US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Questions about Envoy

Hi,

I'm using my SWUs to fly YYZ-PHL-FCO in May. On the PHL-FCO (A-330) flight I am booked in seat 7A. Is this a good seat?

Also, is there an arrivals lounge for Envoy passengers in FCO? If so, where is it located? Thanks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

7A is the very last row of Envoy on the 330. As you enter the 330, you'll turn right instead of left. Of course, that means you'll get everyone passing by on the way in. Some have noted that the second Envoy section seems a bit isolated, in that it's only 2 rows and then you've got the partition. Also, the galley is right at the 2L door - so you have the door and the galley, and then the second section. No idea if there's then a noise issue from the F/As in that galley. I hope someone who has been in that section can weigh in.

But the seats themselves are great, and I'm sure the noise reducing headphones will help.

The Arrivals Lounge is located at the Hilton Rome Airport (at least according to the Lounge Invitation I have from November).

Congrats on getting the upgrade on the FCO flight. As it's the only US flight on that route - I'd figure it isn't easy to get the O class seat.

Thanks for the info, CLTFlyer. I think I'll try to change my seat for that flight because I'm not fond of sitting in the last row of the cabin.

Yes, it wasn't easy to get that upgrade. I had to play around with my dates a few times to find availability. I take it US doesn't set aside many seats for SWUs on the European flights. But I was glad I was able to find a seat, and I'm really looking forward to my trip http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I had no problems upgrading to Envoy from PHL-MAN on K Class tickets with my SWUs 4 months in advance(March travel). For both me AND my friend, each way(I have 4 SWUs) no less! I think, however, they only have 2 seats allocated for advance upgrades. If you fly on a not-so-busy european travel day, you should clear the waitlist at the airport.

As for the seats - I would try to get something in row 2,3 or 4. If you stay in the last row, you might not get the full selection of food by the time the FA gets to you!

I sat in 7A on a trip from PHL-CDG-PHL and I liked the separate section. We got our 1st food choice on both flights. I would rather have row 7 over row 6. Row 6 may pick up a little galley noise during food prep time. It seemed like the back section had its own attendant, so service was excellent. In fact for my Envoy trip next month I chose row 7 over some seats still available in the front section. I am flying in the middle seats of row 7 CLT-LGW-CLT. Can't wait.

Any other opinions on Envoy seating preference?

I leave next week STL-PIT-FRA-PIT-STL. Never been in 1st on the 333 or international 1st on US. Also, is there sufficient legroom in the first row of the 737 does it have foot cutouts? Or am I better off in the second or third row of those planes?

Are there arrival facilities in Frankfurt?

Originally posted by tfjim:
I leave next week STL-PIT-FRA-PIT-STL. Never been in 1st on the 333 or international 1st on US. Also, is there sufficient legroom in the first row of the 737 does it have foot cutouts? Or am I better off in the second or third row of those planes?


I liked 1A and 1B for my seats on the 333.

The 737 does not have foot cushions but the leg room is sufficient. Be aware that everything except a small purse must go into the overhead due to the bulkhead wall.

Originally posted by tfjim:

Are there arrival facilities in Frankfurt?

I'm headed to FRA in a couple of weeks and was checking into the lounges. There's the Global Lounge Project at:
http://www.quickbase.com/db/6vcfnaqu

But it doesn't show a US lounge, just an Admiral's Club which I think you can get into with a US Club card and ticket. I also found this in the US Airways Club rules:

----------------------

"Will US Airways or American Airlines First and Business Class transatlantic passengers have access to the other airline's club on the day of travel?"
Yes, transatlantic First and Business Class passengers will have access to the US Airways Club and Admirals Club on the day of travel. American Airlines transatlantic Business and First Class passengers will not have access to US Airways Envoy Lounge at Philadelphia.



[This message has been edited by LEB (edited 04-04-2001).]

Anybody else notice how narrow the Envoy seats are on the 330? Appears as though they have squeezed about one too many seats across for the size of that tube. Some carriers configure 2-1-2 (Swissair is 1-2-1, and, of course, bleeding red ink), but obviously there is a big revenue loss when you do that, especially since one seat has to be left open for the relief pilot.

Originally posted by LEB:
[B]I'm headed to FRA in a couple of weeks and was checking into the lounges.

US uses the Cathay Pacific lounge located near the gates for both arrivals and departures. It is located inside customs. They do have showers as well as the usual assortment of drinks, snacks, etc. Not a world class facility but certainly adequite. Note that if you are departing on the late FRA-PHL flight (2:30 pm) that departs at approx. the same time as Cathay's flight to HKG, you may not be given a pass to the Cathay Lounge for departure, but rather a third party lounge right next to it (as the Cathay Lounge will be filled with their own premium cabin passengers at that time).

To add to the confusion, there are two Cathay Pacific lounges (pretty much next to each other). One is for people actually flying CX and the other is one which is shared by multiple airlines. If you go into the incorrect one with your US Envoy Boarding Pass, they will simply point you in the right direction.

Originally posted by deelmakur:
Anybody else notice how narrow the Envoy seats are on the 330? Appears as though they have squeezed about one too many seats across for the size of that tube. Some carriers configure 2-1-2 (Swissair is 1-2-1, and, of course, bleeding red ink), but obviously there is a big revenue loss when you do that, especially since one seat has to be left open for the relief pilot.

Having flown the Swissair A330 over the pond, I can tell you they are 1-2-1 ... in First Class with a "suite" product, I don't think that's quite comparable to Envoy. In Business, which would be more comparable to Envoy, Swissair is 2-2-2 on the A330.

6-abreast in an A330 (and A340, 300 & 310 as they share the same fuselage x-c) in business is pretty standard. AC and CX operate their 340s 6-abreast in business.

SQ used to operate their 340s 6-abreast in first too but had to drop a seat as pax apparently complained there wasn't that much of a difference between F and J.

The Envoy seats are just fine to me. I think the shape of the armrest in the middle creates a perception of reduced seat width.

I'd second the vote for rows 2, 3 or 4. Row 6 is very noisy for about 75% of the flight (you wonder what they're doing in the galley for all those hours), it gets a lot of the galley lighting, and you have to fight your way past the crew to the lav.

The seats may be narrow but I have no complaints...they're plenty comfortable.

I don't know about anyone else, but I really feel the service is better on the 767 in Envoy. It doesn't have the same "production line" feel that you get on the A330, where they roll out the carts and fill the aisles while doing the service. The A330 crews have also seemed more junior and more easily frazzled on the flights I've taken.

On another note, I was lucky enough to fly first to/from LGW at Thanksgiving, but it was really way too much to enjoy for such a short flight (6 hours PHL-LGW). Seven course meal, mid-flight snacks, hot breakfast, sleep time with pajamas, watching the PTVs, etc. I'm glad to have flown it but will be more than happy to fly Envoy in the future.