No, It Is Not Common Sense!
Written: Jul 26 '02 (Updated Nov 25 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: aircraft, leg-room, seating, food, entertainment
Cons: back row seating, "common sense" agent
The Bottom Line: I am serious, it is not common sense!
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| jetbluefan1's Full Review: US Airways |
I have flown on Usairways too many times to remember. Yes, to remember. Let’s see, LaGuardia-Orlando three times, Rochester-Orlando twice, Rochester-New Orleans once, Rochester-San Diego once, Rochester-Los Angeles once. Oh wait! That means I have flown on Usairways eight times, on round trip flights. Therefore, I would consider myself as a loyal customer to them. Though I like to fly JetBlue Airways much more, I feel more comfortable flying Usairways since it was the first airline I flew. Here is my story on a little vacation I took with my daughter and wife from Rochester to San Diego.
Price- I did not have to pay a penny to fly on this flight as I had earned three free round trip tickets with my Usairways Dividend Miles!
Check-In- Since it was April 2002, spring vacation, the lines were very long. Yes, even in Rochester NY! So after checking the monitor to make sure our flight to Pittsburgh was on-time (which it was!), we took a spot in line. Since there were two snake lines filled with passengers in front of us, I decided to try the kiosk. The kiosk is a machine that checks you in. I took out my Usairways Dividend Miles card, and stuck it into a small slot in the kiosk. The kiosk was not working that well that day, so a overwhelmed Usairways worker said she would check us in! Yes! Out of line, and at a ticketing counter. Since the worker was checking in many people at a time, she was very overwhelmed. Usairways’ system is to check in many people at a time at one counter if there are many flights going out. Since there was a flight to Pittsburgh, and a flight to Philadelphia on two large aircraft, they considered it many flights. The worker kept on telling everyone to hold on a second as she ran around throwing luggage onto the luggage belt. She was amazing! She checked us in very quickly even though she was very overwhelmed, and gave us our boarding passes. I give her lots of credit for her actions.
Through security we went in a flash, and you could definitely see an improvement since September 11th. The security officers were testing other security officers to improve their security skills. Greater Rochester International Airport is one of the few airports that has federal agents as security officers at the customs area. There were also some security officers dressed up in army uniforms, who were holding large guns.
Arriving at the gate, we saw our flight leaving at 3:40pm was on-time. It was our flight to Pittsburgh, and in Pittsburgh we would take a connection to San Diego. The boarding area was quite full as there were many people flying on the flight.
Boarding- We were in row 12 as we had booked our flight early, so we were rewarded by being closer to the front of the aircraft. Finally, our row was called, and I handed my boarding pass to the young worker. She let my family and I through, to where we could walk down the slanted gateway. When entering, I noticed that the airplane was a 737-300 with the older titles Usair. The flight attendants had so much makeup on, and had a southern accents as they were from Dallas. Dallas was where the plane was continuing to from Pittsburgh. After about ten minutes, one of the flight attendants closed the door, and came around to count how many empty seats there were open.
Flight- As we pushed back from the gate, a video came on explaining the safety procedures of the flight. We departed after taxying for 20 minutes. We made a turn left, and then we heard that we would start our arrival into Pittsburgh! Wow, what a short flight! Not even a snack, or beverage, but it was okay since it was a 30 minute flight.
The seats were average in width, and leg room was a little bit cramped, but not something to complain about. The pitch on this flight was 31”. Pitch is the distance from an object in one seat, to the seat in front or in back of it.
Pittsburgh International Airport- After arriving, and seeing all the other Usairways aircraft, and the red building, we went out of the airplane and into the Pittsburgh International Airport. We made a right, and went all the way to the end of the terminal. On the way, we passed shops, restaurants, pay-phones and restrooms. Not to mention other gates with large windows to view the aircraft.
When arriving at our gate, we saw our flight was on-time for 6:40pm to San Diego. After waiting for about one hour and a half, and freshening up, we heard our row being called.
Boarding- The boarding call was being done by a short, and mid-aged woman. She looked at our boarding passes, handed it back to us and said “Thanks for flying with us Mr. and Mrs. Harris”. We continued down the gate into a brand new airbus a321 aircraft. We were greeted with smiles, and a crowd in the airplane. Yes, a full flight. We passed the first class section which included all leather seats in a 2x2 order, and found our seats in the middle of the aircraft next to a wide isle.
Flight- The safety procedure video was again showed on TVs that popped down from the top of the aircraft. Meanwhile, we were being pushed back from the gate, and the flight attendants were doing a count of the supplies to operate the flight. The pilots then introduced themselves, and told us we were in a race with another Usairways 757 airplane going to Los Angeles. Since the a321 operates faster on the ground than the 757, we made it to the runway first! The roll-down came, and we were in the air, viewing the beautiful city of Pittsburgh!
After making it to our flying height of 31,000 ft, snacks and beverages were handed out by the flight attendants. The snack was a small packet of pretzels, and there was a large selection of drinks. The drinks included your everyday soda. Beer and wine could be purchased for a small price.
The flight attendants them came around with a white garbage bag to collect the trash. After doing that, the male flight attendant came around with headphones. You were able to rent them for $5. I find this to be very tacky. Good thing I though ahead, and brought my own.
The movie Kate and Leopold then started from the TV screens on the top of the aircraft. The flight attendants then came around with a drink and dinner. The selections for dinner was pasta and vegetables, or rice pilaf with chicken. I decided to try the pasta and vegetables which was good. There were large pieces of pasta with sauce, warm corn and carrots, a bun with butter, a cookie, and a small salad with Ranch dressing. A pretty hearty meal on an airplane!
After the movie and meal, we were again served pretzels with a beverage. Sitcom shows were also plays until arrival into San Diego.
The seats on this airplane were somewhat larger than on other airlines. Leg room was very good. My legs were not touching the seat ahead of me, and I am 5 7”. Usairways really satisfied me on that flight.
Baggage-After getting off the airplane, we walked into the small terminal at San Diego Limbergh Field. Down an escalator we went, and to the baggage claim. After waiting for about ten minutes, our baggage showed up. We left satisfied with our flight to California.
RETURNING- We returned to LaGuardia instead of Rochester to see my cousin who was diagnosed with leukemia, and has now passed on.
Check-In- We entered the terminal to see not even a line for Usairways. We went to a very friendly worker who presented herself in a very good way, and checked us in quickly. She then told us that since we were early, we should stay downstairs to eat as there was only a bar on the departure level. She said first, we would have to go with a Usairways skycap to get our luggage checked.
So a skycap probably in his young 50s came to get our luggage. We then followed him to the big Xray machine that you put your luggage through, not carry-ons. Right after our luggage went through, my wife remembered she had her camera in one of the suitcases. She asked if the machine ruined the film, and the skycap was not sure. So he asked the man behind the machine who looked over the security facility. He said that it probably did. The skycap said “sorry about that”. So we went to a different Usairways agent and told him that the film was ruined. He said that it was common sense not to put a camera in your suitcase! I was so furious! I started shouting at him, “If it is common sense, how come the Usairways skycap did not know if the film would be ruined or not?” The man just ignored me, and I said “I will send an email to your employer, and will tell them how rude you are”! I still have to send the email.
After being so furious, I went with my family to the Starbucks and McDonalds in the airport to get a coffee for the flight, and some fries.
We went through security in a breeze, until we made it to the gate. My wife and I had to take off our shoes, and the friendly security personnel checked us with their little scanner. Not that I minded this. I actually was happy to see the improvement on trying to avoid another terrorist attack.
We then sat in the small boarding lounge while we were waiting for our flight to start the boarding process. Good thing it was on-time or else I would have showed my anger to the rude agent who told me it was common sense.
Boarding-We then boarded after a good wait. The boarding lady was young, and very friendly. We went down the gateway, into an airbus a320. We were greeted with a smile from the first class flight attendant. It just so happens our “coach flight attendants” were in the back fussing over who would get what section of the plane. I walked all the way to the back of my plane to find my seat.
Flight- This was a red-eye flight, so I was guaranteed to be crabby the next day. We departed as soon as the safety procedures tape was done. Yes, a smooth departure on the well paved runway in San Diego. Once in air, a crabby flight attendant offered us a drink and pretzels. She then came around with headphones, but gave us them for free. She said that it was a “last row priority”.
The seats were about as wide and as comfortable as the flight going to San Diego. The leg room was also the same, and so was the pitch. It really didn’t feel so, but I guess that’s because I was really tired.
Oceans 11 (a movie) then came on. I really wanted to watch it, but I was so tired that I fell to sleep immediately. Of course, there were no pillows of blankets left, as there were only ten of each. When I woke up, we were arriving into Pittsburgh. Of course, it was very dark out since it was about 5:00am.
When arriving, the crew thanked us for flying with them. I looked at them in a grouchy way, and got off the airplane and into the gateway.
Yes! I was back in Pittsburgh, and only had a short hop to LaGuardia in NYC!
When I found the gate for LaGuardia, I stretched out across about ten chairs, and went to sleep. My hair was a mess, but what did I care? I was on my way to see my cousin!
Boarding-Finally, our 7:45am flight was called. I handed the agent my ticket, and she said “bye”. So my family and I continued down the gateway into an airbus a321 aircraft. Yes, another large airplane! We were greeted with smiles from three young flight attendants dressed in their dark blue outfits.
Flight- After taxying around the airport for 24 minutes, we departed. The pilot made a joke saying, “Well, we plan on flying to LaGuardia. If the control tower makes a decision on what runway we will depart on, we will fly to LaGuardia. So finally we departed for a short 45 minute flight. We were offered a drink, and pretzels once more. I though there would be breakfast, but the flight attendant said the flight had to be a little bit longer.
The seats were wide and the leg room was great. You know how I was all tired and crabby? Well, something made me happy. My wife and I grabbed four blankets and three pillows before the other 25 passengers could take them. Yes, revenge on the flight beforehand!
We arrived into LaGuardia early, and found ourselves in a crowded Usairways terminal. I ran downstairs anxious to get my baggage, and to have one of my cousins come and pick my family and I up. Yes, the baggage was there!
Pros- Usairways is good about entertainment, leg room, seat room, and aircraft selections. Prices are usually good. The workers always present themselves in a good way, and try to impress the passenger. Well, all workers not including the selfish agent who said it was common sense. However, all the flights on this experience were on-time.
Cons- As I said, the selfish agent who told me that it was common sense not to put a camera in my luggage. Also, I did not like that my seat did not recline on the flight from San Diego to LaGuardia. The TVs were also hard to see from my back row seat. However, the cons are only on that flight.
Usairways is currently going through financial trouble. Usairways is currently cutting flights to save money. If you could support them, they would be very thankful. Usairways is a good airline, and they have always impressed me. They are usually very friendly, and most of the workers create a very comfortable atmosphere to fly in.
Usairways serves into a large number of cities in the east. However, Usairways is weak in the midwest, and west. If you live in the east, and you are looking for a comfortable airline at a fair price, Usairways is your answer. If you live in a large city in the west, Usairways probably flies to your city. And yes, Usairways is still your answer. Usairways offers high quality service across the Atlantic. From Usairways’ main gateways (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Charlotte), you can fly to a selection of cities in Europe including London, Manchester, Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Rome, and Madrid. Usairways is also very strong in the Caribbean.
www.usairways.com
1-800-428-4322
Visiting Florida?
Orlando
Recommended:
Yes
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