America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - HP vs US

How does HP stack up versus US Airways? Especially in light of US' current deathwish? (And secondarily in light of the involvement of Texas Pacific in both airlines.)

Any chance that HP will recognize the opportunity to capture US captives in PHL and other northeast cities? US' routes west are beyond pathetic...

Third -- I may have missed it but I couldn't tell from the website if any of HP's aircraft have laptop power. Do they?

FlightFund is a great program, but because of its route system, HP is not so great for folks in the east unless they do a lot of transcon travel. Those who do a lot of that will find HP a good choice.

HP has friendly people and good service, though food, when available, is a notch below that of CO, according to others. (I haven't taken any HP long hauls in a couple years). AWA has better in-flight alcohol offerings though than CO or NW.

I think the reasonable fare structure and passenger-friendly corporate philosophy (we'll increase revenue by giving customers MORE value) more than offset the drawbacks. It's reasonable fares and reasonable service, more service for those who fly more (elites). Compare that with ridiculous fares and skimpy service from the cartel airlines.

TransWorldOne and others also praise the Corporate AWArds program, but I know nothing about that.

I'll probably be switching my flying to HP sometime in the next year. Oh, and I already own a bunch of AWA stock.

And soon enough, you can get to Hawaii on HP, thanks to a codeshare with HA.

I don't know about laptop ports. It's possible the Airbuses might have them, but I've never looked.

Thanks!

Any comments re: Texas Pacific?

(If anyone can answer the laptop question that would be great too...)

I've never seen a laptop power port on an HP flight.If someone finds one, please tell me!!!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Ord26:
I've never seen a laptop power port on an HP flight.If someone finds one, please tell me!!!!</font>

Well I've never been on an HP plane but if they're anything like US Airway's Airbuses they'd be down low towards the back of the armrest between the seats in F (in back of that cubbyhole that you can stuff a water bottle into) with a little round door on a hinge covering them. I think the coach ones are on the fronts of the armrest -- but I can't remember what coach looks like on US...

[This message has been edited by TomBascom (edited 08-30-2002).]

Just flew 3 segments in F on HP this week; didn't run across any laptop power ports (although that would've been nice!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by smantl01:
Just flew 3 segments in F on HP this week; didn't run across any laptop power ports (although that would've been nice!</font>

One of the nice things on US is that they're available in every seat on every Airbus -- not just F. I was hoping HP might have done the same http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Hi all,

A month or two ago, when flying HP in F, I saw a regular 110 VA outlet on the wall. I assume that this is for the cleaning staff, but I was curious whether it was "hot."

Unfortunately, I didn't have anything to plug into it, or I would have tried. Also, it would require a regular plug (like you would see on a vacuum, radio, or VCR). It was recessed enough that I wouldn't be able to plug in my cell phone charger or anything with an oversized plug.

Anyone ever try this? It was on the wall to the left of seat 1A.

Later,
Tim in Hollywood

No power ports on any HP plane - no even the Airbuses (or is it Airbii?).

The outlet by 1A on the AirBus is for a vacuum. It might just be suction tube, but it may be a power outlet. I've never opened up the flap thing over it to find out.

Tom,
For what it's worth, AWA is starting two-daily PIT-PHX at the end of the month.

I might give them a shot--the fares look fairly reasonable. I do PIT-SFO, PIT-LAX a lot, and AWA might be a reasonable alternative to US "up yours" Airways.

------------------
Saving the world, one clue at a time.

Tom,
I am considering this as well. Looking at their route map it appears that they travel to almost everywhere I would need to fly to in the next year. The reasonable fare structure is also something that makes me want to direct my business in their direction. My only concern is the customer support. I flew to Vegas about 4 years ago and had a experience that was beyond belief. (Its a very long story, but lets just say I was standing in line for well over 5 hours when they cancelled the flight.)

It appears they codeshare with CO and NW. Do I get flight credit toward elite status when I fly those airlines? Would they comp me upper level status from my US CP?

DAN

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by danl08:
Tom,
I am considering this as well. Looking at their route map it appears that they travel to almost everywhere I would need to fly to in the next year. The reasonable fare structure is also something that makes me want to direct my business in their direction. My only concern is the customer support. I flew to Vegas about 4 years ago and had a experience that was beyond belief. (Its a very long story, but lets just say I was standing in line for well over 5 hours when they cancelled the flight.)

It appears they codeshare with CO and NW. Do I get flight credit toward elite status when I fly those airlines? Would they comp me upper level status from my US CP?

DAN</font>

danl08,
As of September 24th they will no longer code share with CO. For the most part you can only get elite credit when flying American West, BA, or some NW.

HP has been very aggressive with their status comps....

I think they made a mistake and comped me to their PLT level because I faxed them my AA PLT credentials.

My first trip is in less than a week. In this case, it is truly incremental revenue for HP, for if they did not comp me to at least GLD, I would have stayed on AA.

I am flying FLL-LAS-TUS-LAS-FLL (with a stop in LAS on the way back) and I will get to ride on an A320, 737, 757 and an A319.

I am really looking forward to "free" upgrades. If I had taken this trip on AA, I would have used at least 10 segments, and would have to purchase more.

Now that business travel has slowed significantly, I no longer feel as tied to AA, since I won't make their next status level. Plus HP will fly me nonstop from FLL/MIA to LAS. So they will gain more personal travel as well.

Any seat recommendations??

Thx

A lot of people have had horror stories with HP in the past. When Bill Franke was CEO, he was just not interested in running a good airline, so it wasn't surprising.

By nearly all accounts, things are different now. So give them a chance, and see how it works.

Only NW trips to outside the U.S. mainland count for HP miles. But you don't get elite credit for them.

Just HP, BA and HA for elite.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by motnot:
...Only NW trips to outside the U.S. mainland count for HP miles. But you don't get elite credit for them.

Just HP, BA and HA for elite.</font>

The above is not correct. I'd suggest you engage in a long study of the FlightFund Elite guide (http://www.americawest.com/flightfund/aboutprogram/elite.pdf).

FlightFund members may accrue miles toward Elite status when flying:

- America West Airlines systemwide
- America West Express systemwide
- Big Sky Airlines (when connecting to an America West flight in Denver, Spokane or Dallas)
- British Airways systemwide when flying in the following classes of service:
Concord - AR, RR, GR
First - FF, AF
Club World - JJ, DJ
Club Europe - CC, DC
World Traveller Plus - WW, TW
Economy - YM, BM, HM, KM
Domestic Shuttle Service - CC, BC, DC, HC, KC, YC
- Hawaiian Airlines systemwide (effective October 11, 2002)
- Northwest Airlines (from the US to any of the following destinations: Alaska, Canada, Honolulu, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Asia )

You may also accrue Elite qualifying miles on Continental Airlines, Continental Express, and Continental Micronesia systemwide through September 23, 2002.

I stand corrected. I was going from the info on the web site, but not the actual guide. I guess the page I read was less than accurate.