America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - I May Have to Switch to HP

I had heard so many bad things about HP that I have avoided the airline as much as possible. But three times now recently I had little choice and I am quickly becoming a convert.

1) Last minute roundtrip SFO to ATL. UA wanted $2200, HP $700. Flights were fine, no problems, everything on time. Pleasant employees.

2) Last minute 1 way - Washington DC to the Bay area. HP $169 DCA to OAK. Ditto #1

3) Last minute 1 way - BWI to LAS. Most carriers wanted over $800 with a connection. HP $300 nonstop. Ditto #1.

Is this unusual or have all of you here known a secret that has escaped the rest of us?

This is what caused the divorce from Continental - There is a price, you have been lucky mechanical delays are quite common, They advertize and solicit one way and short notice and then search you because you are flying one way or short notice, big hassle factor American is getting ready to follow this pricing model, they should be around long enough for you to redem some miles

We have been trying to keep it a secret http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Welcome to the nice side

Welcome aboard, JerryFF. I am a CO Infinite Platinum, but I am an investor in HP because it has a fare structure (and cost structure) that make sense (and the whole company is only valued at $90 million!).

Don't believe the AWA horror stories -- they are in the past tense. The new CEO has dramatically cleaned up the airline's act by spending more on maintenance and running a tighter ship. AWA completes 99% of its flights (this month so far it's 99.3%) which is slightly above average for the industry. It is ranked number 2 in the industry for on-time performance so far this year. Admittedly, AWA is now dropping in the on-time rankings, but not because it's service is getting worse -- rather AWA has already put all its planes and employees back to work, while the other carriers have extra equipment to pad their schedules. Still 80% on-time is more than reasonable, especially if you're saving good money.

Be skeptical of folks who tell you the other airlines are starting to offer lower priced biz fares. In some markets they are, but they still tend to be MUCH higher than HP's. They have to be, because AWA's costs are about 25% less than the big boys (largely due to payroll costs).

I would also note that HP currently has the best ff program in the industry. The easiest upgrades (as confirmed by Randy's survey), a 3000 mile internet bonus, and great awards (including Hawaiian and BA and good mileage levels).

Tell a friend or two.

I think you will find HP to be an excellent airline. I have been both Platinum on HP and 1K on UA for the past several years. Due to a recent promotion, I will be reducing my travel next year by about 40% and have decided to concentrate my travel on HP rather than UA. HP's management and employees understand that what is necessary to keep this airline flying. They have a very good frequent flyer program and are focused on the frequent traveler. In my opinion, UA still does not have a clue.

When you hear complaints about HP, its almost always from someone who has either not flown HP in the past 18 months or they had problems on one specific trip, which of course, can happen on any airline. Good luck, I think you will be suprised by the quality service provided by HP.

I flew approximately 20k base miles on HP from June through September 2002. I needed to fly to Phoenix and Tucson from LA and/or Houston. I received complimentary Platinum Status (I do have a pulse and have used public transportation).

Earned toward 2003 Elite Gold status 20,581 miles and 32 segments

To maintain alternative elite status for future travel I let these miles accrue ro the HP Frequent Flyer account even though 90 % of them were in the date range that I could have applied them to Continental.

With only six FC seats available on most of HP's flights and apecking order of HP Plat, CO Plat, HP Gold, CO Plat . . . . I wanted to be in the first group HP Plat. When I asked to switch my FF account on one of the early flights I was told I would have to give up my FC seat.

The only two flights I flew in coach, were one that I had used my Continental Number (a moot point since late August) and once when I opted to take the later flight since it would arrive earlier than my confirmed flight due to a mechanical delay.

Of the 32 Segments I had at least 6 mechanical delays of over 1.5 hours.

One incident included a connection, I made the connecting flight with less than 12 minutes between actual arrival and schedule departure. Sitting in First Class I could hear the conversation of the gate supervisor who closed the door before all of the connecting passengers made the connection, they separated a party of four with the next flight 11 hours later (the next day)

I was initially targeted for gate serch for 11 of my first 12 segements, on occaision the ticket agent would inform me of the fact, I would actually go right to security to be first rather than be redirected at the door to report for security.

One one of my mechanical delays where we had to switch planes I was the only passenger selected to be searched a second time.

The best advice is to plan your travel and use a real airline.

FC_DAVE

Is your goal here to keep those first class seats for yourself http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

As an earned HP PLT for the past 3 years I have not experienced anywhere near the kind of issues you have. I have one major weather delay ( where BWI was basically shut down) that they handled in a fantistic manner for me including hotel, meal, and amenitity kit. A few late flights ( but so does every airline) and have flown coach maybe once or twice when I have opted to standby ( for FREE) and FC was not available.

YMMV ( and obviously does), but being PHX based this is clearly the airline for me http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by jan_az (edited 11-24-2002).]

FC DAVE, as the song says, "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." I think that song was written for you.

I've been HP Platinum since they started it, and Flight Fund "Masters" before that. Even in their bad days (and there were definitely bad days), I did not have anything near the problems you've reported. And in the past 18-or-so-months, I can actually say it's actually been a pleasure to fly HP. There's the occasional problem or delay, but the way they handle them now is completely different, and in my opinion, as good or better than the "majors".

I'm lucky to be able to say (knock on wood) that in the past two years I was not upgraded to F/C one time -- on a flight from PHX to EWR. And I fly all over the place. While I know not every Platinum member can say that, all that I know feel very good about their upgrade percentage vs. other airlines. The bonus miles are industry leading, meaning free trips faster. Free international flights in first and business on BA are a snap in my experience and, as I said, upgrading for Platinum members is easy and frequent.

Having said all that, "best advice is to plan your travel and use a real airline." Me and my friends like our upgrade record on HP and would like it to continue.

Consistency is still a problem at this airline. Some flights I have taken this 2002 year (about 35,000+ miles on HP as a CO Gold) were really good, and others really bad. Service & consistency just isn't at a constant, but fluctuates. No question that they are a better airline than in the past, but they still have more room to improve.

I agree that America West's service is inconsistant. When I flew HP earlier this year from LAS, I thought their staffing was among the friendliest, most helpful I've ever encountered. But when I got onto the airplane, I thought it was the worst flight crew I had ever encountered. I was only going to LAX, so no biggie...

[This message has been edited by IndustrialPatent (edited 11-24-2002).]

Shhhhhh.

I get a kick out of people who experience one problem on HP and dismiss the entire airline yet ignore the very same or similiar problem on one of the bigger airlines.

I could always count on delays on UA shuttle. When it was in operation.

Yes, HP has lost my bag once, but show me one airline that hasnt lost a bag or delayed a flight.

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God Bless America West and British Airways

HP - Platinum/800k miles
BA - Dirt/Soon to be Silver
UA - Dirt/19k miles
AA - Dirt/Only using to get BA Tier points/miles.

I flew HP 80k-100k for the 1999-2001 timeframe. Almost invariably good service, timely flights, and actually dang good food in both coach and especially FC. I will say that I got bumped to FC on Northwest once, and they did an excellent job. Might even say that experience was preferable to HP's FC, but it would be borderline at that.

Granted, food service/quality on HP have slipped a great deal since Sept 2001, and the FA's are not quite as liberal with the alcohol as before. However, this is pretty much true with all of the airlines.

Regardless, I am down to just a couple of flights per year now. That coveted platinum status will expire here on 2/28/2003. Would it be possible for one of the platinums on this board to nominate my lowly dog self to silver? I don't have a great deal to offer in exchange, but I do have several booklets of SWA drink coupons.

-Still have that occasional flight to D.C., and silver status will at least give me a shot at getting out of steerage on that four to five hour flight.

"I'm lucky to be able to say (knock on wood) that in the past two years I was not upgraded to F/C one time -- on a flight from PHX to EWR."

I used to do that route almost every week. It's the hardest route HP has to get upgraded on. There are always several PLATs in the back of the bus on Sundays and Thursdays on that route.

I'm at about 80% upgrades between PHX and EWR, 100% elsewhere.