US Airways Dividend Miles - Equipment Change? Envoy? A330 to B767 PHL-FCO

So a few months back I booked a CVG-PHL-FCO using miles. They had open seats in ENVOY on A330 and I love to fly in the new Envoy suite.

Today I logged into my US Airways account and saw they have swapped the plane for a 767! I'm not happy at all!

I understand routes and equipment change but those seats are not the same!

If I had known it was a 767 I would have sat in the back. Two other people have booked tickets to go to Rome with me and they paid cash for their tickets.

I have 2 questions?

Do you think US Airways would allow me to move back to coach at the low mileage tier that was open when I booked my tickets crediting me back some of my miles?

or do you think I could get them to refund the ticket purchase price of the two other passengers and refund my miles?

What would be the best way to approach them?

On the bright side, you won't have the oldest Envoy seats in the fleet - that honor belongs to the 757 which uses the old 333 Envoy seats.

In reality, you're due nothing although I understand your feelings. You booked Envoy and are getting Envoy, the miles required are the same whether you fly the 330 or the 767. If you complain US may refund you some miles but I wouldn't count on it and be happy if they do. As for a cash refund to the others, probably no way. The best I'd expect is a token voucher for future use toward the cost of another flight.

Jim

Your reality. I sometimes wonder how much fear of these swap-outs hinders purchases of Envoy tickets. I wonder if US wonders the same thing. I guess not.

You could always take a minor hit and pay to have your miles re-deposited, then re-book in Y.

Your companions, alas, would have to take a $250 international ticket change and be convinced that within the next year they would use the ticket (less $250) for another Envoy ticket. Seems like a stretch ....

I guess I would start with the "it never hurts to ask" strategy, making the point that you (or your companions) will never be purchasing Envoy again if not given the option to change back if and when US changes product. But see my first paragraph....

I feel your pain. This said, overnight upright in the back of a 767 is a pain, too.

Today I logged into my US Airways account and saw they have swapped the plane for a 767! I'm not happy at all!

Check out this thread....

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-airways-dividend-miles/1358025-itinerary-aircraft-changed-a330-300-767-envoy-product-dilemma.html


I was in a similar situation and I ended being able to cancel my award ticket for free and getting all my miles and fees refunded....

Since you are flying with friends I don't know if that is an option for you....

OR...you could see about adding a connection like CVG-PHL-MUC-FCO, provided PHL-MUC is still operating on the A330. You would also need to then rely on a LH flight from MUC-FCO. That's a short leg, so accepting coach shouldn't be a big deal if it's all that's available.

I'm not sure the extra stop is worth the hassle of changing though. The 767, while not the best in class for US, is still fine compared to coach on any plane, and compares to other airlines still flying angled lie flat seats (like AA, DL and even LH).

I'm not sure the extra stop is worth the hassle of changing though. The 767, while not the best in class for US, is still fine compared to coach on any plane, and compares to other airlines still flying angled lie flat seats (like AA, DL and even LH).I agree, A330 seat is not worth the additional connection.

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OR...you could see about adding a connection like CVG-PHL-MUC-FCO, provided PHL-MUC is still operating on the A330. You would also need to then rely on a LH flight from MUC-FCO. That's a short leg, so accepting coach shouldn't be a big deal if it's all that's available.

I'm not sure the extra stop is worth the hassle of changing though. The 767, while not the best in class for US, is still fine compared to coach on any plane, and compares to other airlines still flying angled lie flat seats (like AA, DL and even LH).

Correct: The 767 envoy hard product is very comparable to quite a few products out there like Lufthansa's business across the board, so what you're getting is while understandably disappointing, isn't unreasonable given what's out there.

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Correct: The 767 envoy hard product is very comparable to quite a few products out there like Lufthansa's business across the board, so what you're getting is while understandably disappointing, isn't unreasonable given what's out there.

I actually think the 767 in the bulkhead is more comfortable than the 330 seat. I also think with the smaller number of C seats on the 767 the service is better.

I flew PHL-VCE on the 767 in late June and returned FCO-PHL in early July. The 333 seat and catering were both much better. There's something about having a brand new FLAT seat with a private feel. On the 333, they even served us restaurant quality fish and an ice cream sundae.

With that said, I don't think it's worth your time to change the flights. US airways is just incompetent in managing its operations. As an AA 1MM, I shudder at thinking that US air MIGHT merge with AA.

I flew PHL-VCE on the 767 in late June and returned FCO-PHL in early July. The 333 seat and catering were both much better. There's something about having a brand new FLAT seat with a private feel. On the 333, they even served us restaurant quality fish and an ice cream sundae.

With that said, I don't think it's worth your time to change the flights. US airways is just incompetent in managing its operations. As an AA 1MM, I shudder at thinking that US air MIGHT merge with AA.

You're an AA 1MM and flew US to Italy. I realize AA doesn't fly to VCE, but they do fly to FCO and it's only flown on a 767 with angled lie flat seating, also in a 2x2x2 config, and also with portable IFE players. AA has operational issues as well and does equipment swaps too. BUt it sounds like you enjoyed the service on US, despite following it up with "incompetent in managing its operations". Did something else happen on your trip to prompt that comment?

I actually think the 767 in the bulkhead is more comfortable than the 330 seat. I also think with the smaller number of C seats on the 767 the service is better.

What do you mean? You can't beat the privacy of the A330 Envoy Suites and on the A330-200s there are only 20 J seats, that's just two more J seats than on the 767s, which have a tight 2x2x2 configuration up front.

OR...you could see about adding a connection like CVG-PHL-MUC-FCO, provided PHL-MUC is still operating on the A330. You would also need to then rely on a LH flight from MUC-FCO. That's a short leg, so accepting coach shouldn't be a big deal if it's all that's available.

I'm not sure the extra stop is worth the hassle of changing though. The 767, while not the best in class for US, is still fine compared to coach on any plane, and compares to other airlines still flying angled lie flat seats (like AA, DL and even LH).

Connecting at MUC is never a hassle. IMHO, easiest, nicest, cleanest airport around.

MUC is great, but it's still turning a trip that could be flown in 2 legs into one with 3.

MUC is great, but it's still turning a trip that could be flown in 2 legs into one with 3.

Which some of us like: more flying experience, more segments, more miles.

Perhaps, but in this case the OP said the tickets were obtained using miles.

Just because one is using miles doesn't mean that one doesn't want the joy of flying more miles over more segments. To some, its not simply about the arriving at the destination -- its the pleasure of being in an airport, of taking off, of flying, of landing. My last award travel was PHX-BOS. Had it been business and I pressed for time, I could have flown it non-stop on US or a single connection on UA. Because it was for pleasure, and I was using a UA award, I chose PHX-SFO-ORD-CLE-BOS. Had a misconnect at ORD and was able to talk the agent into ORD-IAH-BOS. A very good vacation day. And all for the cost of the miles earned on a trip to Europe.

The OP hasn't chimed into on whether an extra connection would or would not be desirable so there is no reason to assume her/his preference.