TWA operates JFK-CAI and TLV which are both 10+ hours. They have JFK-RUH via CAI.

You're absolutely right, thanks for the reminder!

craz! You're back!!!! I knew this thread couldn't possibly pass without you adding something to it. And there is even in there some faint praise, I nearly fell off my seat when I read it. Must still be jet lagged, eh? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

If you're not familiar with the situation, craz is the resident TWA service improvement engineer. Though the majority of his posts are really not instructive or helpful, just complaining. (and also **** hard to read, what with the lack of capital letters and sentence structure)

I really can't defend the lack of toilet paper on the flight other than you should have known better since you expect so little of the folks at TWA, perhaps you should have brought your own. I suppose at least they weren't overflowing, right? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

So there we have it: a synopsis of craz's experiences on TWA. They don't have any toilet paper. Please make your airline choice based on this highly helpful piece of information. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

So I guess I should BWOTP for TWA http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Nevertheless I guess that sort of thing happens and it sucks when it does. Overall the experiences still sound good. Take care

Was this "paper issue" in J class, by chance, or economy? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

1)DOC, No it wasn't J class.I was flying in coach on a mileage award.
2)Eugene, I agree with you,and have changed carriers as of 1/00.What I'm doing is using up the 1/4 mil miles in my acct.Since I'm a Platinum member till 1/01,I left the mileage till now when fares cost more ,to use up.So by 1/01,TW and I should be parting the ways for good(I'm sure thats not soon enough for numerous people on this thread).
3)The flight usaully is full of the most senior FA's, however,this time everyone but 2 were junior,which took its toll.
4)Speaking for myself,I would love being able to read posts where people feel that a carrier is failing.By reading the posts I can get some idea of what to expect,and what not to expect. If all that matters to a person is to get to his destination on time, then they should use Southwest or TW. I never travel for business its all pleasure,so on-time isn't as important to me(nevertheless I would stay away from UAL at this time since I do wish to get somewhere within a reasonable amount of time,something that it seems that can't do today).
5)TWA was great for/to me,and I was good to them.But I feel that the carrier has gone downhill in many ways in the last 2 years,that renders it a completly different carrier today. Blame goes to Ichan,mgmt that really doesn't care about its workers or its passengers,yet under all the odds against them they are still putting its planes in the air-thats something most people said would have ended awhile ago, especially after Flight 800 went down,I for one hope that TWA will still be making history as a going concern for years to come as it has in its rich history.

With all due respect, craz, what was it - first or coach???

While I agree with you that TWA is a different carrier today, my recent experiences with them were much more positive than just a few years ago.

Out of the 70,000 miles or so I've flown since November of 1999, I think that I've been late a total of 3 times. Once due to storms at STL and on the East Coast, once due to bad weather at IAH, and once waiting to takeoff on a Friday evening at LGA. Not bad at all, and none of the horror stories of some of the other airlines.

I think that the Ambassador's club is extremely worthwhile, if for nothing else than the ease of check-in at a lot of busier airports. Since I almost never travel with checked luggage, being able to bypass the lines- either at luggage check (even 1st class check-in) or the gate saves a great deal of time. And yes, the lines can be long, especially at STL. The STL club is nice, though I too wish there was another located further down the C concourse. JFK, LGA and LAX clubs are also nice, and BOS and DCA aren't bad either. No free alcohol like the DL Crown Rooms, but decent enough for the price.

As for service in F, as I mentioned earlier, you may not get the "luxury" items of some other carriers, but still, for a free upgrade, not bad at all. I do feel that the majority of the FA's do try very hard with their somewhat limited resources. I had the chance to fly STL-OGG in F, and wasn't at all dissapointed. I'll be going to CDG later this year in full-on "TWOne" and am looking forward to that experience.

My favorite TW station is LAX- quite a professional and experienced staff- and the added bonus of 767s to STL at times. I think that most people who haven't flown TWA in a while will be pleasantly surprised, especially business flyers who expect to be treated professionally and get where they want to go. And Elite 1 and above levels are a great way to go- unlike bigger carriers, a lot of TW staff actually seems to value your business as a FF. Just the other day, when calling for one of the free, unlimited upgrades (try that on AA or UA), I had an agent say, "Let's see, you're an Elite 1. We love you..."

craz, I'm not one to question your logic, but....

- you're a Platinum Aviator (ie: no award restrictions)

- you have 1/4 million miles

- you were flying on a long trip

...and you chose to fly in economy??????

I'm sure I'm missing something. If I were Platinum and had that many miles I surely would not be flying in the back of the bus.

And it's not that I don't appreciate your posts, it has caused me to defend TWA a bit, which obviously needs to be done.

One thing about the 767ER's though. The lavatory set-up in 1st class absolutely stinks. There is only one for 30 passengers. And it is on the left side of the aircraft. For those people on the right side (H,J) there is no convenient way to cross over(especially when all the FA's are loitering in the galley. I feel sorry for the bulkhead seats in the middle (D,G), people are always crossing right in front of them, stepping over their legs. The situation is only slightly better on the -200 because the galley is situated differently. But still.

tfjim, being platinum doesn't get one a seat if they are all full.I needed to fly on a certain date(turns out that all 1st class was sold out for the entire upcoming week). I rather liked it,in that it its a humbling experience.It keeps me in my place,and lets me appreciate 1st and bus when I do get it.
2) as for this routing I do it at least 8 times a year,so it wasn't that I wasn't trying to max the awards.
3)TWA has a couple of 767-300's with 2 toilets up front.They have a smaller galley up front with the other half in coach where the toilet is in the mid-section.This is great for the passengers as your post detailed the probs with just 1. However, I can't print the words that the FA's used to describe their feelings with their work areas in 2 areas.They did feel that their needs should come before the passengers,I'm not kidding. Yet they have a point since it'll impact their work by causing them to have to work harder. It also meant 1 less toilet for coach,most of these probs don't exist on the 777 but TWA can't afford them.They are trying to survive with what they have and hopefully one day have the 777 where they need them as well as the 767 where they have the 757 now.

Eugene, one great perk of being Platinum is you are entitled to all the perks even when flying in coach.My cases were tagged 1st class,besides me there were a few others who flew 1st and their cases were also not sent that way. This system seems to work on the int'l flights,can't tell you how many times that 1st class bags comes out last at LAX, I do mean last and even on fully paid 1st class tkts.

Dear craz, not that I'm trying to pick on you, but I'm still not clear what the problem was. Also, in my personal experience, the so-called "priority baggage handling" rarely works on most airlines, not just TWA, as has been noted on many occasions by others on this Board as well.

Eugene, For the past few years on int'l flights that ended at JFK the 'priority baggage handling' couldn't be beat,nor can it be today.TWA handlers make sure that the containers containing 1st class bags are the first ones off loaded and then leave the plane area,eventhough they could take other containers.TW wants the bags to be waiting for its 1st class people,so much so that they have handlers at the baggage belt who remove the bags and place them on a red carpet.Only twice in the past few years did I beat the bags and they came within moments.
I still remember a BA flight LHR-EWR that I took in bus.After getting to the belt it took 40 mins for the 1st and bus bagsto come out,while coach was unloaded first.I sent a letter to BA,they not only instituted a system to prevent it from reoccurring they sent me a nice check,a couple of months after that I flew BA again and yep they made sure that the coach bags were last.
As for TWA's tagging.They use 2 tags,1-is the white tag with the tracking# and all your imfo on it that also says 1st, 2-they put on a gold&white tag that says Trans World 1(1st class).My bags had both to begin with but came out with only the first,while the other peoples had both attached.Sorry for not being more specific.
The prob w/the bags from intl flights is everyone must go thru customs at the port of entry so although you get the special handling to JFK once you bring the bags to the belt for connecting flights its as if its coach but at least you save the time waiting at JFK. To me the most important thing is once I get to my final destination I want out ASAP,and having to wait for bags is a killer.Why do the airlines do so much preflight and during the flight and than die at the most important time ' baggage claim'. The few times I did AirFrance this year no probs what-so-ever. I know that what the difference at times depends if the airline has its own people or if its 'hired crews'.

Lastly, I was just in ANC with TWA,got bumped going up so they put me on UAL.Back from ANC was TW,turns out the check-in was a mess,why? cause TW doesn't have ANY ground people there they use Northwest's people.So if it wasn't that one of the FA's came out to board the aircraft I'd still be in ANC.They filled a flight that was fully booked with non-revs so needless to say we didn't take off till they got the non-revs off and the paying people on, at check-in it was 1st there got aboard.They wanted to upgrade me since I was a Platinum,I said thanks she don't thank me you're entitled to it.I had no choice then to imform her that my tkt said 'y' since no 'l' seats were left,meaning Iwas on a free tkt that wasn't entitled to an upgrade.I was willing to take it as long as it was given to me w/o my asking for it,but once she was relying on me that i was entitled to it I couldn't lie and say yes. TW had the same probs at ElPaso where AWA handled everything but have since exited that city after a short run at the money. I guess TW feels till a city proves itself why shell all the $$,yet what can you expect when its your competitors handling everything for you.

??????

My 2 cents:

I have very good memories of flying TWA when i was a kid (CDG->TLV).

Lately i flew them on a TLV->LAX and i had very bad experiences with ground crew at JFK (rude and not helpfull at all.)

I am also a CO elite member and realy enjoy this airline.. Seems to me that CO was in an even worse situation than TWA.You can see what can become an airline with a good managment and great worker benefits... CO is at my opinion one of the best airlines. The problem is them flying 737 on transcon..

I just had TWA matching my plat status and i will enjoy the TW transcon on wide bodies planes... I am really looking forward to see the twa improvment since i really believe that they can do as good as CO did.. They just need a real managment....