US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Europe equipment changes?

Anyone else notice transatlantic equipment changes in the system?

Beginning 11/3/02, our beloved 330 moves to a 767 on PIT-LGW. It appears to only be a seasonal change, since it returns to a 330 sometime in March (I got bored typing in dates in the timetable to figure out exactly when).

Anyone notice where the 330 is going? I am assuming a Caribbean destination, since the CLT and PHL Europe flights dont change.

Great. I guess I take the AA Saab to JFK for London flights all winter.

I'll bet the companies in PIT who do a lot of transatlantic with US to London are thrilled....

*sigh*


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Saving the world, one clue at a time.

Thats sucks. I specifically purchased tickets on a 330 out of PIT. I will have to change my tickets to fly out PHL.

They probably don't need the capacity off season.

Is the A330 that much more comfortable than a 767 ?

I've never flown a big Airbus yet, and am quite looking forward to my first.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Cris L:
Is the A330 that much more comfortable than a 767 ?

I've never flown a big Airbus yet, and am quite looking forward to my first.</font>

Although I am usually in the minority opinion, the A330 is not that much more comfortable than the 767. I've never noticed a difference in seat comfort or the 5" difference in seat pitch (55" vs. 60", or something like that). The big advantage of the A330 is the entertainment system and power outlets, but I have a laptop with DVD player and three extra batteries, so it's not a huge deal for me. Finally, in my experience and based on other's accounts, the service on 767's is often superior to that received on the A330 because of the smaller cabin and a galley the crew likes better (or so I've heard).

In coach, the 330 is completely different (and much better) than the 767.

The seat comfort in Envoy on the 767 vs 330 is debateable. The pitch, recline, comfort, etc. aren't the same, but comparable. The onboard entertainment is another story, though.

So, if I were booked in Envoy on a 330 and they switched to a 767, I wouldn't go out of my way to rebook on a 330.

If I were in coach on a 330 and they switched to a 767, I'd jump through hoops to rebook my flight to a 330.

Those 767s are really getting ratty and beat in Y. I did that once (MUC-PHL). Never again.

I'm sure the issue is that they don't need the lift of the 330 to London in the winter. I wonder how/if this impacts cargo ops?

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Saving the world, one clue at a time.

Ah, but does the 767 have the espresso machine? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

--Greg, who drank a number of Americanos on his last LGW trip.

I'm with Beckles. I've flown BC 5x in 333s and just once on a 762. Service was much superior on the 762 flight. If you don't care for entertainment (I didn't - wanted shut eye as I had to drive when I got to the other side - CDG in this case), the BC seats on the 767 are much more comfortable at least for me than the 333 ones.

The other thing that I haven't seen mentioned is that, although the 330 has the personal entertainment system for each coach seat, they have stolen the room for the computer for each of these from under the seat. So, there is a lot less room under your seat for your carry-on and your feet. I found it uncomfortable, but loved the entertainment system.

Djlawman

..so did anyone figure out where the 330 got re-deployed? Notice any other changes?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PHL:
In coach, the 330 is completely different (and much better) than the 767.</font>

I've done three R/T's to LGW on US, but I wouldn't know anything about coach on either of the aircraft, nor do I ever intend to find out about it ... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hscottm:
..so did anyone figure out where the 330 got re-deployed? Notice any other changes?</font>

There may be increased SJU service, as the 330 seems to have found a good home on that route. It also may be held onto for maintenance swap outs of the other ones.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Cris L:
Is the A330 that much more comfortable than a 767 ?

I've never flown a big Airbus yet, and am quite looking forward to my first.</font>

I have only one trip to speak towards: CLT-LGW on a 767, LGW-CLT on an A330, both in Envoy. Both my wife and I loved the 330 compared to the 767. The seats were much better with added lumbar (sp?) support and more positions and the entertainment system was incredible. Contrary to the experience that others have had, our flight crew on the 330 was much better and I think that actually might sway my opinion more than the actual plane itself. They were more attentive and provided more consistent service. I did not sleep more than an hour on either flight and on the 767 it seemed like everyone kind of hybernated at one point. On the 330, they kept trying to feed me more snacks (took them) and more drinks (took a few) and even gave my wife and I a bottle of champagne prior to arrival...no idea why, but who am I to turn down free booze? One factor that I'm sure weighs into my feelings is the fact that we were in the row 1 on the 767...not a ton of legroom. On the 767 I also had someone behind me who would kick my seat occassionally. On the A330 would not have been possible as I couldn't touch the seat in front of me if I stretched my legs as far as I could.

My .02 worth.

Joining the minority, I like the front-cabin Boeings. The A330 specifically seems like a Spanish Inquisition torture device. Sure, you can adjust it to many positions, but they are all increasingly delicious varieties of pain.

Have you ever tried to reach for your dinner? Good luck.

So Beckles, ATC and myself favour 762 seats for comfort over the 333 ones with ATC and I deciding the 333 seat is very uncomfortable. Are we of the same physique and stature? (I'm 5'10", 175 lbs, slim build - not "padded").

I prefer the Boeing Envoy class over the Airbus. Granted the Airbus entertainment system is FAR superior, I find the Boeing more comfortable. The 767-200's are getting pretty worn, I remember flying them when Piedmont originally had them CLT to SFO

USAir transatlantic Envoy class is comparible to any other business class I've flown (KLM, United & Iceland Air)

Some of the 767s came several years after the Piedmont acquisition. A 767 is a 767 is a 767. What the airline decides to do with the interior is what can make a world of difference.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PHL:
Some of the 767s came several years after the Piedmont acquisition. A 767 is a 767 is a 767. What the airline decides to do with the interior is what can make a world of difference.</font>

Wouldn't it be awesome if US Airways retrofitted their 767-200's like the factory-fresh ones that Continental flies? New, slanted, capacious 777-style overheads, new seats in all cabins, PTV's in all cabins....

Continental now has one of the largest international operations of any US major. Siegel, meanwhile, has suggested that US needs to reduce its overseas presence. Presumably some of that traffic gets handed to UA for completion, while our boys do the London, Paris, Rome thing. I still believe the 330's stay, with integration into the domestic and caribbean route structures. Quietly, the company has put more aircraft up for sale. These include nearly all the 757's, and a number of 767's. That certainly seems to point to retention of the 330's. Don't look for any reupholstering on those Boeings.

[This message has been edited by deelmakur (edited 08-10-2002).]

.. in my constant quest to check timetables each day, noticed that PIT-CDG shows up March/April next year on 767.

[I had been looking for cancellations/equipment changes by one of the transatlantic fleets disappearing, but havent seen that yet.]