Good News Everyone: US Airways resumes free drink!

Last year US Airways started charging $2 for non-alcoholic beverages ($1 for coffee/tea) on board their flights. The charge was started during the crude oil’s rendezvous with $150/barrel, but was not followed by any other airlines. Recently, US Airways’ CEO Chairman, Doug Parker, announced that they are withdrawing the charge and resuming free beverages on [...]

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Video: Bird Strike Test

It is a scary video, but this is probably what happened with the US Airways flight 1549 that crash landed in the Hudson River -

Details from youtube – Wide Body, Blade-Out Jet Engine TestShort video showing what
happens when a foreign object such as a large bird is ingested in a jet
engine. [...]

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Passenger pays for everything: US Airways charges for pillow and blanket

First the food, then the bags, then no-pretzels, then the beverages and now pillow and blankets ($7 in-flight and online)? US Airways seem to be moving to a charge for everything. Gone are the days when US Airways was headquartered in Arlington VA and was one of the nicer legacy carriers. Though, there are some [...]

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Flight 1549 update: US Airways gives $5000 check + cost of the ticket to each passenger

US Airways announced that it has sent a check of $5000 (for lost possessions) to each passenger that were on the flight 1549 that crash landed on the Hudson river. The airline also included the check for reimbursement of the ticket price. Though they did mention that the passenger’s possessions might not be returned for [...]

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US Airways flight 1549 crash lands in Hudson River

Flight number 1549 that was scheduled to fly from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte’s Charlotte-Douglas Airport at 3:20pm, had to crash land into the Hudson river after both its engines failed due to a run in with a flock of geese. There were around 150 people on flight. According to reports, the pilot maneuvered [...]

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Why charging for bags makes sense?

American Airlines started it and then came in United Airlines and US Airways. Now Northwest Airlines is going to charge to charge for first checked bag.
Well, my first reaction – “It is stupid! Now I don’t just pay for the ticket but for my food, drink and my BAGS???. If it is just $15 you [...]

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Continental dumps Oneworld to join Star Alliance

Continental Airlines has been in talks with American Airlines and British Airways to join their Oneworld alliance, but instead announced that it will join the Star Alliance (with United Airlines and US Airways).
Continental had to change its alliance from SkyTeam due to Delta and Northwest Merger Announcement.
From Dallas News -
Continental’s
plan to partner with United [...]

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Pay to Check Bags: American Airlines, US Airways and Not United Airlines

Couple of weeks back American Airlines announced that it will start charging $15 for first check bag. In the last couple of two weeks, two other airlines – US Airways and United Airlines have announced their adoption of the checked bags.
So, now the policy stands like this -

1 Bag – $15 each way
2 Bags – [...]

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US Airways: Trying hard to offset the gas bill

After the failed merger attempt with United Airlines, US Airways has started its cost cutting initiatives. To offset the gas bill, they are planning/considering the following -

New/increased Passenger Fees
Charge for Soft Drinks (America West was the first airline to charge for a meal)
Charge $15 for first checked bag (started by American Airlines)
Capacity cuts
Potential Layoffs

Earlier US [...]

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Pilots at US Airways: East vs West

First a little bit of a terminology as used at US Airways – East Pilots/Employees – Pilots/Employees who worked for US Airways before the mergerWest Pilots/Employees – Pilots/Employees who worked for America West before the mergerThough I think the terminology is used for all other work groups and even management staff as East vs [...]

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