US Scareways
I really should just stop beating up on this airline. BUT I CAN’T! I should’ve been toes in sand 24 hours ago, but as you read this we are either a) airborne, b) there or c) “there…” by now. But we ended up spending an extra day stuck in DC because US Airways is, well no better than any of the others. (There. That’s as politely as I can assess the current state of air travel.)
Here’s the ONLY thing I want any Mid-Atlantic travelers to glean from this. If you choose Reagan National, DO NOT choose going through Philly to St. Thomas. These flights are plagued. DC is a 20 minute flight from Philadelphia. This particular flight (4086 if you’ve got your play book in front of you) is consistently late, oversold, mechanically delayed or just a downright no show. Long short? Missed connection.
Also, one more tip. See this picture? You will get farther, faster just getting in line and making nice with a counter worker WHILE YOU CALL THE AIRLINE on your phone.
Have you ever noticed ticket counter people will type things into their keyboard forever without saying a word? Peck, peck, peck. Sigh. Tilt head. Peck on the keyboard again for what seems like forever. Stare at the screen. Sigh, Peck, peck. Sigh. 20 minutes can pass with absolutely no words spoken! I think they’re playing Scrabble, not looking for flights.
People in this picture? Screwed. Us? Screwed, but accommodated. (The Willard is a NICE hotel! Insist! Rule 240!) Program the airline’s number into your phone. And say “Hi I’m at the airport and…”
March 1st, 2008 08:04
Having been in the aviation field most of my life, I can tell you that you are seeing only the tip of the iceberg. Couple all the things you said with employees who a few years ago would not have made the cut, pilots who are under trained and have maybe 5 hours of sleep a night (has your pilot fallen asleep in flight? you probably don”t know… or want…the answer to that question!)and the list goes on.
March 1st, 2008 09:10
The times we’ve had to fly US Airways to various destinations (our only option on those trips) Philly has ALWAYS been the weak link… You’re so right… We’ve found that Philly survival depends on: The airlines # in our cell phone, knowing the shortest and fastest route to the customer service counter, and the good fortune to find a customer service rep who responds best to kindness, patience and humor rather than demands .
March 1st, 2008 10:22
You should know better than to EVER go to PHL unless it is utterly necessary.
Off I go to Boston todat for a few fun-filed days. Hopefully my luck will be better than yours.
I made it from NC to NJ to FLA to NJ in one piece this past week.
And…always call the airline even if you’re on line at the airport. I once got a new flight booked in the time the counter goons failed to help one person.
March 1st, 2008 11:03
Hope you get “there …” soon! Lucky dogs~
March 1st, 2008 12:45
won’t bore you with the details of our return flight last November. suffice to say we upgraded to first class but when we checked in that all changed. it took until about 2 weeks ago to get my miles and my money back! sheesh!
March 1st, 2008 12:47
Wow, no truer words spoken. Your description of the ticket counter people pecking away for 20 minutes +. We just encountered that exact experience on our way to Grand Cayman a few weeks ago in Atlanta. It wasn’t US Airways, but the experience was the same … original flight cancelled…2nd flight delayed…missed connection…no other available flights(or so the ticket counter lady said)…spent the first night of our vacation in an airport hotel in Atlanta, paying for it, plus our $600./night condo in the Caymans ourselves. Ugh!
March 1st, 2008 13:13
I thought ya had underwater cameras and snorkeled to STJ with water proof scrabble games. This might be the reason I havent left St John for so many years lol. The ferry ride to St Thomas is bad enough, what are lines in airports, hope you can drink beer while waiting. At least the weather is nice here, if not a bit cold. BTW, I left two drunk Iguanas at your pool, they would not put on the dresses I made for them from beer cartons, and after ten minutes of forked tounge abuse I stunbled away. And ya whine about flying down here, jeez.
March 1st, 2008 16:13
hummmm…. sounds like a opportunity for an Amphibious Unimog !!!
depart DC … down the Delmarva peninsula.. whomp, into the Atlantic … bee-bop up over the Bahamas … whoosh, back down into the Carib … voila, arrive St. John with no delays and a helluva story to tell at the Beach Bar !
so, how did you arrive here .. well, let me just tell ya …
March 1st, 2008 17:36
I found an old article (dated 8/27/67) tucked in my “Isles of the Caribbees”…the article reports that Pan Am had just begun non-stop jet service from Miami to the Virgin Islands (the service began on 8/7/67)…Pan Am will provide 4 flights a week: Sun, Mon, Wed, & Fri. Leaving Miami at 8:45 am-arriving St. Croix at 11:20, then St. Thomas at 12:15 p.m. By the end of the year daily nonstop service should be available….
The end of the article it reads:
“Pan Am also operates nonstop service between New York and the Virgin Islands which has been praised as “excellent” by the Virgin Islands government. The same government strongly supported Pan Am’s bid fro the new Miami-Virgin Islands service.
The 16-day economy roundtrip excursion fare over the new route will be $115.”
Wonder what the VI government would say about air travel now????
March 1st, 2008 20:52
If that is Russ leaning on the counter, tell him to can the RCA sweater and get a haircut!
March 1st, 2008 22:39
I just want to stand up for PHL. We have been traveling for the past 21 years out of Philadelphia - and we have had NO problems at all. We also travel with our two children - and you know how children are when they are bored and just want to get where they are going like yesterday. Well, I hope you don’t keep the sour taste in your mouth for PHL. I have had the worst time in STT coming back to PHL - the worst was last year, we had a 6 hour delay in STT. Well, we are on our way to st. john in july for the 22nd time. give PHL another chance.
March 2nd, 2008 00:22
i’ve been through philly several times w/o a hitch- thanks 4 the heads up though…i’ll stick to charlootte.
March 2nd, 2008 08:14
I feel yor pain some one in Philly still has my luggage from our trip down Last Jan. I always stay clear if I can. used to fly there for work with no problems but it is just the connecting thing there dosen’t work.
March 2nd, 2008 08:18
Regarding Debbie’s post…I don’t know you at all and odds are we’ll never meet.
But, if you’ve never had a problem at PHL, I feel compelled to ask the following?
How does it feel to have sold your soul to Satan? I’ve considered it as a remedy to my myriad airport delays. One, I recall fondly, was being #67 to take off from PHL…in the summer…it was hot. Hell can’t be any worse.
March 2nd, 2008 21:59
This is a little note to respond to rob -
You must not have said your prayers before you went to bed the night before. I travel from PHL every July various dates and have never in 21 years had a problem - The angels must not have been with you.
March 3rd, 2008 12:39
Unfortunately (or fortunately, I suppose) I don’t get to fly very often. Coming back from STJ to Boston last week (with 6 people) our American Air flight from STT to San Juan got cancelled (mechanical). We were put on a later flight to San Juan, but missed connection to Boston. They put us up in a “decent” hotel for the night, and upgraded us to business class from San Juan to home. That said, I missed a full day of work (self-employed) so it was pretty “expensive.”
I am wondering what, if anything, the airlines typically do to make the customers “happy?” For example, any chance of getting a free tix out of this?
March 3rd, 2008 15:01
Out of Baltimore, the Spirit-Reagan thing is not too bad, but Philly…..the only way to deal with that is to drive to Philly the night before and stay at one of those park and ride hotels. at least then you don’t have to miss your connection and you have the priveledge of being “number 28 in line for take- off” - I’m shocked that Philly isn’t rated the worst airport- and they ask me why I drink!!!
March 3rd, 2008 19:04
Jeff,
We have given up flying. If we can’t get there by boat then we just don’t want to go
I am sure at some point we will have to fly home and make nice with the family but at this point I can’t imagine why? Hope you are here now and things are well.
jay
March 4th, 2008 09:09
I don’t think it’s just limited to Philly. Flying US Airways from STT two years ago, we got stuck overnight in Charlotte. The best part is our luggage arrived in Pittsburgh before we did. Last year we flew Continential from STT with no problems at all. Also flew from Oklahoma to Pittsburgh on Northwest last year with no problem. I flew US Airways from New York to Pittsburgh (short flight) at Christmas time and there were problems with not having enough space for everyone’s carry on.
I THINK IT’S A US AIRWAYS PROBLEM.