US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - PIT/Other Hubs madness over the weekend

I just did some searching and skimming here, but didnt see a post about this (sorry if its buried in an existing thread), as printed in the PIT Sunday paper:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05163/520329.stm

Long story short, there were 4-5 hour checkin lines at PIT over the weekend - US blames bad weather.

BUT - we flew PIT-DFW on Friday morning (830 flight). Got to airport before 7am, and it was already a madhouse. Weather couldnt have been a factor yet. The security line was out the door to about 50 feet into the moving walkway, and the regular check-in line (aka the kiosk line) was snaked completely through the ropeline and then over to the other side of the landside concourse (ie where the other airlines are).

Luckily, there were only 2 people in the elite checkin line, and only about 40 in the elite security line. There was no line at the TSA bag drop.

So any of the official BS from USAirways about bad weather, etc - while possibly a contributor later on Friday and on the weekend was compounded by the woefully inadequate staff "rightsized by management". I spoke to a few agents, and they're really worried about how people are going to react when they get there 2 hours before their flight and are facing a 4 hour wait to check bags.

This is a warning to anyone coming through PIT this summer. Obviously, dont check bags if possible, and do online checkin (unfortunately, with 2 young kids checking bags is a necessity).

The reason that it was a mad house is because the night before flights were previously canceled and those people were trying to get re-booked and get out. In the early morning hours they were already dealing with the domino effect from the previous day. I read in some article on the internet.

T

My first and only experience flying out of PIT on a Saturday morning was over Memorial Day weekend. I had misconnected the night before due to weather (along with plenty of others, I'm sure) and so was on the first IAH flight of the morning. All of the lines were crazy -- curbside baggage check, the ticket counters, and security. I was there an hour before my flight and would have been seriously concerned about making it if it weren't for OLCI and Preferred security (completely empty, btw.)

I'm concerned that US isn't prepared to call upon extra staff when situations like this occur. In cases like this, it's easily predicted that the next morning will be hectic...unfortunately US has cut staffing down to the bare minimum, so there's no wiggle room when crap hits the fan.

The reason that it was a mad house is because the night before flights were previously canceled and those people were trying to get re-booked and get out. In the early morning hours they were already dealing with the domino effect from the previous day. I read in some article on the internet.

T

But wasnt that *Saturday* morning, not Friday? What were the weather events Thursday night?

The reason that it was a mad house is because the night before flights were previously canceled and those people were trying to get re-booked and get out. In the early morning hours they were already dealing with the domino effect from the previous day. I read in some article on the internet.

T

No excuse - any business needs to adjust to changing and upredictable circumstances.

The reason that it was a mad house is because the night before flights were previously canceled and those people were trying to get re-booked and get out. In the early morning hours they were already dealing with the domino effect from the previous day. I read in some article on the internet.

T

This is the same sorry excuse that CCY put out to the PIT media.

The solution would have been to either rebook people the night before and/or upstaff when they knew what was going to happen.

The ACAA (airport authority) knew that there would be extra volume that Saturday. They went so far as to publish an advisory to the public. If they knew, US knew. They simply failed to staff appropriately.

I've talked to folks who flew that day, and their experience echo the OP's--the TSA lines were no worse than a typical Saturday morning at PIT (and the last Saturday I was there, they did go almost back to the door to the moving walk). US refuses to staff properly.

The moral of the story is don't fly US from a hub and try to check bags--they refuse to staff for it. Oh, and make sure you hit OLCI.

Add my vote to this was inexcusable. US should have arranged for more staff. They also should have had an expediter working to maximize the throughput of the staff they did have. Furthmore though it would have made the people who missed their flights even madder, it would have been better to try to prevent more of the other folks from missing their flights. Even in the worst of situations, it shouldn’t take more than 2 hours from arrival at the airport to getting on the plane. I am one of those get to the airport early types (and work there :) ) rather than play it close. Never the less, I never intentionally plan on getting to the airport more than 2 hours early. The only exception is PHL, the black hole… Even at PHL, 2 hours is usually sufficient.

--Jon

I don't think this phenomenon was limited to this weekend. I flew out of PIT last Wednesday (most people think this is one of the lightest traveled day of the week), and the lines were pretty long then, too. I was traveling with a colleague who does not travel much, and she was concerned that we would make our flight. I assured her...and then showed her how the elite check-in and security lines work. She wondered how anyone without elite status gets through security.

I never get to an airport all that early, and this occasion was delayed further by an incorrect bill at the Hertz counter.

At least they have elite check-in and security lines.

Stevekoe

I don't think this phenomenon was limited to this weekend. I flew out of PIT last Wednesday (most people think this is one of the lightest traveled day of the week), and the lines were pretty long then, too. I was traveling with a colleague who does not travel much, and she was concerned that we would make our flight. I assured her...and then showed her how the elite check-in and security lines work. She wondered how anyone without elite status gets through security.


steve - of course youre right!

my point in bringing it up was the "spin" US put out about it - "the weather messed us up". What excuse will they use this coming weekend when the same thing happens with summer vacation travel hitting? Its gonna get old fast. The GAs I spoke to reminded me of the cuts the airports got last time around.

Admittedly, I am surprised other airlines didnt poach. Got to wonder why noone from WN, Air Tran, flyi, etc werent working the lines offering to fly people to their destinations for free.

Other thing I didnt originally say - but its interesting to see how many fewer elites there seem to be based in PIT nowadays. Has anyone figured out this number? Has to be at least 20%, year-over-year. My sense is once March 1 hit (the "status rollover date"), numbers thinned out. What do PIT clubs look like?

Admittedly, I am surprised other airlines didnt poach. Got to wonder why noone from WN, Air Tran, flyi, etc werent working the lines offering to fly people to their destinations for free.


Remember flyI may not survive without getting back in bed with a legacy and Air Tran has drifted in and out of profitability.

Admittedly, I am surprised other airlines didnt poach. Got to wonder why noone from WN, Air Tran, flyi, etc werent working the lines offering to fly people to their destinations for free.

AirTran actually has an interline agreement with US Airways, so it's possible that some passengers to ATL/MCO/points south on the delayed US flights could have been Rule 120.20'd over to AirTran.

Southwest, of course, doesn't do interlines, and I don't believe Independence Air does either

This is yet another of "The Dog ate My Homework" excuses we've come to expect from US Airways. So I have some questions for CCY


How is it you're NEVER wrong? At least in your distorted view of life.

Who will be blamed next? Santa Claus? Heck you've blamed everyone but yourself.

Are there no mirrors at 2345 Crystal Drive? If there were you'd clearly see who's at fault.

Exactly when will somone above the position of Assistant Janitor be held accountable?

AirTran actually has an interline agreement with US Airways, so it's possible that some passengers to ATL/MCO/points south on the delayed US flights could have been Rule 120.20'd over to AirTran.


Yes, Airtran's one of those not-so-common "alternate carriers " from my dealings with US. I actually got US to 120.20 my cancelled PHL flight over to AirTran over the phone. It took a bit as they werent sure if they had an interline agreement with them, but once she figured out they did she had no problem.

Best part was I was on an award, too. Another ^ to US in my book.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05165/521218.stm

AirTran actually has an interline agreement with US Airways, so it's possible that some passengers to ATL/MCO/points south on the delayed US flights could have been Rule 120.20'd over to AirTran.

Southwest, of course, doesn't do interlines, and I don't believe Independence Air does either

I wasnt talking about interlining - where you'd had to still get to the ticket counter for them to endorse it...

I meant literally, someone from one of the other carriers coming over to the enormous line and saying "Sorry US screwed you like this - show us your ticket and we'll get you there and back as fast as possible". This would mean eating the cost (since it wouldnt be endorsed/120'd) but would generate lots of positive goodwill and memories.

And as for the perosn mentioning that flyi might go under.. sure, but why would that prevent them from trying to get people on a next-available flight to their destination? What's the chances of them going under this week?

Another thing - I wonder whether there was anyone on a UA codeshare that was in the wrong line? That would suck.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05165/521218.stm

I think I'm writing a letter to the editor of the PG. US is still suggesting Saturday was a problem due to weather the night before. That still doesnt explain Friday morning's mess.

I flew out of PIT Sunday 6/12. I didn't notice the check lines as I did online checkin. The security line was the longest I have seen in long time however, a full 20 minutes. Typically Sunday night is 5 minutes max. Also, shoe carnival is in full effect, which perhaps was slowing things down. The wording in PIT is now "We recommend that all shoes be removed." If you don't follow the recommendation you get secondary.

My flight was delayed an hour due to aircraft inbound "weather" delays from PVD. Clear skies in PIT, clear skies in PVD according to friends who live there, and clear skies all the way on my flight to MHT.