While on the ground waiting for deicying at BOS, I was thinking how nice it has been taking the Shuttle since they started having F seats. I wouldn't want to do transcon in them, but for an hour flight, they are great. Did they do this to differentiate themselves from the Delta Shuttle, which manages to have a lot of room already in coach? Or, did they do this so it was easier to swap planes from mainline service? I also noticed that none of the shuttles say "shuttle" on the outside of the aircraft anymore, which makes me think maybe that is why they have F seats. It makes sense, because then, when the shuttles are full, but they need to switch planes, they can grab a mainline plane, and fill it, and not worry about having too few seats because the shuttle is all Y and the mainline has F. Also, they can grab a shuttle plane for mainline, and not worry that the people in F will be upset about sitting in Y seats. Anybody have a better idea about this?

Or, did they do this so it was easier to swap planes from mainline service?

You got it. All the A319s in the fleet have the same cabin configuration, which makes operations more efficient; an A319 used on a shuttle route can fly to a non-shuttle destination and vice-versa.

I think the presence of an F cabin on the Shuttle is a nice perk; even for a 30-minute flight I appreciate a free cocktail and snack. And for people who commute regularly between DC, NYC, and Boston the chance of an upgrade can help build their loyalty to US as opposed to DL or Amtrak.

Also since Feb. 6 the shuttle is no longer a true shuttle as the planes no longer go back and forth, but triangulate between BOS-LGA-DCA. This means they need fewer planes, but it is at the cost of operational reliability.

Although F is nice, in many other ways the shuttle has been somewhat downgraded. Apart from the delays on the ground after leaving the gate, the shuttle worked like clockwork, because the only operational dependancies were on either endpoint on the route. The integration with the mainline planes also allows US to potentially have incomming planes arriving from other non shuttle destinations work shuttle service, which would further compromise shuttle reliability.

Shuttle_boy,

That is not true. I just went on the US Airways website and Did Feb 24th. There is no triangle pattern at all. All 3 cities still have the non-stop direct flights. The only difference is that the DCA BOS leaves at 45 minutes after the hour.

Shuttle_boy,

That is not true. I just went on the US Airways website and Did Feb 24th. There is no triangle pattern at all. All 3 cities still have the non-stop direct flights. The only difference is that the DCA BOS leaves at 45 minutes after the hour.

He's referring to the individual aircraft's routing, not the routing of the passenger's trip.

Oh ok understood. Still would be a shuttle though. Does not have to be the same aircraft going back and forth. No one would actually know unless you were looking for the reg number of the aircraft.

Does not have to be the same aircraft going back and forth.

True, but having dedicated aircraft to serve only those cities created a separate product line within the USAirways brand. Having these planes going back and forth between their respective cities allowed them to isolate performance problems due to weather/ground delays.

The on-ground and in-flight amenities set the shuttle apart from any other mainline flight. Fox news, packed lunches, club-like gate areas, etc.

Now, it's really not the shuttle service anymore. I haven't even seen it advertised by that name recently. It's just another flight on a USAirways mainline plane(for now).

On a similar note, are any of those employees working BOS/DCA/LGA former Trump shuttle employees (US acquired the Trump shuttle sometime in the early 1990's when it was run with 727s)?

The on-ground and in-flight amenities set the shuttle apart from any other mainline flight. Fox news, packed lunches, club-like gate areas, etc.

Now, it's really not the shuttle service anymore. I haven't even seen it advertised by that name recently. It's just another flight on a USAirways mainline plane(for now).

They still have the bagels before 9, the pre-aranged car services and the only free booze in domestic coach (besides possibly DL shuttle). Oh yeah, you can still check stock quotes online at the gates in DC, and they have the only Legal Seafoods beyond security in BOS.

The Trump (formerly Eastern) f/a's are scattered all throughout the US system now. Several still prefer the shuttle, some enjoy the variety of being able to fly to different places, and many have gone to PHL to fly international. The only way I can tell them apart is by their payroll numbers on the trip sheets.
I've flown the shuttle for the last 2 weeks, and aside from new departure times for BOS there hasn't been any real difference. Passengers have no idea that the airplanes are now running in a triangular pattern, it hasn't had any impact as far as I can see.

I've flown the shuttle for the last 2 weeks, and aside from new departure times for BOS there hasn't been any real difference. Passengers have no idea that the airplanes are now running in a triangular pattern, it hasn't had any impact as far as I can see.

Even with BOS having all the snow today? My BOS-DCA was delayed about half an hour. I wonder how that affected DCA-LGA?

Even with BOS having all the snow today? My BOS-DCA was delayed about half an hour. I wonder how that affected DCA-LGA?

DCA-LGA still leaves on the hour, whereas DCA-BOS leaves at :45. The old schedules had the airplanes sitting on the ground a long time between flights, with the new schedule ground times are shortened but usually still ample time to get the flights out on time. I'm sure there will be exceptions (weather, ATC, etc.), but for the most part it should work out. We had weather last week as well, snow squalls and high winds, but still managed to fly pretty much close to schedule if not right on time. The shuttle times are also padded to take into account mother nature. Actual flying time between DCA and LGA is about 30 minutes, but the flight is blocked for just over an hour. A large portion of your 30 minute delay today was probably already figured into the block time of the flight.
Of course, I'll probably be eatting my words next week after my next shuttle trip. :)

I regularly fly the DCA-LGA shuttle (usually 2-3x a month) and can truly appreciate the time padding built in. Last Friday on the 4pm LGA-DCA we were a little late in boarding and taxi, only to get near the active and hear those horrible words from up front, "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the Captain speaking and we are currently number 15 in line". Argghh
I think we still touched down in DC at just a little after 5, so not horribly late. But, as usual, the FA's were great and even did a round of cocktails while we were sitting in line on the tarmac.

Never taken US shuttle...always Delta shuttle. But seems like people here are saying good things about US shuttle, so might try them next month or so. Just wondering, is US shuttle assigned seating?

Key point here, operational reliability has been sacrificed for operational efficency. Fewer planes now work the route which is good for US's cost structure, and also facilitates expansion of service on other routes without requiring additional expenditure on the aircraft fleet.

The addition of first class is a byproduct of this change. The real point of the shuttle was reliability. Remember when both Delta and US garenteed that the plane would be off the gate within 10 mins of departure time and that another plane would be provided should the shuttle be oversold. The point to point nature of the flights made the gaurentee possible. Integration with the rest of the fleet opens up the possibilities of dependencies on third party airports beyond the shuttle pairings. True, customers won't notice...untill reliability suffers.

Having said that triangulating between BOS-LGA-DCA will probably work well especially of it is remains a closed loop. (If PHL was introduced into the loop I would not be so sure...). and if this helps US then all the better. Also DL Shuttle has also retrenched its leves of service and US offers a much better product IMHO.

What will be interesting is what DL does when thier new Terminal A facility re-opens in BOS. I expect that they will try to compete more aggressively in the Boston shuttle market.

Just wondering, is US shuttle assigned seating?


Yes, but only on the day of departure.

Never taken US shuttle...always Delta shuttle. But seems like people here are saying good things about US shuttle, so might try them next month or so. Just wondering, is US shuttle assigned seating?

Although I lament some of the changes (and in some respects the addition of F), US has a very good product here. Right now it is better than DL, especially ex. BOS.

Anyone ever wondered why they have not yet introduced "Shuttle" service on PHL-BOS? US already offers hourly service -- might help to distinguish their service from Airtran and even Southwest on that route...

Never taken US shuttle...always Delta shuttle. But seems like people here are saying good things about US shuttle, so might try them next month or so. Just wondering, is US shuttle assigned seating?


US is assigned seating, but the assignment is given at check-in. So, if you do it online 24hrs prior to departure, you get a seat then, however, you cannot change it until you get to the airport. IMHO, this is good if in Y, bad if in F. In Y, all seats but the bulkhead and exit are basically the same. And, the only way to get a bulkhead in advance is to be elite. If in F, it is bad to be the first to check in, because they give seats from the rear forward. Thus, when I checked in, I was in row three, which has the poorest recline, instead of row two, the best row in F on that plane. The fact that you cannot change seats made that a bit annoying.

Personally, I like the US Shuttle a lot better because of the seating. Unlike mainline, just about NOBODY pays for F (unless on a connection), so almost all seats are upgradable, and as Gold, I have never missed one. On the other hand, if you will be traveling in Y, DL is better, because they have more leg room than US. If you get a status match to US, then you should have pretty good upgradeability rating, and US will be a lot more comfortable. However, both of the points I have made must be put into perspective, we are talking at most 1.5hrs on the plane, so where you sit, and the seat really don't make that big a difference.

However, both of the points I have made must be put into perspective, we are talking at most 1.5hrs on the plane, so where you sit, and the seat really don't make that big a difference.


Which is why I lament the all coach (with extra leg room), free beer and snack box, point to point service of days gone by. I support US because I prefer them to DL (ex. DL PM) and the planes are newer.

Which is why I lament the all coach (with extra leg room), free beer and snack box, point to point service of days gone by. I support US because I prefer them to DL (ex. DL PM) and the planes are newer.


According to the website, the beer is still free in coach.

The shuttle has lost many of its ameneties and its mystique for the most part. Of course they have F so its "just another" main line plane. I have been on shuttle flights where the inbound is coming in from PHL. I miss the delli snacks, and the bottled Sam Adams which I think DL has both of them. But US has the best BOS to DCA besides them there is just DL/AA commuters on RJ's, and I have flown both, and AA is average, and Com Air terrible namely in that they just serve you water only on two sample flights I took. In the early 1990's even in coach in Y they served meals BOS to DCA. There was US/DL/NW flying the route on a mix of jets and mainline equipment. I also very much miss the Fox News not that Fox is so so great, but it was a nice feature. Also in a bygone era they had something called The Trump Shuttle Club, and apparently, they would even like fix your shirt button orr they would have some kind of concierge that could do anything for you. Back then I did not fly as much, but it seemed surely better, and I got some level of thie Trump Shuttle Club even though I only flew a few times a year, I could just imagine what Trump gave you if you flew 2-4 times a month. There were anecdotal press reports that for the "regulars" they would hold the last plane of the night, etc. :).

**disclaimer**: I don't take so well to all these industry changes, not that anyone likes them.** It seems like generally with any sort of jobs and all things things were so much better in even say 1997-2001.**
**Now way OT, I think too IT was kind of a hot career in the 90's, but perhaps not even that now downfall as well.**

They do bring in planes from other destinations it seems. On more than one occassion I seem to recall coming into LGA late at night from PIT or CLT and ending up at a shuttle gate so it can head to DCA first thing the next morning.