US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - What should I expect for an Envoy flight?

I just confirmed seats 4A and 4B in Envoy on an A333 for my wife and I to fly PHL-LGW in a few months.

What should we expect?

Is there an Envoy lounge in Philadelphia? If so, what sort of things does it have (i.e. food, drinks, etc.)?

We have been to the regular US lounge in Terminal 2 and 4 (if I remember the terminal numbers correctly), but did not see any Envoy lounge signs or anything.

Thanks.
--Alex

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ayb1:
What should we expect? </font>

Up-to-date plane; nice entertainment-on-demand system; small care package of socks/ear plugs/eye shades/toothbrush/hand lotion; first-class food; fairly good service too.


<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ayb1:
Is there an Envoy lounge in Philadelphia? If so, what sort of things does it have (i.e. food, drinks, etc.)? </font>

Yes, in fact there is a brand new Envoy lounge in Philadelphia in the new international terminal -- look for signs and a lift for the 4th floor (it's in the middle of the terminal). They have a good spread of meats, cheeses, snacks and a full serve-yourself bar. As you enter the USAirways Club you go to the right for the Club or to the left for the Envoy Club. Identical layout, just better food on the left.

My wife and I popped into the right side (non-Envoy) part of the lounge prior to our last PHL-LGW flight. It looked like it was already falling apart!

Hopefully the Envoy side is better..
--Alex

Also, don't forget the excellent US Airways Arrival's lounge in LGW. The service is wonderful, just as it is in the departure club there, and you'll get a good breakfast and the use of the showers. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lgw741:
Also, don't forget the excellent US Airways Arrival's lounge in LGW. The service is wonderful, just as it is in the departure club there, and you'll get a good breakfast and the use of the showers. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

</font>

Beat me to it. The arrivals lounge is very nice and something that my wife and I didn't take full advantage of. The staff is attentive and showers are clean and nice.

Whereabouts is the arrivals lounge? I have never seen signs for it flying through LGW before. Is it before or after customs?
--Alex

It is after customs and I seem to recall that it is downstairs, but can't be certain. I was there over a year ago. It was my first international trip and I was just trying to take in all of the funny speaking people and odd customs. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by dingo (edited 07-09-2003).]

To get to the arrival lounge go to the elevators directly across from the exit from customs. The elevators are to the left of the Barclays ATM. The US and CO arrivals lounges are one floor down.

The elevator to the Arrivals Lounge at Gatwick is on the far wall, straight across from where you exit immigration & customs. The sign says something generic like "Arrivals Lounges" or "Airline Lounges" but there's a small US Airways logo and Continental Airlines logo on the sign or in the elevator itself. Just take the lift down one level & follow the signs. The lounge is fabulous (I love the magic shower-room door where you put your clothes in wrinkled and they come out pressed) and the staff are a trip. (One is a dead ringer for Bubble from AbFab!)

I think flying between PHL & LGW on US is one of the best deals going, given the airplane, the lounges on each end, and the service on-board and on the ground.

------------------
AIM: RutherfordMurray

I don't ever remember seeing the signs during recent flights through LGW, but then again I just headed toward the Gatwick Express train.

I forwarded the specifics to a friend that is flying PHL-LGW this weekend.

Is the arrivals lounge exclusively for Envoy? If I have a QF membership (entitling me to use US lounges), can I use the US arrivals lounge when I fly coach as well?

Thanks.
--Alex

If you are a CP or full fare, you would be entitled to pre-reserve Row 1 (old First Class) and enjoy full flat bed seats. Even if you are not CP or full fare, ask at the gate, and they will give you those seats if still open.

Is row 1 that great? seatguru.com said that rows 3 and 4 are preferred for envoy because 2 and 5 suck. They said row 1 had poor ventilation.

What do you guys think?
--Alex

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ayb1:
Is row 1 that great? seatguru.com said that rows 3 and 4 are preferred for envoy because 2 and 5 suck. They said row 1 had poor ventilation.

What do you guys think?
--Alex</font>

Have to agree with row five and would add row 6 as well. The galley is in between them and things can get noisy during meal preps and bathroom breaks. Sat in row 1 a few weeks back and loved it...loved it.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ayb1:
Is row 1 that great? seatguru.com said that rows 3 and 4 are preferred for envoy because 2 and 5 suck. They said row 1 had poor ventilation.

What do you guys think?
--Alex</font>

I would take 1 going east because I can't sleep in anything but a completely flat seat.

Going west, I've sampled 3, 4, 5, and 6 (and 2/6, 7/5 should be similar) and I am in agreement with seatguru - 3 and 4 are the places to be.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ayb1:
Is row 1 that great? seatguru.com said that rows 3 and 4 are preferred for envoy because 2 and 5 suck. They said row 1 had poor ventilation. What do you guys think? </font>

I would go with row 1 anyday I can get it! The flat seat is fantastic -- I slept like a baby.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ayb1:
Is the arrivals lounge exclusively for Envoy? If I have a QF membership (entitling me to use US lounges), can I use the US arrivals lounge when I fly coach as well?

Thanks.
--Alex</font>

In answer to your question, the arrivals lounge is exclusively for US Airways customers who arrive in LGW after a flight in Envoy class only - they check your boarding passes etc. Also, you should get an invite just before the inbound flight lands. It is NOT part of the US Airways club system, which QF membership entitles you to. You would be able to use the US Airways club in departures though.

Regards,
LGW741 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by lgw741 (edited 07-10-2003).]