US Air or Spanair to Madrid
#1
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US Air or Spanair to Madrid
From Washington DC: I have a choice to take Spanair nonstop or US Airways with a connection in Philly. Travel will take about 1 1/2 hours longer going US Air. The question is, Although not stellar, I pretty much know what I'm getting with US Air. (Is service better on their Int'l flights) With Spanair I'm woriied about being jammed into a plane that is configured for a charter. anyone have any suggestions?
#3
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I have flown USAirways internationally but not Spanair. I have talked to people who flew Spanair and they said it was fine. I think I would probably choose the direct routing and go with Spanair in this case just to save time and not have to change planes.
I have found USAirways' international service to be just like their domestic service. I like USAirways just fine, but at least on the international route I flew (DC-Philly-Brussels) there were no bells and whistles in coach -- no entertainment systems at each seat or anything like that. The flights were on time, food mediocre but edible, and I had no complaints.
Other variables to consider: the ability to accumulate frequent flier miles (don't know if Spanair allows you to earn them on any US carriers), carryon luggage allowances (US Airways' is pretty generous; not sure about Spanair but it seems that European airlines are sometimes much more strict).
Some people will tell you depending on when you're going that you may want to avoid USAirways if you think they might go bankrupt. I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon, if at all, but you never know.
I have found USAirways' international service to be just like their domestic service. I like USAirways just fine, but at least on the international route I flew (DC-Philly-Brussels) there were no bells and whistles in coach -- no entertainment systems at each seat or anything like that. The flights were on time, food mediocre but edible, and I had no complaints.
Other variables to consider: the ability to accumulate frequent flier miles (don't know if Spanair allows you to earn them on any US carriers), carryon luggage allowances (US Airways' is pretty generous; not sure about Spanair but it seems that European airlines are sometimes much more strict).
Some people will tell you depending on when you're going that you may want to avoid USAirways if you think they might go bankrupt. I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon, if at all, but you never know.
#4
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For another view of USAir's international service. On a recent trip from Philadelphia to Frankfurt, the equipment was an Airbus 330, with 2-4-2 seating. Each seat did have a personal entertainment center, contrary to the prior poster's experience to Brussels. I had no complaints.
#5
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Hi. I flew US Airways from Phl to FCo last year. A couple of things you may find useful. Allow yourself more than enough time if your connection is in Philadelphia. The air space in that area can be pretty congested and it would never hurt to take an earlier flight from D.C. for the connect. We had no problem on the way out but it is better to be safe than sorry. Another thing. Check to see what kind of plane you are to use if you take US Airways. If it is one of the new Airbus 330's DO NOT HESITATE TO BOOK. That is what we took to Rome and it was wonderful. WE did have individual entertainment centers even in coach and the space for carry on is very generous. The food was very good also. I flew business class to Nice this year on Sabena, and the coach on US Airways was better. But I really know nothing about Sapnair.
#9
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I flew Spanair last year from DC to Madrid, and the service was fine. The aircraft is a 767 and is not configured like a charter. Since you live in DC, unless you've got mileage invested in USAir and need the miles, I'd stick with the nonstop -- less chances for connection problems. [Assuming you're just going to Madrid.] We were on time going and about 1/2 hour late coming back but having no connections at Dulles, it didn't bother us. If you have a United Mileage Plus account you can earn miles on Spanair. I'd ask United if anything special has to be done to earn the miles to be sure you get them.
Regarding luggage allowances -- if the flight leaves from or arrives to a US airport then the rules are the same regardless of who the carrier is (scheduled carriers, that is -- I would guess that charters can make their own rules). Otherwise the standard int'l weight rule applies, usually a much tighter restriction of 20kg (44lb) total in coach and 30kg (66lb) in business class.
Regarding luggage allowances -- if the flight leaves from or arrives to a US airport then the rules are the same regardless of who the carrier is (scheduled carriers, that is -- I would guess that charters can make their own rules). Otherwise the standard int'l weight rule applies, usually a much tighter restriction of 20kg (44lb) total in coach and 30kg (66lb) in business class.