US Airways never again! [rant]
Apr 29, 2015, 3:48 pm
#46
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 3
Thanks for the responses.
Part of it was we had to travel on those days, use miles for part of it etc, mostly do to school schedule so we didn't have a lot of choices. The flight to London they got us on at the last minute was on US Air, flight was fine. We had a five hour layover in London so we took a train from Heathrow and had lunch in London rather than spend all of it in the horrid shopping mall that part of Heathrow has become so we tried to make the best of it. They did put us on British Air business class to Rome though. Here's the scary part - the manager who helped us out said at one point that if we couldn't get out that night to somewhere in Europe we'd be in the Philly Marriott for two days as there were no other seats. I think the lesson is not to travel internationally at spring break.
Apr 29, 2015, 4:10 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA EXP, UA Prem Exec, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 93
Glad it worked out for you! It's always unfortunate when things go sour but it appears they made it right. Business upgrade was a nice touch. Enjoy your trip.
Next time, you could make your own in flight entertainment for your family. Phones or tablets plus a travel router with a USB drive full of movies and music will always outdo airline offerings. Other than the cost of the movies/music, the router should only set you back $15.
Next time, you could make your own in flight entertainment for your family. Phones or tablets plus a travel router with a USB drive full of movies and music will always outdo airline offerings. Other than the cost of the movies/music, the router should only set you back $15.
Apr 29, 2015, 4:13 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,392
I think your points are valid, but they aren't universally applicable (especially if you're redeeming miles in OW like the OP is, then there's a huge consideration of avoiding thousands of dollars in BA junk fees masquerading as YQ.)
How often do you travel and have two truly equal itineraries to choose from, one being a connection in the U.S. and one being a connection in Europe?
While I would agree that most European airports are a better place to get stranded than most U.S. airports, I suspect a very small percentage of total itineraries really have these two equal options to consider.
While I would agree that most European airports are a better place to get stranded than most U.S. airports, I suspect a very small percentage of total itineraries really have these two equal options to consider.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Apr 29, 2015 at 4:24 pm
Apr 29, 2015, 4:21 pm
#49
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
For me, since I am usually travelling on business, it is critical to get to my meeting in Europe, while on the return a delay is not as much of an inconvenience. And while I will not weigh in on America versus Europe generally, as to the airline lounges where you may be stuck, there is no comparison.
Apr 29, 2015, 11:01 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
For Spring Break we took our kids to Rome, every other year we try to do a city in Europe and this time it was Rome. We booked our tickets on American as I still had a lot of miles and used them for the kids tickets. Our flight ended up being on US Air, LAX to Philly with an hour and 45 minutes to make the redeye to Rome. First of all the plane stayed at the gate an extra 30 minutes with an electrical problem, OK, things happen. Then we waited on the tarmac another 20 minutes due to "weather delays" in Philly. Found out later no other planes were delayed. Finally airborne I discover this pretty new plane has no entertainment whatsoever, not even a dropdown screen. The FA's did the safety exits, etc standing in the aisle and yelling, 60's style. There wasn't even anything in the armrests. Unbelievable. It's the equivalent of ordering a car now with no A/C or radio. But it gets better. Now it's lunchtime, I'm starving having been up since 4AM to get to LAX on time. We're in the 16th row, just behind business and they ran out of lunches. Rows 16 through 40 or so didn't eat. The FA's didn't care and made no effort to placate anyone. I had potato chips.
We arrive in Philly and I'm naively still thinking we have a shot at getting on the Rome flight, when they can't fit the gate to the door, another 25 minutes. How many times did they do that that day, 30? We run through the terminal, the Rome plane left 5 minutes ago and they didn't hold it even though 66 passengers missed their flights. We've had this happen several times before and they've always held the plane, they make it up in the jet stream, but not US Air. The terminal manager took pity on us and took us out of the "customer service" line and finally got us on a redeye to London that night, she was actually helpful making me unsure she was a US Air employee. I still have lots of American miles, I'm afraid to use them.
We arrive in Philly and I'm naively still thinking we have a shot at getting on the Rome flight, when they can't fit the gate to the door, another 25 minutes. How many times did they do that that day, 30? We run through the terminal, the Rome plane left 5 minutes ago and they didn't hold it even though 66 passengers missed their flights. We've had this happen several times before and they've always held the plane, they make it up in the jet stream, but not US Air. The terminal manager took pity on us and took us out of the "customer service" line and finally got us on a redeye to London that night, she was actually helpful making me unsure she was a US Air employee. I still have lots of American miles, I'm afraid to use them.
if you said in your original post that you missed your flight to Europe but they put you on a different flight and upgraded your entire party to business, i think you'd have gotten far less sympathy. delays happen. sounds like they MORE than took care of getting you there.
And with your misconnect in PHL, look on the bright side: you likely got to eat a bite since you'd had nothing but potato chips on the flight in. WIN! Hope you saved room for the steak , salads, hot fudge sundaes and free booze that "customer service" got for you by upgrading you gratis.
"Never again!"
Apr 30, 2015, 6:16 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
The silver lining? I got to sit three seats away from the greatest rock & roll star of all time, the man who essentially invented rock & roll . . . and I'm not sure anyone recognized him except me . . . either that or everyone was just oh-so-cool about the whole thing . . . or too young or unknowing . . . to share my star-struck awe that persists to this day.
Apr 30, 2015, 6:39 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
If you really want to get technical, "US Air," hasn't existed since 1997:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Us_air
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Us_air
Technically neither exist since its really America West
Apr 30, 2015, 4:38 pm
#53
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,141
Now, Cestmoi123, be goode . . . .
Apr 30, 2015, 4:40 pm
#54
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,246
OP:
if you said in your original post that you missed your flight to Europe but they put you on a different flight and upgraded your entire party to business, i think you'd have gotten far less sympathy. delays happen. sounds like they MORE than took care of getting you there.
And with your misconnect in PHL, look on the bright side: you likely got to eat a bite since you'd had nothing but potato chips on the flight in. WIN! Hope you saved room for the steak , salads, hot fudge sundaes and free booze that "customer service" got for you by upgrading you gratis.
"Never again!"
if you said in your original post that you missed your flight to Europe but they put you on a different flight and upgraded your entire party to business, i think you'd have gotten far less sympathy. delays happen. sounds like they MORE than took care of getting you there.
And with your misconnect in PHL, look on the bright side: you likely got to eat a bite since you'd had nothing but potato chips on the flight in. WIN! Hope you saved room for the steak , salads, hot fudge sundaes and free booze that "customer service" got for you by upgrading you gratis.
"Never again!"
Apr 30, 2015, 4:58 pm
#55
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
May 2, 2015, 8:49 pm
#56
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BUR
Programs: AA, DL Platinum, AS, AF/KL, UA, VS, HA, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,788
Honest question I've not been able to find the answer to. While US Airways won't exist, are these awful US 321s (there are over 100 of them), many of which are used on transcons, with zero entertainment options and not even seat-headrests going to continue to be in use and simply re-branded AA? Or does AA plan to reconfigure these dogs, perhaps with personal AVOD?
May 2, 2015, 10:20 pm
#57
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
Next time, you could make your own in flight entertainment for your family. Phones or tablets plus a travel router with a USB drive full of movies and music will always outdo airline offerings. Other than the cost of the movies/music, the router should only set you back $15.
May 8, 2015, 11:25 am
#58
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA PP
Posts: 541
For the life of me, I'll never understand why folks intentionally book flights to Europe with a US connection. Soooo many things can go wrong. Book a flight with the connection in Europe. Especially from LAX where there are countless flights to European hubs per day. And as bonus, no collecting bags in Philly on the return....
May 10, 2015, 8:49 am
#59
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
No kidding. Despite SAT being technically an International airport, thanks to limited flights to Mexico, we have to fly to say DFW, ATL, or PHL to catch a non-stop flight to Europe. We're actually quite happy that on our trip to Italy next month we have just two flights to Venice (SAT>PHL>VCE) and not quite as good with three flights on the return from Athens (ATH>PHL>DFW>SAT).
May 10, 2015, 9:20 am
#60
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA PP
Posts: 541
Honest question I've not been able to find the answer to. While US Airways won't exist, are these awful US 321s (there are over 100 of them), many of which are used on transcons, with zero entertainment options and not even seat-headrests going to continue to be in use and simply re-branded AA? Or does AA plan to reconfigure these dogs, perhaps with personal AVOD?