US Airways Dividend Miles - Philadelphia to Portland, Ore.

US Airways (NYSE: LCC - News) announces the start of new service beginning on June 1 from its Philadelphia hub to Portland, Ore. .... US Airways will provide the service (operated by America West) with the Airbus A320 aircraft, which has capacity for 150 passengers (12 first class and 138 coach class).

Here is the article (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060320/lam009.html?.v=44)

I think this is another step in the right way for the NEW US Airways!!

Something we've all been waiting for quite a while. It's only made possible because they are using US-West aircraft and existing facilities at PDX that were already there (HP). US-East, prior to the merger, had plans to go back to PDX in 2001, but of course everything changed after 9/11.

US Airways (NYSE: LCC - News) announces the start of new service beginning on June 1 from its Philadelphia hub to Portland, Ore. .... US Airways will provide the service (operated by America West) with the Airbus A320 aircraft, which has capacity for 150 passengers (12 first class and 138 coach class).

Here is the article (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060320/lam009.html?.v=44)

I think this is another step in the right way for the NEW US Airways!!


Why a red eye? Basically makes it unusable for PDX based business traveler. Should have done an AM PDX-PHL and PM PHL-PDX. What a waste.

Why a red eye? Basically makes it unusable for PDX based business traveler. Should have done an AM PDX-PHL and PM PHL-PDX. What a waste.

It is all about re-positioning aircraft. Not sure if a red-eye is always a waste to business travelers. I am pretty sure many business travelers who spent the week (maybe M-Th) would love to fly back Th night and get to sleep alittle Friday morning and had Friday at home, instead of the normal 8am-4pm flight...

It is a great step in the right direction.

It is all about re-positioning aircraft. Not sure if a red-eye is always a waste to business travelers. I am pretty sure many business travelers who spent the week (maybe M-Th) would love to fly back Th night and get to sleep alittle Friday morning and had Friday at home, instead of the normal 8am-4pm flight...

It is a great step in the right direction.
Yea seriously - many business travelers love red-eyes.

At least PDX-PHL is a long enough for a few good hours of sleep.

Yea seriously - many business travelers love red-eyes.

At least PDX-PHL is a long enough for a few good hours of sleep.

East Cost travelers love red-eyes because they get them home sooner, agreed. However, West Coast travelers do not. In general, West Coast travelers do not like to take red-eyes and then try to conduct business the same day. The PHL-PDX isn't too bad, as it allows for a full day of business and an early dinner.

Interesting. This is the first route I'm aware of that is clearly a US East route (given PHL) but will be operated by mainline HP aircraft and crews.

It's my understanding that US intends to migrate the transcon longhauls primarily to HP aircraft and crews. Not 100% positive, but that's my understanding. So setting up PDX/PHL that way fits in...

It's my understanding that US intends to migrate the transcon longhauls primarily to HP aircraft and crews. Not 100% positive, but that's my understanding. So setting up PDX/PHL that way fits in...

My guess is PHL/CLT-LAX/SFO will stay US as the A321 is well suited to this route. Good aircraft capacity - lots of F - there is paid F and lots of full-fare Y on these routes.

The red eye may not suit west coast people, but at least it is a start, the 8:30 westbound is great, I'm sure if the loads are good they will look at adding more times.

I'm a West business traveler who loves red-eyes. Instead of burning a day traveling, I can hop on a jet around 10, get to the East hub early-morning and land at my destination by mid-morning. Even taking the first AM flight out of SFO means I've wasted an entire business day in the air.

It's not like this will be the only PHL-PDX flight ever. If the loads are solid and the demand is there, I'm sure they'll be looking at adding a morning flight for the Euro bank. Remember, a morning flight east from PDX means you have to have a jet RON there - unless they turn it around from a 6 a.m. flight from Phoenix or something.

I'm a West business traveler who loves red-eyes. Instead of burning a day traveling, I can hop on a jet around 10, get to the East hub early-morning and land at my destination by mid-morning. Even taking the first AM flight out of SFO means I've wasted an entire business day in the air.

It's not like this will be the only PHL-PDX flight ever. If the loads are solid and the demand is there, I'm sure they'll be looking at adding a morning flight for the Euro bank. Remember, a morning flight east from PDX means you have to have a jet RON there - unless they turn it around from a 6 a.m. flight from Phoenix or something.

God Bless you for being able to function after a red eye. I'm not one of the lucky ones who can sleep well on airplanes. The other problem, is being able to check into your hotel at 8 am, when check in time is 3pm. If you could do that and take a short nap/shower, it would make it easier.

I am really happy that this route has been added, it is good for PDX, just not ideal for me.

This is great. So many more options now.

It's my understanding that US intends to migrate the transcon longhauls primarily to HP aircraft and crews. Not 100% positive, but that's my understanding. So setting up PDX/PHL that way fits in...

Wouldn't this interfere with the longer flights that senior US crews may want to get so they have more hours? Seems unfair to give longer flights to HP crew...

It's not like this will be the only PHL-PDX flight ever. If the loads are solid and the demand is there, I'm sure they'll be looking at adding a morning flight for the Euro bank. Remember, a morning flight east from PDX means you have to have a jet RON there - unless they turn it around from a 6 a.m. flight from Phoenix or something.

I hate red-eyes and specifically avoid them at all costs, even on business trips (practically unavoidable to Europe, however). Perhaps you're right that a second flight will be added to allow Euro connections, but I would have thought that they would have wanted to go for the Euro connections right away, especially with the high season kicking in soon.

Interesting. This is the first route I'm aware of that is clearly a US East route (given PHL) but will be operated by mainline HP aircraft and crews.
April 2 will see a lot more intermingling. Beginning on that date, HP will operate a PHL-SEA-PHL red-eye turn, again with an Airbus that would otherwise be sitting at Philly all night. Also, US East will begin operating RDU-LAS-RDU and MIA-LAS-MIA turns with A319s, as part of the Vegas night hub.

I think right now it is aircraft utilization. In time, if the flights do well, you'll see more. Going east, I generally like red-eyes as it helps me get on the east coast time zone after the hard first day.


I hate red-eyes and specifically avoid them at all costs, even on business trips (practically unavoidable to Europe, however). Perhaps you're right that a second flight will be added to allow Euro connections, but I would have thought that they would have wanted to go for the Euro connections right away, especially with the high season kicking in soon.

I was hoping to see some bargain basement introductory specials....but I guess not.....

Wouldn't this interfere with the longer flights that senior US crews may want to get so they have more hours? Seems unfair to give longer flights to HP crew...

I can't remember where I read this -- it may have been in the Phoenix paper -- but the idea seemed to be centered around the fact that if you look at the pre-merger transcons, America West had long-haul service from PHX and LAS already to major US cities, whereas US only served a smattering of west coast cities, being primarily focused on the east coast. If I understood the implied logic, the intent was to build on the legacy HP's existing long haul structure, keeping in mind that with few exceptions, US's long haul routes were by and large duplicated by HP.

Perhaps someone else out there has better info than I do.

At some point I would think it would become moot as they work through merging the two workforces and addressing things such as work rules, seniority, and the like, to form a truly integrated airline rather than 2 "sub airlines" trying to act as one.

[QUOTE=LAX1K to AmWest]It is all about re-positioning aircraft.


It may be a few years before we see this but wouldn't you get more utalization say flying an AC PDX-LAS-LAX-PHX-FLL-CLT-BOS for example?

Having a few hubs one must go through or get back to really limits maximizing routings. I would think it could get pretty complicated trying to do this but eventualy if the East and West get away from what they are used to (In and Out from the Hubs) and get more creative theycould be a lot more efficient and eventualy open up possible extra markets. Just a thought. :cool:

Aggie, I think you'll see that as soon as the certificates are merged. Right now, there's HP crews and US crews, HP aircraft and US aircraft and never the twain shall meet, so it's a crew, scheduling and maintenance issue to keep HP aircraft east, or US aircraft west.

Interesting. This is the first route I'm aware of that is clearly a US East route (given PHL) but will be operated by mainline HP aircraft and crews.


There will be a great deal of "Fleet Balancing" regardless of the Metal.

Starting in Seattle April 2006

HP A320

1) PHX to SEA

2) SEA to PHL

Overnight

3) PHL to SEA

4) SEA to PHX

ALL LAS to MIA will be EAST Metal

PHX to SJO will be replaced with CLT to SJO in April

A larger number of America West Express Jets (MESA) are now based out of CLT.


There is NO East VS West assignments. The crews and planes wont mix West will be West and East will be EAST. But the routes will intermixed to utilize the aircrafts

U*S is still thinking about adding 190's to BOTH certificates East / West.

Aggie, I think you'll see that as soon as the certificates are merged. Right now, there's HP crews and US crews, HP aircraft and US aircraft and never the twain shall meet, so it's a crew, scheduling and maintenance issue to keep HP aircraft east, or US aircraft west.

You also need to remember that Air Canada paid Big Bucks for the merger so they have FIRST RIGHT to Heavy Maintenace work on East and West Aircraft.


U*S also just signed a five year deal to keep maintenance operations in PIT.

HPDTW - thanks for the clarifications!

I too am a big supporter of the merger and was fortunate enough to glom on to some America West stock shortly before the merger took place. (And no, I didn't have any inside information... :D )

PHX to SJC will be replaced with CLT to SJC in April

I believe you mean SJO (San Jose, Costa Rica).

Bump...

Just to clarify, is US 677 RDU to LAS a US 319 or an HP 319?

I realize this is new service, hence the F loads on this route are light. With the A319's having larger F cabins than the 757's, upgrade availability looks really, really good. Frankly, I'd rather hop an RJ to RDU and connect on an A319 than connect in PHL, CLT or PIT on a 75 with little chance of an upgrade. And F fares at $539 are pretty decent, too.