• A new look and branding for the domestic First Class meal tray
• New china for domestic First Class to align with the Envoy design
• Refresh of domestic First Class meals to address quality and provisioning ratios
• Snack basket for pre-arrival service on long-haul domestic flights
• New continental breakfast concept on domestic red-eye flights
• New design Envoy amenity kit with enhanced content
• A new modern design wine glass for Envoy
• Complimentary headsets on Economy transoceanic flights (Europe/Middle East/
South America)
• Complimentary beer/wine during primary meal service on Economy
transoceanic flights
• DineFresh Economy meals for purchase on return flights to the U.S.
Source : Inflight Weekly .
Moderators: jsumali2, richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
-
- gilesdavies
- Posts: 2331
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
Pleased to read about these little touches...
As in the grand scheme of things, they are quite small, but it is the little touches that make the journey more enjoyable!
I think things like free headsets and alcoholic drinks in economy are overdue on their Long Haul routes, as this is offered by nearly all the other major players crossing the Atlantic. Also if you read reviews about the airline on the likes of SkyTrax and Trip Adviser, these are where people have noticed differences in their service.
Now US have the A330-200's and newly refurbished A330-300's, with these little touches, I think it will bring them back on par with being one of the best carriers across the Altantic. Find their IFE and seat comfort excellent
As in the grand scheme of things, they are quite small, but it is the little touches that make the journey more enjoyable!
I think things like free headsets and alcoholic drinks in economy are overdue on their Long Haul routes, as this is offered by nearly all the other major players crossing the Atlantic. Also if you read reviews about the airline on the likes of SkyTrax and Trip Adviser, these are where people have noticed differences in their service.
Now US have the A330-200's and newly refurbished A330-300's, with these little touches, I think it will bring them back on par with being one of the best carriers across the Altantic. Find their IFE and seat comfort excellent
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
Now if only they could get one good envoy seat uniform to the whole longhaul fleet, that would go a LONG way to putting them up there. I must admit I have always found the service on US pretty good, but it was always the seats in Envoy that bitterly disappointed. In fact it would have been better just to put their domestic first sets on the 757's and older 767's than the awful seats they currently have.
Is there any plans to change them all to the seats they have on the A330's?
Is there any plans to change them all to the seats they have on the A330's?
I wish there was still a flying boat service on the African Lakes!
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
The flippant side makes me think of several merger scenarios. 
But OTOH, why would USAir go to the expense of redesigning the china/ glassware etc... if a merger were truly immenent? (Yes, I know these items are on the less expensive side, but sill it is an added expense or the merger maniacs will say it was done because it will be the new design for the merged carrier...)
But OTOH, why would USAir go to the expense of redesigning the china/ glassware etc... if a merger were truly immenent? (Yes, I know these items are on the less expensive side, but sill it is an added expense or the merger maniacs will say it was done because it will be the new design for the merged carrier...)
I don't know why blessings wear disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around nude!
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
Good Lawd.. Can't they find some money to refresh Piedmont's turboprop fleet? They are so in need of it. Badly...
Aiming High and going far..
-
- gilesdavies
- Posts: 2331
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting qm001 (Reply 2): Is there any plans to change them all to the seats they have on the A330's? |
I doubt it...
The Herringbone seat design in the A330's, cannot be accommodated in the 757, from what i understand.
The 767 had new flat bed seats installed about three or four years ago, as part of a general refresh of the 767's and this was confirmed at the time as the final update the airline would do the 767's before they are retired. I would expect them to be gone by about 2015-16...
I personally don't think the product sounds too bad on the 767's, but unfortunately I am not privy to flying this class type.
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/trave...ntheair/envoyfirst/envoyclass.html
Even if the new seats could be accommodated on the 757 and 767, this would come as a major hit to capacity on both aircraft types, and doubt the airline could make it work profitably with a smaller payload on both aircraft types.
-
- MesaFlyGuy
- Posts: 3916
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
This is nice to hear. I have only pleasant things to say about US' first class so I guess this can only make it better! 
The views I express are my own and do not reflect the views and opinions of my company.
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting etops1 (Thread starter): |
So what I see is:
US currently charges for alcohol and headsets on international flights, no one else does and they will be charging for a meal option on flights back to the USA.
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting bobloblaw (Reply 7): they will be charging for a meal option on flights back to the USA. |
The change there is that DineFresh had not been available westbound. I see it as a positive; customer choice is usually a good thing.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
I have never been a fan of them since a horrible experience in J some years back. I was convinced to try them again and some weeks back flew CLT-LGW in Envoy. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Its not the best product out there but it was decent and I couldnt complain about anything. Seats/crew/IFE/Meals were all very good.
Any improvements can only be a good thing .
Any improvements can only be a good thing .
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
While I do call myself a US fanboy, I find it ironic that when US, the airline that airline enthusiasts continue to predict its demise announce improvements, they go unnoticed. Yet, when US does something wrong or makes a service reduction of some sort, people act like its the end of the world, and stories about how "my sister's ex boyfriend's brother once flew US and had a terrible experience, so I can never fly with US" come out.
This will be a much welcome improvement, instead of the old snack basket.
Very nice to see them improving Y in some aspect. Now the key is "primary" meal service. TLV currently offers two full meal services, will beer and wine be complementary during both?
Hmm..wonder what this means in the long run.
| Quoting etops1 (Thread starter): New continental breakfast concept on domestic red-eye flights |
This will be a much welcome improvement, instead of the old snack basket.
| Quoting etops1 (Thread starter): Complimentary headsets on Economy transoceanic flights (Europe/Middle East/ South America) • Complimentary beer/wine during primary meal service on Economy transoceanic flights |
Very nice to see them improving Y in some aspect. Now the key is "primary" meal service. TLV currently offers two full meal services, will beer and wine be complementary during both?
| Quoting etops1 (Thread starter): • Refresh of domestic First Class meals to address quality and provisioning ratios |
Hmm..wonder what this means in the long run.
RJ85, F70, E135, E140, E145, E70, E75, E90, CR2, CR7, CR9, 717, 732, 733, 734, 735, 73G, 738, 739, 744ER, 752, 753, 762, 763ER, 772, 77E, 77W, 789, 319, 320, 321, 332, 333, 343, 359, 388
-
- BOACCunard
- Posts: 316
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting etops1 (Thread starter): • Complimentary headsets on Economy transoceanic flights (Europe/Middle East/ South America) |
They weren't already?!
Getting There is Half the Fun!
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
US, are you feeling well? You are acting strange. Are you sure it's really US?
-
- 1337Delta764
- Posts: 5933
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
Darn, I was hoping for them to bring back IFE on domestic flights. Hopefully if they merge with AA domestic IFE is retained.
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 14): Darn, I was hoping for them to bring back IFE on domestic flights. Hopefully if they merge with AA domestic IFE is retained. |
US has domestic IFE. All A321s have WiFi, and most Airbus narrowbodies are already fitted or are in the process of being fitted, same goes with the E90s. I believe the E70s and E75s have all been fitted with WiFI.
I suppose you mean IFE in the form of video. While I do miss the IFE, in todays society, there just isn't a purpose for IFE on domestic flights.
RJ85, F70, E135, E140, E145, E70, E75, E90, CR2, CR7, CR9, 717, 732, 733, 734, 735, 73G, 738, 739, 744ER, 752, 753, 762, 763ER, 772, 77E, 77W, 789, 319, 320, 321, 332, 333, 343, 359, 388
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting Flighty (Reply 13): US, are you feeling well? You are acting strange. Are you sure it's really US? |
| Quoting qm001 (Reply 2): Now if only they could get one good envoy seat uniform to the whole longhaul fleet, that would go a LONG way to putting them up there. I must admit I have always found the service on US pretty good, but it was always the seats in Envoy that bitterly disappointed. In fact it would have been better just to put their domestic first sets on the 757's and older 767's than the awful seats they currently have. |
While I am loyal to AA, and perhaps even a fanboy, I recently flew US for the first time in many years and was impressed with the crews on all five of my flights. It's good to hear that US plans on improving their hard product as well.
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting ERJ170 (Reply 4): Can't they find some money to refresh Piedmont's turboprop fleet? |
The remainder of the Dash 8's in the old colors have been cycling through the paint shop pretty quickly lately, so it's a start. Unfortunately, three aircraft will be timing out in the next few months, and there are still no replacements in line
.Every flight counts.
-
- jetblue777
- Posts: 1204
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
So US is basically going to offer what other legacy carriers have been doing for a while now? 
I agree.
I've had wonderful experiences with US crew, although their hard product is average, I found their crews to be warm, friendly and caring from my experience.
Wishing them well!
jetBlue777
| Quoting AA94 (Reply 16): While I am loyal to AA, and perhaps even a fanboy, I recently flew US for the first time in many years and was impressed with the crews on all five of my flights. It's good to hear that US plans on improving their hard product as well. |
I agree.
I've had wonderful experiences with US crew, although their hard product is average, I found their crews to be warm, friendly and caring from my experience.
Wishing them well!
jetBlue777
It's a cultural thing.
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting ERJ170 (Reply 4): Good Lawd.. Can't they find some money to refresh Piedmont's turboprop fleet? They are so in need of it. Badly... |
Not going to happen. They will be retiring them as they time out. They extended the leases on some of the 300s last year, but there will be no new or additional aircraft for Piedmont.
| Quoting USAirALB (Reply 15): I suppose you mean IFE in the form of video. While I do miss the IFE, in todays society, there just isn't a purpose for IFE on domestic flights. |
The subscription rates for wifi are not very high. I believe it is still a revenue losing proposition.
-
- DeltaRules
- Posts: 5270
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
That's all well and good, but how about a movie for somebody sitting in the back wanting to go CLT/PHL-SXM on a 757? I like US, but I'm probably not going to be experiencing the majority of the listed upgrades.
I'd rather have a movie or something short (hell, the Cranium video I saw in 2007 PIT-MCO on an A319 was a fun time-killer) than a WiFi service whose speed depends on how many people are using it. I've only used WiFi a couple of times and even Facebook wasn't worth it.
What I don't understand is why US doesn't offer anything on the 757, 767, or A330 flights to the Caribbean when they're already equipped with the systems.
[Edited 2013-01-14 21:23:49]
| Quoting USAirALB (Reply 15): I suppose you mean IFE in the form of video. While I do miss the IFE, in todays society, there just isn't a purpose for IFE on domestic flights. |
I'd rather have a movie or something short (hell, the Cranium video I saw in 2007 PIT-MCO on an A319 was a fun time-killer) than a WiFi service whose speed depends on how many people are using it. I've only used WiFi a couple of times and even Facebook wasn't worth it.
What I don't understand is why US doesn't offer anything on the 757, 767, or A330 flights to the Caribbean when they're already equipped with the systems.
[Edited 2013-01-14 21:23:49]
A310/319/320/321/333, ARJ, BN2, B717/722/73S/733/734/735/73G/738/739/744/757/753/767/763/764/777, CR1/2/7/9, DH6, 328, EM2/ERJ/E70/E75/E90, F28/100, J31, L10/12/15, DC9/D93/D94/D95/M80/M88/M90/D10, SF3, SST
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting etops1 (Thread starter): New china for domestic First Class to align with the Envoy design |
No more plastic cups for wine in F? Nice touch DP
Seriously though, as someone who is willing to pay more for increased service from airlines I approve of any attempt by the majors to improve ....
" Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness ... Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. ” - Mark Twain, 1869
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
US are still nowhere near close to matching the service levels of their European and Asian counterparts, even with this "upgrade".
Although I generally find the food served in Y on BA to be disgusting, the "all inclusive" service they offer probably gives it a competitive edge in many respects. Just like LH and AF.
Although I generally find the food served in Y on BA to be disgusting, the "all inclusive" service they offer probably gives it a competitive edge in many respects. Just like LH and AF.
Base: BRU
-
- AeroSafari
- Posts: 34
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
How long did it take US to finally come to its senses? Its been a long time coming. With the amount of profit US will announce for 2012 theres no excuse for not being up to par on what other carriers have already been offering for free 
Lets not get anybody's hopes up though... time will tell if theres any real "upgrade" at all. Anyone remember the US China route or The PHX - Tokyo announcement? Not to mention if the GRU route will even get off the ground entirely. (though I hear theres solid plans in the works)
Lets not get anybody's hopes up though... time will tell if theres any real "upgrade" at all. Anyone remember the US China route or The PHX - Tokyo announcement? Not to mention if the GRU route will even get off the ground entirely. (though I hear theres solid plans in the works)Just remember, the sweet is never as sweet without the sour
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting SKAirbus (Reply 23): Although I generally find the food served in Y on BA to be disgusting, the "all inclusive" service they offer probably gives it a competitive edge in many respects. Just like LH and AF. |
How is US' meal service not all inclusive? You can get a lousy meal for free, just like on BA, or you can pay for something better. It's one more choice than anyone else offers.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
-
- jetsetter629
- Posts: 498
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
Has anyone tried the DineFresh meal plan on US? I'm curious to try it but not sure if its worth the $20 each for my wife and I on our trip to Spain...
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 25): How is US' meal service not all inclusive? You can get a lousy meal for free, just like on BA, or you can pay for something better. It's one more choice than anyone else offers. |
And US is hardly the only airline doing this. AF/KLM have this option, and ANA also tried selling business class meals to economy passengers a few years ago, but I don't know if they still do.
-
- Flying Belgian
- Posts: 1958
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
It can't be any worse anyway !!
USAW's reputation here in BRU is simply appalling and terrible. Their 757/762 don't help, but the crews neither.
Many travel agents simply avoid selling them. Their 762s also have a lot of techs.
USAW's reputation here in BRU is simply appalling and terrible. Their 757/762 don't help, but the crews neither.
Many travel agents simply avoid selling them. Their 762s also have a lot of techs.
Life is great at 41.000 feet...
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting AeroSafari (Reply 24): Anyone remember the US China route or The PHX - Tokyo announcement? Not to mention if the GRU route will even get off the ground entirely. (though I hear theres solid plans in the works) |
Couple of things.
One, I actually believe it was smart of US not to launch China back in 2008. And two, US never received any NRT slots out of the DL/US slot transaction, so what slots were they supposed to launch PHX-NRT with? And GRU is most certainty getting off the ground. US has been flying to Brazil for more than three years now. Start date for GRU is May 5.
RJ85, F70, E135, E140, E145, E70, E75, E90, CR2, CR7, CR9, 717, 732, 733, 734, 735, 73G, 738, 739, 744ER, 752, 753, 762, 763ER, 772, 77E, 77W, 789, 319, 320, 321, 332, 333, 343, 359, 388
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting USAirALB (Reply 29): US never received any NRT slots out of the DL/US slot transaction, so what slots were they supposed to launch PHX-NRT with? |
I'm pretty sure that was in reference to the 2009 agreement:
http://www.usairways.com/EN-US/ABOUT...NNOUNCEMENT.HTML?C=HP_G3_TXT_00711
If I remember correctly, the open skies deal in 2010 between the U.S. and Japan made the proposed authority transaction a moot point. US still would have had to negotiate for slots at Narita either way.
Tiny, unreadable text leaves ample room for interpretation.
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting SKAirbus (Reply 23): US are still nowhere near close to matching the service levels of their European and Asian counterparts, even with this "upgrade". |
To be fair is any US carrier on par with it's European/Asian counterparts, especially Asian ?
Fly the Flag!!!!
-
- USAIRWAYS321
- Posts: 1729
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting USAirALB (Reply 10): While I do call myself a US fanboy, I find it ironic that when US, the airline that airline enthusiasts continue to predict its demise announce improvements, they go unnoticed. Yet, when US does something wrong or makes a service reduction of some sort, people act like its the end of the world, and stories about how "my sister's ex boyfriend's brother once flew US and had a terrible experience, so I can never fly with US" come out. |
I agree 100% with this. It's a little frustrating, but what can you do?
-
- LAXdude1023
- Posts: 6224
- Joined:
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
Excellent news!
All they need to do is join OneWorld and Ill give them a shot over the water.
All they need to do is join OneWorld and Ill give them a shot over the water.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD BRING BACK THE PAYWALL!!!!
RE: US To Enhance Inflight Customer Experience In 2013
| Quoting gilesdavies (Reply 1): this is offered by nearly all the other major players crossing the Atlantic. |
| Quoting bobloblaw (Reply 7): US currently charges for alcohol and headsets on international flights, no one else does and they will be charging for a meal option on flights back to the USA. |
... United doesn't offer real alcohol on flights over either ocean for free. And only beer and wine are available on transpacific.
NS
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: 32andBelow, 717atOGG, a318, ah414211, alfa164, Antarius, asqx, billsalton92, Bing [Bot], BNEman, Boiler905, Dalavia, deltairlines, Elkadad313, f18raider, F9Animal, jmw99ttu, jumbojettony, justplanesmart, khaba, LightningAce, Lpbri, MAH4546, Newark727, Oliver2020, PDXFlyingBear, PSU.DTW.SCE, qf15, qf789, Runway28L, SunsetLimited, Thenoflyzone, trent772, VX321, WassbiKhalifa, xms3200 and 278 guests