May 15, 2013, 10:42 am
Note: this Wikipost is a quick summary of what dcpatti put together in post 1, on page 1 of this thread. Feel free to make changes to this post, or PM aztimm, if you find something incorrect or needs more detail.
Shuttles are the nonstop flights between DCA (DC-Washington National), LGA (NY-LaGuardia) and BOS (Boston-Logan).
What's different about the shuttle?
You'll get an early morning snack on departures before 9 am, and free beer or wine in coach all day long. First Class refreshments are similar to other US flights of a similar length.
I heard some stuff about not being able to pre-assign seats.
The Shuttle used to work a little differently to other flights but has recently changed to using the same pre-assigned seating as all other flights. You should be able to select your seat at the time of booking now. In addition the Shuttle is no longer open-seating, instead it follows the normal US seating procedures with varying charges for ChoiceSeats. As with other flights these seats are not available for free at T-24.
What about upgrades?
They'll work just like regular flights, with the first comp upgrades being given at the 7-day Chairmans window. Upgrade seats will be available for non-elites at check-in or by calling at 24-hours before the flight.
I heard they have weird ideas on boarding.
NOTE: In addition to what is below, GalleyWench posted the following (post #91 on 5/12/13):
The Shuttle flights don't board by zone even if there's one on the boarding pass. You'll find a ton of elites on these flights, and if most of the plane holds Zone 1 or 2, then boarding doesn't go very fast. So they revert to the old-school boarding by rows. Folks who need assistance first, then First Class, then the last rows of the plane, working forward to the front.
I heard they have weird ideas on deplaning, too.
In some cases, they will deplane Shuttle flights from both the front aircraft door via jetway and the rear aircraft door via stairs.
Anything else that's different?
In NYC-LaGuardia you'll exit the terminal through a different exit, in the center of the gate area and down a flight of stairs. You'll be on the curb in about 4 minutes.
Can I go home early?
Sure. With the exception of the very peak travel times, you can usually get a seat on an earlier Shuttle. US charges a $50 fee for a confirmed stand-by for an earlier flight. This fee is waived for Elites and for certain passengers on full-fare Y/B tickets.
Can I go home late?
Technically, US Airways does not offer any accommodations to those who "miss" a flight; if you want to change into a later flight with a confirmed seat, you'll need to pay the change fee plus any fare difference. But in many cases, passengers who are tardy for their flights are re-ticketed onto the next available flight as a courtesy.
Where are my gates?
Can I hang out in a club or lounge?
Each airport has a US Airways Club and an Admirals Club. Your US Club membership (annual or 30-day) will allow you access to any of these, but US day passes will only work at US-branded clubs. Note that not all Admirals Clubs are easily accessible from US-operated gates.
Club locations:
Anything else I need to know?
Taxi fare from LGA to Midtown Manhattan will be $30-40 depending on traffic and route; DCA to downtown DC/ K Street area will be about $20; and BOS to downtown Boston will be about $30. There are public transport options as well.
There is a separate Shuttle baggage claim and check-in desk at LGA and separate kiosks at DCA. Separate Shuttle check-in desk at DCA is located downstairs near Security. There is supposed to be a separate security lane for Shuttle at DCA but it's almost never open. Passengers can also check in at regular US Airways kiosks and counters.
Shuttles are the nonstop flights between DCA (DC-Washington National), LGA (NY-LaGuardia) and BOS (Boston-Logan).
What's different about the shuttle?
You'll get an early morning snack on departures before 9 am, and free beer or wine in coach all day long. First Class refreshments are similar to other US flights of a similar length.
I heard some stuff about not being able to pre-assign seats.
The Shuttle used to work a little differently to other flights but has recently changed to using the same pre-assigned seating as all other flights. You should be able to select your seat at the time of booking now. In addition the Shuttle is no longer open-seating, instead it follows the normal US seating procedures with varying charges for ChoiceSeats. As with other flights these seats are not available for free at T-24.
What about upgrades?
They'll work just like regular flights, with the first comp upgrades being given at the 7-day Chairmans window. Upgrade seats will be available for non-elites at check-in or by calling at 24-hours before the flight.
I heard they have weird ideas on boarding.
NOTE: In addition to what is below, GalleyWench posted the following (post #91 on 5/12/13):
just read that starting May 22nd the shuttle will start boarding like mainline, no more front to back. Will try to get the specifics in the next couple days.
I heard they have weird ideas on deplaning, too.
In some cases, they will deplane Shuttle flights from both the front aircraft door via jetway and the rear aircraft door via stairs.
Anything else that's different?
In NYC-LaGuardia you'll exit the terminal through a different exit, in the center of the gate area and down a flight of stairs. You'll be on the curb in about 4 minutes.
Can I go home early?
Sure. With the exception of the very peak travel times, you can usually get a seat on an earlier Shuttle. US charges a $50 fee for a confirmed stand-by for an earlier flight. This fee is waived for Elites and for certain passengers on full-fare Y/B tickets.
Can I go home late?
Technically, US Airways does not offer any accommodations to those who "miss" a flight; if you want to change into a later flight with a confirmed seat, you'll need to pay the change fee plus any fare difference. But in many cases, passengers who are tardy for their flights are re-ticketed onto the next available flight as a courtesy.
Where are my gates?
- At BOS, you'll be at Gates B16-B19.
- At LGA, you'll be at Gates C17-C22.
- At DCA, you'll be at Gates 41-44 (North Pier/C Concourse)
Can I hang out in a club or lounge?
Each airport has a US Airways Club and an Admirals Club. Your US Club membership (annual or 30-day) will allow you access to any of these, but US day passes will only work at US-branded clubs. Note that not all Admirals Clubs are easily accessible from US-operated gates.
Club locations:
- At BOS (map)
- US Club in Terminal B, between security checkpoint and Gate B4.
- Admirals Club in Terminal B, near Gate B30 next to Swatch store (requires lengthy walk airside through UA concourse).
- At LGA (map)
- US Club in Terminal C, next to Gate C28.
- Admirals Club in Concourse D, near Gates D1-D2 (requires landside connection, with boarding or gate pass).
- At DCA (map)
- US Club in the North Pier/C Concourse, Mezzanine level.
- Admirals Club in the Central Pier/B Concourse, Mezzanine level (airside shuttle bus service available).
Anything else I need to know?
Taxi fare from LGA to Midtown Manhattan will be $30-40 depending on traffic and route; DCA to downtown DC/ K Street area will be about $20; and BOS to downtown Boston will be about $30. There are public transport options as well.
There is a separate Shuttle baggage claim and check-in desk at LGA and separate kiosks at DCA. Separate Shuttle check-in desk at DCA is located downstairs near Security. There is supposed to be a separate security lane for Shuttle at DCA but it's almost never open. Passengers can also check in at regular US Airways kiosks and counters.
LUS: (Almost) Everything you wanted to know about the LUS / AA Shuttle
May 12, 2013, 9:30 pm
#92
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CT
Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 340
Shuttle change
Interesting. Thanks for the heads-up.
Always found it an interesting exception to the boarding process; could never decide if I liked it or not.
Always found it an interesting exception to the boarding process; could never decide if I liked it or not.
May 13, 2013, 8:22 am
#93
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
May 13, 2013, 8:53 am
#94
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Pity.
But, probably makes sense as US integrates operation in anticipation of the AA acquisition.
By boarding steerage by row # only rear to front, USs can board a 319-320 in 15-20 mins, thereby starting boarding a little late and pushing just a bit early. It seems rare that they can't find a place for a bag. Even checked luggage is often at the carousel by the time the pax get there.
Biggest worry here is that it's such an elite-heavy route that the vast majority of pax will be in the first groups and that will become a zoo.
But, probably makes sense as US integrates operation in anticipation of the AA acquisition.
By boarding steerage by row # only rear to front, USs can board a 319-320 in 15-20 mins, thereby starting boarding a little late and pushing just a bit early. It seems rare that they can't find a place for a bag. Even checked luggage is often at the carousel by the time the pax get there.
Biggest worry here is that it's such an elite-heavy route that the vast majority of pax will be in the first groups and that will become a zoo.
May 13, 2013, 8:59 am
#95
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
May 13, 2013, 9:46 am
#96
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
It's on the flights that are business/elite heavy that I worry about going to mainline style boarding.
May 15, 2013, 9:23 am
#98
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Premier Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 280
I'm sitting at DCA waiting on the BOS shuttle, which is a half hour late. I arrived in time to get on the earlier one, also a half hour late. Despite the fact that the flight was clearly half empty, they insisted on the change fee. I pointed out that their flights were late and they might want to accommodate people, and that flying a plane with 50 empty seats when they could help customers victimized by their being behind schedule made no sense. No dice...pay the $75 or wait. I'm waiting. I rarely fly US (I'm *G because I fly UA), and pretty much every time I do, I'm reminded why. I mean, even UA lets you on earlier flights for free if they have space. If your customer service is worse than UA, you have a big problem.
May 15, 2013, 10:34 am
#99
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Ambassador, B6 Mosaic, SBUX Gold, Best Buy Elite
Posts: 1,838
I'm sitting at DCA waiting on the BOS shuttle, which is a half hour late. I arrived in time to get on the earlier one, also a half hour late. Despite the fact that the flight was clearly half empty, they insisted on the change fee. I pointed out that their flights were late and they might want to accommodate people, and that flying a plane with 50 empty seats when they could help customers victimized by their being behind schedule made no sense. No dice...pay the $75 or wait. I'm waiting. I rarely fly US (I'm *G because I fly UA), and pretty much every time I do, I'm reminded why. I mean, even UA lets you on earlier flights for free if they have space. If your customer service is worse than UA, you have a big problem.
May 16, 2013, 7:48 am
#100
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Marriott Lifetime PLT
Posts: 1,229
Allowing elites to board first (1) will allow me to board first no matter where I sit, and (2) have the first to board be more randomly distributed throughout the cabin, so the aisle don't get jammed up in only one specific spot.
Perhaps they will add a priority boarding lane too?
May 16, 2013, 7:51 am
#101
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Marriott Lifetime PLT
Posts: 1,229
May 16, 2013, 8:03 pm
#102
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Alexandria, Va - National Airport (DCA)
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, CBP Global Entry, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 338
May 26, 2013, 10:48 pm
#103
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
Just for confirmation, at DCA this evening they announced a BOS shuttle boarding by stating that "if you're familiar with how we boarded the Shuttle before this week, please listen up" and then used the zone procedure.
May 30, 2013, 5:06 pm
#104
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Alexandria, Va - National Airport (DCA)
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, CBP Global Entry, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 338
Jun 13, 2013, 6:17 am
#105
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA EXP: : SPG Plat; HH Gold
Posts: 239
Change in Boarding on Shuttle Flights
Got my monthly e-statement and noticed a complete change in the shuttle boarding process:
"We are now offering priority boarding on Shuttle Flights....To make this possible, we'll begin boarding Shuttle flights by zone number"
"We are now offering priority boarding on Shuttle Flights....To make this possible, we'll begin boarding Shuttle flights by zone number"