Okay, so USAir is my primary carrier. I live very close to Reagan airport in the DC area (like 10 minutes by cab door-to-door close), and they have four nonstop flights to New Orleans every day, both ways. That's awesome, you're there in two hours instead of having to go through Atlanta (Delta), Houston (United) or some other far flung location. There's an 8:30 am flight I can take on a Friday and be downtown NOLA before anyone is ready for lunch.
And I fly enough that I have preferred status on USAir, so I get early boarding, occassional first class upgrades, etc. I really like these perks so I try to keep flying USAir whenever I can and given the nonstops to NOLA, I'm really sort of married to this airline.
But what the hell? They don't have a smartphone app (it's 20 freakin' 12 for pete's sake). They don't have much for in-flight entertainment (United's Directv is awesome). And they don't even have internet unless you happen to be on an Airbus 321.
Why is USAir so behind on technology? And what else are they doing so prehistorically? Does anyone here work for US Air and have some insight? I'm not attacking them, they're my airline. But dang, I feel like USAir doesn't realize what decade it is in.
I just had a trip from hell on USAir last week. They cancelled my direct flight to Philly at midnight before my 7am flight (plane did not get to MSY), so I rebooked with a connection in Charlotte, then while in mid-air, they cancelled my connecting flight ('mechanical issues'). Went to rebook (again) in Charlotte and the customer service agent who was serving the person ahead of me in line lost his temper and literally threw her tickets at her from behind the counter and sent her down the line. Now, I am sure she did something to provoke it, but she wasn't screaming or causing a scene, nor is she the one getting paid to handle aggravated travelers that have been stranded.
Eventually flew to Greensboro, had a 2 hour layover, and then on to Philly.
My 2.5 hour direct flight turned into 9 hour day of flight-hopping with a side of aggressiveness. I've flown them forever, but I'm about done.
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A: "Who doesn't watch Drew Brees break records? I watch football. You can't watch football without watching the New Orleans Saints."
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Question: You mentioned that United has directv. Do all their flights have that option or do only select flights carry it? Just wondering because I will be taking a few United flights on my way to Hawaii next week. New Orleans to Houston, Houston to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Hawaii. Would any of those flights have any entertainment?
Okay, so USAir is my primary carrier. I live very close to Reagan airport in the DC area (like 10 minutes by cab door-to-door close), and they have four nonstop flights to New Orleans every day, both ways. That's awesome, you're there in two hours instead of having to go through Atlanta (Delta), Houston (United) or some other far flung location. There's an 8:30 am flight I can take on a Friday and be downtown NOLA before anyone is ready for lunch.
And I fly enough that I have preferred status on USAir, so I get early boarding, occassional first class upgrades, etc. I really like these perks so I try to keep flying USAir whenever I can and given the nonstops to NOLA, I'm really sort of married to this airline.
But what the hell? They don't have a smartphone app (it's 20 freakin' 12 for pete's sake). They don't have much for in-flight entertainment (United's Directv is awesome). And they don't even have internet unless you happen to be on an Airbus 321.
Why is USAir so behind on technology? And what else are they doing so prehistorically? Does anyone here work for US Air and have some insight? I'm not attacking them, they're my airline. But dang, I feel like USAir doesn't realize what decade it is in.
/end rant
I'm with you there. Same thing, although this year I'm losing my status because when you live at the beach, you don't fly as much because you're already at a place that you'd normally fly to visit - just not much of a need to fly from one beach to another. LOL.
It amazed me when I've had to take Airtran or another Airline that they had so many perks. Airtran has wifi on EVERY single flight.
Also, USAir only offers the wifi until getting out of the US. Once you leave US airspace, no more wifi. I don't know if this is across the board or not. I'm taking American from Miami to Cancun on Wednesday (my travel company is having a huge trip and rented out the entire Moon Palace) and I'll see what their wifi is doing.
I remember when they used to have nice in-flight entertainment as well. Then it all went bye-bye. They said it was due to the weight of the equipment and gas charges. I'm not buying it.
Question: You mentioned that United has directv. Do all their flights have that option or do only select flights carry it? Just wondering because I will be taking a few United flights on my way to Hawaii next week. New Orleans to Houston, Houston to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Hawaii. Would any of those flights have any entertainment?
I'm not sure if it's 100% of their planes, but it is most of them. I flew DC to Houston in March and DC to New Orleans (via Houston) in May and all legs of my flghts had it.
It's awesome. You play like $7 (or maybe $5 on short flights) and you have free movies (usually 4 or 5 relatively new ones) and a pretty extensive lineup on DTV (many channels, including an expanded sports lineup).
On one flight, I had nobody in my row, so I put the tv on next to me so I could watch a champions league soccer game while I watched and listened to The Blind Side movie on my own screen.
I would expect those flights you have will have it.
My experience, and it seems like everyone else here is saying the same thing, is that I only fly us air when it's the only nonstop flight to where I'm going. I think that's why they can get away with sucking so bad and still have full flights.
I'd ride with the luggage if it kept me from getting stuck in atl for 5 hours.
I'm not sure if it's 100% of their planes, but it is most of them. I flew DC to Houston in March and DC to New Orleans (via Houston) in May and all legs of my flghts had it.
It's awesome. You play like $7 (or maybe $5 on short flights) and you have free movies (usually 4 or 5 relatively new ones) and a pretty extensive lineup on DTV (many channels, including an expanded sports lineup).
On one flight, I had nobody in my row, so I put the tv on next to me so I could watch a champions league soccer game while I watched and listened to The Blind Side movie on my own screen.
I would expect those flights you have will have it.
Would be nice since the day I return is when the medal games are for soccer during the olympics. Might be able to catch the games.
It amazed me when I've had to take Airtran or another Airline that they had so many perks. Airtran has wifi on EVERY single flight.
Also, USAir only offers the wifi until getting out of the US. Once you leave US airspace, no more wifi. I don't know if this is across the board or not. I'm taking American from Miami to Cancun on Wednesday (my travel company is having a huge trip and rented out the entire Moon Palace) and I'll see what their wifi is doing.
I remember when they used to have nice in-flight entertainment as well. Then it all went bye-bye. They said it was due to the weight of the equipment and gas charges. I'm not buying it.
I fly AA about 100+ times a year, and there is WiFi on some flights, not all. Depends on your aircraft type and other variables. And as the rest of the airlines, only works over US as it is ground based. New AA planes due in Dec 2012 will have international WiFi.
Okay, so USAir is my primary carrier. I live very close to Reagan airport in the DC area (like 10 minutes by cab door-to-door close), and they have four nonstop flights to New Orleans every day, both ways. That's awesome, you're there in two hours instead of having to go through Atlanta (Delta), Houston (United) or some other far flung location. There's an 8:30 am flight I can take on a Friday and be downtown NOLA before anyone is ready for lunch.
And I fly enough that I have preferred status on USAir, so I get early boarding, occassional first class upgrades, etc. I really like these perks so I try to keep flying USAir whenever I can and given the nonstops to NOLA, I'm really sort of married to this airline.
But what the hell? They don't have a smartphone app (it's 20 freakin' 12 for pete's sake). They don't have much for in-flight entertainment (United's Directv is awesome). And they don't even have internet unless you happen to be on an Airbus 321.
Why is USAir so behind on technology? And what else are they doing so prehistorically? Does anyone here work for US Air and have some insight? I'm not attacking them, they're my airline. But dang, I feel like USAir doesn't realize what decade it is in.
/end rant
No airlines have all of these amenities on all of their aircraft. Delta is probably the furthermost along out of the majors, but they have made huge investment in technology pretty early on. US Airways is the smallest and has has the most recent severe cash-flow problems out of the majors, so they're a bit behind in technology investments. They're supposed to be rolling out an app any minute now.
Of course all of that will change when they buy American...
Personally, I make sure to furnish my own distractions. Books, videos, work, etc. have always been better if I supply the means than rely on the air carrier.
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Convictions are more dangerous foes of truth than lies. ~ Nietzsche
I fly round trips every week and multi city stops in between. I tried all airlines before settling on Delta. For pleasure I usually flew Delta, but as a business traveler I was afforded the chance to try them all. US Scare ranks last in all my experience, with American right behind. Delta and United/Continental are always close in services and comfort. I settled with Delta like MLU said because of the technology and more flight options. Once you get over the Atlanta fears, Delta is not that bad the delays are nothing worse than any other airport, you have a ton of flights going through that airport which will increase your chance of an delay, in actuality it is no worse than any other airport. I do usually get a chance to connect through Memphis or Atlanta, sometimes I choose Memphis but that depends on how long the flight is and the chance of being stuck on a smaller aircraft.
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