First time flying 1st class-Going to Maui
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 889
I don't fly US Airways in first class because I enjoy having service in first class, rather than just a big seat and a bag of chips.
Why would I fly US Airways on O'Hare-Philadelphia at 6pm when an American Airlines MD80 on that route has a four course dinner and WiFi?
Continental caters IAH/EWR-HNL as if it were international long-haul. I don't think CO is "all that," but that's not the point, it will offer a better soft and hard product.
Why would I fly US Airways on O'Hare-Philadelphia at 6pm when an American Airlines MD80 on that route has a four course dinner and WiFi?
Continental caters IAH/EWR-HNL as if it were international long-haul. I don't think CO is "all that," but that's not the point, it will offer a better soft and hard product.
Yes, AA serves more meals on more flights than US. But food or the seat does not make a flight. Its the service that truly matters and the service on AA or CO is not any better than US in some cases IMO I think its worse.
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 220
For me to change to CO I will have to pay $300 for my husband and myself. I might check into it if its worth it. I know opinions vary so I will take all of the advice in consideration and mull it over for a couple. thank everyone for there advice.
I do have one more silly question. On USAir website it said priority baggage handling for 1st class. What is this?
I do have one more silly question. On USAir website it said priority baggage handling for 1st class. What is this?
#19
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: SPG Plat, Emerald Exec., PC Plat, AA, CO, DL, UBS Charter Card, Palladium Card, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,694
For me to change to CO I will have to pay $300 for my husband and myself. I might check into it if its worth it. I know opinions vary so I will take all of the advice in consideration and mull it over for a couple. thank everyone for there advice.
I do have one more silly question. On USAir website it said priority baggage handling for 1st class. What is this?
I do have one more silly question. On USAir website it said priority baggage handling for 1st class. What is this?
#20
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
If the connection is via Los Angeles, which uses regular, domestic aircraft, it is not worth the $300.
To decide for yourself, you can check out Continental's typical Hawaii menus here:
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...nuMonth=201101
You can check out Continental's BusinessFirst product here:
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...first/767.aspx
#21
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,304
I'll add that I've also taken UA from LAX in a 752. Yes the aircraft is unquestionably a bit more refreshed than US's 752s, but in my view it's not worth paying extra. The food and IFE were no better than on US. The seat pitch is seemed as tight or tighter than on US, but I think this was a function of more generous recline. The width of the seats seemed more narrow, and the padding was too firm.
#22
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: RIC
Programs: US CP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat, *wood Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,600
#24
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 98
It's amazing to me that US has a First Class. I swore I would never fly it again when on the last flight, someone in first class asked for a coke before takeoff. The flight attendant refused to give him anything, because "you will never finish it before takeoff." People were still boarding the plane. And who made a rule that you have to drink the whole thing before you hand it over?
I felt embarrassed for the airline.
I felt embarrassed for the airline.
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 889
It's amazing to me that US has a First Class. I swore I would never fly it again when on the last flight, someone in first class asked for a coke before takeoff. The flight attendant refused to give him anything, because "you will never finish it before takeoff." People were still boarding the plane. And who made a rule that you have to drink the whole thing before you hand it over?
I felt embarrassed for the airline.
I felt embarrassed for the airline.
#26
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
• Beverage service - All beverages are complimentary in First Class (FC).
— Predeparture beverage service is offered on every flight where permitted.
— Alcohol may not be served for departures from Florida, New Mexico and some International flights.
• In countries where carts containing liquor are required to remain sealed until after take-off, the soft drink drawer in the equipment cart is used for pre-departure beverages. This drawer remains in the equipment cart and is restocked prior to landing in any country other than the U.S.
• Alcohol is not permitted at any time on flights to and from New Mexico.
GalleyWench has given some common sense examples of situations where the FA may not offer PDB's, but there's no policy that says that.
Jim
#27
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Somewhere between Singapore and the US
Programs: Qantas Platinum, SQ Krisflyer PPS, UA 1p, Marriot Lifetime Platinum, American EXP
Posts: 988
I would say keep what you have
My wife and I have flown US in 1st to OGG and on UA. And their is no comparison between the AC one is a as someone stated "A Long in the tooth" 757 and in our case on UA a rather new 777 (note out of SFO not PHX).
And while I will always prefer wide bodied AC for long flights it was not the AC type that made the difference to us. The US AC we were on the interior was just worn out and need to be replaced, in my opinion it actually needed to have been replaced years before we were on it. Now I am not referencing things like IFE at each seat, but just a working IFE system for the 1st class cabin. I am not referring to seats that have so many buttons that I can amuse myself for hours figuring out what they do. I am referring to seats that are comfortable and with a reasonable amount of recline.
I hope they have refurbished the AC they use on this route making all of the things I was referring to inaccurate.
Now for the good news on our flight the crew knew what they had to work with and tried extra hard to overcome the obstacles the AC was putting in their way. I would say (as I have said many times before) the cabin crews were outstanding. It is just to bad that the people making the decisions on when AC interiors need to be refurbished do not have work that flight.
So why did I state stay with what you have. Because it still will be better than coach, and you do not have to try to get the flights on another carrier and pay the re-deposit fee. Going to Hawaii is all about the time on the islands not the getting to and from Maui. Enjoy your trip and stop worrying about your flight choice, next time you know there are options.
And while I will always prefer wide bodied AC for long flights it was not the AC type that made the difference to us. The US AC we were on the interior was just worn out and need to be replaced, in my opinion it actually needed to have been replaced years before we were on it. Now I am not referencing things like IFE at each seat, but just a working IFE system for the 1st class cabin. I am not referring to seats that have so many buttons that I can amuse myself for hours figuring out what they do. I am referring to seats that are comfortable and with a reasonable amount of recline.
I hope they have refurbished the AC they use on this route making all of the things I was referring to inaccurate.
Now for the good news on our flight the crew knew what they had to work with and tried extra hard to overcome the obstacles the AC was putting in their way. I would say (as I have said many times before) the cabin crews were outstanding. It is just to bad that the people making the decisions on when AC interiors need to be refurbished do not have work that flight.
So why did I state stay with what you have. Because it still will be better than coach, and you do not have to try to get the flights on another carrier and pay the re-deposit fee. Going to Hawaii is all about the time on the islands not the getting to and from Maui. Enjoy your trip and stop worrying about your flight choice, next time you know there are options.
#28
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
Only if the check in agent remember to put the orange tag on. Baggage handlers tend to ignore the "Priority" printed on the baggage tag.
As far as switching to different airline, at this stage, I think save the $300 and use it for something else, be it on room upgrade or nice dinner. UA isn't that much better on domestic 777/767.
If OP needs to fly inter-island between HNL - OGG, it will most likely on HA. Even on the same PNR, they will likely charge you check bag fee at least on the return leg.
As far as switching to different airline, at this stage, I think save the $300 and use it for something else, be it on room upgrade or nice dinner. UA isn't that much better on domestic 777/767.
If OP needs to fly inter-island between HNL - OGG, it will most likely on HA. Even on the same PNR, they will likely charge you check bag fee at least on the return leg.
Last edited by mobilebucky; Jan 20, 2011 at 7:26 am
#29
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Somewhere between Singapore and the US
Programs: Qantas Platinum, SQ Krisflyer PPS, UA 1p, Marriot Lifetime Platinum, American EXP
Posts: 988
Priority tags memories
I used to fly US PHL to FRA and MUC quite often. I always asked the agents in Germany not to put the tags on my bags. It seemed to me that the very efficient Germans would load those bags first. And they must have loaded them in such a way as they always came off last.
#30
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: BOS, PIT
Programs: US Chairman, Delta Silver, UA Premier, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 719
Or, if staying in West Maui, (Kaanapali, Kapalua, Napili, etc.) Island Air flies directly into Kapalua West Maui Airport. The flights are on Dash aircraft, but the flight is 18 minutes, and no long drive from Kahului. When we flew US from PIT-CLT-HNL last year, we were able to check our bags all the way through to Kapalua. It was great.