US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Caribbean via PHL questions

I have an event to attend this summer in Barbados, but have only been to the Caribbean once before (GCM via ATL on DL+KX) and have never flown through PHL at all. I've tried to read through the archives but have a few questions that remain unanswered:

- my anticipated return arrives PHL from BGI at 8:45pm on July 5 :eek:, thence to DCA departing 10:10pm. Will the holiday "cancel" the fact it is low season? Will an hour and change be enough time to clear customs? Should I attempt to upgrade?
- is PHL my only option? The usairways.com schedule search has been returning "system busy" errors for a couple of hours now...
- is it safe to check my scuba gear?-- both from a misdirect and a theft perspective. The gear may be insured, but obviously I'd rather not have to spend time getting any replacement gear, and at inflated island prices.

My two group travel options are AA and US. The US reservations desk told me the group discount didn't apply because it was a holiday weekend (so why arrange it in the first place? :rolleyes:), meaning no cost advantage over AA. I'd prefer US for the cheaper DCA option and to accumulate UA miles.

If my experience is any guide, you may need to anticipate staying the night in PHL or getting back to DCA via train. Your PHL - DCA flight is most likely the last one for the night. Ms Gava1 and I returned from SXM last month with a similarly tight connection. Between departing SXM 30 minutes late (no explaination given), 35 minutes for the baggage to come up for claiming in PHL, and needing to traverse from Terminal A to gate F36 (the furthest one by the way), we missed our connecting flight. Fortunately, they booked us on another leaving just over two hours later. Other than an unexpected dinner in PHL, we weren't terribly inconvenienced (just annoyed at USAir - a letter did go to customer service). Also, despite 2+ hours extra, one of two checked bags didn't make the connection in PHL and was delivered to my house the next day. All in all it wasn't a good day for flying on U.

1. It's almost a five hour flight from PHL to/from BGI. So yes, try and upgrade! Why not?

2. PHL is your option. There are no CLT-BGI options.

3. Your return flight to PHL could be an issue. I've come in on those late flights from the Caribbean and usually had no trouble connecting to DCA. I've also experienced one misconnect when the BGI-PHL flight was delayed by about 1.5 hours. However, the agents in BGI (surprisingly) knew what to do. They gave us a hotel and food voucher for the PHL airport Hilton and booked us on flights the following morning back to DCA. Great service. Since we had nothing to do the next day we actually asked them to put us on the late morning flight instead of the 6-something a.m. option. They were glad to do it. Upgraded as well.

4. I would rather eat glass while poking myself in the eyes with knitting needles than attempt a late-night arrival to PHL, followed by customs, and then a train ride to DC followed by a trip home from Union Station at some un-godly hour of the morning. :eek:

enjoy! :D

I've done several Caribbean -- PHL flights over the past few years. Customs and Immigration will not be a problem. Luggage however, will be an issue. On our last 2 returns to PHL from the Caribbean in the new International Terminal (A-West) we waited over an hour each time for luggage. Both times were the evening returns and the only arrivals were from the Caribbean. I wish you the best of luck. Worst case -- you can catch Amtrak to DC from 30th Street Station if you need to be in DC that night. As for the upgrade from BGI, the flights were full both directions. The service was nothing to write home about, but we did get a cold dinner which helped considering the long wait for luggage!!! We didn't get out of the airport until late.

PHL-BGI
BGI-PHL

My parents did the Barbados flights a few months ago and as Silver Preferreds (both) they cleared upgrades both ways. I didn't think they would but maybe they got lucky. Neither came home with wild raves about the service. Both commented that the bigger seats and the free wine in plastic cups was "better than coach" but certainly not worth $$$ or the extra miles for an upgrade or a FC award ticket at 60k per. :)

I did that trip from DCA last October, and maybe it's just me, but anything is better than being in the back on any flight - let alone a 5 hours one. I was SP at the time, and cleared no problem. There were empty seats as well. Only problem I had was flight delay from DCA-PHL and would have misconnected. They protected me and my friends in FC on AA.

Thanks everyone for your comments. The reason I asked about upgrades is to see if getting off the plane first would save on time-- not, given the reports on baggage delivery-- and since I'd be buying 500-milers, as a mere UA premier, and with no US status at all (I fly US Express and Shuttle a few times a year, but haven't been on a mainline flight since 1999 or so).