US Airways Dividend Miles - PHL-TLV starts up and no Reports?

could be Im wrong but I thought PHL-TLV started up on 7/1. yet no mention about it and its suppose to be USs longest flight

thought there woould have been something at PHL and TLV

could be Im wrong but I thought PHL-TLV started up on 7/1. yet no mention about it and its suppose to be USs longest flight

thought there woould have been something at PHL and TLV

Yes, US is already inauguration for PHL-TLV by last night. I'm sure US will be very successful flight for PHL-TLV nonstop. What about secondary screening at the gate in PHL? I don't think ever same as LY security are very strict. If you are entrance into the gate areas where the sign says Do not enter. This is restricted areas where passengers is bound for TLV. No one allowed to leave from the gate areas due to security reasons.

PHL-TLV starts up and no Reports?

And no award space either! Are the planes going out full already?

And no award space either! Are the planes going out full already?

I was able to score 2 X (using LH miles) tickets back in May (for Aug departure).
I would love to hear any experience in Y.

And no award space either! Are the planes going out full already?

They have been booked full. Very few NRSA's have been able to get on the flights!

a friend emailed me this article from a Philly newspaper: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20090703_US_Airways_inaugurates_direct_flight_to_T el_Aviv.html

a friend emailed me this article from a Philly newspaper: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20090703_US_Airways_inaugurates_direct_flight_to_T el_Aviv.html

Great article! I'm glad to hear those stories. I'm sure the flight will be very successful. So I didn't realize know US ticket agents who work in PHX. I will try to have more opportunity to meet her. She wants try to flying to Israel. I think the reasonable price are very cheaper and more convenient for fly out of PHL-TLV. I think it was so much cheaper than others airlines include LY, CO, DL. It will have more tougher competitive the higher fare. I cna't go to Israel for awhile. Maybe someday in the future if I will try flying to Israel on DL is much more convenient for me. I knows there is lot of Jewish Community in PHL. It was more than 50,000 Jewish populations.

I'm curious to hear about the new AVOD system since they went with something completely different than what's in the A330-300.

I'm curious to hear about the new AVOD system since they went with something completely different than what's in the A330-300.

Does anyone know the Envoy Class menu for this route?

a friend emailed me this article from a Philly newspaper: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20090703_US_Airways_inaugurates_direct_flight_to_T el_Aviv.html

Great article! I hope US does well on this route.

Great article! I hope US does well on this route.

I agree. I think US will done extremely performing very well.

How is the ENVOY service? Food? New cabin etc?
What are the loads like moving into August and September?

How is the ENVOY service? Food? New cabin etc?
What are the loads like moving into August and September?

The seats are the same as those found on A333 and B752 because the manufacturer was unable to deliver the new flat beds for US A332s on time, though I think the third or fourth A332 scheduled to be delivered to US Airways will have these new seats.

Wirelessly posted (FlyerTalk.com/wap is fun : BlackBerry9530/4.7.0.148 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

My friends are flying tlv-las next week. I will see what feedback the amateurs can give me.

The seats are the same as those found on A333 and B752 because the manufacturer was unable to deliver the new flat beds for US A332s on time, though I think the third or fourth A332 scheduled to be delivered to US Airways will have these new seats.

Does anyone know when will US install the new seats on the "older" A332?

Does anyone know when will US install the new seats on the "older" A332?
There's nothing "older" about the 332's at all. They are less than 4 months old.

There's nothing "older" about the 332's at all. They are less than 4 months old.

I think a better term would be the "first delivered" since those will have the old style seats while the "next delivered" should have the new seats.

I think a better term would be the "first delivered" since those will have the old style seats while the "next delivered" should have the new seats.

There's a lot of speculation on the "new", forthcoming Envoy seats but the company hasn't formally announced or marketed them yet. I think this cranky flier blog sheds some light into why this might be (Thanks to BoeingBoy for posting this link previously elsewhere)

http://crankyflier.com/2009/06/26/us-airways-installing-new-business-class-seats-but-not-necessarily-this-one/

When AA and UA signed the purchase order for new biz and first seating on their widebodies, they dedicated an entire website with a very snazzy interactive demo and promo'd the he11 out of it. Granted, US isn't converting a fleet of 50+ widebodies. Instead it's a trickling flow of new 330-200's over the next few years, and a future refurb (hopefully) of the existing 9 330-300's. But hopefully when they finalize the seating, we'll have something concrete from the PR spin machine in Tempe.

There's a lot of speculation on the "new", forthcoming Envoy seats but the company hasn't formally announced or marketed them yet. I think this cranky flier blog sheds some light into why this might be (Thanks to BoeingBoy for posting this link previously elsewhere)

http://crankyflier.com/2009/06/26/us-airways-installing-new-business-class-seats-but-not-necessarily-this-one/

When AA and UA signed the purchase order for new biz and first seating on their widebodies, they dedicated an entire website with a very snazzy interactive demo and promo'd the he11 out of it. Granted, US isn't converting a fleet of 50+ widebodies. Instead it's a trickling flow of new 330-200's over the next few years, and a future refurb (hopefully) of the existing 9 330-300's. But hopefully when they finalize the seating, we'll have something concrete from the PR spin machine in Tempe.

I would throw some C $$ to US if the new seats are lie-flat - not angled, but the true lie flat seat I have seen in the Cirrus photos. And I would also back connect from DEN to PHX to avoid an East Coast stop when US decides the PHX market can support TA flights - PHL and CLT flights are just not long enough to get a good night's sleep.

There's a lot of speculation on the "new", forthcoming Envoy seats but the company hasn't formally announced or marketed them yet. I think this cranky flier blog sheds some light into why this might be (Thanks to BoeingBoy for posting this link previously elsewhere)

http://crankyflier.com/2009/06/26/us-airways-installing-new-business-class-seats-but-not-necessarily-this-one/

When AA and UA signed the purchase order for new biz and first seating on their widebodies, they dedicated an entire website with a very snazzy interactive demo and promo'd the he11 out of it. Granted, US isn't converting a fleet of 50+ widebodies. Instead it's a trickling flow of new 330-200's over the next few years, and a future refurb (hopefully) of the existing 9 330-300's. But hopefully when they finalize the seating, we'll have something concrete from the PR spin machine in Tempe.

Open up the link for the seat photos and check out readers' comments. There is a comment from our old buddy kinglobjaw :D

They have been booked full. Very few NRSA's have been able to get on the flights!

I'm surprised that there have been any. When my wife worked for US, new Euro routes were embargoed for NRSAs for at least a month to sixty days.

I would throw some C $$ to US if the new seats are lie-flat - not angled, but the true lie flat seat I have seen in the Cirrus photos. And I would also back connect from DEN to PHX to avoid an East Coast stop when US decides the PHX market can support TA flights - PHL and CLT flights are just not long enough to get a good night's sleep.

Frankly, I do believe that US could fly a route from PHX into a *A carrier hub (e.g. FRA), if proper codeshares were in place with that carrier.

I'm surprised that there have been any. When my wife worked for US, new Euro routes were embargoed for NRSAs for at least a month to sixty days.

They have only been embargoing some flights but none TATL so far...

Frankly, I do believe that US could fly a route from PHX into a *A carrier hub (e.g. FRA), if proper codeshares were in place with that carrier.

Ive wondered why US hasn't attempted a PHX-NRT flight or LAS-NRT.

PHX-NRT would be mostly connector passengers, and LAS-NRT would have both connectors and a healthy O/D percentage.

LAS-NRT would have....a healthy O/D percentage.

These days I'm not so sure about that considering the severe downturn LAS has taken. Not to mention, the Asians have taken a liking to their own backyard Vegas (aka Macau).

Every day I get hotel offers from the top 5 properties in Vegas for free or very cheap rooms where a year ago they were in the $200/range. And I'm not a huge gambler (mostly poker, which earns even fewer comps than table games). Vegas needs traffic....but nobody's flying there.

These days I'm not so sure about that considering the severe downturn LAS has taken. Not to mention, the Asians have taken a liking to their own backyard Vegas (aka Macau).

Every day I get hotel offers from the top 5 properties in Vegas for free or very cheap rooms where a year ago they were in the $200/range. And I'm not a huge gambler (mostly poker, which earns even fewer comps than table games). Vegas needs traffic....but nobody's flying there.

I'll be there in about a month... :D

I'll be there in about a month... :D

Vegas? Me too. PM me. For the nearly 10 years as an FT member, I've not met any others.

Ive wondered why US hasn't attempted a PHX-NRT flight or LAS-NRT.

No, not yet. US hasn't getting more announcement new routes out of PHX-NRT but, it was much shorter than 400 miles from SLC-NRT. I'm pretty confidence where US will expected to be announcement new routes out of PHX-FRA/NRT is good choice for on operating A332 aircraft. Is that weight restrictions over TPAC out of PHX-NRT?

I think on pure range, a A330-200 could make it. Max range on the 332 is listed at 6700 miles according to Airbus website. Its 5500 from LAS to NRT.

I guess question would be the availability of great circle routing that is allowable within 138 or 120 minutes ETOPS limitations. I know that the 777 routinely flies northpac routes from LAX and SFO to east asian sports (ICN and NRT), but I wonder if there is a penalty or limitation on the 332 given that the last several hundred miles is all over water.

By contrast, even though PHL-TLV which is 200 miles further than LAS-NRT, you are feet dry for the last 2000 miles.

Any US pilots want to chime in on this issue?

Any US pilots want to chime in on this issue?

No.

I think on pure range, a A330-200 could make it. Max range on the 332 is listed at 6700 miles according to Airbus website. Its 5500 from LAS to NRT.

I guess question would be the availability of great circle routing that is allowable within 138 or 120 minutes ETOPS limitations. I know that the 777 routinely flies northpac routes from LAX and SFO to east asian sports (ICN and NRT), but I wonder if there is a penalty or limitation on the 332 given that the last several hundred miles is all over water.

Even with the requirement of flying closer to land to meet the necessary ETOPS regs, it would work. And if it could 'legally' be done, then you can bet Tempe would do it if they felt the market was there. But this is all academic. I don't see US flying to Asia from their West hub(s) anytime soon before they expand into Eastern Europe and Latin America more.

I flew TLV-PHL in coach last weekend. 12 hour flight. It was pretty full although I saw one empty seat near me. Lousy connection for me. Stuck in PHL for almost 5 hours.

I flew TLV-PHL in coach last weekend. 12 hour flight. It was pretty full although I saw one empty seat near me. Lousy connection for me. Stuck in PHL for almost 5 hours.

Wow! You were got some minor delayed for 5 hours? What is the reason why you were there in PHL for more than 3 hours layover. This is not good timer for you at all.

Arrived in PHL just before 500am. First departure for MSY is at 0955 unless you connect via CLT at 0645 which is a pain. Would have to rethink using US next time although it was the cheapest fare available.

I flew TLV-PHL in coach last weekend. 12 hour flight. It was pretty full although I saw one empty seat near me. Lousy connection for me. Stuck in PHL for almost 5 hours.

How was the new AVOD? What about the meals?

Would have to rethink using US next time although it was the cheapest fare available.
No offense to you personally, but you are the kind of passenger USAirways loves. Shopping on price alone, regardless of the inconveniences.

CO has a daytime flight that would have given you better connection options. DL also could have gotten you to MSY faster with a connection in JFK or ATL. But, I suspect you priced them and ruled them out.

I thought the aircraft was quite nice except for a foul odor which I detected during the flight. I wondered if it was a passenger, however, the FA told me of the 2 new 330s, an odor had been detected (confirmed it was not related to aircraft cleaning) and it was being looked into. I had a kosher meal and it was very good, (lunch included hummus, chicken and couscous).

No offense to you personally, but you are the kind of passenger USAirways loves. Shopping on price alone, regardless of the inconveniences.

CO has a daytime flight that would have given you better connection options. DL also could have gotten you to MSY faster with a connection in JFK or ATL. But, I suspect you priced them and ruled them out.

I had to get home on Sunday and choose not to fly on Shabbat, so CO 1140am flight on Saturday was not an option. If another carrier was within say $100-$150 or so, I would have considered same, but for almost $500 more, that's real money which I decided to use to cover a good chunk of my expenses in Israel.

I had to get home on Sunday and choose not to fly on Shabbat, so CO 1140am flight on Saturday was not an option.

Is there some sort of superstition that prevents people from flying on certain times/days?

Is there some sort of superstition that prevents people from flying on certain times/days?

Certain activities are prohibited on Shabbat as prescribed by Rabbinic Judaism. Not all Jews follow these categories but for those who do it can make things like traveling a challenge.

Is there some sort of superstition that prevents people from flying on certain times/days?

Observant Jewish people are not allowed to fly or drive (among other prohibitions) on the Jewish Sabbath, which begins at sundown on Friday evening, and concludes after 3 stars come out on Saturday night. El Al does not fly during the Sabbath.

The reasoning behind this basically amounts to the Sabbath being a day of rest, and the Rabbis deduced that "rest" encompasses all forms of "creating." Flying and driving are a result of "energy" being "created," and thereby forbidden.

Most Jewish people are not observant to this degree, but for those who are, scheduling around the Sabbath is probably the most important consideration.

Just had a friend fly from LAX to Tel Aviv on USAirways and said it was really great experience! Planes were nice, food was good, and the service was really amazing! He said he's going to fly US from now on for his trips to Israel. Also told me connecting through PHL and going through customs there was a breeze compared to LAX, JFK, or ORD.