I'm travelling PIT-PHL-LGW next week. I have a 90 minute window at PHL which should be O.K. However, the PIT-PHL flight (70) is only on-time 40% of the time. Due to my compulsive nature I've been keeping track of just how late "late" is, and it looks as if an hour (or more) is not unusual.

While I can try for standby on the earlier flight (166) which should be feasible, I'm wondering how responsive US will be to waiving the $25 charge. Although it's not a large fee, it's the principle of the thing: I'll be doing them a favor (surely?) by a) flying on a less loaded flight and b) avoiding the possibility of missing my connection which will cost them more. Am I out of line with this, and if not, what would be the best approach? I'm flying on a fare that allows standby but not changes (well, only with a large fee), nor do I have status with them (although I will next year).

First of all, welcome to US and the board!

Unless there are weather or other issues on your day of departure, it is very unlikely that US or any of the legacy carriers will make this change for you over the phone pro-actively at your request without the usual draconian fees and service charges. Its not impossible, but odds are probably 95% no.

However, you have a good chance if you ask at the airport. If you are checking bags, you should ask at the ticket counter before your bags are tagged for a particular flight. If not checking bags, you can ask either at the counter, gate, or club. The local station agents at your originating location surely watch that flight too, and I'm convinced they too know how late it is typically. I would say if you ask nicely and briefly explain you have been watching the PHL flight you have a 98% chance of them putting you on the earlier originator to PHL as long as it is not full minus that draconian $25 standby fee. However, if the flight is full you might get stuck with your original flight. I would suggest you also watch your PHL transatlantic flight and see if it too takes a delay. Often delays hit the whole PHL system. If you are not worried about an upgrade, then you can be transferred to another airline as needed. But if you are upgrading and are transferred to another airline, likely you will be in Y so that might be more of a practical concern if you were hoping to go over the pond in Envoy.

Thanks, I had a feeling that my only chance would be to ask nicely at PIT. I think it's true that a fair proportion of these delays are due to problems at PHL, but they do seem to have a higher than average no crew/maintenance delay rate. Yesterday, for example, 70 was an hour late (no crew AND maintenance) and 98 was over 1 1/2 hours late (also no crew plus maintenance issues) getting to PHL. Unfortunately they ended up using different equipment for the PHL-LGW portion of 98, so it actually took off on time!

I won't be checking bags, but I do have a DS0084 certificate that I hope (but don't expect) to use, so I'd really like to stay on US. I'll just get there early and see if I can get on the 3.50 rather than the 5.30 flight. Actually, I don't believe I can get a standby coupon from the gate (can I?), so I guess I'll ask at the counter, in case I need to hand over the cash.

The gate can put you on standby or confirm you on the earlier flight without a coupon. The coupon is just to reflect that you paid the $25. Some stations don't have the coupons (special service ticket) at the gates, but they still can process it even if they are going to charge you I think using some kind of miscellaneous charge in Sabre. But I would consider this a border line voluntary change and would hope not to pay the fee especially since your doing it to try to avoid a misconnect. But if you want to pay the $25, I'm sure US could use it and would be greatful to you :).

I worry a moderate amount about consumer acceptance of a lot of these changes, because that can only be the impitus for management to make more anticonsumer changes. E.g. if consumer affairs does not receive "enough" complaints about the $25 standby fee it might stick, and other fees or service reductions might be right around the corner. And if US is so to speak "allowed" to do this, maybe the other majors will do it. Similarly all the other legacy carriers are watching US's labor negotiations to see how much they are "allowed" to cut wages and benefits, and this might be used as a benchmark for the other legacy carriers to cut.

But good luck, and I'm glad you have an upgrade cert! Envoy on the A330 I think has about 40 seats, so hopefully you will get a seat up front. Probably your upgrade will be handled in PHL at the A intl gates.

Just pay the $25. It is hard to get out of it. I am a CP and never ask and have heard that they rarely waive it.

I will also tell you this. I have been on Flt 70 A LOT and it has problems 95% of the time. The stats may say 40%, so I guess I am hitting it 60% of the time when it is delayed. The flight has so many problems, from air traffic delays, leaving late due to cargo, leaving late due to fuel, downsizing aircraft, overselling, on and on and on.

I would definitely take the earlier flight. So many people miss international connections when they come into PHL on that flight.

I had your situation occur when I was flying from LGA-PHL-Europe last year; I showed up early enough for an earlier LGA-PHL flight and the ticket agent volunteered to put me on the earlier flight with no charge.

If there are any delays/weather issues at all at PHL (which seem to occur about every other day), mention that along with the fear you'll miss your international connection. You just might escape the $25 fee.

Thanks everybody. Sometimes it's more convenient to "do it yourself" but this is one of those situations where good travel agent would have recognized that what is a "legal" connection might not be a practical one. In a way, $25 is a small price to pay for the stress reduction, and I suppose I can think of it as a charitable donation :)

As for the upgrade, either it happens or it doesn't - that's something I WON"T stress about.

I've taken this flight on a PIT-PHL-AMS connection. Like everyone else, I was delayed, missed my connection and rerouted through MAN (luckily stayed in Envoy on the PHL-MAN section, and then amazed at British Airways service on an RJ from MAN-AMS). Never again.. I'd rather connect in ORD, and that's no picnic.

I've booked similar connections through PHL starting in BOS. The website would only offer a 5:30 flight. Twice I've booked, and then called to say I was concerned about the unrealistic connection time for a transatlantic flight(by PHL standards). Both times the agent changed me to an earlier flight with no problem, no charge.

You might also want to check your fare code from PIT-PHL. Some of the really cheap S fares I've gotten recently actually allow standby for no fee. At least the fare rules do not state the normal $25 fee. Anytime I've thought I might try to standby with one of these fares, I've called CS and asked them to put a note in the record that there should be no fee. Then, when I'm told at the airport that I need to pay, I ask them to look at the note.

I'm curious what the last departure is out of PHL evry night over to Europe. The latest one I have found is US98 PHL-LGW departing at 825PM. Also there are MAN and FRA flights around 815PM or so. Not sure if there is anything later.

Also is there any difference in PHL between concourse A and A West? How do you know if an A gate is in A or A West? Can you walk to both A and A West inside security? I know I have walked inside security to A gates but I think it was before the new intl A West? area opened.

Also is there any difference in PHL between concourse A and A West? How do you know if an A gate is in A or A West? Can you walk to both A and A West inside security? I know I have walked inside security to A gates but I think it was before the new intl A West? area opened.

A - AKA A-East is the old A terminal, which currently is used for all other carriers other than US for international flights.

A-West AKA A-West :D is the new terminal which US uses for all of their international service that requires customs. I was going to say all international but some of the Caribbean flights leave from non-A-West gates. Depending on whether the aircraft was used/is going to be used for an international flight you'll sometimes arrive/depart in an A-West gate for domestic flights.

All of A-East and A-West are behind security.

-JC

I've booked similar connections through PHL starting in BOS. The website would only offer a 5:30 flight. Twice I've booked, and then called to say I was concerned about the unrealistic connection time for a transatlantic flight(by PHL standards). Both times the agent changed me to an earlier flight with no problem, no charge.

Well I tried this, but the suggestion was either incur a change fee or go standby. You must have more personal charm than I do. :)

Well I tried this, but the suggestion was either incur a change fee or go standby. You must have more personal charm than I do. :)
I'll count myself lucky. On one trip I did use the story of bringing along my elderly mother, which was true. Also, I called immediately, inside the window for cancelling the ticket. They probably felt bad for her, not me! I hope it all works out for you! Lately when I check for these flights, I see more options. For a long while, only one tight connection would be listed.

US Airways Flight 70
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Departure Arrival
Airport: Pittsburgh, PA (PIT) Airport: Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
Depart Scheduled Time: 5:30pm
Depart Actual Time: 5:33pm
Arv. Scheduled Time: 6:49pm
Arv. Actual Time: 6:42pm
Gate: C55 Gate: A19
Aircraft: Boeing 767-200ER Baggage Claim: A1 Status: Arrived

The above is from yesterday so it was early. But, pay the $ 25 if they insist. Well worth the piece of mind because as everybody has said PHL is PHL!

This week I sat on a brand new 170 (PHL - PIT) for about two hours until they found a truck to jump start the plane - I kind you not!

You are landing in A terminal so your walk will be short but why even take the risk? With International it is one and done. Unlike Domestic, if you miss your flight, see you tomorrow!