America West FlightFund (Pre-2005 US Airways merger) - Peek at the new airport and in-flight video

HP has released their version of the new in-flight videos that will begin airing on Monday. I think they're really fantastic. Hopefully, US's own version of the video will be just as informative and wonderful.

There's a link to the video on the right hand side of www.justplanenews.com under the title "America West Inflight Video" ^

That is an AWESOME video. Really well done!!

Is that the same FA that does the old HP safety video?

Is that the same FA that does the old HP safety video?

It definitely sounds like it, her voice sounds the same.

Speaking of the safety videos, I hope they don't change them too much...I love seeing the scenes of the PHX tarmack and the hot Phoenix sun, it reminds me of growing up there...

Oh yes - saw this Friday afternoon, glad to see a thread about it, I was going to start one -- SFO-LAS -- Same lovely lady from the original safety video in this current video. GREAT history of commercials at the end (as is any history that makes us reflect in time) -- Nice to see some information to the public masses -- Enjoy.

watching this for me was actually a trip down memory lane, wow, we dont even know what we are in for. i have been with america west so long, that most think my acct number is inaccurate. anybody here remember the original flightfund, where points were based on the dollars spent per ticket, not miles. that's when i started, incredible the changes i have seen. over the mountains, and trust me, through the valley of the shadow of death, i am still with hp since the 80's, but i fear for all with the change. go doug, rock on, and i hope you have an guardian angel, because with a miracle, things can change for the old us and the horrible reputation and sour taste that name brings to so many. doug, kick some butt!!!

Is that the same FA that does the old HP safety video?


LOL I think it is the same woman.

But yeah check out that route map- pretty darn impressive.

Is that the same FA that does the old HP safety video?

It's definitely the same woman. She's aging very gracefully, isn't she? I thought it was a nice touch using her.

What a great video! ^ As one who has been on this roller coaster ride from the very beginning, I must say it was a little emotional.

But yeah check out that route map- pretty darn impressive.

^ I was very impressed when I saw that--how cool. Well from what I can gather from what she said about * Alliance looks like we'll be able to redeem miles now in Star...very cool indeed (although not sure how that would help me in phoenix though over the atlantic!)

. . . from what I can gather from what she said about * Alliance looks like we'll be able to redeem miles now in Star...very cool indeed (although not sure how that would help me in phoenix though over the atlantic!)

In terms of non-stop flights it won't help you. If, as expected, the BA relationship comes to an end, you'll be looking at at least one-stop service to wherever you want to go in Europe. (Though today, even if you're lucky enough to get a seat on the BA PHX-LHR non-stop, that's only a non-stop to London; if you're going anywhere else in Europe, you're still looking at another flight.) If, in fact, the BA relationship goes away, I would expect US, LH or UA to launch some non-stop services from PHX to Europe. That would be nice.

In the meantime, you'll have access to all the trans-Atlantic flights on all of those carriers (and more), many of which will be one stop in the US, then non-stop to your European destination. I don't know how award availability is via US on Star Alliance flights, but there is no question that there are a lot more possibilities in terms of flights than we have with HP today.

If, in fact, the BA relationship goes away, I would expect US, LH or UA to launch some non-stop services from PHX to Europe. That would be nice.



Agreed. I think that a LAS/PHX-LON route is a very likely scenario. Possibly other European destinations, as well.

Agreed. I think that a LAS/PHX-LON route is a very likely scenario. Possibly other European destinations, as well.

That would be great. Even better, perhaps, would be a non-stop to FRA, which would provide much better connections throughout Europe on Star Alliance partner LH, similar to the current options available by flying BA into LHR.

My prediction is a US flight PHX to LGW and an LH flight PHX to FRA. LH tried the route once before but had no feeder traffic in PHX. BA with its HP partnership, smoked LH and they pulled out.

I have to say, though, that I will truly miss BA if that relationship goes away. I love their Club World flat beds. It's the best business class going. I'll probably still manage a trip or two a year on BA (once top tier re-qualification on US is handled, of course. ;) ).

That would be great. Even better, perhaps, would be a non-stop to FRA, which would provide much better connections throughout Europe on Star Alliance partner LH, similar to the current options available by flying BA into LHR.

My prediction is a US flight PHX to LGW and an LH flight PHX to FRA. LH tried the route once before but had no feeder traffic in PHX. BA with its HP partnership, smoked LH and they pulled out.

I have to say, though, that I will truly miss BA if that relationship goes away. I love their Club World flat beds. It's the best business class going. I'll probably still manage a trip or two a year on BA (once top tier re-qualification on US is handled, of course. ;) ).



Exactly what I had in mind. I was thinking a PHX-LGW or PHX-FRA. Other possibilites are PHX-MAN (for bmi codeshares) and PHX-MAD (for Spanair codeshares). In the *A, I believe that the only four airlines that US currently has codeshare relationships in place are UA, LH, BD, and JK. In terms of connections via codeshares, etc, those are the only four routings that make sense to enable pax to connect to other cities once they reach Europe.


Sidenote- BA is a great airline. Definitely sad to see them leaving as a Flightfund partner, but I guess we can't have a *A carrier partnered with OW carrier, can we? Also, BD doesn't have anywhere near as extensive of a route network, both in Europe and worldwide, as BA does, and service-wise BA blows a lot of the * carriers (ie BD) out of the water. There really is no comparison there; there won't be a true replacement for BA (LH is the only one that comes close). :td: ^ Mixed blessing.

Who says you can't have a *A carrier and a OW carrier as partners. US Airways currently code shares with Qantas and Qantas is with OW. But that was in place well before either joined their current alliances either.

You never know what might be worked out.

Would be great to see more nonstop service to Europe, but keep in mind...

Denver, UAs hub, has no non-stop service to any transoceanic destination...even as a center of oil/gas activity. But then, Phoenix/Scottsdale is much larger, and Pittsburgh had nonstops w/ US until recently.

Anyway...

Loved that video, still remember "what we serve is you" although always confused it w/ USAir's "begins with you."

HP had a great livery in the '80s. A shame it came to such an early end. Who was the numbnut who put the hideous kindergarten paintjob they have today together?

Reminds me of the scheme ATA introduced and quickly dumped for something professional. A legacy of some of the darker management days?

In today's Arizona Republic. (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0815newamwestvideo15.html) Not a lot new, but a little more detail on some of the prep going on behind the scenes.

AmWest debuts in-flight video on merger
Fasten your seat belts for primer

Starting today, passengers on America West and US Airways flights won't get just the standard "put your tray table up and stow any carry-on items you may have taken out" announcement as the plane starts its descent.

They'll also get a video primer on the upcoming merger between the two airlines. With the megadeal expected to close in the next six to eight weeks, the airlines have to start prepping customers now to avoid confusion and a chaotic start to the high-profile marriage.

That is especially important in America West's hubs of Phoenix and Las Vegas as the carrier's name will go away overnight after the deal closes, replaced by US Airways. America West and its America West Express commuter operation handle nearly one-half of the passenger traffic at Sky Harbor International Airport.

"We're working really hard to communicate to people in advance," said Travis Christ, America West's vice president of marketing.

The seven-minute video reminds customers and tells those who haven't heard - the merger was announced in May and has been in the headlines repeatedly since - that America West and US Airways are combining to become what the companies are calling the nation's largest low-fare, full-service airline.

Goodbye to name

"We've grown a lot over the years, becoming the nation's eighth-largest airline," America West flight attendant turned narrator Natalie Wiltz says, "but nothing compares to the growth we are about to experience as we merge with US Airways."

The new US Airways, which will be based at America West's headquarters in Tempe, will have nearly $10 million in annual revenue. That compares with about $2 billion for America West. . . more here. . . ( http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0815newamwestvideo15.html) (Oops, $10 million, $10 billion, what's a few zeros? ;) )

Who says you can't have a *A carrier and a OW carrier as partners. US Airways currently code shares with Qantas and Qantas is with OW. But that was in place well before either joined their current alliances either.

You never know what might be worked out.


Does US actually codeshare with Qantas? I thought it was just a frequent flyer relationship.

You are right. They do not code share. It is just an FF relationship where you can earn and burn miles on both carriers. I hope it continues.

Does US actually codeshare with Qantas? I thought it was just a frequent flyer relationship.

So, is it time to move membership rewards miles to USAir account? Might we expect the new carrier to remain a member of AMEX's program?

Saw it on my flight back to PHX Friday. Pretty sad that in a year or two, the AWA name will be gone. I just hope that the merger does not ruin an airline that has finally turned good after all these years.

FA told me that there are two separate operating certificates so integration will really not happen that quickly. I wonder how this all means as far as flight number changing to US, etc.

Would be great to see more nonstop service to Europe, but keep in mind...

Denver, UAs hub, has no non-stop service to any transoceanic destination...even as a center of oil/gas activity. But then, Phoenix/Scottsdale is much larger, and Pittsburgh had nonstops w/ US until recently.

DEN does have TA non stop service to FRA with LH and to LHR with BA. I believe UA runs service non stop to Hawaii as well.

Saw it on my flight back to PHX Friday. Pretty sad that in a year or two, the AWA name will be gone. I just hope that the merger does not ruin an airline that has finally turned good after all these years.

FA told me that there are two separate operating certificates so integration will really not happen that quickly. I wonder how this all means as far as flight number changing to US, etc.


Expect the AWA name to be gone in a few months. The name plates on current aircraft are decals and will lilkely be replaced very quickly.

Also, for the posters looking for transatlantic services from PHX. Air Canada will begin operating PHX-YYC daily that is timed for connections to YYC-LHR and YYC-FRA. This opens up a few options. Also, LH codeshares on the YYC-FRA run, so I imagine if the connection service is profitable then PHX will become an LH destination. Also look to the PHX-DEN-FRA possibilities.

I have been searching the AWA forum but couldn't find an answer to my question. When will the AWA code disapear from the route system? Alternately will US codes be on all former AWA flights? AWA serves YYC (Calgary) and YEG (Edmonton) through LAX, LAS, and PHX; I would like to start earning Aeroplan miles through the US codeshare.

When will the AWA code disapear from the route system? Alternately will US codes be on all former AWA flights? AWA serves YYC (Calgary) and YEG (Edmonton) through LAX, LAS, and PHX; I would like to start earning Aeroplan miles through the US codeshare.

The HP code will disappear once the operating certificates are merged. And yes, as of October 1 (or thereabouts), US will be placing its code on all HP flights.

In today's Arizona Republic. (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0815newamwestvideo15.html) Not a lot new, but a little more detail on some of the prep going on behind the scenes.

Saw the video on a flight this morning. The commercial with the mosh pit parody of WN is one of the best pieces of advertising I've seen. It's a shame they stopped using it.

Saw the video on a flight this morning. The commercial with the mosh pit parody of WN is one of the best pieces of advertising I've seen. It's a shame they stopped using it.


I completely agree! I love that ad. I'm also a huge fan of the "every flight counts" campaign- those commericals had a very professional air to them. IMO, I think they were better than the "get on board" ones.