Beaches and Mountains: Tampa to Charlotte to New York in US Airways First Class, US Airways Club Charlotte

I am ready! Thanks Ben.

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.

What aspects of US make you not want to do any longer flights across country?

@ 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.

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.

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.

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?

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. =/

Thorough descriptions and nice pictures. An agent named Charlotte? Yes, that is classic.

@Fernando:

No meal on a 1000+ mile international flight? Wow does US Airways suck.

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.

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.

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...

This was a fun read.