PWMTrav

Replace the 7-up with a Red Bull and you've got an Irish Trash Can.

I think AA should have kept the CACTUS callsign. I know AMERICAN is iconic, but CACTUS was the coolest of 'em all.

cedric

On the eve that US joined Star alliance, I was connecting through PHL, MAD-PHL-YYZ. US employees were rolling up the Star Alliance signs to each gate at PHL, complete will all member airlines. I had just become US*Gold, and although my status hadn't been updated in the system, the gate agent was kind enough to upgrade me to First for the PHL-YYZ flight. Since then, I enjoyed Envoy service several times commuting to MAD, whether a result of travel agent upgrades I purchased on eBay, miles, award redemptions, or even the occasional op-up.

When I moved to Vancouver Island, I was able to retain my status due to the LAS hub. Flying YVR-PHX-PHL-MAD, returning MAD-PHL-LAS-YVR allowed an overnight stopover in LAS on each trip. On one trip, we diverted to BWI on the outbound, due to fog in PHL. Although we eventually made it, the MAD flight had already departed. This allowed me, and my seatmate who was also travelling to MAD, an opportunity to discover PHL. Fog rolled in the next day, delaying the arrival of the aircraft departing to MAD. US was kind enough to route us PHL-AMS-MAD, ensuring we arrived at our destination. My seatmate from PHX ended up becoming a lifelong friend, visiting me in Tofino the next year.

Living in Tofino, a town of 1500 residents, LAS was an extreme contrast. Although my travels have subsided, I will always remember my multiple flights to MAD. Consistently, the connection was short enough that my checked bags would not make it. This allowed me to take the subway into town without being weighed down, purchase some clothing (and receive a travel voucher) on US' dime, and have my bag delivered the next day. US was never a premier airline, but was certainly consistent. Service recovery was good, when required, and on the first Star Mega Do I was lucky enough to have access to several of the US senior management team. Doug was down to earth, and I ended up sitting at the same table as him. Primarily, I will remember Frand Fernadez's very candidly answering my questions about US service to Canada.

Although my travels have subsided as of late, US' consistently great people will always be a fond memory. Whether I was CP or had no status, I was well looked after. Remember the ART/LEB fares? One of my first mileage runs. After another tag-on mileage run turned sour after a flight cancellation, US ensured I got to where I was going, fare rules be darned. The people at US appreciated my loyalty, regardless of what position they held.

Sure, there were some bad apples. I remember an Envoy flight where all I heard was one of the FA's and the in-charge constantly bickering - I think his name was Larry. His attitude was similar on several other flights where I encountered him, but it became part of US' charm.

I now live in YYJ, and with DL's recent announcement, AA/US will be the only major US carrier with no service to my home city. I've since moved to AC, and it looks like I'll have to stick with them for now. But my soft spot for US will no doubt bring me back to AA if there is even an opportunity.

CMK10

Fun little story:

In August, 2008 I was flying back from DTW to PHX after visiting my brother who then attended the University of Michigan. I was a UA Premier (*S) flying in Y. The flight was oversold so I volunteered at the gate. The gate agent announced at the end of boarding "well there are two seats left, one in First and one in Coach" to me and another passenger without a seat assignment. i said "well as I was volunteered, I think I should get the First Class seat" and he said "Okay, I agree". I couldn't believe my luck. It ended up being a very pleasant flight with a great crew and a decent meal:

flyallegheny

I was going to mention those, too. There are still a bunch hanging in PIT. Posters for SJU and SEA come to mind. A little worse for the wear, and a lot of them are to cities that US used to serve non-stop from PIT. Sigh...

I also recall that there were boatloads in B and C at PHL. Maybe there still are?

jspira

Thanks for including our Photo Essay in this great thread. I had never flown US (other than the shuttle) prior to the merger and now I've flown it about six times, and had excellent service up front in each. Gets me all misty eyed....

LPCJr

Yes, still a lot at B/C in PHL. It's my home airport and I will miss them when they are gone. One of the first business trips I ever took was to SEA, and when I see that picture I always think back to the early part of my career.

connorc

PIT is a practically a US Airways museum. Many of them are quite faded but still hang...for the time being.

The far left is Rome (which I have a poster of), center is New York, and I think the right is San Juan.


And another favorite...I wish I could get my hands on this one.

arlflyer

I always notice those in BOS, walking between the US club and the shuttle gates. I bet they'll be left there for a long time.

flyallegheny

Potentially off topic, but as long as we're paying tributes to US...

In the first PIT photo, you can see the bottom of a banner for the "Yesterday's Airport of Tomorrow" exhibit, which tells the story of the old Greater Pittsburgh International Airport.

Given the loss of the US hub, a fitting slogan for the current airport is "Tomorrow's airport of yesterday."

CMK10

Those banners have always amused me:

JDiver

Was just reading and fell off my chair!

The, er, "Alpha Mike Foxtrot"!

CPRich

Busy day at PIT?

My favorite memory of US? Getting Out More...

redtop43

In 1976 I met a girl at college, but when I went to her room a week later to see her again she had dropped out. This developed into a long-distance relationship DCA-BUF. Fortunately we got deregulation and IIRC "Super Saver" tickets, 40% off if you bought a certain length of time in advance and stayed at least 7 days. So we learned the "back to back" trick. A lot of the flights stopped in SYR or ROC. This was Agony, sorry, Allegheny Airlines. Probably a lot of them were DC-9s. I don't think the B737 was flying yet.

JDiver

Wow! FF driven by necessity.

JDiver

For a time, these old "slick tube" earlier 737s were my commuter vehicles. And I was an aviation photographer in Bruce Drum's "stable" by avocation (see title); I shot thousands of Kodachrome slides for DDM photography.