US Airways Dividend Miles - Pleasantly surprised: FC DFW to PHL

Recently had a client request in PHL while I was staying in DFW for a conference. Last minute only FC was available, and with my new promotion to a higher rank (Senior Director), I now get to fly FC domestically.

The flight was the early AM 6:25 flight on an A319, and I was seated in the second row. The pitch felt tighter than other domestic FC seats on other airlines, but was still great.

PDBs were served promptly and efficiently. The overhead bin space seemed larger than on other airlines. More room for luggage than legs, maybe--but minor.

Breakfast was a choice of Pecan French Toast or Egg Quesadillas. I chose the French Toast because I can sometimes be all thumbs (why I a family practitioner and not a surgeon!) on a plane that early in the morning. It was an all-male crew and they were efficient, fast, friendly.

The plane was sparkling clean, and the flight attendants were wonderful. I wish my UA and AA FC experiences were the same, but alas recently both have slipped.

I have not flown US Airways in many years, but I have to say I was rather impressed by the FC service.

Please see some of my recent posts about US Air. For several years I was one of their biggest critics (hell, look at my former screen name)!!!

As I have stated since switching back to them in early March, I have SHOCKED by how good the experiance has been. SUPERIOR to UA without question for a MULTITUDE of reasons.

My ONLY complaint is I wish the would serve meals in F on flights that were over 2+ hours...

I feel the same about US being nicer than UA on my PHL-DEN flights, and I love the single seats on both sides of Envoy TLV-PHL - definitely prefer that over UA's 2-2-2 in BusinessFirst.

Recently had a client request in PHL while I was staying in DFW for a conference. Last minute only FC was available, and with my new promotion to a higher rank (Senior Director), I now get to fly FC domestically.

The flight was the early AM 6:25 flight on an A319, and I was seated in the second row. The pitch felt tighter than other domestic FC seats on other airlines, but was still great.

PDBs were served promptly and efficiently. The overhead bin space seemed larger than on other airlines. More room for luggage than legs, maybe--but minor.

Breakfast was a choice of Pecan French Toast or Egg Quesadillas. I chose the French Toast because I can sometimes be all thumbs (why I a family practitioner and not a surgeon!) on a plane that early in the morning. It was an all-male crew and they were efficient, fast, friendly.

The plane was sparkling clean, and the flight attendants were wonderful. I wish my UA and AA FC experiences were the same, but alas recently both have slipped.

I have not flown US Airways in many years, but I have to say I was rather impressed by the FC service.



I fly DFW-PHL frequently, usually (thank G-D) on later flights :-). I think US has gotten a bad rap for years from people who haven't flown them in a long time. Planes are clean, generally on time, and crews are nice. First Class is a bit inconsistent, but generally very nice; coach is markedly better than American or United, with cleaner, roomier, cabins. I also wish they had meal service on flights over 2 or 2 1/2 hours but I guess the folks in the Sandcastle think otherwise ;)

I moved all my flying from PMCO /Newnited after Smisek's "changes we'll like" and apart from the CC pitch I can truly say I have no complaints. Like my upgrades as a silver, like the clubs, generally good CS, helpful during IRROPS, what's not to love - Ill vote with my wallet and my department's travel dollars ^

My ONLY complaint is I wish the would serve meals in F on flights that were over 2+ hours...

I do too, but they have a pretty good snack basket at least. It's usually passed around a couple times, or you can always ask for more if you want it.

PDBs were served promptly and efficiently.

IMHO US is still the only airline, that consistently offers full PDB on majority of flights. Even on A321, I get PDB on 50-60% of flights. KUDOS^

My ONLY complaint is I wish the would serve meals in F on flights that were over 2+ hours...

Agree completely, at least have something other than the snack basket, especially if the flight is during normal meal hours.

I flew PHX-IAH last Friday. Left PHX at 3pm, supposed to arrive at IAH at 8pm (there were issues so we were a little delayed). But at least a sandwich or something would have been great.

Since I knew there wouldn't be a meal, I got a salad in the airport.

Coach is markedly better than American or United, with cleaner, roomier, cabins.

How so? US Airways offers pretty much the same Y seat pitch as AA and UA in regular Y, and of course US doesn't have Y+ like UA does.

I have also had very good experiences DFW-PHL in FC, albeit on E190s or some type of smaller planes.

Great to hear about your flight.

Pitch is usually a bit tight on US - but they're improving that on their newer planes by removing the closets and giving First Class a few more inches. The seat width is nice - especially compared with an AA MD-80 that fits 2x2 in First where you have 2x3 in Coach, vs. 2x2 in first to 3x3 in coach for most other narrow-bodies.

How is Coach better on US vs. AA and UA? Fleet Age is one thing. The US domestic fleet is primarily A320 family aircraft, many of which are recently delivered and more are continuously being delivered. Clean and new cabins are an important part. UA's 320s and 757s are much older, same with the AA MD-80s. US has all leather seats in coach, which generally holds up better than cloth seats. UA and AA all have relics of and older time air travel, like airfones. US has their planes with a please turn off electronic devices light instead of a no smoking sign. With coach being as bare bones as it is now, these little things make a difference. sCO has direct tv which is nice, but as an extra charge fee, i'd rather have wifi.

Agreed... I've flown a few times this year in both Coach and First on US.. and the most noticeable thing on the aircraft I flew on was the "brightness" and cleanliness...

Some of the airctaft didn't seem at all new... just refurbished and cleaned. :D

Let me jump on the praise bandwagon here. I am yet to have bad experience with US this year, so they must be doing something right. This compares to poor CS at AA (had a couple of very rude agents on the phone). Haven't flown CO much this year, but I didn't book with them after reading the UACO forum here.

Let me jump on the praise bandwagon here. I am yet to have bad experience with US this year, so they must be doing something right. This compares to poor CS at AA (had a couple of very rude agents on the phone). Haven't flown CO much this year, but I didn't book with them after reading the UACO forum here.

US has improved significantly over the past 2 to 3 years. The people here in PHX are usually quite helpful, the planes are usually very clean, and my flights have been ontime. The only drawbacks are the draconian change fees ($150) compared to WN and the awful boarding algorithm which guarantees that I have to gate-check my carryon bag (since I prefer aisly seats).

Recently had a client request in PHL while I was staying in DFW for a conference. Last minute only FC was available, and with my new promotion to a higher rank (Senior Director), I now get to fly FC domestically.

The flight was the early AM 6:25 flight on an A319, and I was seated in the second row. The pitch felt tighter than other domestic FC seats on other airlines, but was still great.

PDBs were served promptly and efficiently. The overhead bin space seemed larger than on other airlines. More room for luggage than legs, maybe--but minor.

Breakfast was a choice of Pecan French Toast or Egg Quesadillas. I chose the French Toast because I can sometimes be all thumbs (why I a family practitioner and not a surgeon!) on a plane that early in the morning. It was an all-male crew and they were efficient, fast, friendly.

The plane was sparkling clean, and the flight attendants were wonderful. I wish my UA and AA FC experiences were the same, but alas recently both have slipped.

I have not flown US Airways in many years, but I have to say I was rather impressed by the FC service.

You got two of my fave breakfast's that US serves, now to tell too many people about how wonderful US has gotten, them think it is the old airlines people assume it is. BTW, APN is much better then a surgeon in my book!!