Mark over at Upgrade: Travel Better and I always have interesting conversations. Two Star Alliance and more specifically United Airlines frequent fliers, we always have stories to exchange between each other. Today's topic revolves around US Airways. I try to keep my blog unbiased but it is inevitable that a bit of biased slips in there from time to time. Before I go slamming an airline I try to fly them more than once, to different locations, with different crews, etc. to help get a better picture. Maybe a flight crew was tired, having a bad day, equipment issues, any sort of circumstances could be at fault.
As for my review of US Airways, I’d have to say I’m less than impressed. Since I have not flown west on the new US Airways only east coast, this would most likely exclude most of those America West flights that are being merged into the US Airways system. 
First off, instead of making hostile takeover bids for airlines, maybe Doug Parker should reinvest in his own airline. The planes exteriors and interiors are in bad shape. I am hoping that the international planes would be in better shape but I am not holding my breath. Dysfunctional in-flight entertainment systems, seats that were falling apart, literally, and exteriors that looked like the planes had been sitting in Arizona at the aviation graveyard sites for years. Wash the planes once in a while, outward appearences are everything in this industry.
The first thing you see when boarding the aircraft is the exterior; so when it is not taken care of, it can give off a bad first impression. Now, flying with pealing paint, duct tape, etc, is perfectly acceptable by FAA regulations. 
However, it doesn’t give off a great impression when the side of your plane is pealing, the wing’s paint is pealing and the logo of your alliance team to quote Mark so eloquently, “was half-off and it looked like it had been attacked with a belt sander.”
How about investing in some kiosks for at least your hub airport operations? Or even bar code scanners at your counters before boarding? I’m all about checking out where I sit on the plane, seeing how full the flight is, moving my seat around if needed, and looking for that better seat. And if I have to stand in line at customer service to do that, I will. It is just adding more time consuming efforts by your grounds crews to help both of us. If you install kiosks in your airports, like your other alliance members, you could save so much time and effort. A little upfront costs will help keep those loyal customers flying with you and not your alliance partners.
On the other side to be perfectly fair, the flight crews on-board the aircraft were exceptional. The pilot chatted with my friend and me before the flight as he was our captain on both legs of our flight, same with the flight attendants. This was a positive for the airline. This is definitely an area that airline excels. Despite ongoing disputes between the pilots and flight attendants with management at the airline, their attitudes did not reflect that, at least with the crews I have flown with.
My advice for Doug Parker, forget the hostile takeover bid of Delta Air Lines and reinvest in your own company. Make it a strong one that will compete here on the mainland with the best of them. Streamline the company, invest in more new planes, and continue to strengthen service. That will get you further than any merger.
(photos courtesy of TJ O'Keefe)
However, it doesn’t give off a great impression when the side of your plane is pealing, the wing’s paint is pealing and the logo of your alliance team to quote Mark so eloquently, “was half-off and it looked like it had been attacked with a belt sander.” 
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