on a flight relying on the IFE either - on my last two long haul flights, the IFE was down on both return legs. I pulled out a book, chatted to the people sitting near me, played on my tablet etc. and it was no problem. I did feel sorry for the guy next to me on one of the flights who had brought NOTHING to do

That sounds like my DH He would so be the one caught unprepared! Before the kids came along he relied on IFE 100%, well that or sleeping! The way I see it neither of those options are really very possible with two kids in tow for next years trip I've some bits researched for keeping kids busy, my DS1 was too young on our last flight to get any use from the IFE anyway and our DS2 will be only a few months older than DS1 was on his first trip so we only need TV type entertainment for DS1 I imagine. So after some talk we have said DS1 can use my Galaxy Note 3 and DS2 can use my Galaxy S5 phone, we'll pack the phone with apps and the tab with some Disney movies and have other forms of distraction like reading books (DS1 loves to be read to) stickers, colouring books, maybe a small set of Lego Duplo and a familiar comforting toy/teddy bear each. IF I get any small amount of time to myself I will have my kindle but thats highly doubtful
So at least now that we have that decided I can kind of choose any flight that suits us timewise. We've only ever flown with VA, AL and Delta so I shall be researching all other airlines I can find that fly that route!

 

[Clare D]

Yesterday we flew from LHR to Charlotte with US Airways on the A330. Our youngest DS is 6 and his TV wasn't working to begin with so was happy to have a couple of games of Top Trumps. He did watch the TV, once they got it working, but not for long. Once he'd had a snooze and some lunch there didn't seem to be time for much else.
The crew were very friendly, plenty of drinks being offered and no problems at all.

 

[Wills Mom]

Yesterday we flew from LHR to Charlotte with US Airways on the A330. Our youngest DS is 6 and his TV wasn't working to begin with so was happy to have a couple of games of Top Trumps. He did watch the TV, once they got it working, but not for long. Once he'd had a snooze and some lunch there didn't seem to be time for much else.
The crew were very friendly, plenty of drinks being offered and no problems at all.

Thanks for the feedback I'm thinking my eldest might not be bothered by lack of a tv once there is stuff to keep him occupied and I'll have that in spades! My youngest will most likely still be too little to have much interest in tv so I'm sure keeping him busy will be that bit harder lol.