Things you miss about US Airways
Nov 3, 2015, 6:01 pm
#61
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Philly
Programs: US, CO, Marriott
Posts: 217
I miss being able to nominate family members to Silver or Gold depending on miles flown.
The special dividends were nice to me.
I saved a lot having my college son be Silver and not paying baggage fees when coming home for breaks.
The special dividends were nice to me.
I saved a lot having my college son be Silver and not paying baggage fees when coming home for breaks.
Nov 3, 2015, 6:54 pm
#63
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: washington, dc, usa
Posts: 244
US vs. AA
I've flown both and it is night and day. Look at this:
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Ame...777-300_ER.php
vs.
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Ame...E_Intl_new.php
American Airlines has 4 Business Class seats across on a wide body aircraft vs. the 4 across on a 757 (with tape to seal the ashtray).
US was a Low Cost Airline (hence the LCC ticker symbol) and AA was a full service airline. US got rid of business class lounges, AA expanded them.
Not trying to stir up AA vs. US trouble (I used to be US CP before defecting to UA after the American West merger, then to AA after UA merged with CO) - so I've been around the block. With the exception of the number of AA FF that will make some CP lose the 100% upgrade, AA was the best thing to happen to US from a service standpoint. IMHO.
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Ame...777-300_ER.php
vs.
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Ame...E_Intl_new.php
American Airlines has 4 Business Class seats across on a wide body aircraft vs. the 4 across on a 757 (with tape to seal the ashtray).
US was a Low Cost Airline (hence the LCC ticker symbol) and AA was a full service airline. US got rid of business class lounges, AA expanded them.
Not trying to stir up AA vs. US trouble (I used to be US CP before defecting to UA after the American West merger, then to AA after UA merged with CO) - so I've been around the block. With the exception of the number of AA FF that will make some CP lose the 100% upgrade, AA was the best thing to happen to US from a service standpoint. IMHO.
Nov 3, 2015, 7:37 pm
#64
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: AA-ExecPlat, DL-Diamond, Hilton-Diamond, Hyatt-Diamond
Posts: 63
There is nothing to miss......
2nd rate hubs, no power outlets in first, young and cheaply paid flight attendants with no clue of service, flying with kettle that US wooed with cheap fares to connect through CLT, poor customer service, baggage meltdowns in Philly, dated clubs that needed remodels.
Thank God cut rate US is gone.
2nd rate hubs, no power outlets in first, young and cheaply paid flight attendants with no clue of service, flying with kettle that US wooed with cheap fares to connect through CLT, poor customer service, baggage meltdowns in Philly, dated clubs that needed remodels.
Thank God cut rate US is gone.
Nov 3, 2015, 8:19 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ithaca, NY
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 147
I miss the clean, supple, handy US Airways booking site. You could find what you wanted quickly with fewer clicks than it takes to find it on the AA. The US site made me want to make a booking. The AA site makes we want to look for another airline.
And that Envoy Lounge: it was comfortable, and it had a pretty fabulous food spread before it became a regular lounge with that super salty soup and those other super salty snacks.
And that Envoy Lounge: it was comfortable, and it had a pretty fabulous food spread before it became a regular lounge with that super salty soup and those other super salty snacks.
Nov 3, 2015, 9:02 pm
#66
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: BOS, SMF
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 18
Nov 3, 2015, 9:36 pm
#67
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,519
Nov 4, 2015, 12:13 am
#69
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYR
Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite
Posts: 2,755
1) 75k status. As someone else mentioned, its a long way from 50k to 100k
2) Star Alliance. The amount of Asian routings under *A is impressive, and airlines like CA, OZ and TG have wonderful first class experiences. I spend 120k on a huge 10 asian city routing on OZ in F, and everything about it was amazing. I'm bummed I never got back to try TG before US went to One World.
3) Upgrades. I'm at 0% for my upgrades with stickers. Every AA flyertalk person said not to worry because with stickers I would have a shot at upgrades... Well I was 70-80% with US prior to the merger, and 0% now... so how are these stickers of any value to me? Maybe if EXP had to use them, it would be better for everyone.
4) The US website. When you flight options were displayed on US, you could easily see your options, often all shown on one page. Today, under AA, I have to scroll through, and its really hard to decipher what is what. If you never booked on US.com, you don't know what you were missing. The AA booking site is awful.
2) Star Alliance. The amount of Asian routings under *A is impressive, and airlines like CA, OZ and TG have wonderful first class experiences. I spend 120k on a huge 10 asian city routing on OZ in F, and everything about it was amazing. I'm bummed I never got back to try TG before US went to One World.
3) Upgrades. I'm at 0% for my upgrades with stickers. Every AA flyertalk person said not to worry because with stickers I would have a shot at upgrades... Well I was 70-80% with US prior to the merger, and 0% now... so how are these stickers of any value to me? Maybe if EXP had to use them, it would be better for everyone.
4) The US website. When you flight options were displayed on US, you could easily see your options, often all shown on one page. Today, under AA, I have to scroll through, and its really hard to decipher what is what. If you never booked on US.com, you don't know what you were missing. The AA booking site is awful.
Nov 4, 2015, 5:53 am
#70
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,519
3) Upgrades. I'm at 0% for my upgrades with stickers. Every AA flyertalk person said not to worry because with stickers I would have a shot at upgrades... Well I was 70-80% with US prior to the merger, and 0% now... so how are these stickers of any value to me? Maybe if EXP had to use them, it would be better for everyone.
Does anyone have any thoughts on what is driving the lower success rate for some pmUS fliers? More pmAA elite fliers on pmUS routes? Increased sale of F seats on the merged airline vs pmUS? Something else?
Nov 4, 2015, 5:56 am
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
There is nothing to miss......
2nd rate hubs, no power outlets in first, young and cheaply paid flight attendants with no clue of service, flying with kettle that US wooed with cheap fares to connect through CLT, poor customer service, baggage meltdowns in Philly, dated clubs that needed remodels.
Thank God cut rate US is gone.
2nd rate hubs, no power outlets in first, young and cheaply paid flight attendants with no clue of service, flying with kettle that US wooed with cheap fares to connect through CLT, poor customer service, baggage meltdowns in Philly, dated clubs that needed remodels.
Thank God cut rate US is gone.
Nov 4, 2015, 6:01 am
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
There have been a number of references in this thread to a drop in upgrade percentage since the merger for pmUS fliers. I'm very curious what is driving this (ignoring the sticker part). I did not think the upgrade system changed other than stickers and, since the merge of the reservation systems on 10/17, the lack of ability to grab any F seat within 24 hours of takeoff regardless of position on the upgrade list (the latter of which sounds more like a glitch than an intended feature).
Does anyone have any thoughts on what is driving the lower success rate for some pmUS fliers? More pmAA elite fliers on pmUS routes? Increased sale of F seats on the merged airline vs pmUS? Something else?
Does anyone have any thoughts on what is driving the lower success rate for some pmUS fliers? More pmAA elite fliers on pmUS routes? Increased sale of F seats on the merged airline vs pmUS? Something else?
US got a bit stingier with upgrades, clearing CPs mostly at 4 days rather than the usual 7, but even then, I was batting 100% as a CP.
My guess is how/when the systems processed upgrades was different. I think US was a bit more generous and didn't really hold seats back, where AA did.
Nov 4, 2015, 6:57 am
#73
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: BOS-DCA
Programs: AA ExePlat
Posts: 217
4) The US website. When you flight options were displayed on US, you could easily see your options, often all shown on one page. Today, under AA, I have to scroll through, and its really hard to decipher what is what. If you never booked on US.com, you don't know what you were missing. The AA booking site is awful.
That being said I am grateful for AA migrating to the larger reservations system seamlessly without the UA or LUS issues suffered earlier this millennium.
Nov 4, 2015, 11:36 am
#74
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NC
Programs: HHonors-Diamond, IHG-Gold, AA Platinum, National-Exec Elite, Avis-First
Posts: 42
I miss my Milano cookies in first on US...
W T F is the all green basket of crap AA has foisted on us.
Oh and upgrades post merger LMFAO... riiiight.
W T F is the all green basket of crap AA has foisted on us.
Oh and upgrades post merger LMFAO... riiiight.
Nov 4, 2015, 11:45 am
#75
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NYC LAX RDU
Programs: US-Plt;Concierge key; American AAirpass; Delta Silver;Starwood - Platinum; Amex Cent
Posts: 710
For me:
1) Star Alliance. This was the biggest single loss to me. *A had a lot of airlines I wanted to fly on, and lots of ways to get me there. Availability was generally good too. OW - not so much. The main Asian partner I would use is JL, and it's an airline I'm not crazy about (I prefer NH). Europe in general is much more limited without having to deal with LHR and BA. Great if you're going to the UK, but there are better options for getting around mainland Europe.
2) US's sense of customer service. Granted, my experiences with AA have generally been good so far, but US's attitude, IME, was they'd bend over backwards to help you. They were the only airline that ever called me back when asked - even as a lowly Silver. US generally treated CP like gold, and I felt like they always valued my business more than UA did. Maybe because they were smaller and worked harder to get the business. I don't know. The Winston-Salem CS center was always great.
3) Comp upgrades - and for companions too. I usually traveled by myself, but it was nice traveling with 2 companions (my wife was also low level elite) and having 3 of us get upgraded to F. I don't think I ever missed an upgrade as a CP on US metal. There were also times I'd book within a couple days of departure and I'd still get upgraded almost immediately.
4) I thought the US Android app was more useful overall. AA's is nice for what it does, but I hate being dumped out to the website any time I want to do anything more than checking my online account or getting boarding passes. I could buy tickets and change seats easily on US's app. Not so much on AA's.
1) Star Alliance. This was the biggest single loss to me. *A had a lot of airlines I wanted to fly on, and lots of ways to get me there. Availability was generally good too. OW - not so much. The main Asian partner I would use is JL, and it's an airline I'm not crazy about (I prefer NH). Europe in general is much more limited without having to deal with LHR and BA. Great if you're going to the UK, but there are better options for getting around mainland Europe.
2) US's sense of customer service. Granted, my experiences with AA have generally been good so far, but US's attitude, IME, was they'd bend over backwards to help you. They were the only airline that ever called me back when asked - even as a lowly Silver. US generally treated CP like gold, and I felt like they always valued my business more than UA did. Maybe because they were smaller and worked harder to get the business. I don't know. The Winston-Salem CS center was always great.
3) Comp upgrades - and for companions too. I usually traveled by myself, but it was nice traveling with 2 companions (my wife was also low level elite) and having 3 of us get upgraded to F. I don't think I ever missed an upgrade as a CP on US metal. There were also times I'd book within a couple days of departure and I'd still get upgraded almost immediately.
4) I thought the US Android app was more useful overall. AA's is nice for what it does, but I hate being dumped out to the website any time I want to do anything more than checking my online account or getting boarding passes. I could buy tickets and change seats easily on US's app. Not so much on AA's.
I would agree with all of this - especially Star Alliance - US redemption for Business Class awards on partners was always pretty easy and NO BA fuel surcharges....flew several times on ANA to NRT in business class for 90K miles....a great deal.