What kind of service in First Class CLT-SXM roundtrip?
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
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What kind of service in First Class CLT-SXM roundtrip?
Hi, I'm taking a trip from CLT-SXM in first class roundtrip in late April. Can any seasoned US Airways fliers share what I can expect in terms of service, meals, etc. as well as airport experiences at SXM (I can't wait to be on the beach at the end of the runway at SXM!)?
Thanks in advance!
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Thank you for flying and staying UNITED. Your business and support is highly appreciated. Enjoy your flight and spread the word!
Thanks in advance!
------------------
Thank you for flying and staying UNITED. Your business and support is highly appreciated. Enjoy your flight and spread the word!
#2
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Standard domestic F service. Nothing special.
It seems like running up to the end of the runway at the beach and getting jet blasted is a big thing down there. Especially when the Air France 747 does its daily departure.
Remember the scene from "Pushing Tin" when John Cusak and Billy Bob went to the end of a runway when a 747 landed, and they got hurled to the sides by the wake turbulence? Well, empirical evidence would dictate that does not happen.
At SXM, people run up to the fence, which is LITERALLY at the end of the runway pavement, and watch planes land all the time right over their head. The people don't get hurled after it passes and touches down.
It seems like running up to the end of the runway at the beach and getting jet blasted is a big thing down there. Especially when the Air France 747 does its daily departure.
Remember the scene from "Pushing Tin" when John Cusak and Billy Bob went to the end of a runway when a 747 landed, and they got hurled to the sides by the wake turbulence? Well, empirical evidence would dictate that does not happen.
At SXM, people run up to the fence, which is LITERALLY at the end of the runway pavement, and watch planes land all the time right over their head. The people don't get hurled after it passes and touches down.
#3
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: ATL
Programs: UA 3.6 MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,583
United Skies,
Welcome to the US board! Looks like you will be aboard the newly reconfigured 757 with only 8 (yes eight) first class seats. Congratulations in scoring one of those. I have not flown this route before but the timetable says that F Class will be served lunch. Not sure what exactly lunch is these days, but count on it to include plasticware and plastic cups!
Welcome to the US board! Looks like you will be aboard the newly reconfigured 757 with only 8 (yes eight) first class seats. Congratulations in scoring one of those. I have not flown this route before but the timetable says that F Class will be served lunch. Not sure what exactly lunch is these days, but count on it to include plasticware and plastic cups!
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UnitedSkies:
Hi, I'm taking a trip from CLT-SXM in first class roundtrip in late April. Can any seasoned US Airways fliers share what I can expect in terms of service, meals, etc. as well as airport experiences at SXM (I can't wait to be on the beach at the end of the runway at SXM!)?
Thanks in advance!
</font>
Hi, I'm taking a trip from CLT-SXM in first class roundtrip in late April. Can any seasoned US Airways fliers share what I can expect in terms of service, meals, etc. as well as airport experiences at SXM (I can't wait to be on the beach at the end of the runway at SXM!)?
Thanks in advance!
</font>
#4
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Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NeoOfTheCRS:
United Skies,
Welcome to the US board! Looks like you will be aboard the newly reconfigured 757 with only 8 (yes eight) first class seats. Congratulations in scoring one of those. I have not flown this route before but the timetable says that F Class will be served lunch. Not sure what exactly lunch is these days, but count on it to include plasticware and plastic cups!
</font>
United Skies,
Welcome to the US board! Looks like you will be aboard the newly reconfigured 757 with only 8 (yes eight) first class seats. Congratulations in scoring one of those. I have not flown this route before but the timetable says that F Class will be served lunch. Not sure what exactly lunch is these days, but count on it to include plasticware and plastic cups!
</font>
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Thank you for flying and staying UNITED. Your business and support is highly appreciated. Enjoy your flight and spread the word!
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MileagePlus Premier Gold
Posts: 11,522
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PHL:
Standard domestic F service. Nothing special.
It seems like running up to the end of the runway at the beach and getting jet blasted is a big thing down there. Especially when the Air France 747 does its daily departure.
Remember the scene from "Pushing Tin" when John Cusak and Billy Bob went to the end of a runway when a 747 landed, and they got hurled to the sides by the wake turbulence? Well, empirical evidence would dictate that does not happen.
At SXM, people run up to the fence, which is LITERALLY at the end of the runway pavement, and watch planes land all the time right over their head. The people don't get hurled after it passes and touches down.</font>
Standard domestic F service. Nothing special.
It seems like running up to the end of the runway at the beach and getting jet blasted is a big thing down there. Especially when the Air France 747 does its daily departure.
Remember the scene from "Pushing Tin" when John Cusak and Billy Bob went to the end of a runway when a 747 landed, and they got hurled to the sides by the wake turbulence? Well, empirical evidence would dictate that does not happen.
At SXM, people run up to the fence, which is LITERALLY at the end of the runway pavement, and watch planes land all the time right over their head. The people don't get hurled after it passes and touches down.</font>
------------------
Thank you for flying and staying UNITED. Your business and support is highly appreciated. Enjoy your flight and spread the word!
#8
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: ATL
Programs: UA 3.6 MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,583
No the congratulations was quite sincere, Many elites who would have been upgraded on the old 757 config have been sitting in the back because of the dramatic reduction in the first class seating. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum51/HTML/006487.html
The 757's are flying now primarily low yield leisure routes hence the management rationale for the reconfig. US is gradually improving the F Class product, but still not even close to UA's offerings.
The 757's are flying now primarily low yield leisure routes hence the management rationale for the reconfig. US is gradually improving the F Class product, but still not even close to UA's offerings.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UnitedSkies:
Thanks for the welcome. I'm not sure if your "congratulations" was for real or you were being sarcastic ! Was the conversion done to have fewer first class seats, or was there a product upgrade (unlikely I know!) done as well?
</font>
Thanks for the welcome. I'm not sure if your "congratulations" was for real or you were being sarcastic ! Was the conversion done to have fewer first class seats, or was there a product upgrade (unlikely I know!) done as well?
</font>
#9
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: YYZ/YHM/BUF
Programs: AA Plat, HH Gold, MR Plat
Posts: 4,212
As one who has spent countless hours roasting in the sun on Maho Beach while watching the planes, I think it's one of life's best experiences! Unfortunately the AF 747-300 has been replaced by an A-340, but KL and Corsair still fly them to SXM. The jet blast experience is awesome - while you don't get blown away like the movie "Pushing Tin", you do get a lot of sand blowing in your face at high speeds.
#10
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which hurts a lot by the way if you dont close your eyes!!!!! It's an awesome experience though!
#12
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PHL:
Remember the scene from "Pushing Tin" when John Cusak and Billy Bob went to the end of a runway when a 747 landed, and they got hurled to the sides by the wake turbulence? </font>
Remember the scene from "Pushing Tin" when John Cusak and Billy Bob went to the end of a runway when a 747 landed, and they got hurled to the sides by the wake turbulence? </font>
USFlyer: DCA used to be nice, but now all you get are RJ's! But it is cool to see the planes flying by that close.