Two nice things at Philadelphia
May 16, 2009, 9:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Portland
Programs: UA 1K, AK Gold 75K, etc. etc.
Posts: 1,660
Two nice things at Philadelphia
Flew from PHL to ORD yesterday on UA563.
My first nice experience was in the RCC. I was surpriesed to see a real expresso cappucino machine sitting there. Hopefully this is the first of a trend replacing the instant coffee "cappucino machines" with real coffee and beans.
Then, sitting in first class, the flight attendants offered preflight drinks. They walked around with a tray of white and red wine. When my next seat neighbor ordered a screw driver and I ordered a bloody mary. When I asked the FA, she said it was because we are special
Of course, were delayed for about an hour for Chicago flow control, but at least we were "happy" in the delay.
My first nice experience was in the RCC. I was surpriesed to see a real expresso cappucino machine sitting there. Hopefully this is the first of a trend replacing the instant coffee "cappucino machines" with real coffee and beans.
Then, sitting in first class, the flight attendants offered preflight drinks. They walked around with a tray of white and red wine. When my next seat neighbor ordered a screw driver and I ordered a bloody mary. When I asked the FA, she said it was because we are special
Of course, were delayed for about an hour for Chicago flow control, but at least we were "happy" in the delay.
May 16, 2009, 10:47 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: RIC
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 3,385
^ to the crew! Your delay was only 25 minutes though.
May 16, 2009, 10:55 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,034
PHL's RCC is a bit of a pit (facility wise) but the staff are great. I also think that the rest of UA's staff at PHL are, on average, better than most.
As to PDBs I've also had decent luck lately getting the bev of my choice rather than the standard OJ or water ^
As to PDBs I've also had decent luck lately getting the bev of my choice rather than the standard OJ or water ^
May 16, 2009, 11:35 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Just moved to Houston,TX
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 225
I agree, the RCC crew in Philly do a wonderful job. It's more intimate so I feel like they care more. Often times the bar tender will walk around asking if you would like a drink and then bring it to you. And more than once the agent at the front has preemptively switched me from a IAD to ORD or vice versa due to delays, without me even asking.
May 16, 2009, 12:27 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SGF
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 36
I really like the RCC at PHL. The space, though small and a bit dated, is no worse than the majority of the others in the system. The staff is fantastic, and I have rarely found it crowded.
May 16, 2009, 12:59 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,860
All of the staff at PHL are fantastic, and their RCC staff are the BEST anywhere!
May 16, 2009, 2:40 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
I have to say the RCC staff was great in PHL RCC, the bartender always give me a double on a single drink chit. ^ Facility wise, it was a bit small and old.
May 16, 2009, 3:07 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MCI
Programs: UA Plat, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 281
The PHL RCC is indeed small but they can't really justify it being much bigger -- I have sometimes been the only one in there (although I am usually leaving PHL on Saturday afternoons). But the service has been great.
May 16, 2009, 3:56 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,034
Once in a great while I've seen it very crowded, but it's really only during irrops (think summer thunderstorms). Otherwise it's nice and peaceful.
May 16, 2009, 6:04 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Portland
Programs: UA 1K, AK Gold 75K, etc. etc.
Posts: 1,660
and no one commented on a real expresso/cappucino machine. This is the first one that I've seen in a domestic UAL red carpet club.
May 16, 2009, 6:09 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, SPG Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 1,970
Am I the only one who thought "real expresso machine" was kind of an oxymoron? 
May 16, 2009, 6:24 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Plt, FB Silver
Posts: 844
May 16, 2009, 6:35 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Jewel/Osco Preferred Shopper
Posts: 236
Same one months earlier didn't want to let me bring in my family because our oldest was 19 years old. I had to show her the rule that specifically states "dependent children" are part of the family. She finally relented unhappily, claiming that 18 was age limit. (Rule states: Member guest limit for Clubs in the United States is two, or spouse and dependent children.)
May 16, 2009, 7:02 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,911
Food lacking and bathrooms are poor, but no worse than JFK.
If the club ever closes, I get dibs on the Ben Franklin bust!
May 16, 2009, 10:57 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: United 1MM
Posts: 318
Ditto that. A LOT of intl *A lounges have them. Change that: MOST *A intl lounges have them. They are just OK (then again, I'm spoiled by the anal coffee culture we have in Melbourne). Such a machine coffee would not be considered a "proper coffee".
Philly is quite good as far as US lounges go. I'm there at least two times a year as I have family in south Jersey. Truth is though: all domestic RCCs are rubbish compared to intl *A lounges. I should say though, that even at the best of places (FRA, SIN), the quality is going down a bit, particularly with SIN having a new *Gold lounge that doesn't have showers, no nice massage chair (as previously had), and less food choices.
Philly is quite good as far as US lounges go. I'm there at least two times a year as I have family in south Jersey. Truth is though: all domestic RCCs are rubbish compared to intl *A lounges. I should say though, that even at the best of places (FRA, SIN), the quality is going down a bit, particularly with SIN having a new *Gold lounge that doesn't have showers, no nice massage chair (as previously had), and less food choices.
