Skyfellow From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 5316 times:
My first trip report so bear with me!
Recently I just returned from Norway helping my grandmother move to a new apartment. After sweating through hot summer days cleaning out the attic, garage and other "hidden" rooms in the house full of stuff, the day was here for returning back home to the United States.
I decided to give US Airways a try. Their direct flight to PHL from OSL also offered seamless connections to IND where I live.
So the last night I took a short bike ride around the area. Isn't Norway just beautiful? These next two pictures were taken around 9:30 pm.
I can stare at this image for hours and never get bored!
Simplicity offered by nature is the greatest beauty!
My brother dropped me off at Aalesund airport the next morning, and the flight to OSL operated by SK was uneventful. They serve darn good coffee on these flights!!
After clearing security at OSL I had a seat waiting for my flight to PHL. The incoming flight was late so we were delayed by about 15 minutes. They must have turned that aircraft around in about an hour or so. Not bad!
Just an everyday image from Oslo International Airport. Can't deny that I like this airport. Small but yet very sophisicated. Took my time and updated my Facebook profile at one of the free internet kiosks.
Boarding was orderly despite a heavy load of families with children on this flight. Most of them heading for Disney-world. I was seated in row 22 and in seat A. Window seat, and with no seat behind me. I really do like the leather seats on US. They are thicker and softer than those on e.g. SK.
So once seated I looked forward to this flight. It was definitely a full load today. No available seats at all.
Leg room was acceptable.
Leg room was adequate. Very comparable to other airlines that I have flown with.
Picture of the wing and winglet of our 757.
This is the view from my seat. I get stunned over and over by the mere height of the winglet of the 757.
Airborne!
Finally airborne after a smooth take-off.
About 30 minutes after take-off, the cabin service started. A round of drinks to start, then lunch.
Lunch. Choice of Pasta in Marinara Sauce or Chicken. I chose the Chicken dish. Small but very good. The wine was $7 for a small bottle. Highway robbery!
Lunch was OK. The meal going from PHL to OSL was even smaller. But this was actually satisfying. It was heavily salted, and tasted pretty good.
So after eating I drifted in and out of sleep. The leather seats were very comfy and I actually slept for 5 hours on this 8 hour flight. I woke up when the crew came around with drinks to keep you hydrated. This must have been the second or third run, and we were approaching the coast of Canada when this took place.
Coast of Canada after crossing the Atlantic.
Finally flying over land again.
Hot turkey and cheese sandwich about an hour before landing. Awesome!
About one and a half hours before landing we were given a hot turkey and cheese sandwich. Maybe one of the best sandwiches I ever had! Enough to keep you over and really good too. The crew came around with one additional drink run as well.
Touchdown at PHL! Great job US!
Finally touch-down and a smooth landing after a superb flight!
Conclusion: US offers a very good and competitive international product at affordable prices for the traveler that is not out to "nit-pick". There was no in-flight entertainment except an old movie (older than I am perhaps), and there was no moving map (could have been handy). But what makes up for this is a very hard-working and very pleasant crew. They went out of their way to please. The 757, though critisized for transatlantic service, was just fine. My apprehension for this aircraft, and for traveling this distance, is totally gone. Both my flights on the 757 were very smooth and comfortable. Hopefully US has found and identified a niche in the Norwegian market that will be sustainable over time. I will definitely fly with them again!
Skyfellow From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 5172 times:
Quoting ELAL772 (Reply 1): So there were many Norwegians on this flight?
Mostly Norwegians on this flight. Other than that, people residing in the US just like me. I would say 75% Norwegians and the remainder made up of mixed nationalities.
IrishAyes From Chile, joined Jan 2008, 131 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 5048 times:
Really well-done TR. Short and to the point, gives the details most potential PAX on a TATL flight like this would want to know about what to expect. I mean, you can't really expect a WHOLE lot on a 757 longhaul service on US, but your TR makes it seem like it can be pleasant.
Great pictures of Norway, makes me want to travel there some day!
How do you become a millionaire? Be a billionaire and start an airline.
Skyfellow From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (4 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 4981 times:
Quoting IrishAyes (Reply 4): Oh...and do they serve free wine in Y on transatlantic flights?
Dream on dude! No free wine. But with the low fare that they offered over the competition I could have bought the whole economy class free wine for the difference and still come out on the plus side!
Your point taken though: US could simply offer a free small bottle of wine or so with the main meal. To charge $7 for a small bottle seems somewhat excessive. It is even more than what an upscale Norwegian restaurant would charge, and we are not talking about fine dining here!
BrusselsSouth From Belgium, joined Aug 2001, 355 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (4 months 4 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 3767 times:
Hi Skyfellow,
Nice report, really gives a good insight into your transatlantic flight. Nice landscape pics of Norway too...
Quoting Skyfellow (Thread starter): Conclusion: US offers a very good and competitive international product at affordable prices for the traveler that is not out to "nit-pick". There was no in-flight entertainment except an old movie (older than I am perhaps), and there was no moving map (could have been handy)
Hmmm. That's your impression and I respect it. However, even with a good crew, no IFE, a very basic meal (judging by your photo and my own US Transatlantic experience) and a 7$ small bottle of wine... is not exactly what I'd call a "very good and competitive international product". But then again, I'm glad you enjoyed your flights, and thank you for sharing your experience.
Skyfellow From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (4 months 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 3662 times:
Quoting BrusselsSouth (Reply 8): not exactly what I'd call a "very good and competitive international product".
Your reaction is understandable. The US international product is pretty "stripped" and basic, so no argument here. But factoring in the price, it does become competitive and really good value for the money too.
Traditionally I fly almost exclusively with SK to Europe (and I travel four times a year at the minimum), but their prices are quite a bit higher. Except for the IFE and one free drink or so, there isn't a whole lot of a difference between their product and that of US. I can only wonder how much value I should put on a free movie or a game to make the time pass, but I do know that I could afford to buy a multitude of movie tickets and a lot of alcohol for the price difference.
I may have been lucky with regard to the flight crew. However, both the east and west bound flights were crewed by individuals showing sincere enthusiasm for what they do. I talked to the head purser in the galley for a while after a restroom break (real friendly guy), and he told me that there is an internal "bidding war" for working the Oslo flight. I found that interesting. Maybe it is because Norway is such a beautiful and interesting country.
San747 From United States, joined Dec 2004, 3882 posts, RR: 13 Reply 10, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2948 times:
Nice to see a positive review of US, especially their international product. They aren't the best Y offering in the entire world, but as the OP has shown, it can be a pleasant and satisfying experience, and from what I've read, they J service, especially on the A330s is right on par with other more respected international offerings from American carriers and even superior in some ways.
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 6176 posts, RR: 52 Reply 12, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 2112 times:
Nice report & pictures, thanks for sharing.
Looks like a pretty decent flight, thouse which are no to worried about IFE (me) would be pretty fine on this flight, though wine @ $7 a bottle is a bit steep!
Skyfellow From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 2008 times:
Thanks for all the feedback my friends and fellow A.netters!
Glad to see that most of you can view my trip report not just in the light of good food, free booze or great IFE. That is how many airlines are judged, but not saying that these criterias are wrong.
The experience on US was actually very good and their ticket price was very competitive. Enthusiastic crew as well. That should count too and be factored into the final judgement.
I can't forget my seatmate on the east-bound flight that was very apprehensive as we were getting seated (she was somewhat stressed out by a late connection at PHL). But we had one seat between us so comfort was not much of an issue (myself by the window and she by the aisle; middle seat free). She told me after landing that she slept like an angel, and so did I. She saved me an orange juice however, and just for me, during a drink run when I was a sleep.
When we disembarked at OSL, we thanked eachother for our company, but we both agreed that US more than met with our expectations. Maybe it was due to the comfy, soft and plush Y seats. I just find these so much more comfortable than the more modern and skinny ones on e.g. SK.
BMIFlyer From United Kingdom (England), joined Feb 2004, 8170 posts, RR: 71 Reply 14, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 2001 times:
Charles79 From United States, joined Mar 2007, 1084 posts, RR: 8 Reply 15, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1971 times:
Nice report, short but to the point.
I've always wondered what it's like to take a TATL flight on a narrow body but judging from your experience it's not as bad as it sounds. And hey if that 757 is taking me to such a beautiful place like Norway then how could one complain!
Quoting Skyfellow (Reply 13): Glad to see that most of you can view my trip report not just in the light of good food, free booze or great IFE. That is how many airlines are judged, but not saying that these criterias are wrong.
Thank you for making this statement. I don't know when it became imperative that in order to enjoy a flight you must have some sort of IFE, fancy food, and free booze. One of the best flights I've enjoyed was on LTU (now Air Berlin) on LAS-DUS. Their A332s don't have PTVs and their meals were light yet tasty (I don't know about the booze as I don't drink ) yet the flight was very pleasant. The crew certainly makes a difference, and you can always bring a book, a laptop, a DVD-player, an iPod, some playing cards...
Someone83 From Norway, joined Sep 2006, 1397 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (4 months 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1574 times:
Quoting Skyfellow (Thread starter): About one and a half hours before landing we were given a hot turkey and cheese sandwich. Maybe one of the best sandwiches I ever had! Enough to keep you over and really good too.
I agree, the warm sandwich was good, and maybe the best I've had in-flight.
The biggest drawback til US and their 757s is the lack of IFE. Only small roof hanging screens for every 5th row or something, and it's difficult to see the whole screen if you're seated in A or F
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