US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Question for a newbie Gold

I am a new Gold Preferred member that will be flying SFO-Philadelphia-Grand Cayman and back Grand Cayman-Charlotte-San Francisco in the next couple of weeks.

What can I expect as far as aircraft, food, entertainment(movies, handheld DVD, etc.) on these flights? I will be flying first class.

Thanks in advance

Aircraft on long haul transcon will either by 757 or A-320. A-320 is much more comfortable and new in all classes. No handheld DVDs. Food is passable at best; you should have three choices.

I've never gone to the Carribean so can't comment on those segments, but flown to SFO several times. I don't know if you are expecting anything in particular, but I don't remember anything out of the ordinary (either good or bad) on those flights. Just good, prompt, friendly service.

Flight to Grand Cayman is a domestic 737. No difference in service. They just turn around and go back. After returning to the gateway, the plane just goes into the regular system. Cayman is roughly 400 miles from Miami, so the trip is about 30- 45 minutes longer than a Florida flight from PHL. Usually no movie, but could be. The planes have entertainment systems on them. You will fly over Cuba, but don't worry. The airlines pay them for the shortcut, so they won't shoot!.

[This message has been edited by deelmakur (edited 04-13-2000).]

brj8826, I think you will find a fairly significant difference between the transcontinental segments to and from SFO and the hops from PHL and to CLT. As mentioned, the Carribean flights tend to be the same as shorthual domestic service, which is to say, decent, friendly service but nothing to get too excited about. I've flown US Airways FC to Jamaica a few times and the service is about the same as on their other east coast domestic flights. My experience on transcon flights (usually SFO) in First has been great. Much better than average service and good meals and a more extensive FC treatment.

BTW, when you make your seat assignments for the transcon flights, remember that US Airways takes meal orders in First Class from the back row to the front row on eastbound flights and from the front row to the back row on the westbound. I'll take row 1 (yes, I like the bulkhead) on my way to SFO and then choose a row in the middle of the FC cabin (varies by plane) for the flight out of SFO. I avoid the last row in FC since some planes have seats that do not recline as far as the rest of the other FC rows. Enjoy the islands... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 04-13-2000).]

I've flown transcon six times in the past two months -- three times west, three times east.

Five times they took orders front to back.
One time they took orders back to front (going westbound, nonetheless!) but served front to back!

In other words, FAs pay no heed to the 'rules' on how to serve. I try to get row two to be reasonably safe, period. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

dg1, sure you weren't on United? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

dg1 is right. They pay no attention. If you care what you eat, sit in rows 3 or 4 on 757's, and row 2 on the 319 or 737. They also have a few pretty good specials you can order on transcons, like sea food. I fly north out of Florida almost every week in the winter, and the joke is "row 3 is the cereal row". Sounds really petty, but as an example, most people just like a hot breakfast, and the way they cater the thing 1 out of 3 won't get one. You should hear the complaints every week.