Just returned from wonderful trip to Akumal, Isla Mujeres and all was great except everything about the US Air flights. Our 1st flight was overbooked-one of our sons barely made it on. We had to endure about 90 minutes of wondering what we'd do if he didn't make it. We made the reservations last February!

The flight from Phoenix to Cancun was a little late because crew didn't show up and they had to wait for replacements.

Coming back, our flight out of Cancun was about 2 hours late-another crew issue--sick or not showing up. We missed our connection from Phx to San Francisco. They checked our luggage in to SFO and rebooked us on a later flight--which when we raced to the gate, they told us had just been cancelled and no more flights that night. This was all done with a fairly cavalier attitude and now we know why--it happens all the time!

It happened to us about 2 months ago--they cancelled one of our flights at the last minute--got us on a flight 4 hours later which got us home at 2:30 am.

To their credit this time, they put us up in a hotel with food vouchers and booked us on first flight next am. Not surprisingly, the hotel had a ton of US Air refugees and the hotel management said they do almost every night. The shuttle driver at 5 am said Oh you must all be going to US Air! All the stories were similar--people unable to get on overbooked flights they'd booked months ago. One women on US Air flight to St Louis said they were delayed while mechanics fixed the cabin air, said it was fixed, the flight took off and one hour into it,the cabin air went haywire and they had to return to Phx. They said they couldn't get her on another flight for 2 - 3 days!

So we made our early morning flight, after notifying bosses that we had to take another day of vacation. We made it, but about 10 other passengers didn't--it was overbooked also !!

We've done a lot of travelling and airplane things happen, but not so consistently as this. It can't be a sign of a well run, safe airline.

If you have US Air tickets already, I don't think I'd try to change them, but be prepared to go early and do some battling. And if you haven't booked yet, I'd avoid them. We will not fly them again.

Sorry for the downer post
Joan

My wife had a Alaska Flight delayed 9 hours Zihuatanejo to SFO due to Mechanical Problems & recived a voucher for $6. Think you were treated rather well in comparison.

I'd love to hear what you thought about Isla Mujeres as I am considering a trip there with my DH. Have been to Playa and loved it...don't like Cancun. I might as well go to South Florida if I'm going to Cancun. Love to hear your take on Akumal and Isla.

joan later says... "Got mixed up. Would not want to imply it was American Airlines. US Air and America West seem to be interchangeable"

I flew US Air/America West Seattle to Puerto Vallarta (transfering Phoenix) June 2006 and June 2007 with absolutely no problems. On time, no delays, great flights, good transfer, cheap ticket.

Re: Overbooking. It's pretty much a fact of life in current USA airline travel that overbooking occurs.

One trick I learned was that the airport check-in time is the critical fact in avoiding overbooking. If you are one of the early ones checking in, you are not going to get bumped, whereas if you are checking in less than an hour before the flight, you are at risk. The date you made your flight arrangments has no impact on getting bumped.

So always get to the airport and check in early- at least 2 hours before the flight, even earlier if it is an international flight.

These problems are not airline specific, rather you are fighting a system that is overburdened. It certainly has nothing to do with when you made reservations. A couple of weeks ago I came back from Mexico on Continental. It then took me 24 hours to get home, which should have been a 50 minute flight, and I eventually ended up having to go via detroit adding an extra 5 hours flying time. Likewise yesterday. My flight was late into Atlanta, missed my outgoing flight, got another and that was delayed 2 hours- that was Delta. Its all pretty much the same. You are going to have to suffer to get anywhere on any airline it seems.

Hi Joan: I fly USAirway/American West frequently to Mexico. I have spent the night in Phoenix at my own expense. But I have also had very pleasant flights, so its a hit and a miss. Please do write to them and explain your dissatisfaction. I have received coupons as a gesture of good faith, but they have to be given at the time of purchase at the airport, SO IT IS NOT a worthwhile coupon. I complained about that and they issued a different type of voucher. I think they do try to please the customer that complains. The flights almost always are overbooked around Easter vacation times, so I am surprised that June was Overbooked. My June flight was perfect both ways on US Air. As others have said, always show up 2 hours early, and get your boarding pass on line the night before.