Is there any difference in order of service between the first and second A330 Envoy cabins? Are f/a’s dedicated to each of the two cabins?

Originally posted by TPA us ff:
Are f/a’s dedicated to each of the two cabins?


Yes. Dedicated FA's for each section.

BTW, Welcome to FT. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Five F/As assigned to Envoy on the A330. One in the galley, two on either side of the aircraft. But the four work both the front and rear Envoy sections.

Same service.

Just flew PHL-FCO in Envoy. My imagination, or are those seats narrow? Observed the famous First Class cabin. Prior to flight computer showed 2 of 6 booked. It was full on the actual trip. Noticed 2 of the actual 6 had hand luggage with US crew tags. Otherwise, boarding delayed for Envoy due to late catering (plane was at gate 3 hours prior), and several headsets didn't work.

Perhaps US is training their employees to be like UA employees who seem to get the coveted double upgrade with great regularity. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

I just did a trip rdu-phl-cdg, I checked the 1st seating day of departure and only myself and someone else were booked (I wanted to upgrade my boss, who ended up missing the flight). When boarding outbound and return there were FOUR crew members in 1st. I have nothing against crew flying in comfort but some CP in a paying envoy seat should have been upgraded instead--the crew even asked me to switch seats and I ended up with a faulty video monitor http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif. They didn't even have DOM this trip, they switched to Krug this month.

Originally posted by rachel:
I just did a trip rdu-phl-cdg, I checked the 1st seating day of departure and only myself and someone else were booked (I wanted to upgrade my boss, who ended up missing the flight). When boarding outbound and return there were FOUR crew members in 1st. I have nothing against crew flying in comfort but some CP in a paying envoy seat should have been upgraded instead--the crew even asked me to switch seats and I ended up with a faulty video monitor http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif. They didn't even have DOM this trip, they switched to Krug this month.

Do you know if US had a paying CP on the flight? A lot of US employees will ride one way in F class to/from Europe to try it out - it costs about $150.00 to do it.

Originally posted by rachel:
They didn't even have DOM this trip, they switched to Krug this month.

I consider this an upgrade!!!
IMHO, Krug is superior to Dom...

I saw plenty of CP luggage tags when boarding, I'm not sure if they were paying envoy or upgraded from coach. There must have been someone there on business who paid the full fare--envoy was full. The fifth crew member was unlucky and had to sit in coach. She came up to first every hour or so to complain that she thought she was suppose to be in envoy.

To me, if I was CP and had a paid coach or envoy ticket, I wouldn't have any issue with crew getting first seats. I didn't pay for it, so why should I have any right to get it without a valid upgrade.

On a side note, out of the 36 envoy seats, I believe 1 or 2 are always blocked for the relief pilots.

Originally posted by PHL:
On a side note, out of the 36 envoy seats, I believe 1 or 2 are always blocked for the relief pilots.

For what I saw on my PHL-FRA and FRA-PIT flights, it's one seat (5C, I think) that's pulled out for crew rest (never saw pilots in the seat, just an F/A or two)(you'll see the same thing on a seat map if you set it to purchase an Envoy ticket (you can still see without actually buying).

I recently flew from PIT-FRA. Upgraded to Envoy. Was chatting with the desk agent when he asked for seating preference and he mentioned that they try to keep rows 6 and 7 open for the crew to rest during the flight. I was pretty surprised that they would do this, but I guess if they can 'centralize' the crew at the rear of envoy, then they wouldnt be interfering with the paying customers in 2-5.

Also, every time I have flown, the First Class cabin has been full of crew members. Makes me wonder who is flying the plane.

I have absolutely NO PROBLEM with crew and other employees in First or Envoy AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT CUTTING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE ENTITLED TO AN UPGRADE! The key word for emphasis is ENTITLED. If there are paying passengers in line to use a SWU or something like that, and they can't because an employee is taking the seat, then that's not right.

Yeah, yeah...It's a worthless fight, I know...I surrender, United!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

[This message has been edited by ThisFlightNoFuel (edited 02-15-2001).]

Originally posted by ThisFlightNoFuel:
I have absolutely NO PROBLEM with crew and other employees in First or Envoy AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT CUTTING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE ENTITLED TO AN UPGRADE! The key word for emphasis is ENTITLED. If there are paying passengers in line to use a SWU or something like that, and they can't because an employee is taking the seat, then that's not right.



They won't be. Employees do not get their seat assignments until there is 100% assurance that the seats will not be occupied by revenue passengers. So, with 20 minutes prior to departure, and with two or four employees listed for F class, the agents will then assign the seats to the employees.

Wow.. US Airways is really changing to be more like United. The one comment I have on the above comments would be that I would take exception with an USAirways Employee askign me to move.. I would think they could move around me... strange.

Does the last row in each cabin have any less recline than the other rows? Do the bulkheads have just as much legroom as the other rows? thanks.

Last row in the forward BC cabin (5) appears to have as much recline as row 3 and 4. Bulkhead row in the forward cabin (2) appears to have less leg room than the other rows.

During my last flight in 5G, the seat became jammed on full recline due to the F/A's storing their flight bags behind the seats. It took 3 attendants to manually "re-set" the seat. I was told that crew baggage should not be stowed there. Check it out before reclining if you're in an A330 at row 5!

[This message has been edited by TPA us ff (edited 06-05-2001).]

Personally, I found 5G to be quite comfortable. I actually prefer this seat b/c I know that when I recline, I won't be bothering anyone by being in their lap.

Plus I can see the whole cabin so I also know that no one will be making funny faces at me behind my back! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
Personally, I found 5G to be quite comfortable. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif</font>


But the photo clearly shows you in seat 5H. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif


Actually, I like row 5 too. I had 5G from PHL-CDG last month.

Employees pay $150 each way for First, and $100 each way for Envoy on Transatlantic flights. As mentioned, these upgrades are allowed only after all revenue customers have been accommodated (for that matter, non-revs aren't accommodated in any class of service until the last minute). I will say that although for some it is a big treat to fly up front, there are times when it is the only way the employee will get on the flight at all with the heavy loads in coach. I know several people that have had to hand over the $150 since F is the only thing available, even though they're content to sit in coach. When you consider how little some (not all) US employees are paid, this is a considerable amount.

Since I've been flying non-rev again after several years of preferred status, it's interesting to see both sides of the picture. There's only one instance I can recall of a full-fare paying F customer in the last few months, and they were being repatriated to the UK by their insurance company for medical reasons (at a cost of over $4600 one way for 6 hours on the plane - or $12 a minute!). Envoy does get quite a few full-fare J passengers, especially to the big 3 (LGW, CDG & FRA) as well as MAN. Those folks seem content not to hand over upgrades to F since it's company money paying for a comfy Envoy seat anyway - and they want the upgrade for when they buy a $298 V-fare for vacation.

As far as row 6 & 7 are concerned, some flight crews will ask that it be kept empty if possible so they can use those seats. However, revenue passengers seated there won't be moved if they're already seat-assigned. The other side of this is that rows 6 & 7 aren't really liked by most of the regular customers, since row 6 is bulkhead, there's Y-class gawkers and noise, and LOTS of galley activity throughout the flight.

The designated crew rest seats are 5C (cockpit) and 21ABGH (f/a). They will never be sold on a transatlantic flight. Row 21 is the worst since everyone wants the leg room those seats have to offer.