Yesterday I flew US Airways A330 business class from London to Charlotte. It was my backup option, after unsuccessfully trying to get onto a wide open American flight between London and New York.
Airshow between London and Charlotte
I was curious to try US Airways business class again, after my flight on them last October between Charlotte and Paris. As some of you may recall, Ms. Peggy was serving my aisle on that flight (and use of the word “serving” is very generous), and suffice to say she left a sour taste in my mouth about the experience.
So how did this flight stack up?
US Airways A330 Business Class Seat
As much as they’re typically not thought of as a premium airline, US Airways was actually the first to introduce reverse herringbone seats in business class. Not surprisingly, since they were the first to install the seats they’re no longer the best, as the subsequent airlines to install these seats tweaked them for the better.
US Airways A330 business class seat
US Airways A330 business class seat
That being said, the seats are super comfortable, and with just 20 seats in business class it’s actually a private experience (keep in mind American has 16 seats in first class on their 777-200s, so the cabins are almost the same size).
There are aspects of the seat I’d of course change. Probably my biggest complaint is that there’s not much privacy around the head. Both American and Cathay Pacific have “wedges” along the side of the seat for added privacy. With US Airways you look directly at the head of the person in front of you.
Still, this is a really solid hard product, especially for a transatlantic flight. The flight time was 8hr35min, and I slept for over five hours. That’s among the most I’ve slept on a transatlantic flight in a long time (then again, that might have more to do with my exhaustion than anything else).
US Airways Business Class Service
Service on this flight was really, really good. Without stereotyping too much, the service I received was kind of what I was expecting from a crew based in Charlotte. They were friendly and personable, and mostly seemed to reside somewhere in Georgia. I was being served by Mallorie, and she couldn’t have been nicer.
She was extremely efficient and attentive, and even proactive. For example, when she saw the ice in my Diet Coke was running low she proactively brought me another glass with ice. My request for a cappuccino wasn’t met with an eye roll, even though I asked for one just an hour before landing (that would be too much to ask of some crews).
So yeah, it was among the best service I’ve received on a US airline.
US Airways Business Class Food
The food was fine — nothing more, nothing less.
The meal service began with drinks and (not warm) nuts.
US Airways business class hot nuts and drinks to start
That was followed by the appetizer and salad — chicken with tzatziki sauce, arugula cream cheese, and cream cheese stuffed baby peppers, along with a salad with sundried tomatoes and pine nuts.
US Airways business class salad and appetizer
The main course was parmesan crusted roasted cod with mushroom risotto and grilled vegetables. Take note kids, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is… especially on a US airline. While the risotto and veggies were fine, the cod was chewier than Swedish Fish.
US Airways business class main course
For dessert was an ice cream sundae.
US Airways business class dessert
Then prior to arrival was a decent salad with a turkey and stuffed pepper skewer.
US Airways business class pre-arrival meal
US Airways Business Class Amenities
As part of the merger, US Airways has started offering Bose headphones in business class, which is awesome.
US Airways business class Bose headphones
Then they had the standard American amenity kit — meh, one of the few amenity kits I don’t take with me.
US Airways business class amenity kit
Then there was a pillow and blanket at my seat. The blanket is roughly 143x better than what they have domestically (which could easily be mistaken for a pantyhose) and the pillow is okay as well.
US Airways business class pillow and blanket
US Airways A330 Business Class Bottom Line
Transatlantic business class is all about the seat, and in that regard US Airways has a really solid product. They don’t offer the best reverse herringbone seat in the industry, though unlike a vast majority of airlines, at least they have a reverse herringbone seat.
The service on this sector was exceptional as well, while the food was mostly edible.
All things considered I think US Airways offers a solid business class experience for transatlantic flights on their A330s. I’d certainly take them over most airlines without reverse herringbone seats.
If you’ve flown US Airways transatlantic business class, what was your experience?
Parmesan crusted fish?!?!?! It's just wrong. Olive Garden standard :(
Congrats on sleeping on a daytime flight. Hard for me to do usually because of all the activity, commotion, and conversation. But then you were unusually tired it would seem!
Agree about the seating...not bad, esp compared with Virgin Atlantic where your feet are sticking out into the aisle.
Lucky, I would be fascinated to read of your attempt to get on the wide-open American flight. What happened?
@ Imperator -- See here:
https://onemileatatime.com/can-you-ask-american-to-open-award-space/
Lucky, did you fly on US731 departing LHR at 10:05 or US733 departing LHR at 14:25? I am pretty sure that you flew on US733, whihc is on the A330-200.
@ Lewis -- Correct, 733.
USAir should embrace their southern roots and serve Bojangles and sweet tea in Business Class.
As a United flyer I'm jealous that you got some whole cashews, unlike the cashew fragments they now serve at UA due to cost-cutting.
Ben,
What's the price breakdown of USAir vs BA or Virgin?
@ John -- Well there are no fuel surcharges for travel on US Airways when redeeming American miles, so I saved about $400 for the one-way.
Sliced deli cold cuts as an appetizer?
We flew business class on US Air from FCO to PHL last October. Service was excellent, food was quite good, wine and other alcohol selections were also good. I would not hesitate to make this choice again!
Lucky, you're possibly the most expert premium cabin reviewer in the world at this point and so I have to give you the benefit of the doubt, but that turkey thing sure looks like mystery meat on a stick to me.
They are still using the crappy US airways pillow and blanket. They merged the headphones and amenity kit but not the bedding yet.
Also food has nt been merged, this is still US catering. I find AA to bemuch better.
Food looks terrible. And they serve it on a tray with a paper liner. How tacky.
Just waiting for American to "align" the product and downgrade to this slop.
Thanks for the report, Lucky. This will be an excellent baseline for my forthcoming transatlantic flight in Delta's new-ish A330-300 biz cabin, which now also features RH seats. This will be my first time flying Delta's international premium product and I'm glad I held off until after they ditched the old Northwest interiors.
Hey Lucky, how would you weigh the contribution of 1) seat, 2) food, 3) other amenities, in terms of feeling healthy during several back to back long-haul flights?
@ Eduardo -- Ultimately the seat is the most important, especially when sleep deprived after a series of longhaul flights, in my opinion.
Wow - that food looks worse than what I get in domestic first class on some Airlines. I think United's new domestic first food options are more appetizing...
It looks like something that might result from a FoodTV challenge to create entrees using the meal a mom packed her elementary school child for lunch (namely lunchmeat and bland chicken with a cheap looking salad - and so much cream cheese....bleh).
Guessing LHR-JFK coach was not an option?
@ Rob -- There was no saver award space.
Wait a minute, we get a US Airways report before we get the Qatar A380 inaugural flight report???
@ Simon -- Qatar report is coming today!
It is nice that your expectations were met by our local crew. Should have alerted us and we would have set out a table for you and showed you real southern hospitality. I fly of course mostly out of Charlotte and thus mostly on US Airways since they dominate the city to the tune of about 90% now with the merger. We are hoping American enhances the mix. Considering I can fly to most anywhere...
It is nice that your expectations were met by our local crew. Should have alerted us and we would have set out a table for you and showed you real southern hospitality. I fly of course mostly out of Charlotte and thus mostly on US Airways since they dominate the city to the tune of about 90% now with the merger. We are hoping American enhances the mix. Considering I can fly to most anywhere I want direct I cannot complain even if US Airways doesn't have the best product. They offer me a lot of inexpensive upgrades and fewer connections makes the difference. Had you been old enough you could have experienced the old Piedmont Airlines which was the 1/2 of US Air before its merger with Allegheny in 1989. It was truly a unique experience.