US Airways Dividend Miles - broke my promise, flew US again, that was dumb of me

stranded in Atlanta ... 6 hour delay

inbound was 5 hours late getting me to my hotel at 1:00am

That has to be one of the best thread topics I've seen on this board!

1. Find the nearest block wall.
2. Position face 3" from wall.
3. Sharply nod head forward.

-Repeat-

Seek Therapy?

Fly CO? I have never been happier. Had ONE flight (prev. booked) and im still kicking myself!

I am with 'DCAorBust'...if it weren't for all of those darn *A points that i already accrued...sheesh...i have the bruise on my forehead to prove my stupidity...

Came close to booking on US last night. Wanted to go down to SAV to visit my family and flights on US were more convenient as far as times and were about $150 cheaper.

But I couldn't do it. I'm now booked non-stop on CO. While paying as much as I did for 2 hours each way on an RJ doesn't sound thrilling... it's better than anything I experienced on US in the past 2 years.

But thanks for posting this thread. Reaffirms why I spent the extra $.

Only one more previously booked US trip to go and then I'm in the clear. Woohoo.

Fly CO? I have never been happier. Had ONE flight (prev. booked) and im still kicking myself!

I'd love to! As soon as CO starts flying to SBY and does a reasonable routing b/t RIC and ATL...

I'm considering switching to Airtran (I know!) between RIC and ATL...I've been rerouted on airtran 4 times in the last year and each time, I hate to say, its been kinda nice...even in coach...

But I'm also close to having enough miles for a envoy award to south africa...so I guess I'm stuck until then.

Admittance is the first step...doing good so far!

I'm came very close to booking a US flight from CLT to ISP for early July. I guess the Gentleman Jack buzz wore off and I came to my senses. Close call for me.... sorry to hear about your troubles.

Admittance is the first step...doing good so far!

Me: "Hello, my name is Nick and I'm a Chairmans Preferred..."\

Everyone: "Hello Nick"

Me: "its been 3 days since my last flight...but...Ahh...well..I guess I slipped a little...it was on US"

I'm came very close to booking a US flight from CLT to ISP for early July. I guess the Gentleman Jack buzz wore off and I came to my senses. Close call for me.... sorry to hear about your troubles.

The worst part was, every bar in ATL was packed...I'd have given a kidney for a little Jack the other night! (yes, I recognize the irony there)

The worst part was, every bar in ATL was packed...I'd have given a kidney for a little Jack the other night! (yes, I recognize the irony there)

Lots and lots of CRC's in ATL, and all serve FREE Jack. Come on over to the dark side......

1. Find the nearest block wall.
2. Position face 3" from wall.
3. Sharply nod head forward.

-Repeat-

That was what I was going to suggest!

I'm kinda stuck in a situation. I need to go PHL-BNA for a few weeks, Mon AM to Thur PM. I really tried to justify other airlines with connections, but they just aren't convenient enough. I wish AA served it from PHL since BNA is a small focus city of theirs, but it makes no sense for me to fly to ORD (another PHL-like connection nightmare) to get to BNA.

I am also getting ready to book PHL-LAX on 9/15. I only need a one way because my employer is paying for my return a few days later to another city. The one way US fare is $109. Again, very hard to pass up. But as I'm not preferred on US (by choice), I doubt I'll even be able to snag point upgrades at the last minute in an A321 w/a 16 seat F cabin. AA, who I now have Gold status with, is $223 with a connection. I have enough "stickers" with AA to give me an upgrade if it clears 24 hours prior to departure (like a US Silver). And if I don't get the upgrade I can still pre-book exit row seats which are fine.

US' web site is pure genius. I tried looking for an unrestricted coach fare PHL-LAX so I could use my points now to upgrade. It came up with $324 one way unrestricted. Then I drilled down to the detail and saw it was a "W" fare. CAN THE WEBMASTER PLEASE LET US VIEW SPECIFIC FARE BUCKETS?!@# Or give an option to let someone book a specific B or Y fare so they can then decide if they want to go that route for the advance, guaranteed upgrade....

I'm leaning towards AA so far I'm about to fall over....

US' web site is pure genius. I tried looking for an unrestricted coach fare PHL-LAX so I could use my points now to upgrade. It came up with $324 one way unrestricted. Then I drilled down to the detail and saw it was a "W" fare. CAN THE WEBMASTER PLEASE LET US VIEW SPECIFIC FARE BUCKETS?!@# Or give an option to let someone book a specific B or Y fare so they can then decide if they want to go that route for the advance, guaranteed upgrade....

I'm leaning towards AA so far I'm about to fall over....

Yes, it is... :D

I got the same results you did, and I've never heard of a "W" fare being unrestricted. I must say I'm quite surprised to see that this "W" fare is listed as being fully-refundable and changeable without penalty. I guess I'm so surprised because it actually seems like a decent price for a transcon one-way unrestricted, and I never thought I'd see the day where US had such a thing.

FYI, you can select the "Preferred, Instant Upgrade" selection in the dropdown to get a B or Y fare. I tried it and got a B6DM fare basis for a one-way price of $1,033.40.

Were I you, I think I would book on AA and cite the fact that the US flight (1417) is on-time only 40-50%. Surely that has to be worth some amount of your employer's money.

Good luck with whatever you do, and if you go the US route, PM me.

Sean

UA has direct PHL-LAX don't they?

UA has direct PHL-LAX don't they?

Yes.

UA does, but only 720am and 640pm. It would be great if there were one mid-day.

But oh well. I opted for a one way refundable AA ticket via DFW at $360 and I was able to book exit row seating at the time of reservation.

It's funny. As you begin to experience life on other carriers, you realize just how foolish you were to hang in there with US. I also moved to CO....and have had a good experience. Quite a difference.

I am currently writing this from Sao Paulo, Brazil. I flew down last night on AA...in Y. When I was unable to secure an upgrade to Business Class, I was initially upset. But I have to say, Y on an American 777 was more comfortable than most F experiences on US ! (Definitely better than a 733/734 or 757).

Legroom was great....2 meal services were conducted. The dinner was either chicken and rice, or beef. Breakfast was a croissant (full sized) and yogurt.

The plane was almost an hour late leaving JFK....and get this: The gate agent apologized ! Then the pilot apologized ! We were about 40 minutes late into Sao Paulo.....and more apologies from the crew.

There were no credit card pitches....no ads on the tray tables...the plane was clean. And yes, my bag made it there without any drama. While I really have no reason to fly AA after my return, I must say that I walk away impressed.

With an upcoming trip to LAS utilizing miles, I will be down to approx 200k more to burn.

I know that I am preaching to the choir....but there really is a better world out there. I just wish that I wasn't so stupid in not acting sooner.

....

Sorry I got nothin.... US does not have any great anything.

Get out while you can. Remember this moment whenever you see a fare that is tempting. You are ALWAYS sorry when you fly US.

I was travelling BDL - CLT - LAS last week...one of the days with the east coast delays. (guess that narrows it down)...and stupid me, I booked flights in the evening.

BDL - CLT - 7:15 departure. Checked status in the afternoon -- it was already posted as being late. (you know things are bad when the website reflects a delay before the departure time...) Got to the airport to try to get on the 5:15 BDL - CLT. Made it.

After ridiculously poor communication from about 3 gate agents (not entirely the agents' fault..there should have been a lot more of them)...who were trying to deal with passengers on a cancelled BDL-DCA flight, and multiple delayed PHL, PIT, & CLT flights....the 5:15 took off about 8:00...should be in time for my connection.

Landed in CLT -- found out the flight to Vegas was cancelled.

Called the Platinum line....after 5-10 minutes on hold (not too bad, really) got an agent who grudingly got me rebooked on the "next available seat"...a CLT-PHL flight the next evening, and then PHL-LAS the following morning.

Had nothing else to do -- and nowhere to stay, so I waited in the special services line to see if I could get the ticket endorsed over to another carrier or anything....about 2 hours went by...got to the front of the line...nothing available, no willingness to even discuss other carriers.

I had to be in LAS by next evening...so bought a one-way. Best available option was on CO via CLE first thing the next AM. For $600...on short notice, not unreasonable.

What a great experience.....flights were on time; there was a chance that we were going to be delayed in the air on the way to CLE - -we were kept clearly informed. I did keep tabs...the morning US flight to LAS was delayed too...

on co, I was able to change my seat & check in via my blackberry....confirmed the exit row.

I was upgraded on the CLE-LAS leg (presumably because of the full fare ticket)...outstanding service, and great meal. The 757-300 was cleaner than any US plane I've been on in years.

i hadn't been on a CO flight since 2002....but would happily rebook on them.

this whole experience -- while not my single worst -- was the proverbial straw. At this point, I'm ok giving up the *gold; will be using Amtrak or driving for the frequent trips to PHL, and generally steering towards skyteam, as DL in particular, matches my upcoming travel patterns reasonably well.

sorry for the rambling --- am just done with US at this point. Good luck for those that are left...

Gave away a reward ticket today, leaves me 19,000 miles on US. I'll take a handful of nonstop *A flights this year (LGA-PIT, ORD-SEA) on whatever carrier to get me to 25,000 miles, so I can burn those off too.

I'm kinda stuck in a situation. I need to go PHL-BNA for a few weeks, Mon AM to Thur PM. I really tried to justify other airlines with connections, but they just aren't convenient enough. I wish AA served it from PHL since BNA is a small focus city of theirs, but it makes no sense for me to fly to ORD (another PHL-like connection nightmare) to get to BNA.


a couple of observations. 1) hazard a look at the specific flights you have in mind on flightstats.com. after factoring in the "average" delays, the assessment of "convenient enough" might in some cases shift to another carrier. 2) ORD is Jekyll-and-Hyde, a connection "nightmare" mainly later in the day. if you can be out of there before about 3pm then it really is rather efficient to connect through most days.