Winging It

This is it for me. I've been long time frquent flyer at this airline. But this new ownership is awful.

Since taking over, service has declined in Philly, morale among workers is in the pits and the airplanes are not even maintained or treated properly. Now, they're pulling this threat. I have options when I fly and I'm using them.

It's a damn shame that US Airways wants to pull a stunt like this just to get their way. They made all this big deal about the Philly to China route and how great it would be. Now Mr. Doug Parker wants to makes threats just because Delta is moving into A East terminal.

If Mr. Parker does go through with this threat then maybe the airport should give more gates to Southwest airlines in terminals B & C and let US Airways deal with that. Southwest already smells blood and US Airways is just making it worst by acting this way. If US Airways pulls this stunt it could cost them somewhere down the road.

They already lost the battle for Baltimore, now they want to gamble with Philadelphia. Not very smart if you ask me.

I am copying down my PHL comments below. But did want to comment on the China story. The bottom line, international flights are better than domestic for the regional economy. Why in the world would you give international gates for domestic flights? Doesn't make sense. It's done to give Southwest more gates.

PHL:

The good:

It’s easy to get through security. No matter what people say, even when the lines go passed the Train stairs, you still get through security quite rapidly, and better yet, you can opt to go to another terminal and walk back over. In the mornings, I always go through terminal A, even though I generally fly US Air. Compare this to other airports like Denver and Atlanta, where there is only one security check point. In Denver it takes at least half an hour if not more to get through security and then you have to go on that crappy train/bus.
It’s close to the city and has public transit access.
A variety of concessions. I am not an airport shopper, but at least I have meal choices.

The bad:

The halls are tight and crowded, though it’s a function of space.
The convenient design for the passenger (no land/air side style) slows down the ability of planes to move in and out, thus increasing delays.
Management stinks – it’s a bunch of political payback, hopefully Nutter, who actually seems ethical, will end the Street reign.

Finally, I wanted to through my two cents in about US Air and international gates. Give them the gates, international service adds significant economic activity to the region. This move has nothing to do with Delta and everything to do with the extra mile the Airport management goes for Southwest. It makes you wonder – really, why would you risk giving up international service? Let’s just say, under Street, I wouldn’t be surprised if something else is going on.

I am not an airline employee – I generally fly US Air because of the direct flights, think their flight attendants and pilots are terrible. The flight attendants stay at these jobs because they still make good money, less but it’s still good, for doing almost nothing – fly AirTran, they work harder and make less. I wish AirTran would expand its PHL service and join an air alliance.