LUS: The ugly truth about LUS ("West" 757) First Class service to Hawaii
Jan 25, 2006, 1:57 pm
#61
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Philly burbs
Programs: US,UA,AA,DL,hhonors
Posts: 2,966
Hmmm....planes with weight issues...an inferior F product.....telephone agents at HP (US) that had no clue as to how to go about upgrading this US1 for an upcoming trip to HNL....
Guess what gang? I gave up and booked E+ on UA. I'll take their 777 through ORD over this nonsense any day....
Guess what gang? I gave up and booked E+ on UA. I'll take their 777 through ORD over this nonsense any day....
Jan 26, 2006, 4:57 am
#62
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott Lifetime / Annual Titanium; Massively Missing Starwood
Posts: 5,337
I flew first on United about three years ago and think they would rival US from what it sounds. We had no pre-flight drink, the seating seemed only marginally better than E+ and the food was a joke. It was of course a 757 so there was nothing in the way of IFE. Hawaii is a vacation destination obviously...the airlines I've been on to get there try to get as many people in and spend as little on them as possible to reflect that.
Jan 26, 2006, 3:39 pm
#63
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,438
With all of the comments that have been posted above, why in the world would anyone pay a premium price for the F product described above? If I am going to expend dollars for a premium service, I want something at least remotely worth it. I know of at least one legacy carrier that would meet this requirement and this is the one I would book for front of the plane travel.
Jan 26, 2006, 7:25 pm
#64
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott Lifetime / Annual Titanium; Massively Missing Starwood
Posts: 5,337
Originally Posted by radonc1
With all of the comments that have been posted above, why in the world would anyone pay a premium price for the F product described above? If I am going to expend dollars for a premium service, I want something at least remotely worth it. I know of at least one legacy carrier that would meet this requirement and this is the one I would book for front of the plane travel.
Jan 26, 2006, 8:53 pm
#65
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
Originally Posted by radonc1
I know of at least one legacy carrier that would meet this requirement and this is the one I would book for front of the plane travel.
Jan 26, 2006, 9:03 pm
#66
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,438
Well by all means keep the identity of that carrier a secret for crying out loud!
I am sorry about being mysterious. I try not to push one airline versus another. Yes, it is CO, but to be truthful. I don't fly anything other than US and CO, so I do not know about other's first class offerings. I have not flown NW F in several years but it was deteriorating even back then. However, I do fly F and pay for it and I don't do it on US. It is strictly a value thing.
I am sorry about being mysterious. I try not to push one airline versus another. Yes, it is CO, but to be truthful. I don't fly anything other than US and CO, so I do not know about other's first class offerings. I have not flown NW F in several years but it was deteriorating even back then. However, I do fly F and pay for it and I don't do it on US. It is strictly a value thing.
Jan 27, 2006, 1:16 pm
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
Originally Posted by dingo
I flew first on United about three years ago and think they would rival US from what it sounds. We had no pre-flight drink, the seating seemed only marginally better than E+ and the food was a joke. It was of course a 757 so there was nothing in the way of IFE. Hawaii is a vacation destination obviously...the airlines I've been on to get there try to get as many people in and spend as little on them as possible to reflect that.
Jan 27, 2006, 3:01 pm
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
A reality check here, folks --
First, the level of First Class service to Hawaii sucks and will continue to suck. It's simply not a priority for the new airline. I wish that wasn't true, but it is. If you somehow have a choice which airline to fly FC to Hawaii on, I'd choose someone else.
Second, the weight issue is obviously unfortunate. I understand that it is mostly a "paperwork" matter, and will be resolved in February. After that, there should not be this kind of ridiculous bumping. I haven't heard a good explanation for why the paperwork wasn't done before launch. I guess the winter headwinds (the time they blow) have been stronger than usual. Still, this strikes me as a screw-up, and I think US should simply apologize for the mistake.
Third, I think future month customers can book with confidence on these flights. I'll be very surprised if these troubles continue once the paperwork issue is resolved. Despite the name calling here, HP's management is very responsive to operational issues and they usually get their act together quickly (if they have a weakness, it is in PREVENTING the operational issues from arising in the first place, like in this instance).
Fourth, a lot of the service to Hawaii is now on narrowbodied aircraft and the service is pretty crummy. Earlier this year, I flew UA on my Dividend Miles points and it was fairly disasterous. Outbound, UA's 757 was massively overbooked and my confirmed seat assignments had mysteriously disappeared from my record. It was pure chaos at SFO, and I wasn't sure whether my entire family would actually make the flight. At the last minute, we all got on-board, but we weren't able to all sit together.
On my return, UA's HNL airport agents did not understand a change made to my reservation by US's rez agents and wanted to assess me a several hundred dollar change fee that I was not liable for. It took more than 2 hours of hassle and phone calls to get them to follow the rules. We barely made the flight.
So travel is sometimes fraught will unexpected and "stupid" trouble. My guess is, that at the end of the day, US's new service will prove to be a useful if utilitarian way to get to Paradise. Give 'em a couple months to get the bugs out.
First, the level of First Class service to Hawaii sucks and will continue to suck. It's simply not a priority for the new airline. I wish that wasn't true, but it is. If you somehow have a choice which airline to fly FC to Hawaii on, I'd choose someone else.
Second, the weight issue is obviously unfortunate. I understand that it is mostly a "paperwork" matter, and will be resolved in February. After that, there should not be this kind of ridiculous bumping. I haven't heard a good explanation for why the paperwork wasn't done before launch. I guess the winter headwinds (the time they blow) have been stronger than usual. Still, this strikes me as a screw-up, and I think US should simply apologize for the mistake.
Third, I think future month customers can book with confidence on these flights. I'll be very surprised if these troubles continue once the paperwork issue is resolved. Despite the name calling here, HP's management is very responsive to operational issues and they usually get their act together quickly (if they have a weakness, it is in PREVENTING the operational issues from arising in the first place, like in this instance).
Fourth, a lot of the service to Hawaii is now on narrowbodied aircraft and the service is pretty crummy. Earlier this year, I flew UA on my Dividend Miles points and it was fairly disasterous. Outbound, UA's 757 was massively overbooked and my confirmed seat assignments had mysteriously disappeared from my record. It was pure chaos at SFO, and I wasn't sure whether my entire family would actually make the flight. At the last minute, we all got on-board, but we weren't able to all sit together.
On my return, UA's HNL airport agents did not understand a change made to my reservation by US's rez agents and wanted to assess me a several hundred dollar change fee that I was not liable for. It took more than 2 hours of hassle and phone calls to get them to follow the rules. We barely made the flight.
So travel is sometimes fraught will unexpected and "stupid" trouble. My guess is, that at the end of the day, US's new service will prove to be a useful if utilitarian way to get to Paradise. Give 'em a couple months to get the bugs out.
Jan 27, 2006, 3:45 pm
#69
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, CM ConnectMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 2,129
This is not new territory for HP, they served Hawaii back in the 80's with widebodies (747, I believe). They should have foreseen these "glitches" ahead of time.
Jan 27, 2006, 4:25 pm
#70
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Posts: 3,796
The weight wasn't an issue with the 747, though. Being a quad-engine jet, it's not subject to ETOPS restrictions (the T being "twin"). The issues with the 747 were its poor fuel economy and low loads. I doubt they had to bump anyone from those flights ever.
Feb 9, 2006, 7:01 pm
#72
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: EWR (Wayne Township, NJ) and PHX
Programs: CO OnePass Plat and SPG - Plat, Marriott Plat (don't use -it's a comp), AmericaWest CP
Posts: 4,810
Originally Posted by Ceasy
You're out of your mind. You'd backtrack to EWR from PHX to fly to HNL?? If you're in the mood for backtracking, you should probably take CO's Houston-HNL flight. I think that has BusinessFirst service.
All Continental service to Hawai'i is BusinessFirst seating with modified BusinessFirst Cabin service, e.g. no amenity kit and no cheese course. I have taken both IAH-HNL and EWR-HNL - and it is well worth the extra out of yoru way trip. Less out of the way if you take IAH-HNL.
-Vincent
Feb 10, 2006, 1:26 am
#73
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 920
Originally Posted by HPDTW
I willing to bet you on this...
We both leave PHX to HNL.....
You can fly HP Nonstop
I will fly CO VIA EWR......
I will be on the beach faster than you. (80% of the time) due to poor equipment on this route.
We both leave PHX to HNL.....
You can fly HP Nonstop
I will fly CO VIA EWR......
I will be on the beach faster than you. (80% of the time) due to poor equipment on this route.
Whats our bet? Free stay at the Princeville ? Hyatt Poipu?
Feb 12, 2006, 12:17 am
#74
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,866
US Airways certainly needs to clean up this problem. But my experience from the last 35 years is to avoid EWR and PHL for connections. If I have to fly through these cities I try to have at least 2 - 3 hours for the connection. Over the past 20 years Houston has been good for connecting, but if I am flying from Phoenix I would like the nonstop because of the value of my time.
Mar 5, 2006, 7:44 pm
#75
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
The beautiful truth about UA's FC service to Hawaii (on a 777 from ORD):
Hot towels
Drinks flowing from boarding until right before landing
Linen tablecloths, real glasses and real silverware (except knives, which were gray plastic)
Liqueurs with dessert
Multi-course meals
Hot fudge sundae assembled in front of you
Salads assembled in front of you
Deli plate before landing
Final food served: warm chocolate chip cookie with a glass of milk, just before landing
Red Carpet Club at HNL
I am RUINED after this flight as flying in coach or on an inferior product would be such a letdown; absolutely wonderful!
Thank you, UA!
Hot towels
Drinks flowing from boarding until right before landing
Linen tablecloths, real glasses and real silverware (except knives, which were gray plastic)
Liqueurs with dessert
Multi-course meals
Hot fudge sundae assembled in front of you
Salads assembled in front of you
Deli plate before landing
Final food served: warm chocolate chip cookie with a glass of milk, just before landing
Red Carpet Club at HNL
I am RUINED after this flight as flying in coach or on an inferior product would be such a letdown; absolutely wonderful!
Thank you, UA!