Where to begin? I think the only phrase to describe my experiences with US Airways would be 'mixed bag' as in the last 3 months I've really had my highs and low's with this airline. The highs would be £700 + free round trip and luxury hotel accommadation in Manchester but the lows would be stranded in Philadelphia, stranded in Detroit and waiting 14 hours for a flight you were booked on, about to take off and still didnt make it. But I'll start at the beginning...
July 23rd, recently graduated so off to travel America with my friend. Arrive Manchester airport to discover flight which I booked onto 4 months earlier is 'overbooked'. Being the gents we were let a family fly that day and received £250 compensation and a night in the Radisson. Next day arrive at check in to discover similar 'overbooking' issues but chose to fly because need to be in Detroit in 2 days for warped tour festival. 2 Minutes before final boarding (our gate was last to board, all luggage on plane etc) get begged by staff members to give up seats again - £300 compensation. Another night in the Radisson. Next day its more of the same but we declare we must fly the following day to make Detroit. All goes to plan and we fly the next day and arrive in Philadelphia tired yet eager for connection. However this is when things started to to decline as the flight to Detroit was running 3 hours late. Finally board with some excuse about 'the captain needed food' to wait on the run way for an hour. Apparently there was no spare run way spaces and in the wait we used up too much fuel so had to return to the terminal. Once there they declared the flight was cancelled. Anyway the staff were far from helpful and we had to arrange accommadation ourselves and didnt get our luggage as they had gone on to Detroit on a earlier flight apparently. Staff at Philadelphia were not very helpful or nice at all but we didn't mind too much. This would however mean we'd miss our music festival in Detroit which was a catastrophy both financially and personally. However it was said we'd be flying in the afternoon the next day so prepared for that. The next day came and we once again found ourselves on a plane about to take off... without seats as some big American men were occupying them. Not ideal. After a few "excuse me sir, you're in my seats" it was discovered we all had the same seat tickets but they got in them first (actually our good manners in the queue enabled them to go first). The flight attendant said she had one two spare seats on the flight and we willingly took to them quickly even though they were at opposite ends of the plane. Next stop Detroit. For me anyway. I arrived at Detroit to discover my friend had been taken off the flight at the last second without any warning to make way for a business traveller. Harsh. So without any means of contact I just had to wait it out at Detroit airport luggage...for 18 hours.
So where does this lead my opinion on US Airways? Surprisingly I'm still a fan. Off the UK ranbranch of the company. They were superb in handling the over bookings and their hospitality was sublime. My experience of Philadelphia was torrid but Detroit staff were much more pleasent. Ultimately the trip was still amazing and if it wasnt for missing the warped tour I would have been content.
To conclude, just have your wits about you when booking with US Airways. Expect service to decline when entering America. If you're travelling with elderly people or kids I'd say don't take the compensation option and just get the flight done with asap as it may lead to complications later on.
More details
Class flown most frequently
Economy
How often do you travel with this airline
Rarely
Where did you book
Online Travel Agent
Safety
Very safe
How well does it cater for disabled people
Don't know
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