Two response to my US flights on June 17

Dear C’est Beth:

It was a pleasure speaking with you this afternoon. We appreciate hearing from our customers and having an opportunity to address their concerns.

As promised, I have authorized a $100 Electronic Travel With US Voucher (ETUV) as a gesture of goodwill; in hopes of demonstrating our appreciation of your loyalty to US Airways. Your E-TUV is valid toward the purchase of travel on US Airways. Please be advised the E-TUV is not valid with Internet bookings. The E-TUV must be redeemed one year from the date of this email. In addition, please take a moment to read the terms and conditions listed below to receive the full benefit of this compensation. When you are ready to make your future travel arrangements, please call our Reservations Department at 800-428-4322 and provide the E-TUV code listed below.

C’est Beth, I appreciate this opportunity to explain, and again, apologize for your negative experience with us. We hope you will give us the opportunity to create a more positive travel experience in the future.

On behalf of US Airways and the entire Customer Relations team, please accept our sincere apology for the travel difficulties you experienced. Your concerns have been thoroughly documented and your comments have been shared with the appropriate management teams to help us improve our service.

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Dear C’est Beth:

We are unable to offer reimbursement for expenses incurred as a result of flight interruptions. We are able to compensate only for the flight interruption itself and to convey our apologies we have authorized one Electronic Travel with Us Voucher (E-TUV) in the amount of $50 as a gesture of goodwill. We hope you will allow US Airways another opportunity to regain your confidence. Your E-TUV is valid toward the purchase of travel on US Airways. Please be advised the E-TUV is not valid with Internet bookings. The E-TUV must be redeemed one year from the date of this letter. In addition, please take a moment to read the terms and conditions listed below to receive the full benefit of this compensation. When you are ready to make your future travel arrangements, please call our Reservations Department at 800-428-4322 and provide the E-TUV code listed below.

We know that you have many choices when it comes to traveling and we thank you for choosing US Airways.

July 11: TYS-DCA-LGA

US 2358 TYS-DCA CRJ seat 8C exit no seatmate
I arrived TYS early and was able to relax at Ruby Tuesdays, have a meal, and use my computer before flight time. Owen had just posted about the new TSA random search at the gate and lucky me, I was selected! The agent checked my computer and my rollaboard, but not my purse or me! We boarded late, at 4:25 pm due to a late-arriving and departing CLT flight at the same gate. There were about 15 empty seats of 50 total. We departed at 4:42 pm, 17 minutes late. But we landed at 5:50 pm, 9 minutes early. There was a full bev service in flight and an incredible approach into DCA over the Watergate and Kennedy Center and then I could see all the monuments and sights! Great way to arrive!

US 2184 DCA-LGA A319 seat 2C no seatmate
We started boarding 5 minutes late. There was a full pre-dep drink service. I had white wine, but it was awful. We boarded quickly as the plane was only about half full. There were three open seats in F. We backed away 7 minutes early, but took a 20-minute ATC delay. We took off at 7:26 pm, 26 minutes late. There was a full bev service in flight and I switched to Bud Light (I’m not a Bud fan, mind you) because I wanted beer and the only beer choices are Bud, Bud Light, and Heineken.  The beer was not cold so that was a little yucky, too. We also had the standard snack basket. After serving us, the FA went up front to her seat to read and eat Sun Chips! At 7:55 pm, we were put into a 20-minute holding pattern about 100 miles from LGA due to “traffic saturation,” so that gave me plenty of time to write most of this report–or so I thought! After five minutes, we were released early! And even with our delays totaling 31 minutes, we only landed five minutes late.

A note about the FAs. They mostly did their jobs, but I would not call them friendly or customer-oriented. It was more like they were “going through the motions” and they had a “toughness” about them that make them more like “surly.” I guess they are toughening themselves up for the onslaught of customer confusion when they have to start collecting $2.00 for drinks.

Two US flights down, four to go!