TRI-LGA: A “Beth Effect” gone right, 27 Feb 2009

DL 5130 TRI-ATL 4:27 PM-5:30 PM 8B exit row aisle
DL 1794 ATL-LGA 7:40 PM-10:00 PM 3C aisle

No…

DL 5331 TRI-ATL 6:29 PM-7:25 PM 8B exit row aisle
DL 18 ATL-LGA 8:40 PM-10:59 PM 4B aisle

No…

DL 6496 TRI-CVG 6:15 PM-7:16 PM 9D, but moved to open row 7C/D with no seatmate
DL 1218 CVG-LGA 7:50 PM-9:50 PM 4B aisle with a wonderful seatmate

Just another regular “Beth Effect” day in my world of travel! I was working at home, when all of a sudden, my cell phone, my home phone, and my e-mail all pinged me at the same time. My schedule had been proactively changed to schedule #2 above, because DL 5130 TRI-ATL had canceled. So I went online to check my seat assignments and saw that I was still upgraded on the mainline flight, but into J (Business Class) because the flight had originated in Shanghai, despite an equipment change from a 777 to a 757 in ATL. I continued working at home, but delta.com would not allow me to print new boarding passes, so I started thinking I should head to TRI early to work out any kinks.

About five miles from TRI, I received again three pings – one cell call, one voicemail to my home phone (I receive a text message and e-mail message every time I get a home voicemail as I have Vonage VoIP), and an e-mail saying that I had been rebooked yet again, because my second TRI-ATL had been delayed and I was going to misconnect. But then I suddenly realized I had been booked on a flight leaving 15 minutes earlier, at 6:15 pm, instead of 6:29 pm (delayed until after 7:30 at this point.) It was 5:45 pm and I had not yet arrived TRI! So I put it into overdrive, so to speak, and rushed to get there.

An agent had to check me in, because the kiosk would not allow me to check in again, although it did bring up my itinerary. The agent tried to force exit row seat assignments (they were available), but for some reason, the system would not allow it, so he sent me on my way and told me to hurry. I arrived at TRI’s ONE security line and there were about 15 people in front of me. I heard them call TRI-CVG once, then final boarding while I was waiting, and finally I said to the crowd, “That’s my flight–I need to move ahead.” A few of them allowed me to cut line. I ran from the checkpoint to the plane with my computer and shoes in hand, and made the flight. Once on board, I eyed row 7 until the FA shut the door, and as soon as she did, I grabbed my bag and moved, so I had a row to myself. We departed early at 6:13 pm and arrived 7:00 pm, early. There was absolutely no in-flight service, “due to the short duration.”

We deplaned at A8 and I made my way to the B concourse Crown Room Club, where I was determined to get my exit row seat. I gave the club angel my boarding pass and she looked me up and said, “It’s your lucky day, you’ve already been upgraded,” and handed me my 4B boarding pass. I had just enough time to briefly access the Internet and drink a Michelob Light, because my connecting flight was 20 minutes late, scheduled to depart at 8:10 pm.

Around 7:40 pm, made my way to gate B12 and they were already boarding zone 3. I boarded and realized I had gotten the last seat in F as F was full.

I am not sure how it happened, but my seatmate and I began to chat. Julia was a Northwest Silver Elite who had apparently been upgraded well in advance due to her fare class. She had not flown Delta in at least 10 years and had never been to New York City, so we had a wonderful time chatting about New York City, Northwest, Delta, her kids and pets, my niece and cat, her LG Dare, my Blackberry Curve, Facebook, etc.!

We took at ground hold and took off 50 minutes late at 8:40 pm. Once in air, we were offered a full beverage and snack basket service. Both Julia and I had Bloodies and peanuts. Then the TV monitors came down and she said, “Delta has in-flight entertainment?” LOL

During the IFE, Delta had a brief ad about their mile-high mojitos and margaritas. She turned to me and said, “Delta has margaritas?” Again I laughed, and said, “Yeah, they are pretty good for airplane drinks.” So when the FA came, she ordered a margarita, and let me tell you, that FA knew how to make them correctly–shaken with ice, poured into a glass with very litte ice, and a slice of lime!

After seeing Julia’s, I wanted one, so once she finished hers and I finally finished my Bloody, we both ordered one and struck up a most interesting conversation with the FA. Our FA was a 21-year veteran of Delta, but her experience was–in this order–ramp for two years, operations for two years, reservations for 15 years, then an FA for two years! She talked with us about her career at Delta, the merger, and her new assignment as a MSP-based Delta flight attendant for the new Delta-operated, Boeing 767 MSP-CDG route. It was great fun talking to her!

Next thing we knew, we were making our descent and landing at 10:20 pm, only 20 minutes later than originally scheduled! Julia and I exchanged e-mails and decided to be friends on Facebook! Now that’s a “Beth Effect” gone right!

Free non-alcoholic beverages returning to US Airways?

by Elizabeth Smith

According to an employee thread on US Aviation and a blog post by Arizona Republic reporter, Dawn Gilbertson, the non-alcoholic drink charges on US Airways will be dropped effective March 1, 2009…(post continued at the above link.)

America’s Rip-Off Airports

America’s Rip-Off Airports

Looks who’s tied for number 3!  Yes, folks, my home airport of TRI!

No. 3: Tri-Cities Regional Airport (Tie)
Location: Johnson City, Tenn.
Average fare per mile: $0.39

US Airways Is CHEAP!!! by VPP

Another guest post by my colleague, friend, and frequent traveler:

US Airways Is CHEAP!!!

In More Ways Than One…How Good Can It Be, Long Term?

Okay…so, the professional that handles my travel is made aware I have to fly from PHX back to PVD on Friday, February 13. She knows I really prefer not to fly US Airways…and in fact, she knows I more or less detest the airline now that the current crowd managing the company has destroyed and sullied US Airways good name with a really poor product.

Be that as it may, she knows one thing for sure: “I need as late a departure as possible while still getting home that same day.” My preferred carrier, Continental Airlines can’t get me home unless I leave early…and in fact, my second favorite domestic airline, Southwest can, but the timing was pushing the envelope just a bit. But she says, “Van, US Airways has, get this, a flight that leaves at 2:46 pm and is $112.70.” I think, “can that be right?” I verify it is and say, “how bad can it be?”

So we book it and there you have it…my only trip on US Airways this year. If I have my way, it will LITERALLY be my ONLY trip on US Airways this year.

So, she buys it for me…I head to MQT on Continental….nice trip. Perfect. Love Continental Airlines. Leave MQT for PHX on Northwest. And airline I don’t care for but hey, when you are flying from MQT, your choices are limited. And finally, I’m in PHX and it’s time to come home…on, arguably the worst aviation transportation product in the history of modern aviation, US Airways.

Leading up to departure, I find I’m not upgraded. And frankly, for $112.70 and a seat in 22D on an A321, it would be wrong to complain. Quite frankly, for $112.70, including tax, it would be wrong to complain about not getting a complementary water, coffee, tea or soda. (At the end of these thoughts, I’ll post the actual “trip report” with the mileage metrics.) But…I have to wonder, “is this type of “cheap” what the people that envisioned this product from day 1 REALLY want?”

I wonder….

I mean, consider this…I was on my two flights for a total of 4 hours and 45 minutes. Lets round that up to 5 hours. Now, lets supposed I drank on bottle of water/coke/cup of coffee or whatever, every hour. That would be 5 drinks. (If I were drinking beer, I may well have had 6 over the course of the time I was flying.) Lets also suppose I’m the average traveler…and I need to pay $20 to check a piece of luggage.

Now at $2 per drink and $20 to check a bag, US Airways just collected $30 from me. I’m not at $142.70….now we’re up to $0.042 per mile. Or, lets do this, lets suppose I checked 2 bags ($50) and did drink six $7.00 beers…and extra $92 collected. Now we’re up to $0.072 per mile….still well below their CASM.

And of course, on the other end of the spectrum, had you actually paid a real fare, like $300 and spent $0.12 per mile…and had to get nickeled and dimed out of he $30…or $92…how happy would you be, knowing on Southwest you wouldn’t have to put up with that non-sense?

The truth is, for $0.035 per mile paid, $86.52, I can spend the $2 for a drink…but is this really the best thing for US Airways? Somehow, I find it hard to believe it would be. Seems to me, getting everyone on the airplane for a real fare where they can at least break even at, say, $0.10 per mile, $250, might be a better strategy…and then hand out water/coffee/tea and sodas, which collectively don’t cost much at all.

The destruction of a great brand name like US Airways has been sad for me to watch. The denial taking place in Tempe, AZ has been even more difficult to stomach. But at the end of the day, I’ve found a home at Continental and Southwest Airlines…and for Trans Atlantic travel, I’m feeling at home these days on Icelandair.

And I don’t think that is good for US Airways in any way, shape of form.

For the record, here are my YTD travel stats through February 17, 2009…

Through Feb 17, 2009

ON US AIRWAYS
Flight Segments On US Airways = 2
Total Miles Flown = 2,457
Airfare paid to date = $86.52
Yield paid to date = $0.035 per mile (How SWEET is that? $0.035/mile?!?)

ON OTHER CARRIERS (AS, CO, DL, FI & WN)
Flight Segments On All Other Airlines = 20
Total Miles Flown = 18,563
Airfare Paid To Date = $4,502.08
Yield Paid To Date = $0.243

And here is the “trip report” for the flight I took on US Airways:

US Airways Trip Details

————————————————————

Friday, February 13, 2009:

US 1546 A321 departing PHX at 14:46 p.m. arriving CLT at 20:29 p.m.

US 1774 A320 departing CLT at 22:09 p.m. arriving PVD at 23:55 p.m.

————————————————————

Total Trip Cost: $112.70 Completely Non-Refundable

Actual Airfare: $86.51

Actual Miles Flown: 2,457

Yield: $0.035 per mile

Taxes & Fees: $26.19, 23.24% of ticket price

This ticket is the EXACT, “poster child” of the direction US is headed in….

Purchased by our trusted travel manager, at $0.035 per mile, it’s hard to say “no.” Purchase and check in, handled by her. Not upgraded from PHX-CLT, but hey, exit row seats are good…and remember, $0.035 per mile…

No checked baggage…just PURE transport. No service, no fun, no good reason to fly….other than price the fact you must.

On board, professional F/As…although it’s not difficult to sense a little “why am I here.”

Very, very different crowd aboard US aircraft now. Not as I remember. And this was my first flight in a long, long time. (Still CP until 2/28, Au after that…dirt in 2010)

Safety announcement done by the professionals now that the video system is gone. The dude next to me wasn’t paying attention and was lectured…and I actually don’t blame the F/A…

Once in the air…just NOTHING…stripped out, nothing service. Pay for drinks and water…no movie, no nothing…no thanks.

Landed on time and with my carry-on luggage in tact. (Thanks Doug!) and off to the connection.

Next flight…gate lice galore…you have to cut through dozens of people to get to the gate. (US has THE WORST loading procedure of ANY airline…by a ton.)

Loaded on…and CONSTANT belittling by the flight crew…it was annoying. Then take off…then the credit card solicitation. Then they actually left us alone…and we landed ahead of schedule.

This product is worth EXACTLY what I paid for it…3.5¢ per mile…NOTHING more.

Let’s consider what I’ve spent thus far in 2009…and look at US…and then the real truth, “Fly US ONLY when there is no other way and/or when it’s dirt cheap” starts to make sense.

IAH-CLT-TRI on US Airways 8 Feb 2009

US 1711 IAH-CLT 7:00 AM CT-10:16 AM ET 2C (upgraded)
A fellow frequent flier who was attending the same event as me in Houston met me at the airport around 5:45 am to check in. I had gotten there first and checked in without issue. He also checked in quickly, and because we knew there would be no meal, we ate breakfast before departing and bought two danishes to go.

Boarding started on time and we boarded quickly. The flight was very full, especially for 7:00 am on a Sunday morning. The airplane was a very worn 737 without the newly reupholstered seats. The window shade at 2A was also broken. However, we did receive a pre-departure beverage.

We pushed back a few minutes early and were airborne at 7:15 am. The flight was very quiet and uneventful. The service was the same as I received on Friday when I flew to Houston, a full beverage and snack basket service. However, this basket had Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips. There was also no in-flight entertainment and there were only drinks, no snacks, for sale in coach.

We arrived at 10:15 am, one minute early.

US 4559 CLT-TRI 12:57 PM ET-1:57 PM ET 11C Exit
This flight boarded about 15-20 minutes before scheduled departure. It was a very warm spring day in Charlotte and the plane was even more so. That is one thing I hate about the Dash 8, that it does not cool off until the engines are running and has been flying for a while. We pushed back four minutes before scheduled departure at 12:53 pm and were airborne at 1:07 pm. There were no beverages purchased by customers on this short flight. The flight was 38 minutes in flight and we landed 12 minutes early at 1:45 pm.

TRI-CLT-IAH on US Airways 6 Feb 2009

US 4124 TRI-CLT 6:15 pm-7:11 pm Dash 8-300 Seat 11C Exit
TRI is such a wonderful airport to fly from. I arrived about an hour before departure to reprint my boarding pass. I was the only person at the counter and the agent offered to print it for me instead of me using the kiosk. The employees at TRI are so nice, too—that is what I miss the most about flying US Airways. I proceeded to security where I was again, the only person, so I passed through very quickly. I spent about 20 minutes in the TRI Business Center, then went to my gate and gate-tagged my bag. We boarded about 15-20 minutes before departure. The plane was about two-thirds full. We closed the door at 6:08 pm and were airborne at 6:15 pm. The flight attendant offered beverages for sale and only one person purchased a bottle of water. The flight was only 29 minutes, so we landed 25 minutes early at 6:46 pm. I had to walk from gate E32A to B14, just about as far as you can walk in CLT!

US 1761 CLT-IAH 7:55 pm-9:45 pm 737-400 Seat 2C First Class
Even with my early arrival, I barely had time for my requisite, pre-flight “pit stop.” (LOL) When I arrived at the gate, they started boarding my flight five minutes early. The plane was full and at the end of the boarding process, some rolling suitcases had to be brought forward and checked at the gate because there was no space. There was no pre-departure drink offered, but the flight attendants did have a closet in which to hang the coats and they did offer to hang them. We pushed back at 7:50 pm and were airborne by 8:04 pm with an announced flight time of two hours 10 minutes, which meant I should arrive about 30 minutes early.

Shortly after passing through 10,000 feet, the flight attendant served a full beverage and snack basket service. I know this is probably not significant in some respects, but since US Airways does not offer much anymore in the way of first class product, I thought I should note two things: the snack basket only had three choices: Biscoffs, granola bars, and Fiesta Snack mix (no Sun Chips!) And I ordered a Bud Light and when I wanted a second one, they were out (!) and my only choices were Budweiser and Heineken. I see this as a very simple example of how US Airways has become a shell of its former self.

This is not the US Airways I loved for many years; it is a facsimile of itself in many ways. Except for its route and network, its spoke and hub operation, I would not even call US Airways a legacy carrier, because the legacy is gone and what is left is a mere fragment of the identity it used to have in the world of commercial aviation. This saddens me so, because the employees are still some of the best in the business, but they have been stripped of the wonderful product they used to offer. I mean, I am in first class on a two-hour flight and all I receive are a larger seat, couple of beverages, and some junk food? It amazes me that people would pay the fare difference between coach and first for so little. Of course, I received a complimentary upgrade from coach, so I am happy I did not buy this class of service and I suppose I should lower my expectations since it was complimentary.

However, coach is an even less appealing product. On a two-hour flight, one has the option of purchasing drinks, but no snacks whatsoever. Let’s face it—if US Airways elects to sell drinks in coach for additional revenue, why aren’t snacks sold as well? Better yet, if à la carte is the business model of choice, why doesn’t the airline offer the extras for purchase during the booking process to speed up and streamline airport and in-flight operations? Furthermore, why doesn’t the airline just raise their ticket prices by $10 and include drinks and snacks, or raise prices by $25 and include one piece of checked luggage, too? I guess I will never understand the reasons for or reasoning behind this airline’s current, customer unfriendly, inefficient mode of operation.

The rest of the flight was very quiet because there is no in-flight entertainment. We landed 30 minutes early at 9:15 pm. I suppose if all you want is bare bones, on-time transportation, then US Airways is the carrier for you. But if you want a little more, try another carrier.

DL 5358 ATL-TRI 12:48 pm-1:50 pm CRJ 100 8B Exit 2 Feb 2009

DL 5358 ATL-TRI 12:48 pm-1:50 pm CRJ 100 8B Exit

What a great, short flight! So nice that I actually dozed! The flight was about one-third full and I had no seatmate! We boarded up about 20 minutes prior to scheduled departure, pushed back on time and were airborne by 1:00 pm. The service in flight was by request only, but the flight attendant actually walked the aisle asking if we wanted anything! No one did, but at least she honored the by request offering. We landed 37 minutes later to a winter wonderland in TRI and we were 16 minutes early!

DL 1775 LGA-ATL 8:55 am-11:52 am MD-88 2B First Class 2 Feb 2009

DL 1775 LGA-ATL 8:55 am-11:52 am MD-88 2B First Class

Wow, if Delta keeps up the excellent product and service, I might just be in love with this airline for life!

We boarded with F first, then the respective zone numbers. The flight attendant took my coat and offered me a pre-departure beverage, which I willingly accepted! We pushed back early at 8:48 pm and after the typical LGA taxi/wait, we were airborne by 9:17 pm. In flight, we were given hot towel service AGAIN and served a continental breakfast consisting of Corn Flakes, a bagel, fresh fruit, and low-fat yogurt. The flight attendant was attentive and worked the entire flight and I did not lack of anything. Amazingly, we landed at 11:18 pm, 34 minutes earlier than published arrival. That rocked, and gave me time to hit the Continental President’s Club in ATL, since my connection departed D35! Bravo, Delta, for another great in-flight experience!