jgarvey

I haven't seen any remarks about US Airways to Rome, or about this airline at all. Any thing to know or be on guard about? Any rants or raves? My niece will be traveling from New Orleans to meet me for a week in Rome. It was the only airline from New Orleans with just one stop and layover, and the price was good. Have we made a good choice? She has 3-hour layover in Philly, so I think all should go smoothly for her connecting flight to Rome.

Any helpful comments appreciated. jg

monorailgold

Hello,
Have used usairways several times to go to Rome. The airline is okay. The seats in coach are small and the food is edible. Business class is nice. The food is actually very good and the seats are large and lay most of the way back. Philly is the noraml gateway to Rome. Your neice should have no problems.

Donna

Sher

The only concern you should have would be the layover time in PHL, which is a nightmare a lot of the time.

With three hours, she will be fine.

If she is flying on an airbus, she will have her own screen and controls with many in flight movies and programs to pick from. Works like your own VCR. It is located in the seat backs in front of you.

jgarvey

Thanks, I am feeling somewhat relieved. Any idea at all about how expensive the business class is?? jg

Dukey

Envoy Class (USAir's "business class&quot has two plustwo plus two seating on wide bodies. The seats have about 160 degree recline.

You can see more if you go to www.seatguru.com

You could price a dummy itinerary at usairways.com but I can tell you from experience that Envoy Class can potentially cost as much as three times as much as Economy or more.

Envoy Class will allow the use of the Envoy Lounge while waiting for the connection at PHL but the overall cost may not be worth it.

ira

Hi jg,

Your niece is much too young to be flying anything but coach.

If she wants to convert some USD into Euros before she gets to Rome, she will get the best rate at PHL at the exchange booth almost at the end of Concourse C.

Dukey

TTT

daveesl

Just returned. US Airways was fine, not wonderful, but then is any airline? The airbus on the way over does have some pretty narrow seats, but we slept ok. Can't comment on the food, as we were out right after the plane took off (thank you Lunesta).

bookchick

My last trip report outlined the nightmarish experience I had in Philly with US Airways, both coming and going. I naively assumed a two-two and a half hour layover would be adequate time-wise, but learned the hard way it was not!

I'm flying on the 19th of this month to Rome, but will be flying DTW to Amsterdam, then Amsterdam to Rome on NWA.

Good Luck!
BC

Dukey

Fortunately, for every less-than-happy connection experience there is also a good one.

jgarvey

Dukey, Bookchick frightened me a litte, so I am going to read her trip report and get the details. But thanks for helping keep things in perspective with your little reminder. In the end, it really is just a crapshoot, isn't it?

Daveezel, thank you as well.

Ira, my "niece" is 54 years old; I was only 9 when she was born--and that is the truth! In fact, we are closer in age than my sister and I, who is 11 years older than I. My niece and I had our last babies only 4 days apart. We are all very close; however, I do agree with you. She doesn't need a first-class seat. The reason I asked that question is because I am still working on my sister (74--you may have read my other posts). And I am still trying to figure out new ways to get her on to agree to this trip, on the same flight as my niece.

Thanks to all y'all, as we say in New Orleans. We even use "y'all" as a possessive adjective, as in, "Don't forget to take y'all's coats, y'all hear." jg

Dukey

I would agree that it is often a crapshoot BUT I do think when one hears of CONSISTENTLY bad service or repeated problems at one particular place it should give people pause.

The last time I flew through PHL (returning from Gatwick) I was really concerned that something would go awry but fortunately it did not.

francophile03

Yes, I agree that there are good and bad with all airlines. But we won't ever fly US Air again after they canceled both of our flights and this was only from SFO to Vegas return. SFO to Vegas flight was canceled due to baggage handler doing something to cause a hole in the plane! Granted this was not the airline's fault, but there were no more flights available by then as it was late evening. Vegas to SFO 'mechanical problem' was the excuse for the cancellation although the Denver flight next to ours was almost canceled until they just found out there was an available plane to take those passengers. Everyone on our flight believes that our plane was given to those Denver passengers. So I can't imagine flying them overseas plus where we live we have to go through Philly which I read is a nightmare with them.

jgarvey

Yikes, now I am really getting nervous and apprehensive. What is there to do? Reservations have already be made and paid. All other airlines from New Orleans have TWO flights and changes. Thought this would be the best.

francophile03

jgarvey, I was thinking that perhaps we were extremely unlucky, but then I remembered my other US Air flight out of Philly to SFO last July. It got delayed due to the lightening and thuderstorms which is not their fault at all, but there was another flight next to mine that was apparently delayed for hours due to 'mechanical problems'. Finally on the PA system the agent was reassuring the passengers the good news that they got a replaement plane and in addition they called to work a new set of airline crew!

Those Denver passengers who were next to our Vegas flight their plane was taken out due to 'mechanical problems' too.

If these planes have that many mechanical problems it's worrisome.

Dukey

I am not sure I would mention any of this to the prospective traveler..why cause them worry that might end up being unjustified?

What I would do is caution the traveler to remain flexible and also to pack some essentials in a carry-on in the event of a protracted delay or possible cancellation.

rkkwan

Continental and Delta also have one-connection itineraries, via Newark for CO; or Atlanta or JFK for DL.

But since you've booked your flights, stop worrying about it. 3 hours is plenty.

francophile03

Dukey, the poster asked for rants and raves. No matter how much you prepare yourself to be bumped when it happens it's just not pretty. If I were this poster I would like to know which airline does this.

kismetchimera

Hey BC, have a fabulous time in Rome.I am going back with Brooke in June.
Have a great trip, BTW, do you need a Lady in Waiting?Ciao and Buon Viaggio,,,

kayd

Your choice of USAir through Philly is fine. It is no better or worse than most other choices.

I've made the Philly connection for European trips on USAir about six times and, while it has been close once or twice, I've always arrived safely on the appointed day.

I can only compare PHL with Dulles and JFK, and I think it is far less chaotic than either of those two.