Starting in August, I'll make the switch from DL to US. While this was a difficult decision for me at first... The fact that I will begin traveling weekly to CLT made the decision to switch much more logical. So, here come the questions.
I've only flown US once in the past (PHL to LAX last June). This was due to a DL flight cancellation and they rebooked me on this route. While the in-flight experience was fairly average, I've read a lot of nastygrams on Facebook. Have customer service skills gone downhill since then or are things ok?
I'm STL-based. What is the customer service like here? And does anyone know when US is scheduled to move to the C Concourse?
Delta's @DeltaAssist Twitter handle has been a lifesaver many times for me. Is US's Twitter as useful?
I know US does paid status challenges. Would they match my DL Platinum status for free or is paying my only option?
Would it be wise to purchase a club membership? The DL club folks have assisted me many times during delays and cancellations. Plus, the complimentary food and drinks make delays bearable. What's the US club experience like?
I guess I just want to know what to expect, so anything would be super helpful. Thanks in advance for the info.
Yes, definitely get a US Airways Club membership. The CLT club agents are just fantastic and as nice as could be. You'll save money if you buy Club access once you're Preferred, rather than now.
I find US customer service generally fine. I am Gold and find the Gold phone agents to be much more helpful than your regular gate agent, though.
Programs: AA PLATINUM, UA PREMIER GOLD, CELEBRITY CRUISES ELITE, ROYAL CARIBBEAN INT'L DIAMOND
Posts: 5,154
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimboM1391
Starting in August, I'll make the switch from DL to US. While this was a difficult decision for me at first... The fact that I will begin traveling weekly to CLT made the decision to switch much more logical. So, here come the questions.
I've only flown US once in the past (PHL to LAX last June). This was due to a DL flight cancellation and they rebooked me on this route. While the in-flight experience was fairly average, I've read a lot of nastygrams on Facebook. Have customer service skills gone downhill since then or are things ok?
I'm STL-based. What is the customer service like here? And does anyone know when US is scheduled to move to the C Concourse?
Delta's @DeltaAssist Twitter handle has been a lifesaver many times for me. Is US's Twitter as useful?
I know US does paid status challenges. Would they match my DL Platinum status for free or is paying my only option?
Would it be wise to purchase a club membership? The DL club folks have assisted me many times during delays and cancellations. Plus, the complimentary food and drinks make delays bearable. What's the US club experience like?
I guess I just want to know what to expect, so anything would be super helpful. Thanks in advance for the info.
Indeed, you should consider paying for a status challenge so that you start getting the preferred perks right away, as it is very unlikely that US will give it to you for free based on your DL Plat membership.
I'm also based in STL and fly US primarily to SNA (via PHX) and ATL (via CLT). Coming from Delta, you'll still be stuck in the crappy A terminal for the time being. *sigh*
As you probably know, we have no clubs in STL A terminal. The big club in CLT is decent but not fantastic. They have a quiet room, the quiet nature of which is occasionally respected by the people using it. Free Budweiser and soft drinks, limited food selection for purchase at the bar and usually trail mix, some apples or chips available for free. There is a changing room but no shower. Given that Charlotte has insufficient seating in the gate areas, the club membership is quite nice to have just to have a comfy place to sit.
To be honest I have not had an issue here in STL that required customer service intervention. I've done about 50 trips (in or out) at STL in the last year, most on US, some on UA and some on AC, and in general everything has been smooth, if not fast. If you check a bag it takes forever to reach the carousel. Your upgrade prospects, depending on flight times, should be good. In the past year I have NOT been upgraded on US only once travelling to or from STL, and that was during the World Series.
Yes, definitely get a US Airways Club membership. The CLT club agents are just fantastic and as nice as could be. You'll save money if you buy Club access once you're Preferred, rather than now.
If I pay for the trial period, will I receive the discounted rate then or will I have to wait until I become a full-fledged Preferred?
Quote:
US uses Twitter?
Haha! They do, but it doesn't look like any of their tweets are useful (after further review). @DetlaAssist is amazing, US should take note.
Quote:
Indeed, you should consider paying for a status challenge so that you start getting the preferred perks right away, as it is very unlikely that US will give it to you for free based on your DL Plat membership.
I agree with you, but I shot them an email anyway to see if they could possibly do it for free. You never know! (but it's unlikely)
Quote:
Free Budweiser and soft drinks, limited food selection for purchase at the bar and usually trail mix, some apples or chips available for free.
Only free Bud, not free booze a la Delta? I'm ok with free Bud - I am from St. Louis afterall. I was practically raised on that stuff, plus family works for Anheuser-Busch.
Quote:
Your upgrade prospects, depending on flight times, should be good. In the past year I have NOT been upgraded on US only once travelling to or from STL, and that was during the World Series.
How is US's First Class product? Free drinks, food, hot meal?
Quote:
How soon are you looking to make this move?
First flight out is the first week of August. Call me crazy, but I'm a bit nervous about flying a new airline. As we all know, we get a groove in the airport and this is going to throw me off completely.
Here's another question...
Through Delta, I became eligible for TSA's Pre-Check program and I love it. Does anyone know if there's a way to transfer that info from DL to US so I can take advantage of it when flying out of CLT? I know I can apply for Global Entry, but since I'm already an approved person I was hoping to avoid that. Has anyone had a similar situation?
Programs: AA 2MM, DL DM, US CP, UA PP, Hilton DM, SPG G, Hyatt Plat, FT A (addict)
Posts: 3,242
Instead of a US club get an Amex Plat
200$ off incidentals on US each yr
100$ off global entry - which gets you prechek once you are an elite
Entry to US clubs as well as DL when you change your mind...
Most impt
Sign up for the Barclays cards
You get 40k miles + 2 companions each year on paid tickets
AND
10k PQMs for spending 25k all for 89$
Programs: US Dougie's Preferred, UA Gate Louse, HH Gold, National Emerald Club, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 12,643
Quote:
Originally Posted by ffI
Instead of a US club get an Amex Plat
200$ off incidentals on US each yr
100$ off global entry - which gets you prechek once you are an elite
Entry to US clubs as well as DL when you change your mind...
This works fine unless you do a lot of international travel - until you get to *G anyway.
Quote:
Most impt
Sign up for the Barclays cards
You get 40k miles + 2 companions each year on paid tickets
AND
10k PQMs for spending 25k all for 89$
Also important to note on the companion tickets - it's $99 for each one but you get dinged for taxes and the call center fee for each ticket. So it works out to around $144 per ticket all in. Still not a bad deal - it's just not as good as it looks at first.
Also to the OP, for clubs, you'll get freeze booze at UA clubs (well drinks I believe), but only free Bud and some house wine in US clubs. You won't get access to UA clubs unless you're Star Alliance Gold on international itineraries or have a full fledged US club membership. If you find yourself flying thru places that have UA clubs but not US clubs, it's something to consider.
F meals are on flights > 3.5 hours between 5am and 8pm. They have a rotating meal schedule, but if you fly the same flights often, you'll likely get the same choices for that menu cycle. I flew BWI-PHX (same flight) twice in the same and got the same dinner choices both flights. The dinners are decent, but I think US needs to step up their choices a bit. They should also make meals available on more flights ... > 2 or 2.5 hours would be a lot better.
I like the snack baskets - good choices and the FAs are pretty generous with them. They'll usually bring them around a few times during the flight, and you can always ask for more.
Can't comment on the onboard liquor selection as I don't drink.
Hope that helps.
__________________
US Upgades as a CP: Total 3/4, Short Haul 2/2, Midcon 0/0, TCON 1/2
Programs: US Airways Gold Preferred, Hertz #1 Club Gold, Marriott Rewards Silver
Posts: 440
Quote:
Originally Posted by Superguy
it's $99 for each one but you get dinged for taxes and the call center fee for each ticket.
This is actually incorrect. You do not pay the call center fee. US Airways has a rule that for any ticket that cannot be purchased online (such as this one or any other voucher), the call center fee is waived.
Programs: US Dougie's Preferred, UA Gate Louse, HH Gold, National Emerald Club, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 12,643
Quote:
Originally Posted by GNRMatt
This is actually incorrect. You do not pay the call center fee. US Airways has a rule that for any ticket that cannot be purchased online (such as this one or any other voucher), the call center fee is waived.
Good to know. I used the voucher last week and the lady mentioned the call center fee. The receipt didn't have a break down of the tickets but now that I went back and figured it out ... you're right. I didn't get dinged. Cool!
__________________
US Upgades as a CP: Total 3/4, Short Haul 2/2, Midcon 0/0, TCON 1/2
Programs: US Chairman, Marriott Plat Premier, SPG Plat
Posts: 855
I have a couple US Trial Preferred Silvers available that I have open on Coupon Connection to trade for Amex MR points - maybe one of those will be of interest to the OP to quickly gain status with US.
2nd advice for OP:
Match your Delta status to an international *A carrier and get free lounge access every time you fly US. I matched my Delta Gold to SAS Gold and now use that SAS Gold Card into the Chairman's Club each time I fly US.
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,214
Quote:
Originally Posted by fly747first
Indeed, you should consider paying for a status challenge so that you start getting the preferred perks right away, as it is very unlikely that US will give it to you for free based on your DL Plat membership.
US doesn't match status unless it's through a corporate travel office (i.e. large company changing contracts from one airline to another).
A Platinum trial costs $600 + tax, though if you buy a Silver trial ($200 + tax) and fly enough segments you'll still end up with Platinum (or even Chairman's).
Programs: US Dougie's Preferred, UA Gate Louse, HH Gold, National Emerald Club, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 12,643
Quote:
Originally Posted by thomwithanh
US doesn't match status unless it's through a corporate travel office (i.e. large company changing contracts from one airline to another).
A Platinum trial costs $600 + tax, though if you buy a Silver trial ($200 + tax) and fly enough segments you'll still end up with Platinum (or even Chairman's).
In all honestly, I'd be hard pressed to suggest buying a platinum trial unless one flies on a pretty competitive upgrade route. While you do get some perks over gold, the difference between Plat and Gold is far less than it is between Gold and Silver.
And I'm saying that as a Plat.
__________________
US Upgades as a CP: Total 3/4, Short Haul 2/2, Midcon 0/0, TCON 1/2
Sorry I forgot to come back to the thread for followup...
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimboM1391
Only free Bud, not free booze a la Delta? I'm ok with free Bud - I am from St. Louis afterall. I was practically raised on that stuff, plus family works for Anheuser-Busch.
In the US club, its just free Bud or Bud Light. There are other beer options for purchase.
Quote:
How is US's First Class product? Free drinks, food, hot meal?
Free drinks (Glenlivet scotch, Jack Daniels bourbon, Canadian Club whiskey, gin, vodka.. ??, soft drinks, wine) in First. I actually haven't flown a flight long enough to get a hot meal, but there's always been the snack basket, the contents of which seems to change every six months or so.
Quote:
First flight out is the first week of August. Call me crazy, but I'm a bit nervous about flying a new airline. As we all know, we get a groove in the airport and this is going to throw me off completely.
I'll be heading the other direction that week, otherwise I'd be happy to guest you in to the club so you can check it out.
Quote:
Here's another question...
Through Delta, I became eligible for TSA's Pre-Check program and I love it. Does anyone know if there's a way to transfer that info from DL to US so I can take advantage of it when flying out of CLT? I know I can apply for Global Entry, but since I'm already an approved person I was hoping to avoid that. Has anyone had a similar situation?
I don't think its possible to force participation in the program. I was notified by US that I was selected to participate in their Pre-Check program automatically, the same week that I had already paid and applied for GE. Getting to a GE interview office was a challenge considering most of them are at true international airports, the closest to STL being ORD, and most are not open weekends. I ended up doing my GE interview at LAX prior to a leisure trip.
Pre-check won't help you here in STL, since they don't seem to have it set up at the A terminal. Also if you fly from ATL, the US counter staff doesn't even know its running for US and DL at the South terminal checkpoint ( which it is according to the TSA website). They keep telling me to go to the North checkpoint. I'll try the south checkpoint during my august trip.
How is US's First Class product? Free drinks, food, hot meal?
As Camarones said, food and drinks are free in US F. However, to get an actual meal, the scheduled flight time needs to be at least 3.5 hours. None of the flights out of STL will get a full meal. Even though at least one of the STL-PHX flights is listed over 3.5, some of them are listed at 3.25 hours and thus no hot meal. However, there is the snack basket, and that's not terrible.
