US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Let's Give the First Five Rows "First Class" Service on the 757's

Recently flew from PIT to PHL on what was supposed to be a 767 (5:30PM Flight that then goes across the pond), when the plane was downsized from to a 757. They had booked 20 into the First Class section prior to the downsizing, but you can't get 20 passengers into eight seats. The agent, using initiative, suddenly blocked middle seats and gave the first five rows "first class" service even if not first class seats. Viola, a work around for the 757. Sitting in the new first class row five, I thought that the cloth seats in some respects looked nicer than the pen marked leather first class.
BTW while got pre-flight drink, due to turbulence never got "first class" service over to PHL. :eek:

What a great solution. Probably avoided a lot of complaints to management.

It's a 40 minute flight from PIT to PHL........so how much 1st class service could you get? On the other hand, at that time of day the holding time over PHL can push this flight out to 90 minutes, so maybe the alternate first class was worth it!

Except for the pre-flight drink, isn't this what E+ is on UA (with a little more legroom)?

It would be great if US were to do this on all 757 flights as a nice perk to reward Preferred members.

Sounds similar to Lufthansa's business class service on intra-Europe routes. I flew on an A300-600 from London to Munich recently (huge plane for such a short hop!) and the frontmost cabin appeared to have the same exact seat pitch as coach, but with a more elaborate meal service and all middle seats blocked.

On 757 routes with a lot of Preferred members...especially to and from LAS...a "business class" or "premium economy" using rows 3-7 might be a more cost-effective solution than bringing a larger F cabin back to the aircraft. Rows 1 and 2 for paid F only (plus upgrades from Y, A, or B fares if space available) and 3-7 for Preferreds on discount fares. The snack basket, light meals, and free drinks and headphones would be the same as in F, and middle seats would always remain open.

According to what others have said, Caribbean routes with the 757 only have a handful of Preferreds on them, but Vegas and perhaps Florida flights are long enough to warrant a special section to keep US' most frequent flyers loyal to our favorite airline.

This employee deserves a bonus! Too bad more US employees don't come up with nice solutions to everyday problems.

What a great solution. Probably avoided a lot of complaints to management.

I sincerely hope it generated a lot of compliments to management. This kind of behavior should be encouraged.

Had a very delayed flight once where the crew was about to go illegal--the GA lined up every passenger--regardless of status or class--down the concourse in order of seat from back to front, telling everyone to put their boarding pass in their left hand and their luggage in the right. As soon as was possible, she had us "plow" onto the aircraft and we were out of there. It was efficient, friendly, downright funny and entertaining, and all about getting the customers to where they needed to be. I told everyone around me: call CA tomorrow!!

Sounds like a planned Southwest boarding :)

The best solution is "Put the big damn seats back in the 757".

Sounds similar to Lufthansa's business class service on intra-Europe routes. I flew on an A300-600 from London to Munich recently (huge plane for such a short hop!) and the frontmost cabin appeared to have the same exact seat pitch as coach, but with a more elaborate meal service and all middle seats blocked.

So what you are saying is that was the first time you've flown "business class" intra-Europe. ;) That's the standard set-up across the Continent. It's a bit disappointing the first time you experience it... :)