I've been flying US Airways for years. Having lived in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Miami, US Air was one of the most convenient airlines to fly. I used to be a shuttle customer between BOS and LGA and found it to be a pretty solid - if not basic - airline. I flew this past weekend for the first time since the merger - actually for the first time in about four years. Wow, I didn't think it could get much worse than this...

Bad: The indifferent check in personnel at PIT. They're doing me a favor?

Bad: The tight pitch in economy and lack of headrests on the 737 seats. Yes, I have gotten use to E+ and the ridiculous ability to cross the legs of my 6'3" frame.

Bad: The shoddy US Airways terminal at LGA. I remember when it first opened - originally built for Continental - which couldn't afford to move in. Stained carpets, dirty, ratty.

Really Bad: My return flight on USX left from EWR - so I took NJ Transit to EWR and when I got to Terminal A check-in, found my flight had been cancelled. I had checked online prior to getting to the airport, and the flight was on time. In fact, they cancelled all of their evening flights to Pittsburgh.

Bad: Open counter staff sat around dealing with flights to LAS and PHX and when I told them I was going to PIT they wouldn't help; said I had to wait and talk to those agents even though they didn't have any passengers to deal with.

Good: I went to the Dividends Preferred/Star Gold line and though I'm not Star Gold on US, I am on United and figured if they hassled me, I would have them credit by UA account.

Good: I was already re-booked on a flight that evening - from LGA.

Bad: The 95 minute 'van' ride from EWR to LGA for $30.

Good: Made it in time for the departure.

Bad: Same sort of chaotic check-in at LGA as I found at EWR - just more pronounced.

Good: Very fast security line.

Good: US Air Club still open

Bad: The really ratty departure areas of Gates 1-12 at LGA. Really, US, it's time for new carpeting and seating.

Bad: Flight scheduled for 8:50p didn't go wheels up until 10:20pm.

Good: Luggage off plane at PIT very fast. In fact, two weeks ago coming from Chicago the luggage took almost an hour to hit the belt.

All in all, you can see and feel the frustration of the US employees - they're not happy and it shows. It's not an overall good experience and that's too bad. I'm not inclined to fly them again....and I have 104,000 miles on them.

Agree strongly with your remarks about LGA - has ANYTHING been updated there in the last 10 years other than the retreat of mainline aircraft over to the Shuttle side of the terminal? The place really is a dismal place to fly into, although I'd say that the US staff there is generally more helpful and somewhat less surly than they were, say, two years ago when that station truly hit rock bottom. Between the ATC mess at LGA and the ratty terminal, I try to avoid it at all costs, which fortunately it appears I'll be able to do for the foreseeable future.
I hate to say it, but I'd rather fly into PHL than LGA.

Bad: Open counter staff sat around dealing with flights to LAS and PHX and when I told them I was going to PIT they wouldn't help; said I had to wait and talk to those agents even though they didn't have any passengers to deal with.
It's not that they "wouldn't" help, it's that they *can't* help. The folks dealing with the LAS/PHX flights are US Airways West (HP) agents who work on the SHARES reservation system. Right now, they have extremely limited abilities to deal with US Airways East reservations, until SHARES and SABRE are merged sometime early next year.

It's very frustrating for everyone, but it's not the employees' fault. :(