Because of the tenuous situation, I haven't flown on US very much since September. Mainly I shifted my business to DL, and am thinking about going over to AA depending on how well DL can turn their situation around. Some degree of which airline I choose to switch my business on will also depend on which places I will be travelling to next year, which I may not know until January. Given the generally lower prices on DL and this uncertainty, I will probably have to stick with them.

I was wondering, for those of you diehard US fans, are your flights still full? Have you seen a significant drop in the number of PAX on board?

Even though it's hard for me to imagine US not being around, its equally difficult to predict what could happen by February.

Have their been any positive news since 9/27 announcements? I did a search on the internet and only came up with that date.

If it is true that upper-middle managment is not getting cuts, that is pretty disgusting. I wonder if they think that it will be easy to find the same level/equal paying job in the same or a different industry. I saw that Northwest managers were matching the paycuts they had asked of their pilots. I somehow doubt that US is doing this, otherwise it would be much better publicized.

I'm not sure if DL is a better choice for us Carolinians, but they do seem like they're looking at all options to turn things around.

Can someone give me a list of what positive changes are being made at US to substantiate why I should risk flying on them for the next couple of months (until February)?

I hope others reply as well, for there are many more experienced flyers/posters than I, but here's what I have gleaned in the past few months.

The positives -
1. Transformation plan is underway reducing hub & spoke routes, increasing direct flights, and expanding different routes.
2. Carribean & S American routes are expanding
3. Pilots union agreed to new contract close to what US was asking for
4. Go Fares are more readily available & seem to be helping the revenue stream
5. The "rolling banks" of flights in which flights come & go all day instead of in large groups should make PHL & CLT more efficient & reduce costs.
6. It seems that if the airline can survive they are likely to expand customer friendly things like in flight entertainment (TV), amentities, and so on.

The negatives -
1. They lost money last quarter again (this was expected due to high cost of fuel)
2. They don't really have an investor jumping up to bail them out of bankruptcy
3. The workers are demoralized by major pay cuts resulting in work slow downs & "bad behavior" on the part of some (I can sympathize with the workers here...they have given a LOT back)
4. Getting new planes for the expanded route network would seem to be hard due to financing constraints

That said, my last flight was 100% full, though it was about 3-4 weeks ago.

I have been loyal for years to U & hope to continue to be. Happy flying!

Don't know about management pay cuts, but I can tell you that most of the flights I have been on (some 3 r/t to Fla in the last 2 months) have been quite full. Actually, it has even surprised me how full flights are. I have also noticed that most of the flight attendants have been significantly kinder than usual. This is one visible thing that at least the employees are doing to help the airline going.

I would also like to hear an answer about mgmnt pay.

The Florida flights that PinHoLe2003 was talking about were probably from PHL or DCA where most of the time I also have seen full or nearly full planes.

However, last night I was on the 655PM LGA-FLL 733 and it was only about 50%. There were even three empty seats in FC.

My take on this is not that the demand is not there, because Song and JetBlue have been crowded, but that US has not done a good enough job of promoting this brand new route.

I believe that the idea of FLL and LGA as focus cities is one of the best plans that they've ever had over there in Crystal City, but if they don't figure out how to make the FLL part of the transformation plan successful, the outlook will be dim for this company.

The Florida flights that PinHoLe2003 was talking about were probably from PHL or DCA where most of the time I also have seen full or nearly full planes.

However, last night I was on the 655PM LGA-FLL 733 and it was only about 50%. There were even three empty seats in FC.

My take on this is not that the demand is not there, because Song and JetBlue have been crowded, but that US has not done a good enough job of promoting this brand new route.

I believe that the idea of FLL and LGA as focus cities is one of the best plans that they've ever had over there in Crystal City, but if they don't figure out how to make the FLL part of the transformation plan successful, the outlook will be dim for this company.

In my opinion, US is actually willing to have 50% L/F on the LGA-FLL routes for the time being and not advertise it.

The reason being that the LGA-FLL route isn't as much about competing against JetBlue and Song, but rather giving the NY O & D traffic a viable connection to get to all the new Latin American cities out of FLL. LGA-KIN (via FLL), for example, will generate much more revenue than LGA-FLL will. The reason the US resumed this route in NOV, as opposed to FEB when EWR/BDL/BWI/Etc.-FLL was to make a statement to JetBlue, saying "don't infringe on our LGA operation." But again, all that matters are the connecting opportunities come February (if US is around).

I have been loyal for years to U & hope to continue to be. Happy flying!

Thanks for the update..I hope they survive too. Maybe by focusing on just PLA and CLT as their hubs they will be able to turn things around?

Also, how has the arrival of Independence Air to CLT changed their business? I know that people from Charlotte used to drive to GSO and RDU for cheaper fares. If Independence drives down the fares (like Swest did in PLA), that can't be good for US.

I flew US86 SANPHL on Sat, Nov 7, and returned yesterday, Wed, Nov 10, on US5. Both 100 percent full. GA asked for volunteers at SAN, but not at PHL, where final passenger boarded to take last empty seat (next to me) just as cabin door closing. I'd been waitlisted (as CP) for upgrade for many months, but no room up front either direction. I speculate that many DM-flush folks are burning miles for upgraded travel.

I just did phl - sfo roundtrip and the outgoing flight was about 95 percent full and the return flight was about 85 percent full. I think the outgoing flight was actually oversold, but there were no shows.

Something else to ponder...

Its not just the load factor that's important but also the average price of each ticket. Anyone can fill planes when they are giving away tickets (well, anyone but IndyAir!).

I flew US86 SANPHL on Sat, Nov 7, and returned yesterday, Wed, Nov 10, on US5. Both 100 percent full. GA asked for volunteers at SAN, but not at PHL, where final passenger boarded to take last empty seat (next to me) just as cabin door closing. I'd been waitlisted (as CP) for upgrade for many months, but no room up front either direction. I speculate that many DM-flush folks are burning miles for upgraded travel.


My anecdotal experience is very similar. I was on 4 734s this week and there were 6 empty seats total on the flights. For the first time in almost 2 years, I missed an upgrade. Actually, 2 upgrades. From watching when the seats dropped prior to the flights and my discussion with GAs and FAs, there were a lot of US3s and US4s sitting up front. If they were there on miles, it was FC premium awards. My guess is that companies are willing to pay $800 or less for an A fare, when they were used to paying $1,300 for a Y.

I'm curious about this also if flights are usually full? I'm flying soon in 3 weeks and was wondering if the FRA-CLT and PHL-FRA have some empties or usually full or overbooked? Just to give me idea what to expect on those 2 routes. I'm not crazy about the idea of connecting thru PHL to FRA from ROA due to problems with the baggage handlers and all, oh well :p

Out of 12 mainline segments in two weeks, loads were never even close to full.

As a more dire observation, only one flight (RDU-CLT) had a full f/c cabin. That means a nearly complete absence of business (US1, 2, or 3) flyers on board. I think that most FF's are shifting their business elsewhere.

I'm testing the waters on LH and AA next week (my clients will not fly Envoy and pay a full C fare). Oddly, Envoy used to be my European clients' choice (even over their own flag carriers). Unfortunately, it seems to have been relegated to an upgrade cabin, with the food, cleanliness, etc., reflecting that status.

BTW, FC was not full on 6 flights I took in September. Again, the FF's just aren't there :( .

Well I think just before the thanksgiving season things can be kind of hit or miss. This is the slow season.

Here are what my flights have been like for the past few days:

Oct 26 DCA-TPA 100% full (over sold) 8:30am Flight Bowing 733

Oct 28 TPA-DCA 60%full 7:10am flight Airbus 319

Oct 28 DCA-LGA 70%full 10am flight Airbus 320

Nov 2 LGA-CLT 50% full 6am flight Bowing 733
(curious why there where two LGA-CLT flights no more than 10 minutes from each other. There was another LGA-CLT flight taking off over at the next gate)

Nov 2 CLT-MCO 100%full (over sold) 9:50am Bowing 757

Nov 9 FLL-DCA 75% full 12:05pm Airbus 320

Nov 11 DCA-CLT 100% full (over sold by 10 people) 10:10 am Airbus 321
Nov 11 CLT-ATL 100% full (over sold by 6 people) 12:20pm CRJ-700

All the flights that were over sold they gave away free vouchers for new r/t tickets for up to a year no one was involuntary bumped as people were volunteering and were guaranteed a seat on the next flight or re-routed.

I know a lot depends on what time of day you fly out as well. Those 6am flights, many people don't take them. I do because usually the loads are always lighter. Many people I guess just don't want to get up so early in the morning.


Nuttymama,

Good luck through PHL. As much as I do love US Airways. I hate PHL. Going to Europe my bags have always made it. But connecting and coming back to the USA. 40% of the time my bags did not make it to my connecting flight. (I fly transatlantic a lot.) I hope one day PHL gets their act together with baggage. :mad:

The past several flights I have taken on US have been full or oversold. I just checked the loads for my Thanksgiving travel (11/20 & 11/27). F looks full in both directions, but it looks like there are plenty of seats left for sale in Y.

I know a lot depends on what time of day you fly out as well. Those 6am flights, many people don't take them. I do because usually the loads are always lighter. Many people I guess just don't want to get up so early in the morning.

6AM IS too early! The security lines are unpredictable so if I had a 6AM, I would need to get to the airport by at least 4:45AM. Its at least a 30 minute process to get to the airport, park my car, take the shuttle bus to the terminals (4:15); getting ready in the morning is another 45 minutes (3:30)... so If I have to get up at 3:30AM to make it to a 6AM flight, I'd rather fly the night before and spend the night in a hotel! Sorry if this sounds like complaining. I just think 6AM flights are impossible! Just my two sense. :)

I was wondering, for those of you diehard US fans, are your flights still full? Have you seen a significant drop in the number of PAX on board?



THey have all been 100 percent full lately for me. CLT DCA PBI.

10/28/04
700a - 928a IND - CLT US 1099 95%
1025a - 1229p CLT - SJO US 373 90% A319


11/01/04
115p - 614p SJO - CLT US 462 95% A319
830p - 1009p CLT - IND US 451 95%

Nov. 13, AMS-PHL, 187 out of 192, according to an FA.

CLT-DCA @ 4:30 today was oversold. I was put on a flight to BWI & given taxi voucher & RTFC.

11/14 PHL-LGA US2271 RJ was oversold, given RTFC and put on nonstop PHL-ROC.

11/14 PHL-ROC US101 733 was near 100% if not full.

-JC

CLT-DCA @ 4:30 today was oversold. I was put on a flight to BWI & given taxi voucher & RTFC.

What's RTFC?

What's RTFC?

Round trip flight coupon/certificate

CLT-DCA @ 4:30 today was oversold. I was put on a flight to BWI & given taxi voucher & RTFC.

Oh, and flight to BWI was 100% full. Being one of the last people to get on this flight, I was given seat 22E -- it's quite the shock going from an envoy seat on the 330 to seat 22E. First class was full on my original flight so I wouldn't have been UG'ed on that flight but did have an exit row.

I've flown two transcons in the last two weeks and all four mainline segments (PHL-SFO, SFO-PHL, PHL-SFO, and SFO-CLT) were almost completely full (F was 100% full on every segment). On the SFO-CLT redeye they were even asking for volunteers.

Can someone give me a list of what positive changes are being made at US to substantiate why I should risk flying on them for the next couple of months (until February)?

I don't think that there's any "risk" to substantiate. Either you choose to fly US or you select another carrier. Life goes on plain and simple.

Chapt. 11 does indeed create storm clouds over the more distant time horizon for US. It has nothing to do with reservations for the next 60 days or so as US winds its way through bankruptcy proceedings which now have their own momentum and time frame.

My flights have been full ( PHL-PHX, PHL-PBI ) the FAs for the most part are trying to put a good face on a dreary situation, and it's business as usual on US.

I wish them well & hope to keep flying US. But I too am pondering carefully reservations beyond March 1st.

Barry

Nov 15 ATL CLT US Flight 352 at 6am 99% full (one seat vacant) I guess people do get up early for these flights

Nov 15 CLT BOS US Flight 506 85% full


Troy

The flight was entirely full today. 534

#893 FRA-PHL last Friday had four open envoy seats. I thought that was a colossal mistake.

Last week:

CLT-SFO: 100% full in FC, about 80%(?) in coach.

SFO-CLT: half full FC, 95%+ in coach.

IAH-CLT-PHL near 100%

PHL-DEN near 100%

Last wed. night red-eye SFO-CLT was 100% full and one person was even voluntarily bumped.

#893 FRA-PHL last Friday had four open envoy seats. I thought that was a colossal mistake.

:confused:

Nov 18 BOS ORD 8:10am US Flight 6293 (operated by United) 30% Full
This was a boeing 733

First Class was full however, there were only 2 rows (8 Seats)

Yes I know this is not a TRUE US Metal flight however it is code shared. But really does not count. There were 3 other US fliers on board though. At least they had their preferred tags on their carry on.

197 PHL-SFO 11/19

3 empty seats in FC, two of which are filled by employees; coach full.
Question: who are these clueless elite back in Y who aren't upgrading for free? You can't tell me an A321 full in Y didn't have three elite.

On the other hand, less competition! :D

197 PHL-SFO 11/19

3 empty seats in FC, two of which are filled by employees; coach full.
Question: who are these clueless elite back in Y who aren't upgrading for free? You can't tell me an A321 full in Y didn't have three elite.

On the other hand, less competition! :D


Flew CLT-SAN about a month ago on a 320. Cleared all the elites and still sold 3 First Ups.

PHL - STL - Monday 11/15 - 50 of 50 sold

STL -PHL - Thursday 11/18 - 49 of 50 sold.

PHL-SJO on 11/3/04 50-60% full
SJO-CLT on 11/9/04 90% full or more
CLT-PHL on 11/9/04 on a 767, 95% full, what was nice was they didn't seat anyone next to me.

197 PHL-SFO 11/19

3 empty seats in FC, two of which are filled by employees; coach full.
Question: who are these clueless elite back in Y who aren't upgrading for free? You can't tell me an A321 full in Y didn't have three elite.

On the other hand, less competition! :D

I started a thread on this several months ago. It does amaze me that some of these seats going empty - especially when you see the rush to the gate when they call preferreds - before zones were started.

DCA-PHL evening flight 11/17 - 100% full in F, 60% full in Y
PHL-LGW 11/17 - 20% full in Envoy (had two row 1 seats to myself!) but 100% full in coach!

US 12 LAX-PHL today:

2 seats open in F when I arrived at the Club 2 hours prior to departure. I was #1 on the list, where I remained until I was paged 45 minutes prior to departure. (I overheard an interesting exchange between the desk agent at the Club, and another US2 who was #2 on the list & unfamiliar with the "airport waitlist" procedure. It was like a lesson in Upgrading At The Gate 101. She was the last one to clear before boarding.)

5 minutes prior to departure, the seat next to me (1C) was still empty, so the purser got on the loudspeaker & paged somebody in the back to "gather all of his belongings and proceed to seat 1C in First Class." As soon as he was seated, the purser announced that "all of you standing around in the aisles, please take any open seat." Luckily I never got farther back than row 1, but I presume Y was completely full.

11/12 RDU - PHL 40% full with 2 hrs delay
11/12 PHL - FRA 80% full with 2 hrs delay

Luckily I drove to my final destination instead of taking a connection flight. Otherwise I might have to stay in a hotel for an extra day

11/20 PHL-AVP

37-seat Dash 8 with at least 3 open seats.

Tuesday 11/16 PIT->EWR E70 %30 Full
Wednesday 11/17 EWR -> PIT E70 %20 Full

In contrast July through October I was flying rountrip PIT -> PHX frequently and it was almost always %100 soldout.


--Jon

11/20/04
IND - CLT 600a - 729a US 549
FC 4/12 taken (1 crew)
67% coach;

11/20/04
CLT - TPA 830a - 1012a US 220
FC 11/12 taken
100% coach;

11/19 PIT-CLT-IAH Both flights completely full, and a lot of people going the same route as me (grumble grumble to the loss of the nonstop)

11/21 IAH-CLT-PIT Same, both completely full, and again at least a dozen people I counted going the same route (more grumble)

Flew CLT-SAN about a month ago on a 320. Cleared all the elites and still sold 3 First Ups.

Anyone know why US doesn't advertise the first-up cities on their website or anywhere else? Does anyone have a list of cities that do this? I know I've seen it in PHX before.

PHL-ORD -- 11/20 -- 5 in F, 40 in Y. Very light load.

ORD-PHL -- 11/21 -- Full Load. I think there were 2 or 3 empties in Y.

On both flights the FA's were very friendly and provided excellent service. Hang in there US!!!

11/19 PHL-SFO: full in both cabins
11/21 SFO-CLT: full in F; 3 open in Y
11/21 CLT-BUF: 4 empty in F; 1/2 empty in Y

Service excellent on all three flights. You'd never know the uncertainty and hell these agents are living through. The contine to shine and shine!

US Airways 6448 ORD-DCA Nov 23

code share operated by United flight number 602
Boeing 733 F/C 100% full (8 seats) coach 40% full

sat next to a US Airways capt who is based out of ORD.

Once again sat next to other US preferred members as they were talking and joking with the US Airways Capt.

The UA code share flights I have been on have been very light. Can't wait for the US direct flights from DCA to start in Feb.

11/22 US 2380 CAK-PHL 20% full (10 out of 50)
11/23 US 2277 PHL-CAK 80% full (about 40 of 50)

Both flights CRJ's by Mesa.

Total makes 100%!! ;)

LAX-PHL 11-20 95%
PHL-PIT 11-20 100%

Most LAX-PIT/PIT LAX flights recently have been full or nearly so. Even throughout the "slow" autumn months. :rolleyes:

LAX-PHL 11-20 95%
PHL-PIT 11-20 100%

Most LAX-PIT/PIT LAX flights recently have been full or nearly so. Even throughout the "slow" autumn months. :rolleyes:

That's because the left coast flights ex-PIT are increasingly 320s and even 319s, whereas they were once full 321s (the O&D from PIT to SFO will support, on average, 2+ 321s/day, but nobody said US was keeping track :rolleyes: ),

That's because the left coast flights ex-PIT are increasingly 320s and even 319s, whereas they were once full 321s (the O&D from PIT to SFO will support, on average, 2+ 321s/day, but nobody said US was keeping track :rolleyes: ),

Good point- but they drop PIT-LAX to two flts per day from three AND start using the smaller equipment. I guess at least their load factor is up because these flights are jammed. They're trying to force PAX though PHL and CLT I am assuming...?

11/27

AVP-PIT: 23 out of 37
PIT-LAX: Full, with one open seat in F because the back of the seat was missing!!! Alas, the gate agent told me I was #1 on the waiting list, but there was no back on the empty seat, so I was not cleared.

11.25
PHL-LGW
100% full

11.28
LGW-PHL
100% full

Dec 1 DCA PHL US Flight 169 Full in First and Coach

Dec 1 PHL LGW US Flight 98 Full in Envoy and Coach

People still seem to be flying US despite all the bad and negative press.

PHL-FRA 11/23 90% full
FRA-PHL 11/27 99.9% full one seat open!

Just completed a MIA - PHL - LAX return trip. On both sectors, MIA - PHL - MIA, there were several seats available in First Class, while Coach was at least 75% full. On my other two flights, PHL - LAX - PHL, the flights were entirely sold out, even in First.

12/16/04:

IND - PIT 545a - 659a US 3141 Regional Jet: 35% full

PIT - LGA 745a - 901a US 908 A320: 60% full

Only about 100 passengers on the A330. I was very surprised about this as it was a Friday and you usually get the drug company folks on this flight. Also it is somewhat in season now. It was much fuller 2 weeks prior.

Sean

Only about 100 passengers on the A330. I was very surprised about this as it was a Friday and you usually get the drug company folks on this flight. Also it is somewhat in season now. It was much fuller 2 weeks prior.

Sean

Sean, where were you sitting on this flight? I was in 4G, and the folks in 4F&H were both from that pharmecutical company in PHL.

Isn't that F/A who worked the flight in first (chubby one with short red hair) the absolute best? I see her on that route all the time.

I must comment that it was rather bumpy towards the end. I did enjoy watching "Collateral" though - good movie.

And some more info...

My connection PHL-LGA was cancelled on Friday (4424), so I took 82 instead. In first, I was the only revenue PAX with 2 non-rev's. That isn't very good.

On Tuesday I took a mileage run to make CP again. I did the following:

LGA-FLL US 771
FLL-CLT US 1020
CLT-DCA US 1262
DCA-PHL US 169
PHL-LGA US 3991

It is easy to see why US is cutting the LGA-FLL frequencies in half already. 771 had 2 F/19 Y on Tuesday morning. It was sad.

On the next three flights, I didn't have an opportunity to look in the back so I don't know if Y was full. F on those three was full or near full though.

PHL-LGA 3991 was 37/37 on Tuesday evening, which was nice. Incidentally, the Piedmont F/A was the best express flight attendant I've ever had. She seemed like she was a seasoned mainline F/A, and I actually sent in one of my certificates of excellence for her. When the Captain came on and said "folks, #22 for departure," she did her entire snack/drink service on the ground, going through the cabin with a tray of sodas. She was simply awsome, and I told her so.

All in all a nice MR, although I was tired. Also saw Bernie Williams in DCA which was cool. Quite concerned about the LGA-FLL run though - the F/A's said it was typically that light.

12-15 LAX-PIT US 54 90-95%

This route has been close to full all year.

Dec 16 Bcn Mad 9am Spain Time Us 8604 (operated By Spain Air) First 80% Coach 75%
Dec 16 Mad Phl 12:40pm Spain Time Us 0011 Envoy 75% Coach 90%
Dec 16 Phl Dca 5:30p Usa Time Us 0028 First 100% Coach 100%

(m.r. Day)
Dec 17 Phl Rdu 7:00 Am Us 1171 First 80% Coach 50%
Dec 17 Rdu Phl 8:20am Us 0171 First 100% Coach 90%

Dec 17 Phl Pvd 11:40am Us 0469 First 50% Coach 40%
Dec 17 Pvd Phl 12:39pm Us 0385 First 100% Coach 90%

Dec 17 Phl Mht 3:45pm Us 0502 First 75% Coach 50%
Dec 17 Mht Phl 6:00pm Us 1292 First 90% Coach 80%

Last week I flew PHX-PIT-TPA and return. Every flight was ~ 30% full except the return PIT-PHX which was at about 75%. Calm before the Christmas rush ... I don't know. PIT was a real ghost town.

Sean, where were you sitting on this flight? I was in 4G, and the folks in 4F&H were both from that pharmecutical company in PHL.

Isn't that F/A who worked the flight in first (chubby one with short red hair) the absolute best? I see her on that route all the time.

I must comment that it was rather bumpy towards the end. I did enjoy watching "Collateral" though - good movie.

I think I was right behind you (good thing it was Envoy otherwise I'd be worried that I was kicking your seatback)! That F/A is always on that route and is always fantastic. I seem to remeber she had crazy christmas earings last Friday. One time the A330 was out of service, and a bunch of us regulars were very confused in coach on a 767. She came back with a bottle of wine and started offering it to us in coach. I'll have to find out her name on my next flight (the 17th) on that route.

It got real choppy last Friday...I had just ordered some hot tea and right when I put the bag in we hit the bumps. Thank god I had khaki's on as the tea was almost the same color as my pants and ended up all over them! The delay almost killed me in Philly...I got onto my connection to DCA RIGHT as the door was closing! I did the mad dash from International to Regional in about 8 minutes!

Maybe I'll see you on that flight soon!

Sean

12/20/04

LGA - IND
740p - 1005p US 3303
15/50 seats

12/21/04

IND - LGA
830p - 1030p US 3208
20/50 seats.

PIT-FLL Saturday morning (ESavers), first was full, coach looked pretty full. (Airbus 321)

FLL-PIT Sunday afternoon return, first was 3/4 full, coach looked like a ghost town. (Again, Airbus 321)

Of course, with ESavers outbound being on Saturday, and return being spread between Sunday through Tuesday, I guess that could mean that a LOT of Saturday's passengers were idiots like me trying to go somewhere warm on a last-minute getaway ;) (Which still isn't really a good sign for US...)

12/22/04 - DCA to MCO. 132 available seats, sold to 130. 9:55am departure.

Hope this bodes well for a good holiday season for US.

Bringing this back up. Curious to hear reports of how full flights are now since the holiday is over with. Anyone got reports to share as far as full flights?

1/7 EMB 170 9:35 AM EWR to PIT 30 People

1/4/05 redeye LAS-PIT was 100% full in both cabins. A low-yield route, perhaps, but I've never seen a flight to or from LAS on any airline that's been less than 90% full.

1/5/05 morning Express flight (E170) from PIT-DCA was about 75% full.

12-15 LAX-PIT US 54 90-95%

This route has been close to full all year.

That's because it went from 3 or 4x/day 321s to 2-3x/day 319/320.

1/10 - PHL-BNA 9:35 a.m. CRJ - 80%

Recent transatlantic
12/28 PHL-MAD and 1/6 return were sold out in both

Flew BTV-PHL-MCO on Jan 6 (Thurs)...
BTV-PHL 100% F/95% Y
PHL-MCO 100% sold out

Flew MCO-DCA-BTV on Jan 10 (Mon)...
MCO-DCA 80% F (they offered $100 upgrades to anyone & sold 2)
DCA-BTV 80% Y (No F on the CRJ)

So...looks good to me....!

That's because it went from 3 or 4x/day 321s to 2-3x/day 319/320.

pre-9-11 they were at 5x/day then to 3x/day and since November 2x/day on the A319s and A320s as you mention and also have eliminated Saturday service. I know they can support a greater capacity on this route--I tried to book lax-pit for this week but I could only get a middle seat and did not want to risk not getting an upgrade so am finally flying through CLT on a 321 which by the way appeared to be half-empty while all the PIT flts were nearly full on thurs and friday. I understand the need to service the CLT hub, but why eliminate capacity on an extremely heavily traveled route like pit-lax (OK I know, too few planes, no profit because fares are so low, etc., but still...)

1-4-05 PIT-LAX FLT 45 100% full in F and 95% full in coach. GREAT flight crew BTW ^

pre-9-11 they were at 5x/day then to 3x/day and since November 2x/day on the A319s and A320s as you mention and also have eliminated Saturday service. I know they can support a greater capacity on this route--I tried to book lax-pit for this week but I could only get a middle seat and did not want to risk not getting an upgrade so am finally flying through CLT on a 321 which by the way appeared to be half-empty while all the PIT flts were nearly full on thurs and friday. I understand the need to service the CLT hub, but why eliminate capacity on an extremely heavily traveled route like pit-lax (OK I know, too few planes, no profit because fares are so low, etc., but still...)

1-4-05 PIT-LAX FLT 45 100% full in F and 95% full in coach. GREAT flight crew BTW ^

US is not known for rational decisions in this regard. I believe the O&D from PIT-LAX is north of 350 people/day. That alone, without connecting a soul, will fill the two 320s. And from what I'm told, PIT is still a connecting operation, focus city nonsense nonwithstanding.

The airports and planes were empty today for me. 9 this morning and 14 on the return on a CRJ. No crowds at the airport, no security line. No shoes off. BTW, the employee morale is at a low but everyone still was nice and I was told that a pax was discouraged by an employee from renewing a Club membership because the money might be wasted right now.

PHL-PBI 1/12 -- 10:15a-1:06p -- 737 12F and 131 in Y. 1 empty seat.

1/15
US 34 LAX-CLT: F full; Y 3/4 full
US 2826 CLT-RDU (RJ): Full

1/16
US 1009 RDU-CLT: F 6/9; Y - 1/4 full
US 81 CLT-LAX: F 14/16; y - 1/2 full
(Note: This was the Sunday night of Martin Luther King weekend, during the Eagles game AND the Golden Globes. The FA in F said that the loads for the next day were 100%.)

745am PHL-NAS Fri Jan 7, first might have been full, coach (A320 I think) maybe 1/3 full

1:45p NAS-PHL Fri Jan 7, think 2 people in first, I'd say about 30 people in coach.

No wonder I had no problems using miles for the flights.

Jeff

My PHL-CDG flight was full on Saturday, 1/15.

FDuvall

Today (Fri. 1/21):
RDU-PHL 2 in 1st and 15 in coach on a 733 (which admittedly departed at 5:55 AM).
PHL-BOS maybe 25 total on an A321.

Maybe people booked away from the date of the machinsts vote deadline just in case?

I should note that my return flights we jam packed - of course this was after the airport in Boston had been shut down by a blizzard the previous day.

Monday, Jan 17, 2005 PHL->SEA US107 A319
F 12/12
Y 105/108

No upgrade for me as GP :( but I got an aisle in exit row

14 Jan US288 LGA-CLT completely full...#1 on the upgrade list and still ended up in Y
14 Jan US131 CLT-PHX completely full...even sold most of the F seats...I got one of the only (if not THE only) upgrade

19 Jan US826 PHX-PHL again, completely full...I was the only standby cleared. No upgrade...23B for 5 hours. I'll accept that though if U is selling transcon F seats.

Friday Jan 28, 2K5
DCA LGA 1000 1105 US Airways Shuttle Flight 2166 First 100% Coach 100%
In all my years flying the US Shuttle during this time in the morning. I have never seen a complete full flight. This one was completely full! ^

Tuesday Feb 1, 2K
LGA DCA 0600 0700 US Airways Shuttle Flight 2161 First one seat empty Coach 40%

DCA FLL 0840 1105 US Airways Flight 1456 First 100% Coach 80%

31Jan US 56 2PM FLL-DCA - 100% in FC, 100% in coach
2Feb US 3151 855AM DCA-SDF - 14 Pax on an ERJ-145 (less than 30%)

LAX-PIT 2/4 FLT 10: 100% full in F; 90%+ full in coach
No upgrade as Gold (again) even though I did everything right :(
but this is tough one to get on a Friday

Saturday Feb 5, 2K5
FLL DCA US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1488 Oversold. They rerouted people to the LGA flight which was close to being oversold and they made that flight at 100% as well. Those people went FLL LGA DCA and actually got in before we did because our flight left late. We had 6 people that needed extra assistance that took an extra long time to board the flight. No fault of US Airways as they did an excellent job of handling the situation.

2/6

US 1161 PHL-CLT: F at 80% (several crew though) and Y <50%
US 2780 CLT-BNA: Y at 90+%

Monday Feb 7, 2K5

US AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 1801 (Operated by MID-ATLANTIC AIRWAYS)
0645 0830 DCA ATL Out of 70 seats only 13 were occupied.

The gate agent said that the DCA ORD Flight only had 3 people! These of course are early morning flights. However she said the loads for the rest of the day were all light. She said probably due to the fact with the lack of advertising.

Saturday--PIT-SFO on a 319. 3 open in front (two of those were subsequently occupied by commuting US pilots). only 42 in the back.

Sunday--SFO-PIT. Full boat. Standbys did not make it. I did not get the UG as a CP (checked in at 24 hours before, someone was ahead of me on the list and he did not make it, either). This is the Sunday noon flight, tho, which is always full (people going to work).

Tuesday Feb 7

DCA ATL 0645 0810 US Airways Express flight 1801 (Operated by Mid-Atlantic Airways) 14 out of 70 seats full

Thursday Feb 11, 2K5

ATL DCA 0655 0830 US Airways Express Flight 1816 (Operated by Mid-Atlantic Airways) 21 out of 70 seats full

DCA ORD 0955 EST 11:15 CST US Airways Express Flight 1825 (Operated by Mid-Atlantic Airways) 18 out of 70 seats full

Been lurking a while. Most of my flights have been >75% full.

Friday Feb 11
ROC PHL 1800 1956 US809 10/12 seats full in F, 5 empty seats in coach (737-300)

PHL ATL 2125 2242 USE2215 10 empty seats out of 70 (CRJ 700 - 1st time on this plane. Exit row has LOTS of legroom, but the seats are very uncomfortable).

Sunday Feb 13

ATL PHL 1945 2130 US 611 8/12 filled in F, >95% full in coach

PHL ROC still waiting. Flight delayed by 90 minutes waiting for crew coming in from BNA (said to be mechanical delay). Plane (E70) has 2 open seats.

How are the Loads on the Sunday Evening PHL-FCO flights?
I used to take this flight to arrive in Rome Monday morning to go straight to work - but everytime I look at the pricing - they have been in the 2000 range - so I've been using my primary carrier (UAL).

Good luck to the *A.

02/17/05
545a - 659a
IND - PIT
US 3016
coach: 70% full


1000a - 1215p
PIT - MCO
US 1453
coach: 100% full
first: 100% full

2/18/05

Forget the flight number

Express 2:15 p.m. CRJ departure
PHL-BNA
Oversold

02/17/05
545a - 659a
IND - PIT
US 3016
coach: 70% full


1000a - 1215p
PIT - MCO
US 1453
coach: 100% full
first: 100% full
The MCO flights, especially for weekends, are bound to have high loads. Not sure if the yields are high, though.

2/17
US 114 LAX-CLT
100% full in F. A few open seats in Y.

US 1411 CLT-SAV
100% full in F & Y.

2/20
US 352 SAV-CLT
100% full in F. A few open seats in Y.

US 1464 CLT-LAX
100% full in F. Possibly 100% full in Y.

Thursday Feb 17, 2K5
DCA PHL 0600 0650 US AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 2411 (OPERATED BY PSA AIRLINES) OVER SOLD

PHL SJU 0745 1230 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1268 OVER SOLD

Monday Feb 21, 2K5

SJU FLL 0700 0845 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1146 First Class 100% Coach 3 open seats

FLL CLT 0945 1120 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1146 OVER SOLD

CLT DCA 1200 1310 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1152 OVER SOLD.

Nice to see oversold flights for a change. People were running to take a bump.

02/20/2005:

845a - 1104a
MCO - PHL US 1206
Coach: 100% full
First: 100% full

02/20/2005:
1220p - 233p
PHL IND US 2703
Coach: 100% full

2/4 STL-PHL ER7 cancelled
rebook on AA STL- ORD M80 85% full
ORD-SYR ERJ 50% full

2/8 SYR-PHL 737 1/3 full
PHL-STL CR7 < 10 people

Most of RJ I flew recently < 20% full, no matter which airlines, except this morning UA SYR-ORD CR7 100% full.

Yes, all 5 flights in the past 7 days have been full or nearly full-- and my last flight was 100% full, which made it impossible for one lady in coach to move after her neighbor threw up all over her during the flight. (Fortunately I was in FC.)

I have a lot more sympathy for US FA's now, seeing them very professionally deal with that situation!

Tuesday Feb 22, 2K5

DCA PHL 1720 1800 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 394 F/C FULL, COACH FULL

PHL MAD 2015 0830 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 12 F/C 4 seats empty, Coach 80% full

MAD BCN 1130 1240 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 8605 (Operated by SpanAir) 100% full both coach and first class

Wednesday 2/23
US54 LAX-PIT (redeye) = 100% full in F, 50% in Y. I was surprised to see such a light load on this flight considering that most LAX-PIT flights are going out 100% full these days.

Thursday 2/24
US1728 PIT-DCA = 80% full. My redeye landed 15 minutes early and this flight left from the next gate over, so I was glad to get a seat rather than having to wait 2 hours for the next DCA flight.

Wednesday 2/23
US54 LAX-PIT (redeye) = 100% full in F, 50% in Y. I was surprised to see such a light load on this flight considering that most LAX-PIT flights are going out 100% full these days

I am very surprised as I regularly take this flight and it has been full or nearly full on virtually every flight since the spring of '04.

Also:

2/24 LAS-PIT FLT #608 F 100% full; coach 100% full.

Missed upgrade once again

I am very surprised as I regularly take this flight and it has been full or nearly full on virtually every flight since the spring of '04.


I was talking to the club agent at LAX (forget her name but it starts with an "N") about the PIT loads last night, and she surmised that with last Monday being a holiday and a long weekend for many folks, there weren't as many regular transcon commuters flying this week. Makes sense...though I was not one of the lucky ones with a long weekend. :(

They really need to add a morning LAX-PIT and an afternoon PIT-LAX flight to the schedule, even if it's just on a 319. Two daily nonstops in each direction just aren't enough.

LGA-FLL #305 12/12 F, 114/114 Y
FLL-SJU #305 6/12 F, 66/114 Y
SJU-PHL #98 18/42 F, 214/224 Y
PHL-ISP #4326 22/37 Y

Overall, 54.5% LF in F, 85.1% LF in Y

They really need to add a morning LAX-PIT and an afternoon PIT-LAX flight to the schedule, even if it's just on a 319. Two daily nonstops in each direction just aren't enough.

I miss that 7:45AM LAX-PIT flight.

They really need to add a morning LAX-PIT and an afternoon PIT-LAX flight to the schedule, even if it's just on a 319. Two daily nonstops in each direction just aren't enough.

I totally agree. Just the pre-November schedule would be great 3x per day each way. Considering the winter has been jam-packed on this flight I shudder to think of what the summer is going to be like. They must be thinking about the ramifications of this. Am I going to have to book last minute flights on Southwest this summer? :eek:

03/03/05
545a - 659a
IND - PIT
US 3016
Coach: 65% full

740a - 923a
PIT - ATL
US 1632
Coach: 30% full

I just flew US 201 this morning, PHL - SFO, and it was oversold and jam-packed. They asked for volunteers.

The lady at the desk laughed at me when I dared ask about the possiblity of an upgrade as a lowly silver. :(

03/16/05
625a - 839a
IND - BOS
US 3308
Regional jet: 10/50

445p - 622p
BOS - DCA
US 2043
My first Shuttle Coach: 60% First: 100%

750p - 939p
DCA - IND
US 556
Coach: 70% First: 100%

Twice on the 6:45AM that is now a 737 from RDU-DCA, the flight was about 20% full with FC about half. Conversely, when I take the 6 or 7 AM flights on American Eagle, they are packed, albeit they are only 37 or 44 seaters.

For the return in mid afternoon, the US E70 has been packed as are the Eagle flights. I was surprised to see no line for security at the US pier at DCA today but the one for AA, UA and US was 25 minutes long. I had to wait close to 15 minutes to use a kiosk to get a BP with only 3 people in front of me. I should have gone to the FC line. But the TSA did not deshoe me. :)

3/17 US 1232
BNA-CLT
100% F & Y

3/20 US 1214
CLT-LGA
90% Y (according to companion in back)
25% F (only 7 on a 321)

All evening flights

3/17 STL-CLT 100% full
CLT-SYR 85% full
3/20 SYR-CLT 85% full
CLT-STL >100% full, peoples are asked to volunteer to bump. One person even get the permision for bump after boarding.

3/18
DCA-CLT 4:55 PM Full; oversold by 8
CLT-DFW 7:00 PM 97% full

3/20
US 499 (1055a) LGA-CLT: Y: 95%+... F: 100% (SP cleared with companion)
US 265 CLT-BNA: Y: 95%+....F: 100% (SP cleared with companion)

4/15
DCA LGA 1400 1500 US AIRWAYS SHUTTLE FLIGHT 2164 Coach 100% First 100% due to Accel problems that day. Flight was an hour late due to winds sat on tarmac for 30 minutes

4/17
LGA DCA 0800 0845 Coach 80% First 100%

Bags on both flights came off very quickly. Within 5 minutes of getting to baggage claim.

i fly to/from pit and lga/hpn two or three times week...the flights have been at least 75% full and often times are completely full...also, these routes, pit-lga and pit-hpn rt, have seen a noticable pickup in fares...rt is now about $341 starting in may up from $180-$220...can anybody explain the fare increase? maybe no competition on those routes and fuller flights make the routes good fare hike canidates? i dont know...

Because of the tenuous situation, I haven't flown on US very much since September. Mainly I shifted my business to DL, and am thinking about going over to AA depending on how well DL can turn their situation around. Some degree of which airline I choose to switch my business on will also depend on which places I will be travelling to next year, which I may not know until January. Given the generally lower prices on DL and this uncertainty, I will probably have to stick with them.

I was wondering, for those of you diehard US fans, are your flights still full? Have you seen a significant drop in the number of PAX on board?

Even though it's hard for me to imagine US not being around, its equally difficult to predict what could happen by February.

Have their been any positive news since 9/27 announcements? I did a search on the internet and only came up with that date.

If it is true that upper-middle managment is not getting cuts, that is pretty disgusting. I wonder if they think that it will be easy to find the same level/equal paying job in the same or a different industry. I saw that Northwest managers were matching the paycuts they had asked of their pilots. I somehow doubt that US is doing this, otherwise it would be much better publicized.

I'm not sure if DL is a better choice for us Carolinians, but they do seem like they're looking at all options to turn things around.

Can someone give me a list of what positive changes are being made at US to substantiate why I should risk flying on them for the next couple of months (until February)?

i fly to/from pit and lga/hpn two or three times week...the flights have been at least 75% full and often times are completely full...also, these routes, pit-lga and pit-hpn rt, have seen a noticable pickup in fares...rt is now about $341 starting in may up from $180-$220...can anybody explain the fare increase? maybe no competition on those routes and fuller flights make the routes good fare hike canidates? i dont know...


I am very surprised as I regularly take this flight and it has been full or nearly full on virtually every flight since the spring of '04.

Also:

2/24 LAS-PIT FLT #608 F 100% full; coach 100% full.

Missed upgrade once again

Thursday April 21, 2k5
DCA CLT 0710 0820 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0191 Coach 100% First 100%

CLT MIA 0945 1120 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1067 Coach 100% First 100% (I was actually surprised at this leg).

Just wanted to bump this up, given the fact that it sounds as though many CPs have given up on US. Is there still anyone left to tell us how full their flights are?

I myself haven't flown US since last September. Much higher percentage of flights upgraded w/DL. But it could have been due to a higher than average percentage of CPs in RDU?

I would not go as far to say as many of us have given up on US Airways. I think many are trying other options especially since they had those outstanding promotions earlier this year. I am already CP until 2007 like many others so trying something different might now be such a bad idea.

Tuesday, April 26,2K5
MIA CLT 0640 0815 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0665 FIRST 30% Coach 70% (Boeing 733)
CLT DCA 0920 1015 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1248 FIRST 50% Coach 70% (Airbus 321)

USAirwaysfan, this is the first post I've seen from you in a V E R Y L O N G time -- you had always been the one remaining cheerleader for US.

And I am still cheering for them (the front line employees that is). I hope everything works out for them. I actually hope the US/HP merger happens and the management of HP takes the helm. I am certainly happy that they would continue to fly under the banner US Airways :)

US Airways is under going a painful transformation. But I am going to see it through all the way. Remember way back I said that I would ride this to the very end. I am not going back on my word. Some people already have. Nothing is going to break my spirt and if things were to ever fold I will be there. But I am still holding on to hope. And so far it has worked.

I was going to post a really positive thread on here about an outstanding flight from Spain that i had last month...but there has been so much negative news on these boards I knew it would just get lost in the forum.

Lately I have been lurking on here but I am still here.

I am off to Barcelona now. I might post a trip report.

US Airways does not have the best service, but the employees still do it for me. I will continue to stay loyal to them until I am given a choice not to.

Fly The Flag!

Wednesday April 27, 2k5
DCA PHL 1720 1755 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0394 First 100% Coach 98%
PHL MAD 2015 0855 (next day) Envoy 90% Coach 90%
MAD BCN 1130 1240 US AIRWAYS 8605 (Operated by Span Air) Business 50% Coach 80% Many US Airways boarding passes to be seen on this flight.

Sunday, May1
DCA PHL 18:15 19:09 US Flight #1847 (E-170) Coach 100%
PHL LAS 20:55 23:31 US FLight #617 (757) First 100% Coach 100%

Tuesday, May 2
LAS PHL 14:10 21:47 US Flight #30 (757) First 100% Coach 100% (oversold)
PHL DCA 22:45 23:37 US FLight #1019 (319) First 50% Coach 25% (Late night flight)

How are the Loads/Service on the US 2/3 flights from PHL (Phila) to FCO (ROME) - I took this route a few times last year for work - and now this yaer will be my 1st run in 1.5 weeks (sun-fri) May 15-20.

Hows the services - still pretty good even in coach? PHL airport lounges? Nice?

How are the Loads/Service on the US 2/3 flights from PHL (Phila) to FCO (ROME) - I took this route a few times last year for work - and now this yaer will be my 1st run in 1.5 weeks (sun-fri) May 15-20.

Hows the services - still pretty good even in coach? PHL airport lounges? Nice?


I just came back and my flights were 100% full in both directions with US offering $600 plus vouchers and hotel as incentive to fly back the next day. Admittedly, I was there in the middle of dead Pope/no Pope/new Pope. I can't comment on service in Y (thus the screenname! :D ) but the PHL Envoy lounge is still excellent and the contracted lounge in FCO hasn't changed a bit either--still loud and sterile.

May 26, 2k5

BCN PHL 1235 1510 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0949 Oversold and arrived 20 minutes early into PHL

PHL DCA 1800 1835 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0011 100% FIRST, 100% COACH and arrived 20 minutes early.

May 27, 2k5
DCA YYZ 0929 1030 US AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 2582 (OPERATED BY PSA AIRLINES) 100% FULL ARRIVED 25 MINUTES EARLY.

Looks like the all together on time program is working. All my flights this week have pushed back on time and arrived early so far. Even out of PHL I was shocked. We left the gate on time and we were #2 in que for take off.

Flew flight 98 PHL-LGW on 5/26


1 seat left in coach, Envoy 100% full. Upgraded with a SA at the gate as a GP. Only person using such an upgrade and it only opened up an hour before the flight when someone cancelled.

Flight sat on the runway for an hour before takeoff. Arrived 45 mins late.


Return on 5/31 not looking quite so full, which is good for my upgrade, bad for US.

May 31, 2k5
YYZ DCA 1130 1225 US AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 2345 (OPERATED BY PSA AIRLINES) ON TIME AND 99% FULL. ONE SEAT WAS OPEN

June 1, 2k5
DCA ORD 1000 EST 1045 CST US AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 1825 90% FULL AND 20 MINUTES EARLY and the bags were there before we reached the claim area.

Looks like the all together on time program is working. All my flights this week have pushed back on time and arrived early so far. Even out of PHL I was shocked. We left the gate on time and we were #2 in que for take off.

I've done 6 legs the past 11 days, phl-ord/phl-bdl/phl-sfo. Every one has pushed and landed early. What's going on? I'm off kilter by the fact that I might actually have to get to the airport on time for boarding which occurs when it should. I was the last person onto half those flights.
I also got frozen out of a kiosk check-in 28mins prior to a flight and had to talk to TA, and I'm still not daring enough to check a bag, but I digress.
I don't normally scope out the plane but 357, 759, 527, 525, 82 were all full-to-one-seat-empty in F.

US 1289 on 5/27 PHL-MSY -- 119 of 120 on 319.

US 926 on 5/31 MSY-PHL -- 112 of 120 on 319.

F full for both flights. I had an opportunity to look at the manifest on both flights for F. On the outbound I was the only US1 and there were 2 US2s. My companion in F was US4. Of the remaining 8 seats in F only 1 was US4 the rest had no designation.

On the return I was the only US1 and mrs. dukeman was the only US3. No other preferreds and only a few US4s -- again 5 or 6 people with no designation. Are these all people burning miles from someone else's account? When I cleared at the 7-day window both flights had been F6 and dropped to F4. On the day before departure to MSY it was showing F3 and mrs. dukeman didn't clear as a US3 (she sat in F with me while our 2 companions (US4s) had a nice exit row. On the return it showed F3 day before departure and mrs. dukeman and companion cleared at the gate.

Is US selling F seats? Or were they all non-revs? If so why did most clear into F before the 7 day window?

US 1289 on 5/27 PHL-MSY -- 119 of 120 on 319.

US 926 on 5/31 MSY-PHL -- 112 of 120 on 319.

F full for both flights. I had an opportunity to look at the manifest on both flights for F. On the outbound I was the only US1 and there were 2 US2s. My companion in F was US4. Of the remaining 8 seats in F only 1 was US4 the rest had no designation.

On the return I was the only US1 and mrs. dukeman was the only US3. No other preferreds and only a few US4s -- again 5 or 6 people with no designation. Are these all people burning miles from someone else's account? When I cleared at the 7-day window both flights had been F6 and dropped to F4. On the day before departure to MSY it was showing F3 and mrs. dukeman didn't clear as a US3 (she sat in F with me while our 2 companions (US4s) had a nice exit row. On the return it showed F3 day before departure and mrs. dukeman and companion cleared at the gate.

Is US selling F seats? Or were they all non-revs? If so why did most clear into F before the 7 day window?

I doubt if they were non revs. We only clear in the last 30 seconds. LOL And we never clear if there are any elites standing by, only if there is a seat once everyone else has been processed. They would also have a designation on the manifest saying NRSA or NRSP by their name. There is a slim chance that someone did actually buy a f/c ticket. Other possibilites are they were being accomodated from an earlier bump or just an operational upgrade. I'm glad you all cleared on the flights though. Hope you had fun in New Orleans.

I doubt if they were non revs. We only clear in the last 30 seconds. LOL And we never clear if there are any elites standing by, only if there is a seat once everyone else has been processed. They would also have a designation on the manifest saying NRSA or NRSP by their name. There is a slim chance that someone did actually buy a f/c ticket. Other possibilites are they were being accomodated from an earlier bump or just an operational upgrade. I'm glad you all cleared on the flights though. Hope you had fun in New Orleans.


Thanks. I didn't think Non-Revs cleared until the very end; however F was already "sold" down to F6 weeks in advance and there were no or very few "elites" or others eligible for free upgrades.....

And yes NOLA was a lot of fun... thanks.

For past several months, even the before 7AM departures out of DCA have been filling-up, and thereafter, my experience has been that the flights are nearly full or over sold. Glad to see they are expanding the security checkpoint here, too, to help expedite traffic flow.

I've got to hand it to them -- US has managed to convince me they aren't going anywhere. Sure there were issues (and there still are a lot) but my hats are off to the people at US who are making it work: all those faithful employees (especially the FA's and gate agents) who've kept their chins up through thick and now thin. They deserve credit for changing my mind.

US 1289 on 5/27 PHL-MSY -- 119 of 120 on 319.

US 926 on 5/31 MSY-PHL -- 112 of 120 on 319.

F full for both flights. I had an opportunity to look at the manifest on both flights for F. On the outbound I was the only US1 and there were 2 US2s. My companion in F was US4. Of the remaining 8 seats in F only 1 was US4 the rest had no designation.

On the return I was the only US1 and mrs. dukeman was the only US3. No other preferreds and only a few US4s -- again 5 or 6 people with no designation. Are these all people burning miles from someone else's account? When I cleared at the 7-day window both flights had been F6 and dropped to F4. On the day before departure to MSY it was showing F3 and mrs. dukeman didn't clear as a US3 (she sat in F with me while our 2 companions (US4s) had a nice exit row. On the return it showed F3 day before departure and mrs. dukeman and companion cleared at the gate.

Is US selling F seats? Or were they all non-revs? If so why did most clear into F before the 7 day window?


I have been buying a good number of "A" fares myself -- they give me flexibility to make changes, and they put me up front with a seat assignment at the time of purchase. They are becoming popular, and in some cases, the fares aren't steep at all. This could explain why more and more US4s and others are landing seats in first.

May 27:

US 553 DCA-CLT (A320)
I was on standby the entire day trying to get to YYZ earlier than originally scheduled (DCA-CLT-YYZ). I tried to get on US 31 DCA-CLT, but the flight was over sold, and not a single person cleared the standby list. The following flight was also oversold, but they got enough volunteers to clear a few seats for those of us on standby. I cleared the standby list on US 553 at the last minute along with a few others, one of the gate agents mentioned there were over 25 on the standby list for the flight to CLT. US 553 arrived about 25 minutes late into CLT.

US 432 CLT-YYZ (733)
There were a few empty seats in Y, including the seat next to me, it was still a decent load for the holiday weekend. We arrived more-or-less on-time.

May 29:

US 780 YYZ-CLT (733)
The aircraft from CLT arrived about 30 minutes late, boarding began late, but we still managed to arrive within 10 minutes of the original schedule. The load was VERY LIGHT, my guess would be no more than 20-30 pax in both cabins combined. FA's were generous with snacks and beverages due to the light load.

US 78 CLT-DCA (A320)
The flight was relatively full in Y, there didn't appear to be any empty seats. I noticed a number of empty seats in F upon boarding, but there were a few that were filled as they completed boarding. We arrived about 20 minutes early.

I have been buying a good number of "A" fares myself -- they give me flexibility to make changes, and they put me up front with a seat assignment at the time of purchase. They are becoming popular, and in some cases, the fares aren't steep at all. This could explain why more and more US4s and others are landing seats in first.


Agreed... but if you are buying "A" fares aren 't you going to put in a DM #???

Agreed... but if you are buying "A" fares aren 't you going to put in a DM #???

Not necessarily....I have several friends who travel enough to be elite who don't have frequent flier accounts. I try to explain it to them and they just don't seem to get it.

Shocking isn't it?

Shocking isn't it?

I have one of those friends! She makes me physically ill when she replies "I just don't care" when I try to educate her on benefits, perks, etc.

Oh the madness!

On the RDU-DCA 737 early AM flight, 45 total with 9 in FC. When at the gate area, I thought I was at the wrong gate because it was a ghost town. The CLT flight next to me was oversold with a big group of campers/cruisers/kids that were backed up at the ticket counter. Glad I had access to the FC kiosk. The return on the RJ was about 80%.

Sunday June 5, 2k5

DCA FLL 10:00 12:30 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1227 FIRST 100% COACH WAS OVER SOLD. Pushed back 5 minutes early but had to wait in que at DCA for about 20 minutes. We were late 5 minutes at FLL

I have one of those friends! She makes me physically ill when she replies "I just don't care" when I try to educate her on benefits, perks, etc.

Oh the madness!

Does she fly a lot of US/UA? Maybe you should get another account and use her to get you 1K status. And just claim that you are Andrea instead of Andrew! :D

I have one of those friends! She makes me physically ill when she replies "I just don't care" when I try to educate her on benefits, perks, etc.

Oh the madness!

I have a family member like that. He does about 150K a year on a variety of carriers. Sees no reason to concentrate on one or two.... always traveling on business, and picks by schedule, or lets corporate travel pick whatever they want for him. Actually made US Gold... yet still rides in the back frequently when there are seats available in First. Just doesn't care.... much more concerned with being on a plane that's going where he needs to go, and relatively on time, than using FF perks. He'll ride up front if a ticket agent or something sees his status and that he's in coach and upgrades... but won't go through the effort of requesting upgrades himself as he just doesn't care.

I have a family member like that. He does about 150K a year on a variety of carriers. Sees no reason to concentrate on one or two.... always traveling on business, and picks by schedule, or lets corporate travel pick whatever they want for him. Actually made US Gold... yet still rides in the back frequently when there are seats available in First. Just doesn't care.... much more concerned with being on a plane that's going where he needs to go, and relatively on time, than using FF perks. He'll ride up front if a ticket agent or something sees his status and that he's in coach and upgrades... but won't go through the effort of requesting upgrades himself as he just doesn't care.

Wow - that's the worst case I've ever heard. Not concentratin is one thing. But not requesting an upgrade you're eligible for?!?!?!?!

Thursday June 9, 2k5
FLL DCA 1730 1940 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0542 Coach 100% First 100% arrived 20 minutes early

Friday June 10, 2k5
DCA DFW 0845 1035 US AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 1815 (OPERATED BY MID ATLANTIC AIRWAYS) 98% FULL Ariived 10 minutes late into DFW due to a Senator out of DCA was taking off on another US Airways flight and required air space out of DCA. There was a back up que. We had to wait almost 30 minutes before we could take off.

June 16, 2k5
1100 1448 DFW DCA US AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 1876 (OPERATED BY MID-ATLANTIC AIRWAYS) Over sold by 7 people arrived 25 minutes early!!

June 17, 2k5 1100 1202 DCA LGA US AIRWAYS SHUTTLE FLIGHT 2168 Coach and First 100% arrived 5 minutes early

June 21,2k5 0600 0658 2k5 US AIRWAYS SHUTTLE FLIGHT 2161 Coach 50% First 100% arrived 10 minutes early

June 21, 2k5 0840 1044 DCA IAH US AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 1831 (OPERATED BY MID-ATLANTIC AIRWAYS) 80% Full arrived 22 minutes early.

I have done a little experiment on the early morning RDU-DCA 737 flight. Except for this past Monday due to the flock of fans fleeing the US Open, the coach section has been light and FC about 60-70%. I have not tried to upgrade until I get to the airport and have been put on standby through the kiosk and gotten a FC seat the last three times. This Monday, FC was full with comped upgrades or maybe full fare because the guy next to me said to his traveling coworker that he did not know why they were there. He had no status. Coach was oversold.

To me, this means that at least from RDU to DCA, few Perferreds are on the early biz flight. The return has been fuller but a RJ is easier to fill.:)

Saturday June 25, 2k5
IAH DCA 0715 1115 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1810 (OPERATED BY MID-ATLANTIC AIRWAYS) Over sold by 4 people and the next flight 1806 from IAH to DCA was over sold as well. Arrived on time

Every Monday DCA-MCI flt 1682 has been full for the past 6 weeks or so. Sometimes I've gone via CLT and that has usually been about 100% in back and front.

US 98 -- LAS-PHL 6/26 -- 193 on the 757.... 100% full.

6/26

US 2908 ATL-CLT (5:25 p.m.) 49/50 Y...2 hours late

US 28 CLT-PHL (10:45 p.m.) 100% F (UG cleared in ATL) - 90% Y
-tried for the 9p.m. - Oversold

Sunday June 26, 2k5
DCA PHL 1750 1840 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0910 OVER SOLD AND 15 MINUTES EARLY

PHL BCN 2015 1110 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0948 Envoy Full Coach 2 empty seats Flight was late over an hour due to an aircraft that was pushed back behind us (in PHL), had a mechanical and for some reason they were having problems moving it with a tug.

Thursday June 30, 2k5
BCN PHL 1315 1520 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0949 Flight over sold Departed BCN 30 minutes late due to large que on the runway however made up time in the air got in 10 minutes early.

PHL DCA 2015 2045 US AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 3119 (OPERATED BY CHATAQUA AIRLINES (SP?) Flight was 2 hours late because of weather in upstate NY. Many thunderstorms that day. Flight was oversold.

7/1

US 98 PHL-LGW - supposedly oversold though they never elaborated - anyway's plane took off full - upgrade cleared during boarding process with 5 more SA's done after we sat at the gate for 90 mins waiting for connections (PVD took the longest) - landed 30 mins late

same day PHL-CDG (next gate) was grossly oversold

0700 0820DCA ATLUS AIRWAYS EXPRESS FLIGHT 1801 (operated by Mid Atlantic Airways) 95% Full. Took off on time and arrived 20 minutes early

0715 0830 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1816 (OPERATED BY MID ATLANTIC AIRWAYS) 20% Full arrived 15 minutes early. Bags made it down before I even got there (same with ATL) They even made an announcement that the Bus was making transfers between the piers ^

Last Saturday I missed my connection and ended up flying BWI to LGA on a completely empty plane that was being moved up there (to replace a mechanical problem plane?). Just the pilot, co-pilot, FA and me! The FA and I had a real good chat. She told me she had been an FA for four months and gained 30 lbs. She said all new FAs do.
Told me lots of neat stories.

Friday Sept 30, 2K5
0730 0945 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0729 First 100% Coach 100%
On time arrival and bags came down within 5 minutes.

Fri, 9/30/05
0032, STL-CLT, First Class 100%, coach 60% full
0750, CLT-SYR, First Class 100%, coach 60% full
SUN, 10/2/05
1103, SYR-CLT, First Class 100%, coach 95% full
0383, CLT-STL, First Class 100%, coach 100% full

Tuesday Oct 4, 2K5
0650 0900 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0986 FIRST 100% COACH 8 seats empty
Arrived on time bags came down in about 15 minutes

Wednesday, Sept. 21
Flight 46, LAX-PHL A321 - First full, coach 99 percent full.

Thursday, Sept. 22
Flight 2802/Mesa, PHL-ELM CRJ - 30 percent full.

Sunday, Sept. 25
Flight 4353/Piedmont, ELM-PHL DH8 - 90 percent full.
Flight 697 PHL-LAS 752 - Oversold and I took the bump to an HP flight leaving 10 minutes later.

Thursday Oct 13, 2k5
0715 0834 DCA CLT US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0493 Coach 2 seats open First 100%

0945 1151 CLT LAX US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 31 Coach and First 100%

Flight arrived 30 mins early into the gate. Bag wait was less than 10 minutes.

Even though we're way past peak summer season, USAir is pretty much flying full. My 4 flights last week SAN-CLT, CLT-BWI, BWI-CLT, CLT-SAN were all close to or 100% full.

My last flights on America West were about 50% full - in May on MSP-LAS and LAS-SAN....

US is having no problem filling flights..(which was a ..... last week because they lost my seat assignments and I got crap leftovers on each flight)

Friday, October 7
US 2370 (PSA) DCA-YYZ
9PM scheduled departure
The flight was 100% full. We were close to 5 hours late arriving into YYZ.

Monday, October 10
US 3085 (Chautauqua) YYZ-DCA
510PM scheduled departure
The flight was 100% full. We arrived on-time, but had to wait more than 30 minutes for ground crew to provide a staircase so that we could get off the aircraft.

Sunday, Oct. 9
US 1630 ORD-PIT
EMB-170 All coach flight

Oversold by two

Wednesday Nov 30 2k5
DCA PHL 1725 1801 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0246 First 100% Coach 50% Arrived 30 mins early

PHL LGW 2020 0810 (next day) US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0098 Envoy 100% Coach 80% Arrived 15 minutes early

Friday night 12/2 US 385 CLT-FLL at 945PM was a 100% full 757. The ERJ connection US 2862 SDF-CLT at 7P also had no empty seats.

12/5/05 US3748 GSP-DCA(new flight!), 615am on a monday morning...only 12 people total. The 540a GSP-CLT had only 15 or so.

Monday 11/28 -- PHL-RDU US #522 (733) 100% in F(12) and Y(114). They needed 6 volunteers. Kept coming back on the PA onboard the plane offering a "Free RT Ticket" and the next available flight which was 6 hours later (with an option to standby for the next 2 flights). The GA also said the ticket had "no blackout dates and no restrictions." I promptly announced loudly to everyone sitting near me that she was not correct and the tickets are restricted. A few college kids at the back of the plane got off.

Back on topic.....

Tuesday 11/29 -- RDU-CLT US #281 (733) 100% in F and 80% Y
CLT-ORD US #181 (733) 12 F and 113 Y (1 empty seat)

Sunday 12/4 -- ORD-PHL US #508 (733) 100% Full F and Y.

If US can get loads like this all the time they would be in great shape.

Tuesday December 6, 2k5
1135 1530 LGW CLTUS AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0095 Envoy and Coach 100% (I was actually shocked since it is the slow time this time of year)

1720 1810 CLT DCA US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0546 First 100% Coach 95%

I know you can not judge by one flight, but I flew PIT-PHL last week at 5:00 PM and flight was less than half full. Even more telling was there was not a single gate that I passed that looked like it had more than 30 or so folks in the gate area.

It was good to be back on US metal after 10 months and the front line folks were as good as ever. We had a great crew on the flight as well.

Dec 29, 2k5
DCA FLL 1030 1205 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0761 100% FULL and 10 mins early

Jan 5, 2k6
FLL DCA 1050 1230 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0126 100% FULL and 5 mins early

Jan 12, 2K6

DCA CLT 0700 0750 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0611 100% FULL 5 mins early
CLT LAX 0945 1150 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0031 100% FULL OVER SOLD 20 mins early.

Jan 14, 2006

CLT-FRA US0192
100% Envoy Near 100% in Coach

Man, I haven't thought of Zork in years. Thanks for the flashback Jammer.

Tuesday Jan 17, 2K6

LAX CLT 0720 1430 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0172 FIRST one open seat, Coach 100% 15 Mins early

CLT DCA 1545 1640 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0210 FIRST and COACH 100% ON TIME

10-FEB-06 US AIRWAYS 1401 DCA-CLT 100% in First 80% in coach on time
13-FEB-06 US AIRWAYS 716 CLT-DCA 100% First 75% Coach early by 10 mins

17-FEB-06 US SHUTTLE 2174 L DCA-LGA 100% First and coach 3 hours late due to winds and ground stop at LGA

21-FEB-06 US SHUTTLE 2179 P LGA-DCA 100% First and coach 15 mins ear.

Friday March 3, 2006

DCA ATL 1130 1300 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1621 (Operated by Mid Atlantic Airways) Oversold by 4 seats arrived 35 mins early. We pushed back 10mins early since everyone boarded and was seated.

Tuesday March 7, 2006

ATL DCA 0730 0850 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1721 (Operated by Mid Atlantic Airways) 80% full 15 mins early.

And some more info...

My connection PHL-LGA was cancelled on Friday (4424), so I took 82 instead. In first, I was the only revenue PAX with 2 non-rev's. That isn't very good.

On Tuesday I took a mileage run to make CP again. I did the following:

LGA-FLL US 771
FLL-CLT US 1020
CLT-DCA US 1262
DCA-PHL US 169
PHL-LGA US 3991

It is easy to see why US is cutting the LGA-FLL frequencies in half already. 771 had 2 F/19 Y on Tuesday morning. It was sad.

On the next three flights, I didn't have an opportunity to look in the back so I don't know if Y was full. F on those three was full or near full though.

PHL-LGA 3991 was 37/37 on Tuesday evening, which was nice. Incidentally, the Piedmont F/A was the best express flight attendant I've ever had. She seemed like she was a seasoned mainline F/A, and I actually sent in one of my certificates of excellence for her. When the Captain came on and said "folks, #22 for departure," she did her entire snack/drink service on the ground, going through the cabin with a tray of sodas. She was simply awsome, and I told her so.

All in all a nice MR, although I was tired. Also saw Bernie Williams in DCA which was cool. Quite concerned about the LGA-FLL run though - the F/A's said it was typically that light.

And some more info...

My connection PHL-LGA was cancelled on Friday (4424), so I took 82 instead. In first, I was the only revenue PAX with 2 non-rev's. That isn't very good.

On Tuesday I took a mileage run to make CP again. I did the following:

LGA-FLL US 771
FLL-CLT US 1020
CLT-DCA US 1262
DCA-PHL US 169
PHL-LGA US 3991

It is easy to see why US is cutting the LGA-FLL frequencies in half already. 771 had 2 F/19 Y on Tuesday morning. It was sad.

On the next three flights, I didn't have an opportunity to look in the back so I don't know if Y was full. F on those three was full or near full though.

PHL-LGA 3991 was 37/37 on Tuesday evening, which was nice. Incidentally, the Piedmont F/A was the best express flight attendant I've ever had. She seemed like she was a seasoned mainline F/A, and I actually sent in one of my certificates of excellence for her. When the Captain came on and said "folks, #22 for departure," she did her entire snack/drink service on the ground, going through the cabin with a tray of sodas. She was simply awsome, and I told her so.

All in all a nice MR, although I was tired. Also saw Bernie Williams in DCA which was cool. Quite concerned about the LGA-FLL run though - the F/A's said it was typically that light.

Sounds like it was a great flight. By the way, who on earth is Bernie Williams? :confused:

Sounds like it was a great flight. By the way, who on earth is Bernie Williams? :confused:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4695

Good cities to look for a bump....


PVD, BOS, FLL, MCO....north and south and reverse.

Everything connects thru PHL or CLT or DCA, so yes, flights are going to be full. Generally speaking, this does not apply to slow days, ie, T, W, SAT.

Also, BNA on Thursdays to CLT in the am and last pm flight.

Please note, this info is based on some experience but is not a science.

March 6, 2006

US 89 DCA CLT - 6 empty seats in F, Y at 70%, 15 minutes early

US 1219 CLT DFW - F 100%, Y at 90%, 5 minutes early

US 3388 DFW DCA - Y at 80%, 3 minutes late



March 8, 2006

US 493 DCA CLT - F 100%, Y at 100%, 5 minutes early

US 1205 DCA TPA - F 100%, Y 100%, on time

February 28, 2006:
US 784 SFO-CLT - F 90%, Y 90%

March 1, 2006:
US 629 CLT-MEX - F 100%, Y 95%

March 5, 2006
HP 616 MEX-PHX - F 100%, Y 100%
HP 815 PHX-SFO - F 100%, Y 100%

Every leg had the FAs announcing "this flight is going to be extremely full, overhead bin space is limited." Thank God for the blocked middle seat on Row 9 CLT-MEX.

Friday March 10, 2k6
DCA FLL 1000 12:00 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0761 Oversold by 8 and was on time.

Friday March 10, 2k6
DCA FLL 1000 12:00 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0761 Oversold by 8 and was on time.

Saturday, March 11:
US Shuttle 2125 11am BOS-LGA Coach 90% First 100% (including Deion Branch of the NE Patriots)

Sunday, March 12:
US Shuttle 2134 4pm LGA-BOS Coach 100% First 100%

Tuesday March 14 2K6

DCA FLL 0700 0850 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0786 over sold by 3 arrived 10 mins early.

Saturday, March 11

US 373 BWI CLT on a B757 - F 100%, Y oversold, pushed a couple of minutes late to clear standbys and load luggage, arrived on time even in fog; this CP did not make the upgrade

US 111 CLT PHX on an A321 - F 100%, Y oversold, pushed 20 minutes late due to some standby moron and her spouse insisting on seats together, arrived 20 minutes late due to late push and rainy conditions in PHX; after boarding, my companion and I were pulled from the exit row by the GA because the FA complained she had a CP in a middle seat, and we were reassigned F; worth mentioning, F sold to 25, 1 E-upgrade, and two no-shows, hence the 2 E-upgrades offered to me and my companion

Watch out taking any transportation vouchers.

They now say "Avail and seats limited for this class of service"

Gee, you say thats not bad; however no seats from ATL for 3 months.....

Mar 16 #3107 RIC-PHL 9:50am-10:58 Ontime - 48 out of 50 full

Mar 16 #3385 PHL-DFW 11:30AM-2:25PM 10 Minutes late 100% full
(NO food for purchase on 3 1/2 flight at lunch)


Mar 18 #3394 DFW-PHL 1:15pm-5:25pm 15 minutes late 65 out of 70 full

Mar 18 1057 PHL-RIC 6:40pm-7:46pm F-full, Y - 90% full

Watch out taking any transportation vouchers.

They now say "Avail and seats limited for this class of service"

Gee, you say thats not bad; however no seats from ATL for 3 months.....

I know. It can bery frustrating finding space for voucher-paid seats, especially during busy periods. Transportation voucher seats have the same class of availability as DM Award seats, so you are in the same situation as a DM member attempting to redeem miles in coach: seat availability is limited to a certain number on each flight.

Flew through CLT today. Maybe five flights went out when we were waiting. All five were oversold, including ours, and asked for volunteers. I heard the announcement several times that the tix for volunteers were unrestricted, and as we all now that's not true. People practically running to the podium to give up their tickets for a freebe they'll never be able to us. I'm gonna talk to my buddy in DOJ about looking into this - duping passengers that way is pretty crappy.

Thursday April 6, 2006
DCA PHL 0600 0710 US AIRWAY EXPRESS FLIGHT 3928 (Operated by Republic) 100% full 10 minutes late

PHL FLL 0745 1000 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0992 100% FULL F/C AND COACH ON TIME

Thursday April 13, 2006 -700 0855 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0866 100% FULL F/C AND COACH ON TIME

At LaGuardia today, and every last flight (except for the shuttle) was oversold. I volunteered, although might not have after finding out the current state of affairs with the vouchers. On a FLL flight, they were even offering First Class on the next flight and then a free voucher to boot, because it seemed like people weren't exactly jumping at the offer. Oh blase New Yorkers.

Thursday April 6, 2006
DCA PHL 0600 0710 US AIRWAY EXPRESS FLIGHT 3928 (Operated by Republic) 100% full 10 minutes late

PHL FLL 0745 1000 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0992 100% FULL F/C AND COACH ON TIME

Thursday April 13, 2006 -700 0855 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0866 100% FULL F/C AND COACH ON TIME

Flew through CLT today. Maybe five flights went out when we were waiting. All five were oversold, including ours, and asked for volunteers. I heard the announcement several times that the tix for volunteers were unrestricted, and as we all now that's not true. People practically running to the podium to give up their tickets for a freebe they'll never be able to us. I'm gonna talk to my buddy in DOJ about looking into this - duping passengers that way is pretty crappy.

There is nothing, or nearly nothing said or marketed by US now that is not false. Low Fare-False. 7 Day Upgrade-False. Full Service-False. Non-restricted bump vouchers-False. Literally, there is nothing that they say now that is true...or better yet, fact-based.

There is nothing, or nearly nothing said or marketed by US now that is not false. Low Fare-False. 7 Day Upgrade-False. Full Service-False. Non-restricted bump vouchers-False. Literally, there is nothing that they say now that is true...or better yet, fact-based.


My mother used to tell me that if I frowned too much, my face would "get stuck" that way. So, PHX Flyer, smile once in a while. . . it's spring.

There is nothing, or nearly nothing said or marketed by US now that is not false. Low Fare-False. 7 Day Upgrade-False. Full Service-False. Non-restricted bump vouchers-False. Literally, there is nothing that they say now that is true...or better yet, fact-based.

OMG, what is this ax you have to grind? You have been so negative -- no let me re-phrase that -- so venomous since you joined FT earlier this month. I find it hard to believe you are even a "Phoenix" Flyer. All of your comments sound like they come from a VERY disgruntled US East ex-employee (you're not one of those dumped when CCY was shut down are you?).

If you were really based here in PHX you wouldn't be ranting and raving about "all the changes." It's the East part of the system that's seeing the changes -- the HP side of things out West here is simply being re-branded. We just have to get used to the new name -- oh, and enjoy the much bigger route stucture on the East Coast and to Europe.

Everything you claim is now "false" in US/HP marketing is ridiculous -- and not false at all. Just different in procedure from the old US East way of doing things.

May 1, 2k6

DCA PHX 10:25am 11:45am US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 8039 (OPERATED BY AMERICA WEST) Left gate 5 minutes early arrived in PHX 30 mins early First and Coach 100%

PHX BUR 13:13 14:40 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 8063 (OPERATED BY AMERICA WEST) ON Time arrival 90% coach 100% First.

Most of my flights seem to be 90 to 100% full these days. I fly mostly RDU/CLT/PHL/DCA/ALB/MHT. One noticeable exception - Monday PHL-ALB they tried to sell upgrades to F - at first they asked for $100, but quickly said, "oh - we mean $50 on this route". Some guy actually paid it. This for a 50 min flight at 10:00 AM. I would rather sit in the big-boy seats, but I'm not sure I would pay that if I didn't have free upgrades.

Coming home yesterday, PHL-RDU at 5:40 PM, 100% full. I had to connect from F terminal and got to the gate 5 minutes before boarding. The Zone 1 pack was already swelling and blocked half the hallway in Terminal C, so I ended up being the last F pax to board. Must have been 30 or 40 CPs and Golds on that flight. Bins full so I had to go all the way back to Row 9 to find space (and upon landing at RDU, do the dash down the aisle the second the seatbelt light is turned off!).

Lets not forget that with the massive amount of US employees, US employee retirees, US family members, HP staff, jumpseating pilots/FAs, and laid off US employees given retiree travel, even a flight with 10-20 empty seats will usually go out full at the end. Any PHL/CLT/PIT/SAN/LGA/LAS/PHX flight for sure.

ABE to CLT 8:15AM 70% full in Y, 2 seats empty-F
CLT-MCI 12:45PM (America West Mesa C-9) 90% full
The flight was actually pretty good and the Mesa FA's were friendly and excellent. It was not like any Mesa flight I ever had. I actually double checked on way out door that it was a Mesa flight. Maybe Mesa has different standards for America West rather than US, because they were never this good as USE.

MCI-CLT 7:15AM 98% full in Y, F- 50% full
They tried to sell F for $100, but no takers. Snack basket flight, but very attentive LGA-based FA
CLT-ABE 11:55AM Bascially full with two seats open, including exit row seat next to me. :) Typical, professional PSA flight.

5/5 ROC-PIT DASH-8 2 empty seats; PIT-ORD 734 - 100% full in Y and F
5/7 ORD-PHL 734 100% full in Y and F; PHL-ROC 733 - 100% full in F, 1 empty seat in Y.

Of 20 legs in the past 2 months, only one has been < 80% full in Y and F has been 100% on all mainline legs (but I have not missed an U/G on US metal.

DCA-FLL 1:45PM 5/6 -- F-4 empty; Y-90% full (wow -- what a rag-tag looking bunch of people on this flight, though)

FLL-CLT 6:50AM 5/8 -- F/Y 100% (at least 1 volunteer was needed)
CLT-DCA 9:40AM 5/8 -- F/Y 100%

I guess I have been luckier than I realized, although I was a very happy camper that as a lingering Gold I cleared for the following:

Mid March LGA to Barbados through CLT - companion and I cleared the whole trip 3 days out - planes were completely full

Last week: DCA / LGA / CLT / SFO / CLT / DCA cleared the whole trip, 2 segments at the gate, having been informed at the Club that I would likely make it. Planes were all full, although 1st in redeye back from SFO was not full.

Monday May 8, 2k6
0645 0800 BUR PHX US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 8357 (OPERATED BY HP) First 1 seat open coach 100% 15 minutes late

0900 1620 PHX DCA US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 8006 (OPERATED BY HP) 100% full first and coach 45 minutes late!

DCA-FLL 1:45PM 5/6 -- F-4 empty; Y-90% full (wow -- what a rag-tag looking bunch of people on this flight, though)...I will be on that flight exactly one week after you (on 5/13) and will file report here on the capacity and also the demographics. All I know now is that I have never failed to upgrade on that one.

RIC-LGA and back: past two roundtrips about 75% full on all segments
LAS-CLT redeye this past Monday: completely full (stuck in coach on the dumpy 757, as usual---miserable)
CLT-RIC morning CRJ-700 Tuesday: completely full

Wednesday May 10, 2k6

DCA PHL 1740 1815 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0432 100% FULL COACH AND FIRST 30 MINS EARLY

PHL LGW 2045 0940 NEXT DAY 0098 ENVOY 40%FULL COACH 50%FULL 1 HOUR LATE.

Tuesday May 16, 2k6

LGW CLT 10:20 1400 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0095 70% COACH 40% ENVOY Pushed back 20 mins early arrived 45 mins early

CLT DCA 1545 1640 US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 0232 100% COACH 1 seat open in First
Arrived 5 mins early

FRA-PHL, US 893, 05/16/06: 8 in Envoy, 60 in Coach. :eek:

And needless to say, there was no award seat in any class available at any time in the weeks ahead that I checked. :td:

It seems like I'm seeing more and more reports of not so full transatlantic flights. It will be interesting to see what the May statistics are, but through April, US has run a 73.4% LF internationally in 2006, compared to a LF of 78.2% domestically. In April, they ran a LF of 80.1% internationally. Of course, this includes all international traffic, but a good chunk of this is transatlantic. The data seems to point that these reports of lightly loaded transatlantic flights is only anecdotal, but it will certainly be interesting to see May's figures to see if there's been a significant drop-off in international traffic. I, for one, would love to see more value awards opened up for summer European travel and would also like to see the sky-high fares come down a bit, but I doubt we'll see that if the LF continues to be anywhere near 80% for international flights.

FRA-PHL, US 893, 05/16/06: 8 in Envoy, 60 in Coach. :eek:

And needless to say, there was no award seat in any class available at any time in the weeks ahead that I checked. :td:


This comment will send 5 board names (3 actual people) over the edge:

As I and many othe