US Airways: anyone flown with them?!

Arequipa

Hi!

I am planning a trip to Central America for the summer: will involve 2/3 stops each way!
US Airways seem to be quite competitive in price.
I have heard mixed reviews about them.

Have any of you flown with them?
How would they compare to Continental, Delta or American?

Thanks for reading!

Arequipa.

BuffyBot

Out of all, they're probably the most "low-rent" of the US carriers. Normally competitive on price if you can live without seat back entertainment, pretty basic food etc.

Davidth88

Yes , flew to/from the west coast with them.

My abiding memory , boarding the 767 in Dublin , paint peeling off the outside , stains all over the inside , broken seats , very very tatty aircraft.

The A321 from Phil to SF ..... very cramped , but a brand new aircraft.


Very ordinary service TBH


Typical American Airline in my opinion .

Arequipa

Would their International flights be any better?!

They sound super crap!

Davidth88

No they are not crap , just ordinary.

The 767 flight was Dublin - Phil rtn , that's international in my book

Brianderunner

Marginally better than ryanair imo, about the same legroom as aer lingus's UK to Ireland flights, and that's for transatlantic flights. Delta is only slightly better.

amdublin

Ive flown with them loads. Absolutely grand.

bkehoe

Davidth88 wrote: »

Yes , flew to/from the west coast with them.

My abiding memory , boarding the 767 in Dublin , paint peeling off the outside , stains all over the inside , broken seats , very very tatty aircraft.

The A321 from Phil to SF ..... very cramped , but a brand new aircraft.


Very ordinary service TBH


Typical American Airline in my opinion .

You're lucky you were boarding the 767. Try the miserable 757 to Philly which they used a few years ago.

bladeruner

Avoid Avoid Avoid

Cattle class might be fine for a quick flip to London or Paris but for long haul you will suffer- pay the extra and forget about US airways

Nissan doctor

It depends on your view.

The are cheap with basic in flight entertainment A lot of the international flights use older aircraft that could use a lick of paint and a clean but I never had a problem with them.

Continental have better in flight entertainment and marginally better food but you generally pay more for the flight so its swings and roundabouts.

Jocry

We are in Florida at the moment, flew a 767 from Dub -> Phil and from Phil -> Orlando in a 321 two weeks ago, we're making the same trip home next week.

I agree with all others, we booked because they were cheap! Having flown all the airlines from Ireland to the USA in the last couple of years, Aer Lingus is by far the best you can go with (seating, cleanliness, staff, etc). However for us this time, we chose US because of cost, it was working approximately 400euro cheaper to go with US than any other airline for two adults and a child. In my experience Delta, US, Continental fit into the same bracket with Aer Lingus in its own league!

If you're not too tall, have a couple good books, hand-held device with a few movies on it and bring a couple of cheese and ham sandwiches with you then you'll be grand

Preset No.3

Shared IFE on the TA flights. So no choice there. NO IFE on the internal flights. IF you can get past that, there is the lack of legroom. 31" seat pitch. IF you can get past all that, then by all means book them. Go to airlinequality to have a look at the reviews, you will be hard pressed to find a good one!

adlima

Ya certainly not one of the better flights i've been on. Flew with them to PHL about two years ago. I wasn't too worried about the lack of IFE, but the legroom killed me. Could never do it again. I'm too tall to be flying with US Airways.

galwayjohn89

There cheap that's where the positives end! They lost 6 out of 8 bags last time we flew with them but they all showed up within 2 days so wasn't too bad + the compensation definitely made it worth while! I'd use them again just don't expect much.

Continental would be the best, EI have improved a lot in recent years.

Arequipa

Thank u for the replies: appreciate it!

Think in summary, they are no frills & so probably wont book them:
Out of the rest would they rank :

1)Continental
2) Delta
3) American Airlines.

Flew Continental & they seemed quite good!


One more question; i have to get to Cancun; would u consider avoiding US & US Airlines & fly with BA, Air France or KLM?

US Customs, is a pain!

Thank u!

galwayjohn89

I've never had any issues with American immigration and at least in Dublin you do it before the flight.

Leejo

Arequipa wrote: »

US Customs, is a pain!

Not if you do it in Dublin it's not

A320

I did SNN- PHL- Orlando with them a few years back,no problems whatsoever with the service,it was cheap,we were fed twice but i didnt care really as im not going to get too hungry in 7 hours,flights home a bit more cramped but its throught the night so i was asleep.
aircraft wise(B757) was a bit ****e but again I'm always nitpicking because its what I do at work on a daily basis so to an untrained eye it probably looked fine,i got what i paid for,got there safely,generous with the luggage,not sure what at this US customs is about as we only waited about 5mins,quick look at the passport and gone,so If you want them on the cheap go for it

Lustrum

Arequipa wrote: »

Thank u for the replies: appreciate it!

Think in summary, they are no frills & so probably wont book them:
Out of the rest would they rank :

1)Continental
2) Delta
3) American Airlines.

Flew Continental & they seemed quite good!


One more question; i have to get to Cancun; would u consider avoiding US & US Airlines & fly with BA, Air France or KLM?

US Customs, is a pain!

Thank u!

I've only taken a few flight with US airlines, but have had a good few long haul with BA, Air France and KLM, and for me KLM wins every time - I couldn't ever say a bad word about the quality of service from dutch hostesses, and their friendliness is top notch. BA I've found is average, and personally I'm just not a huge fan of the french

Arequipa

Thank u!
Last summer I flew Dublin -Newark
Newark-Houston:was delayed in air for 40 mins & missed connection flight.
Continental booked me on a flight the next day & gave a 10% voucher off a hotel.
Earlier that day I forgot to get an (woops!)ESTA visa: rushed thru in iphone... Then security... Then customs clearance... Then more security...
At times was a laugh, but by the time I got to Guatemala city I was very tired!
I understand US need string security, but just seems a bit OTT: on way back I collected bags in Newark( guy with guns standing looking @ every1 quite menacingly) recheck bag in for Dublin flight....

Just think would be easier to avoid US & maybe fly via Mexico/ Canada!!

Maybe KLM is the answer!!

Arequipa

Thank u!
Last summer I flew Dublin -Newark
Newark-Houston:was delayed in air for 40 mins & missed connection flight.
Continental booked me on a flight the next day & gave a 10% voucher off a hotel.
Earlier that day I forgot to get an (woops!)ESTA visa: rushed thru in iphone... Then security... Then customs clearance... Then more security...
At times was a laugh, but by the time I got to Guatemala city I was very tired!
I understand US need string security, but just seems a bit OTT: on way back I collected bags in Newark( guy with guns standing looking @ every1 quite menacingly) recheck bag in for Dublin flight....

Just think would be easier to avoid US & maybe fly via Mexico/ Canada!!

Maybe KLM is the answer!!

cson

I flew ORD-LAS and ORD-PHL with them and found them fine.

Two A320s, pick your own seats which I liked though most airlines do this.

Great prices too - we're blessed with Ryanair when look at the prices of internal flights in the States. Even Southwest are expensive. There are no €30 return flights in that country!

AA are by a street the worst airline I have flown with.

Arequipa

Yea flew AA from La Paz Bolivia to Miami: the cabin crew were quite ignorant really: they all clearly didnt want to be there: was the worst service I have ever got on a flight!
thankfully my next flight from Miami to Madrid was much better: excellent, professional service from a motivated and warm cabin crew!

maggy_thatcher

My biggest issue with US Airways was the overt Republican propaganda that was forced down us on approach into PHL. They turned the IFE onto this propaganda channel, turned the speakers on so you couldn't avoid it, and just bleated on for 10 minutes about how bad the Democratic party was and how great George W Bush was. This was a good few years ago, so I don't know if they still do it, but I found it crazy that such politicizing would be allowed.

KCAccidental

maggy_thatcher wrote: »

My biggest issue with US Airways was the overt Republican propaganda that was forced down us on approach into PHL. They turned the IFE onto this propaganda channel, turned the speakers on so you couldn't avoid it, and just bleated on for 10 minutes about how bad the Democratic party was and how great George W Bush was. This was a good few years ago, so I don't know if they still do it, but I found it crazy that such politicizing would be allowed.

I thought you would have loved that Maggy

Stinicker

Aer Lingus offer the best service on transatlantic with their twin aisle A330's flying on those cramped 757's single aisle aircraft that Delta and Continental send over is pretty horrid and I have flown with both before but would prefer Aer Lingus.

Transatlantic flight prices are gone insane recently, I priced Shannon and Dublin to New York recently and am seeing very little flights for under €600, I can fly to South East Asia for around the same money which is twice as far away. US Airliners offer low standards and maybe the op should consider Air Canada which would save the entire pain of dealing with the US immigration and customs, or else go direct from Europe direct.

galwayjohn89

Stinicker wrote: »

Aer Lingus offer the best service on transatlantic with their twin aisle A330's flying on those cramped 757's single aisle aircraft that Delta and Continental send over is pretty horrid.

Delta use a 767 at the moment and a A330 in the summer for their ATL route and a 767 afair on the JFK route in the summer. The current JFK is a 757 though. However, I really don't see what the big deal is. Granted it bigger overall, but the seats are actually wider on a Delta and Continental 757 then EI A330.

Flights to the East coast really aren't that long at all a 757 is grand for the job.

Arequipa

I personally think 7 odd hours on a 757 is not pleasant: last year i took a walk down the aisle on a Continental 757 & couldnt stand anywhere without bumping into air hostessess or trolleys: is very small:basically have to stay in your seat for the entire time..not comfortable or healthy!
I will be sPending another 8 hours approx in flights to Cancun, so the bigger the jet= the more comfortable: flew an Emirates 777 to South Africa over Christmas & really appreciated the room on board!

Am very close to booking with KLM; involves:
Air France to Paris & Mexico City.
AeroMexico to Cancun
KLM & Aer Lingus on route home: also no delays, hassle, customs in US!

Arequipa.

galwayjohn89

If I were you I'd go DUB - LGW - CUN with EI and Virgin. You'll be on a 747 so should be big enough!

Arequipa

Good idea.... But Turns out Virgin dont fly on the dates i need to travel... Think they use 747s & A340's.....

Thanks!

galwayjohn89

What dates you flying if you don't mind me asking. Im bored so Ill go flight hunting!

Arequipa

Okay: if u wanna help!

Dublin-Cancun on 6/7/12 ...would like to depart about 9-11am & arrive in Cancun that evening.
Cancun-Dublin on 29/7/12...would like to depart about 3-6pm & arrive in Dublin the next morning!

Looking for:
-good airline.
-max 2 stops with no more than 2/3 hours between sectors!
-possibly avoiding 🇺🇸🇺🇸to avoid customs, security , delaysetc!

Good luck!

galwayjohn89

If it was me I'd go either EI/BA. Had a quick look there and these were the ones Id go for.


Dublin 10.45
Toronto 13.05

<2hours 50 mins connection>

Toronto 15.55
Cancun 18.50

Then returning

Cancun 12.00
Toronto 16.50

< 4hour 55mins connection>

Toronto 21.45
Dublin 09.15

Total £890 / €1065

---

British Airways & Aer Lingus

---

Dublin 06.40
Gatwick 8.10

<2 hour 35 mins connection>

Gatwick 10.45
Cancun 15.05

Then returning

Cancun 15.35
Gatwick 06.50

<1 hour 55 mins connection>

Gatwick 08.45
Dublin 10.05

Total €956

Arequipa

Excellent work: thank u!

Found one with Air France:

Dublin- Paris
Paris-Mexico City
Mexico City-Cancun

Return:
Cancun-Mexico City
Mexico city-Paris
Paris-Dublin!!
Total of €1076...

U should work in Reservations!

Jocry

Just to follow on with my previous comments, came back yesterday from MCO through PHL on a 321 and onward to DUB on the 767 and as regards leg room on the four flights I took I had absolutely no problems (I'm 5'11), definitely more leg room than the AA flight I took to DTW in July last year.
The food was as expected from most airlines, well breakfast was sh!te compared to other airlines (a dodgy cheese pastry). However the flight was only 5.5hrs long so Im not going to overly worry too much.
The only issue I had with the return flight to DUB for someone that likes to take a nap was that the headrests did not have the adjustable siding on them.

Would I use them again for value for money, Yes!
Would I choose them over AA and Continental matching price, Yes!
Favoured airline and who I will probably choose next time, Aer Lingus!

Hope this helps!

Arequipa

Hey! Thanks for reply!
It seems US Airways are cheap & cheerful... A long haul Ryanair...
For a short flight i am sure they're fine but anything over 7/8 hours, I'd probably be happy to pay another €100!

I have currently put a reserve/hold on Air France flights to Cancun.. Worked out cheaper than US Scareways!

bridestream

Have flown US Air DUB to MCO via PHL a number of times and found them ok.

However the extra few Euro for flying direct with EI, DUB to MCO is for me worth it.

Fares have gone up all over thanks to the price of oil shooting up and up.

Jocry

No worries Arequipa, glad you got decent flights with Air France, flew them to Cuba before and their long haul is great.

bridestream, I agree, we booked around the second week of January and managed €1100 for 2 adults and a child which at the time was the best as everything had gone up. Id say it was just luck that we got that price in the end to be honest.

ohigg84

They operate a 'mixed bag' of 767-200s, mostly their own -2B7's, but also some were inherited from Piedmont, -201s.