US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Excellent Envoy Class Experience, FCO-PHL

We were on a Star Award, JFK-VIE, then FCO-PHL. The OS flight was really incredible. I was prepared for a letdown on the US portion of the itinerary. I was really pleasantly surprised.

I'm sure that much of it had to do with "Germaine", the FA who served us. From the moment we arrived at our seats, she was the "best of the best". Her service never really stopped the entire length of flight...gate to gate.

As for the flight itself: Pre departure drinks in plastic which, at the risk of being branded a heretic, doesn't bother me. Choice was Mimosa, Champagne, or blood-red OJ. I like the new amenity kits in the drawstring bag.

Appetizer was more generous than I remember, and was tasty (smoked salmon); 3 entree choices all were presented nicely. I had the pasta, my other half had the chicken. 100% metal silverware, even the knives. All glassware. A nice dessert/cheese plate. I've heard some complain that the portions are too small. We didn't find this.

During the flight, a serving of ice cream, in the container, was passed out.

Pre arrival pizza and salad was ok.

I loved my row 1 seat. The flight was an hour early at the gate in PHL. But what really made the flight memorable was a FA who loved her job. I asked her how, given pay cuts, bk, and all the doom and gloom surrounding US Airways, that she was able to perform at the level of service which she offered. Her response was that, airline issues are between labor and management....and that any issue that labor had with management was not the fault of the customer. She told us she felt that loyal customers kept her working all these years...that she loved her job, and that she wants her customers to enjoy their experience. I have already written to US about her, as I had asked for her name and ID number.

I have to say, it was REALLY great to experience this type of a day with US Airways. It was one of the better Envoy experiences I've had.

^ Glad to hear that ^ My Envoy experiences as of late have been outstanding as well. :) Good to see that her professionalism has not gotten in the way as many of the FA's on domestic have. However, there are many excellent ones still out there.

There are many that are giving it 200% because they know as we the flying customer many of the perks IE: food, plasticware, ect have been downgraded. I am glad to see these FA's still giving it their all :)

Too all the FA's out there who are still proud of your job. THANK YOU!

T

^ Glad to hear that ^ My Envoy experiences as of late have been outstanding as well. :) Good to see that her professionalism has not gotten in the way as many of the FA's on domestic have. However, there are many excellent ones still out there.

There are many that are giving it 200% because they know as we the flying customer many of the perks IE: food, plasticware, ect have been downgraded. I am glad to see these FA's still giving it their all :)

Too all the FA's out there who are still proud of your job. THANK YOU!

T

I know this f/a quite well, and will agree that she is indeed a first class (or envoy) act! ^
Glad you had such a nice trip!

We were on a Star Award, JFK-VIE, then FCO-PHL. The OS flight was really incredible. I was prepared for a letdown on the US portion of the itinerary. I was really pleasantly surprised.

I'm sure that much of it had to do with "Germaine", the FA who served us. From the moment we arrived at our seats, she was the "best of the best". Her service never really stopped the entire length of flight...gate to gate.

As for the flight itself: Pre departure drinks in plastic which, at the risk of being branded a heretic, doesn't bother me. Choice was Mimosa, Champagne, or blood-red OJ. I like the new amenity kits in the drawstring bag.

Appetizer was more generous than I remember, and was tasty (smoked salmon); 3 entree choices all were presented nicely. I had the pasta, my other half had the chicken. 100% metal silverware, even the knives. All glassware. A nice dessert/cheese plate. I've heard some complain that the portions are too small. We didn't find this.

During the flight, a serving of ice cream, in the container, was passed out.

Pre arrival pizza and salad was ok.

I loved my row 1 seat. The flight was an hour early at the gate in PHL. But what really made the flight memorable was a FA who loved her job. I asked her how, given pay cuts, bk, and all the doom and gloom surrounding US Airways, that she was able to perform at the level of service which she offered. Her response was that, airline issues are between labor and management....and that any issue that labor had with management was not the fault of the customer. She told us she felt that loyal customers kept her working all these years...that she loved her job, and that she wants her customers to enjoy their experience. I have already written to US about her, as I had asked for her name and ID number.

I have to say, it was REALLY great to experience this type of a day with US Airways. It was one of the better Envoy experiences I've had.


Star Alliance awards DO NOT ALLOW two open jaws. If you started in JFK - VIE, you could have only gone from FCO back to JFK. Are you sure it was an actual award ticket?

Shinbol, I had a similar experience in my flight from FRA
I was also in Row 1 on this flight and I felt that the flight attendent was the best I had encountered in a long time. She was the first one who I felt actually deserved the praise!
The hustle and bustle of leaving caused me to not catch her name and badge number, but I would really really like to write about her. (so if anyone out there knows who she is!)

I didn't have to ask for one thing, she was always one step ahead of me and approached me many times with my needs. She was truly stellar and made the flight very enjoyable!

And yes, arriving in Philly one hour early without a hitch was perfect!!! (I also arrived one hour early_ Even my driver was there because he had looked into the arrival of the flight.

P.S. I had the pork :)

Star Alliance awards DO NOT ALLOW two open jaws. If you started in JFK - VIE, you could have only gone from FCO back to JFK. Are you sure it was an actual award ticket?

There's absolutely nothing stopping the OP from leaving the airport at PHL after he claims his bags and passes through customs.

If you started in JFK - VIE, you could have only gone from FCO back to JFK. Are you sure it was an actual award ticket?
this is blatantly incorrect.

this is blatantly incorrect.

I am at a loss for understanding why you would care what s/he does on his/her own travels....

this is blatantly incorrect.

It is factually correct. Not sure why it concerns fly747first, or how it is relevant to the discussion, but one can only have one open jaw on an award ticket.

I had similar excellent Envoy experiences PHL-MAN (3B on A330) and returning GLA-PHL (2B on 767). The food was quite good both ways (fish PHL-MAN; lamb GLA-PHL). The cheese plate was excellent both ways. FAs were fabulous. The GLA-PHL flight today was the first of the season. The TAs were a but green, but there was a supervisor who helped move things along. The 767 was clean and while it was clearly an older plane, it was comfortable and well-maintained. In the past 4 weeks, my experiences on US have been substantially better than in the previous 4 months.

Also, it is the first time I have flown internationally in over a year where US did not lose my checked baggage somewhere. In fact, at the international baggage claim in PHL, the bags arrived before I did and it was short line at immigration!

Original poster here......

Thank you, Fly747First, for turning a positive thread into an unncessary distraction about something completely unimportant. I'm actually surprised that you didn't take time to bash my positive comments about US Airways' great service yesterday.

FOR THOSE WHO REALLY CARE, and for those who have time to wonder about such things: Our tickets were JFK-VIE, with a connection on Austrian Arrows two days later to FCO, where we spent the rest of the week. I didn't take the time to talk about our one hour, fifteen minute flight on Tyrolean Airways in this post because it wasn't necessary. I didn't realize that the Star Award police were watching to validate my itinerary or the fact I had an award ticket. To take this off topic myself, I might also add that, since booking this ticket many, many months ago, there were three involuntary changes to this ticket including airlines flown and connection cities. There were schedule changes and flight cancellations that caused me to have my tickets reissued multiple times. In each instance, I was offered scenarios that fell outside the lines of permissability in order to accommodate me. One might consider those factors before judging a poster incorrect about his own itinerary.

For those of you who have read my posts, you'll know that I never ever engage in attacks or arguments about pointless menutia with other members. And in general, my comments are pariticpatory, and not flaming or negative. I apologize to those who may take exception to my direct response on one member's comments, who I felt contributed NOTHING to the subject at hand.

We are going on award travel Pbi-Clt-Fra-Bud in October 05 and looking forward to Envoy as we have only traveled in DL (award) Biz Elite in 03. The presentation, food and wine was OK. We are returning Mun-Clt-Pbi LH & US Business, which I have heard is very good. I was hoping for 747, but Airbus is listed two-class plane. I will give a report of the two products. Any done CLT-FRA in envoy of late or LH Mun-Clt.

Thanks

SA

Original poster here......

Thank you, Fly747First, for turning a positive thread into an unncessary distraction about something completely unimportant. I'm actually surprised that you didn't take time to bash my positive comments about US Airways' great service yesterday.

FOR THOSE WHO REALLY CARE, and for those who have time to wonder about such things: Our tickets were JFK-VIE, with a connection on Austrian Arrows two days later to FCO, where we spent the rest of the week. I didn't take the time to talk about our one hour, fifteen minute flight on Tyrolean Airways in this post because it wasn't necessary. I didn't realize that the Star Award police were watching to validate my itinerary or the fact I had an award ticket. To take this off topic myself, I might also add that, since booking this ticket many, many months ago, there were three involuntary changes to this ticket including airlines flown and connection cities. There were schedule changes and flight cancellations that caused me to have my tickets reissued multiple times. In each instance, I was offered scenarios that fell outside the lines of permissability in order to accommodate me. One might consider those factors before judging a poster incorrect about his own itinerary.

For those of you who have read my posts, you'll know that I never ever engage in attacks or arguments about pointless menutia with other members. And in general, my comments are pariticpatory, and not flaming or negative. I apologize to those who may take exception to my direct response on one member's comments, who I felt contributed NOTHING to the subject at hand.


First of all, I did not want to turn this positive thread into a distraction. However, stating the truth is not exactly being negative. A standard *A award does not allow two open jaws, period. I was just curious since the way you started this post made it clear that you had two open jaws.

At this point, why would I waste my time bashing US Airways? If the merger does not go through, it's basically "Buenas noches US Airways." LOL Oh and by the way, you may want to read my comments on the HP forum, I'm actually one of the few people favoring US Airways over HP.

First I wasn't sure if it might have been the Germaine who served me and my friend in sping 2004, but as the world is a village I met her again on my flight from FRA tp PHL on US893 May/21 in Envoy Class.

As the year before, she did an outstanding job, being not only professional, but passionate. Memorable was that she even remembered even details of our last years encounter. Considering there were some thousands of passengers inbetween that's really great, so we had some nice chats again.

But in general the envoy FAs that flight built a great team, making this flight an excellent experience as time flew by.

JN ;-}

BTW: She's usually flying PHL-Rome, this time it was some kind of exception flying out of FRA, same as last year.