US Airways

http://www.usairways.com

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

4/5

Good business class service, good reach

Family Traveler

3/5

Standard family services

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

3/5

Good reach

Student
Budget Traveler

2/5

A la carte pricing can make flights expensive

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

3/5

Standard accessibility

Long Term Traveler

3/5

Good reach in the US

Novice Traveler

2/5

Not the most user-friendly legacy carrier

Introduction

@font-face { font-family: “Verdana”; }@font-face { font-family: “Cambria Math”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana; }.MsoChpDefault { font-size: 10pt; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }

US Airways is a major player in the domestic airline industry in the United States. It has good reach and competitive service, though it often falls slightly below other airlines when it comes to user-friendliness and in-flight services. Its Charlotte and Philadelphia hubs provide the backbone for a good network of routes in the Eastern half of the US asn well as in the Southwest.

US Airways began in the late 1930s as All American Airways and later, Allegheny Airlines. It served destinations in the Ohio River Valley until it expanded to offer national service and changed its name again to USAir. It wasn’t until 1996 that it updated its fleet and re-branded itself as US Airways that it really became viable competition for other major carriers in the US.

Ratings

Important Factors 2/5

Average Delay

82% on time performance

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

1% overall (up to 3% on major routes to and from Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston)

Customer Satisfaction Rating

2-stars from JD Power and Associates (lowest score among major North American airlines)

Types of Aircraft

Airbus 319, 320, 330; Boeing 737, 757, 767

General 3/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

141

Number of International Flights (Daily)

n/a

Size of Fleet

343

Major Airports and Destinations Served

Phoenix Sky Harbor, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington Reagan, Miami, LAX, JFK and LaGuardia, and Seattle Tacoma.

Location of Hub

Charlotte, Phoenix, Philadelphia

Countries Served

Canada, Mexico, US, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Brazil, Europe (including Germany, France, England and the Netherlands)

Number of Routes

n/a

Most Popular Routes

New York to Washington Reagan, Charlotte to Phoenix, Philadelphia to Los Angeles

In-Flight 2/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

Available for purchase on all flights $5-$7. Drink complimentary.

Food Quality

In-flight Menu

Sandwiches and snacks, themed meals on overseas flights.

Average Leg Room

31-33

Types of In-flight Entertainment

Movies on international flights only. Audio and TV available

Baggage 2/5

Baggage Fees

$25, $25 online for first bag, $35, $32 online for second bag

Number of Bags Allowed

Weight Limits and Restrictions

50 lbs

Web Site 3/5

Online Check-in

Yes

Web Site Usability

2/5

Special Needs 3/5

Handicap Accessibility

Standard

Pets

$100 each way

Special Offers /Partners 4/5

Airline Alliance Membership

Star Alliance

Hotel Partners

Package vacations

Competing Airlines

United, Delta, American Airlines

Strengths

Service to secondary cities often missed by other carriers
Good network of regional affiliates
Free drinks on all flights

Weaknesses

Poor customer service record
Limited international reach compared to other major carriers in US
A la carte pricing for food and baggage

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

US Airways Club lounges are located in the hub cities of Charlotte, Philadelphia and Phoenix. There are also lounges in major airports throughout the US that are regularly served by the airline. US Airways Dividend Miles program allows passengers to earn miles on flights operated by US Airways and its affiliates. In addition, miles can be earned on other Star Alliance member flights.

Conclusion

US Airways has always been an underdog. It lags behind other major carriers in terms of overall quality of service but it has a nationwide reach and good network of routes in the Eastern US. It is a viable option, especially throughout the US, especially for connecting fliers who can rely on its affiliates to get to hub airports. Still, if customer service is important, fliers might want to choose a different airline.