NYC airport congestion being what it is, it's also good to know that the early morning (6:41a US4598) ROA-LGA clocks in at 84% on-time at flightstats, and, as you've illustrated, it just gets worse as the day goes along.
US is the only one offering Non-Stops(NS) ROA-LGA. Looking, if we can, to nearby Richmond, which has up to 7 daily NS RIC-LGA on US, the effect is still the same...the early morning (5:50a US3036) achieves a 90% on-time rating but disintegrates into 40-41% for the last two flights out.
Over here in nearby AVL (Asheville and Roanoke, BTW, are sister cities) the lone CO daily NS (there's supposed to be two daily flights to EWR, but I can only find one online now) AVL-EWR mid-morning has a 54% on-time performance, with sky-high fares ($1,000+ for an early Aug weekend - fares as low as $674+ on other days), compared to the <$300 RT that DL is now offering for the same weekend on its new NS sched). The NS on DL, started a month ago, is too new for compiling stats, and it would be interesting to see soon how they measure up.
As bad as some of the on-time stats are, I'm glad NS flights are available from the smaller airports to LGA - there are those who want 'em, willing to pay extra for 'em, and I guess the business flyers know enough to catch the early-morning NS flights to avoid delays.
As you and some of the others in this forum know, I travel primarily for leisure, not business, and I pay for all my travel myself. My SO lives in NY, which is the reason for my many trips there. The closest and most convenient airport for us is LGA, although I do fly to EWR, JFK, and HPN occasionally.
Most of my trips are weekends, departing Friday evening and returning Sunday. Because this was a holiday weekend, I went a day earlier than usual. I could not take a morning departure, because ROA is two hours away, a hotel stay the night before would have cost more than the fare, and my SO was working until I arrived.
During the academic year, my college teaching schedule does not allow me the luxury of traveling earlier in the day.
With regard to the AVL-EWR flights, CO cut back to one per day in their latest round of cuts. I have taken that route in the past, but the fare has to be low enough to justify the 240-mile drive to AVL and that does not happen often. And EWR has had many IRROPS problems as of late, so I know to avoid it.
The same applies to AVL-LGA on DL, the fare has to be low enough to justify the round trip drive.
Anyway, after driving the 270-mile round trip between my home and ROA and experiencing the very lengthy IRROPS/ATC/WX delays last week and in April, I have decided that my time is better spent flying from TRI and connecting, saving myself the driving time/expenses. At least if there are IRROPS, I can seek solace in the Sky Club in ATL or CVG.
Incidentally, the trips I purchased between TRI and LGA for the next four months were less than $150 round trip each, taxes included. I was able to take advantage of DL's recent fare sale.
I have returned home from LGA and rather than start another thread, you may read my return trip report on my blog, US 4165 LGA-ROA. Feel free to comment there or here, if you so desire.
US 4165 was also operated by Piedmont, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Airways.
At this moment in time, I don't have plans to purchase another US Airways ticket, so I have deemed this my last flight, at least for now.
If the moderators wish to edit the title of my thread to include US 4158 and US 4165, please do so.
Sorry about that. Heck she should've gave you the drink since she didn't have change.
She served me the drink, then asked for change and no one had any.
I originally planned to buy the Nap Sack and drink for $14, so I only needed $6 back. I ended up spending $21 and not getting what I wanted, just to help her out.
If handhelds are not provided, they need to give the FAs some help when it comes to making change, if they want to be able to sell.
I have flown on Mesa a number of times - there is almost always something they don't load and more times than not I have heard, "Due to the short duration of the flight, there will be no in-flight service" - the flights have been between 75 and 90 minutes. Then the FA sits there and reads. A lot of the commuter jets seem to use every angle to cut costs
US is the only one offering Non-Stops(NS) ROA-LGA. Looking, if we can, to nearby Richmond, which has up to 7 daily NS RIC-LGA on US, the effect is still the same...the early morning (5:50a US3036) achieves a 90% on-time rating but disintegrates into 40-41% for the last two flights out.
I've posted about those flights here before. I can not remember the last time the afternoon RIC>LGA flights were on time on a Friday. Essentially it never happens. The problem is worse in the Spring/Summer. I'd wager on-time is less than 20% during thunderstorm season on those flights.
I have flown on Mesa a number of times - there is almost always something they don't load and more times than not I have heard, "Due to the short duration of the flight, there will be no in-flight service" - the flights have been between 75 and 90 minutes. Then the FA sits there and reads. A lot of the commuter jets seem to use every angle to cut costs
I agree Mesa operating as US Airways Express and their commuter jets are crap.
However, my experience was a Piedmont Dash 8, operating as US Airways Express, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Airways, and it was not much better.
The flights you're talking about are an out and back for the crew. All they do is fly the ROA-LGA-ROA round trip. Since it's late in the day, the delays in the NYC area have piled up. In many cases, unless the crew is swapping aircraft in LGA, they will cancel that flight to prevent cancellations the next day for crew rest, since that trip is almost always thrown in before or after a multi day trip. Only reason an aircraft swap will keep it running is Roanoke is a maintenance base.
For what it's worth, Piedmont management is really screwing with the pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics right now. Contract negotiations are ongoing, aircraft are being returned to lessors and not replaced. Couldn't be much for morale and will be the cause of some poor service from time to time.
The flights you're talking about are an out and back for the crew. All they do is fly the ROA-LGA-ROA round trip. Since it's late in the day, the delays in the NYC area have piled up. In many cases, unless the crew is swapping aircraft in LGA, they will cancel that flight to prevent cancellations the next day for crew rest, since that trip is almost always thrown in before or after a multi day trip. Only reason an aircraft swap will keep it running is Roanoke is a maintenance base.
For what it's worth, Piedmont management is really screwing with the pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics right now. Contract negotiations are ongoing, aircraft are being returned to lessors and not replaced. Couldn't be much for morale and will be the cause of some poor service from time to time.
I am so glad you chimed in on this thread. I am very sorry to hear about the management issues, because I have always thought highly of the Piedmont/US Express options that I have often flown from TRI, ROA, and AVL. And I really do like the convenience of these few direct ROA-LGA options. But when the delays get so bad, they just aren't as convenient anymore.
And I know the cleaning is probably outsourced, so that is the fault of US Airways for hiring incompetent or shoddy cleaning services.
If US Airways is going to continue to offer Express service between ROA and LGA and other similar, longer Dash 8 routes, they really need to bring the on-board service up to mainline coach standards, and offer the snacks and Nap Sacks for sale. The last two flights I took, I was going to buy a Nap Sack, but catering didn't provide them to sell. The FAs also need the handhelds, too, if they can't provide any change. All I needed was $6 back for what I originally planned to purchase.
I am so glad you chimed in on this thread. I am very sorry to hear about the management issues, because I have always thought highly of the Piedmont/US Express options that I have often flown from TRI, ROA, and AVL. And I really do like the convenience of these few direct ROA-LGA options. But when the delays get so bad, they just aren't as convenient anymore.
And I know the cleaning is probably outsourced, so that is the fault of US Airways for hiring incompetent or shoddy cleaning services.
If US Airways is going to continue to offer Express service between ROA and LGA and other similar, longer Dash 8 routes, they really need to bring the on-board service up to mainline coach standards, and offer the snacks and Nap Sacks for sale. The last two flights I took, I was going to buy a Nap Sack, but catering didn't provide them to sell. The FAs also need the handhelds, too, if they can't provide any change. All I needed was $6 back for what I originally planned to purchase.
I hear ya. It's a shame what's going on there. I'm glad to no longer be a part of it.
Programs: CO Plat, US CP, HH Diamond, MR Gold,BW Diamond
Posts: 468
Quote:
Originally Posted by me4yankees
If US Airways is going to continue to offer Express service between ROA and LGA and other similar, longer Dash 8 routes, they really need to bring the on-board service up to mainline coach standards, and offer the snacks and Nap Sacks for sale. The last two flights I took, I was going to buy a Nap Sack, but catering didn't provide them to sell. The FAs also need the handhelds, too, if they can't provide any change. All I needed was $6 back for what I originally planned to purchase.
Where do you suggest all these items be stored/held?? I have yet to be on a longer express flight (including on DL) where the product offerings and standards are the same as mainline.. I just dont see where it is possible.
Where do you suggest all these items be stored/held?? I have yet to be on a longer express flight (including on DL) where the product offerings and standards are the same as mainline.. I just dont see where it is possible.
What do you mean, "all these items?" This isn't a mainline aircraft, it's a prop plane. The aircraft in question here, the Dash 8-100, holds 37 people max, depending on weight and balance allowances.
There is plenty of room to stock drinks for everyone, some snacks, and maybe two or three Nap Sacks. They are not going to sell snacks to everyone, and they will certainly not sell but maybe one or two Nap Sacks, if that, so they don't need a full supply of everything.
Back in the good old days when they used to have individual bottled water and free pretzels or Biscoffs, they used to store both the bottled water, pretzels, and Biscoffs in a couple of the overheads, either all the way in the front, or all the way in the back. It would be no different now to stock accordingly.
This particular flight is a two-hour flight and it should be treated as such, no matter who is operating it under the US Airways brand.
Programs: CO Plat, US CP, HH Diamond, MR Gold,BW Diamond
Posts: 468
Quote:
Originally Posted by me4yankees
What do you mean, "all these items?" This isn't a mainline aircraft, it's a prop plane. The aircraft in question here, the Dash 8-100, holds 37 people max, depending on weight and balance allowances.
There is plenty of room to stock drinks for everyone, some snacks, and maybe two or three Nap Sacks. They are not going to sell snacks to everyone, and they will certainly not sell but maybe one or two Nap Sacks, if that, so they don't need a full supply of everything.
Back in the good old days when they used to have individual bottled water and free pretzels or Biscoffs, they used to store both the bottled water, pretzels, and Biscoffs in a couple of the overheads, either all the way in the front, or all the way in the back. It would be no different now to stock accordingly.
This particular flight is a two-hour flight and it should be treated as such, no matter who is operating it under the US Airways brand.
I think you are being unreasonable in your expectations for what should be offered on an express flight, especially on a prop operated express flight. I've been on the Dash-8 (in the 4 variants from the 100 to the 400) and there is not enough room to store BOB on the 100/200 series. BOB is much different and takes up more space than a case of small water bottles and bags of pretzels/biscoffs.
What other airline besides AA/AE offer any sort of BOB on their express flights especially on turboprop flights?? Not even DL...
I think you are being unreasonable in your expectations for what should be offered on an express flight, especially on a prop operated express flight. I've been on the Dash-8 (in the 4 variants from the 100 to the 400) and there is not enough room to store BOB on the 100/200 series. BOB is much different and takes up more space than a case of small water bottles and bags of pretzels/biscoffs.
What other airline besides AA/AE offer any sort of BOB on their express flights especially on turboprop flights?? Not even DL...
I am not being unreasonable. The flight in question is two hours long and merits a beverage and snack service.
There is plenty of room to store snacks for sale, such as the new Pringles, trail mix, almonds, Oreos, and Twizzlers. In fact, the FA on my return flight told me specifically that Piedmont was going to start selling snacks and that they were already selling Nap Sacks, she just does not receive them often.
Regarding Delta Connection and Northwest Airlink flights, they offer at least complimentary peanuts and Biscoffs.
For more about coach in-flight dining on both US and DL, please see these links:
