- Beaches and Mountains: Introduction
- Beaches and Mountains: Tampa to Charlotte to New York in US Airways First Class, US Airways Club Charlotte
- Beaches and Mountains: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York, Swiss Business Lounge New York
- Beaches and Mountains: Singapore Airlines First Class New York to Frankfurt
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Frankfurt, Hotel Kempinski Gravenbruch
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Frankfurt to Bangkok
- Beaches and Mountains: Le Meridien Bangkok
- Beaches and Mountains: Thai Airways Business Class Lounge Bangkok, Thai Airways Business Class Bangkok to Phuket
- Beaches and Mountains: Westin Siray Bay Phuket
- Beaches and Mountains: Le Meridien Khao Lak
- Beaches and Mountains: Thai Airways Business Class Lounge Phuket, Thai Airways Business Class Phuket to Bangkok
- Beaches and Mountains: Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok, Thai Airways First Class Bangkok to Paris
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Paris, Star Alliance Lounge Paris, Lufthansa Business Class Paris to Munich
- Beaches and Mountains: InterContinental Berchtesgaden
- Beaches and Mountains: Exploring Berchtesgaden and surroundings
- Beaches and Mountains: Schloss Fuschl Hotel Salzburg
- Beaches and Mountains: Sheraton Arabellapark Munich
- Beaches and Mountains: Exploring Munich
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich, Lufthansa Business Class Munich to Frankfurt
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt, Lufthansa First Class Frankfurt to Chicago
- Beaches and Mountains: Conclusion
My dad dropped me off at Tampa Airport 60 minutes before departure, which is earlier than I’d usually arrive, but I had decided to check a bag for this trip. I proceeded to US Airways check-in where I got in the first class check-in line. Instead of helping me, the agent directed me to one of the kiosks (which I really wasn’t interested in using given how complicated my itinerary was and that I was checking a bag).
US Airways check-in
Sure enough the kiosk only wanted to check my bag as far as Frankfurt, when my real destination was Bangkok. I explained this to the agent, though instead of helping me he brought me to another kiosk and typed in the confirmation number. This is always so frustrating to me since they just end up doing exactly what you did and have the same issue.
In a way it’s funny to me, because it has been a general trend over the past couple of years that check-in agents always want to force you to use the kiosk. I can’t help but want to point out every time “you realize that machine is replacing the need for your job, right?” Of course instead I just stand there and smile. And they wonder why a third of the jobs in the US airline industry have been cut over the past decade…
After taking me to the check-in desk and looking at my itinerary (“Wow, you’re flying Singapore Airlines first class, I hear that’s real nice”) I experienced a first – the agent pulled out a blank baggage tag. He literally wrote all of my segments on there without any of it being printed as it usually is, because he said the computer wasn’t wanting to check my bag all the way through. At that point I said to myself “that’s the last time I’ll ever see of that bag,” though I hoped for the best since there wasn’t much of an alternative.
I went up the escalator to the main terminal where I took the train to the F concourse. Security lines there were short and I managed to avoid the full body scanner, so I was through in no time and headed to the US Airways Club with time to spare.
There I was checked in by a friendly agent named Charlotte. What a fitting name for a US Airways agent, eh? I don’t remember the last time I had a United agent named Chicago or Delta agent named Detroit, though I guess she was born to work for US Airways.
I’ve been to the US Airways Club a million times before and it had the usual “spread” (or lack thereof), including muffins, danishes, yogurt, oatmeal, etc. After surfing the web for a few minutes it was time to head to my gate for boarding.
US Airways Club
Breakfast spread
Breakfast spread
Snacks
Within a few minutes of getting there first class boarding was announced.
Plane
US Airways 1822
Tampa (TPA) – Charlotte (CLT)
Tuesday, July 26
Depart: 8:30AM
Arrive: 10:11AM
Duration: 1hr41min
Aircraft: Airbus 321
Seat: 2C (First Class)
Once onboard I settled into my seat in row two. It has been a while since I’ve flown US Airways, and the first class legroom was a lot tighter than I recalled. The pitch was almost uncomfortably tight.
First class seat
Waiting for me at my seat was a pillow and thin (basically see through) blanket.
Pillow and blanket
As boarding finished up pre-departure beverages were offered, and I went with water.
At this point I overheard an interesting conversation between the purser and captain. The purser had the snack basket that was supposed to be used for first class in her hand (the actual basket was in a trash bag, so the contents weren’t visible) as she spoke with the captain. All I overheard was the captain saying “just take it, I’ll take the blame for it, don’t worry about it.”
I immediately thought “really, they’ll go that low? They’re really stealing snacks from the plane?” I didn’t realize the times in the airline industry were that tough. 😉
Once we leveled off I found out the real story, though I spent the first 30 minutes shaking my head at the crew.
As we pushed back the captain announced our flight time of 1hr30min, anticipating an on-time arrival.
We taxied to the south end of the airport where we were quickly airborne.
Since this flight was operated by an Airbus 321 it featured Wi-Fi, which I gladly purchased for $4.95.
When I took the tray table out to start working on my laptop I noticed US Airways has tray table ads. I knew they had them in coach, but even in first class? Wow…
Classy tray table
Once we leveled off the flight attendant passed through the cabin with a beverage service, and I went with a glass (or in the case of US Airways, cup) of water.
Then I found out the real story behind the snack basket. As it turns out catering forgot to load the snacks for the first class snack basket, so the flight attendant filled the basket with the buy on board snacks from coach.
I couldn’t help but laugh after previously thinking the crew was stealing snacks. I was actually impressed by their creativity when they could have just as easily said “sorry, they forgot to cater the snacks.”
I went with some pretzel M&Ms. I was saving my hunger for the Singapore flight later in the day so didn’t actually eat them, though instead stashed them in my bag. I knew I’d get to them eventually while jetlagged in a hotel room somewhere.
Water and M&Ms
30 minutes before arrival we began our descent and the seatbelt sign was turned on. Despite a quick descent and otherwise early arrival, we had to wait for our gate to be ready. I don’t think the captain could have communicated the slight delay any less eloquently – “um, we’re waiting for our gate, or the alley way, or whatever you want to call it, to free up.”
Upon landing I headed to the US Airways Club, where I presented my Singapore Airlines boarding pass and ID, and was promptly admitted.
The club itself was surprisingly nice, with plenty of seating and one of the better snack selections I’ve seen for a US airline. And by “better” I really mean a snack selection that’s easy to swipe.
US Airways Club Charlotte
They had baked chips with salsa, cookies, and snack mix. It always cracks me up how many people in airline lounges put snacks in their bags to take with them. There was a lady standing there who was almost constantly having to replace the packaged snacks. I told her “looks like they’re keeping you busy,” to which she responded “yeah, I love it, it keeps me employed – take all the snacks you want!”
Snacks
Snacks
Cookies
Snacks
After spending a couple of hours in the lounge I headed to my departure gate for my fight to JFK. Boarding started a few minutes late.
Charlotte Airport
US Airways 374
Charlotte (CLT) – New York (JFK)
Tuesday, July 26
Depart: 1:05PM
Arrive: 3:02PM
Duration: 1hr57min
Aircraft: Airbus 320
Seat: 3C (First Class)
Once onboard I was welcomed by two blonde, big-haired Southern ladies that couldn’t have been friendlier.
Legroom
As boarding finished up pre-departure beverages were offered. I once again went with water. Blog readers often remind me they know what water looks like, so I’ll refrain from posting a picture. 😉
We started our push back right on-time though there was a bit of a queue for takeoff.
Service began about 30 minutes after we were airborne, starting with drinks. This time around I went with a Diet Coke with lime and a few items from the snack basket.
Diet Coke with lime and snacks
Seated in front of me was a 14-year-old boy that was headed to Finland. As we approached New York he asked the flight attendant “excuse me, do you know how I can get my boarding pass for my connecting flight on Air Finland?” She looked at him and said “aren’t you too young to be going to Finland alone?” He explained he was visiting a friend for a few weeks, and she said “wow, I wish I had rich parents like that.”
The rest of the flight was uneventful and we landed in New York right on time.
Ultimately US Airways is fine up and down the East Coast, though I don’t really have any desire to fly with them on longer flights. That being said, all the employees I interacted with were incredibly friendly, my flights were on-time, and the aircraft were all fairly clean.
Now it’s time for the real fun!
This was a fun read.
On the one hand, I'd say "Lucky, don't be so quick to judge FAs"...on the other hand, given your recent post about the AA FAs and the soup, I wouldn't blame you if you had...
i flew first direct from las vegas to boston, ma last nov. aside from the seats being wider it was the same as economy. the seats reclined the same, and all we received was coffee and juice. granted it was a red eye flight but still, first class and all they gave us was the same thing they gave in economy. it was a five hour flight.
Useless air stinks, no ife of Antoine n dom flights and as I recall no meals even in F. Staff are generally friendly, but the F product needs improvement. I flw paid F SFO-CLT-MCO rt, and no meal, never again.
@Fernando:
No meal on a 1000+ mile international flight? Wow does US Airways suck.
Thorough descriptions and nice pictures. An agent named Charlotte? Yes, that is classic.
I flew on US Air last summer (2010) from IND-CLT-MBJ, all in first class. I was highly disappointed that the CLT-MBJ had no meal service in first for it being about a 3 1/2-4 hour flight. =/
As a young frequent flyer I really dislike the "your father must be rich" comments I get when flying international first class that I paid for myself with miles or upgrade instruments or my wages. I have thought there must be a culture difference when CX flight attendant have made similar comments to me in the past. Perhaps it's a compliment about my family rather than a suggestion that I'm some spoiled rich kid?
A small typo unless you took a very circuitous route.
Depart: 8:30AM
Arrive: 10:11PM
Welcome to my world of flying US Airways. The first class is even worse on those jets they fly on routes such as PHX-IAH (can't remember the plane, 737-300?).
The snack basket last year was really good on the flight. It was passed around and you could usually take several items. Now it mostly doesn't exist and you get...
A small typo unless you took a very circuitous route.
Depart: 8:30AM
Arrive: 10:11PM
Welcome to my world of flying US Airways. The first class is even worse on those jets they fly on routes such as PHX-IAH (can't remember the plane, 737-300?).
The snack basket last year was really good on the flight. It was passed around and you could usually take several items. Now it mostly doesn't exist and you get one bag of a savory snack mix.
The meals themselves have improved significantly. The beverage service prior to take off is hit or miss, depending on the flight crew.
Flights out of Charlotte have been troublesome for a period of time due to the pilot slowdown, mainly done by the east pilots. I'm in AZ so I haven't noticed any big issues. If I get a free upgrade, as a CP I almost always do, I'm satisfied.
I am an elite on US by virtue of living in Charlotte, and I agree with your assessment. The seat pitch in F could be improved, the tray table ads are tacky, and the lack of IFE isn't always great, but in terms of the big picture, I find the employees to be friendly, the airplanes to be clean, and the operations to run smoothly. In the past 1.5 years since I've become a US...
I am an elite on US by virtue of living in Charlotte, and I agree with your assessment. The seat pitch in F could be improved, the tray table ads are tacky, and the lack of IFE isn't always great, but in terms of the big picture, I find the employees to be friendly, the airplanes to be clean, and the operations to run smoothly. In the past 1.5 years since I've become a US elite, I've flown about 140 flights with them and have yet to have a single missed connection because of a late flight, or a single flight canceled because of mechanical issues, or any problem with luggage. At the end of the day, that's more important to me than having a real glass for a 1 hour flight instead of plastic (although a combo of glassware plus smooth operations would be ideal).
Bottom line, US wouldn't be my first choice if I lived anywhere, but they work perfectly fine for me and my travel needs.
As a side note, it's very hit or miss in terms of headrests...I'd say about 40% of the fleet has them, while the rest don't.
@ Heels05 -- I found the legroom to be restrictive and seats didn't have headrests, so can't imagine those seats would be especially comfortable for a transcon.
What aspects of US make you not want to do any longer flights across country?
I'm almost as excited as if I were there myself -- and I've flown international first plenty (including SQ)! I think that's a testament to your style -- congrats! And enjoy your trip.
I am ready! Thanks Ben.