US Airways A330 Economy

Adam T. · Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:31 am

Hey Everyone,
I'm going with a group from my University to Europe in May and the Professor just e-mailed us saying we will be flying US Airways non stop between CLT and FRA both ways. I have checked the schedule and the aircraft is an A330-300 both ways! I'm pretty excited about it but I wanted to ask if anyone on here as flown Economy on US' A330s? I did some searching and found a couple of topics but most of them were about Envoy class. Just to give you a comparison i'm 23 yo, 5'8 and have flown International Economy on Air France 777-200s and Qantas 747-400s.

Also, I know that US requires 30,000 FF miles each way to upgrade to Envoy Class each way between the USA and Europe. I currently have 55,000 miles.....would it be worth it to upgrade on one of the flights or just continue saving miles and use the miles later on?

Thanks,

Adam

[Edited 2007-03-24 17:53:38]

adizzy · Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:48 am

I just used 50,000 for a roundtrip ticket on US from BOS to CDG flying the A-330 I had the same question!

pacifica · Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:54 am

I've never experience US Airways firsthand but from what I've heard their transatlantic service on the A330 is about average.

OA260 · Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:00 am

Their Y class is just average but they make up for it with the entertainment (seat back TV's) . Food service basic so take a few snacks.

I flew them in their J class last November and it was a total discrace, it was like most airlines Y class. The cabin was old and dirty and food basic.

I guess if your in Y class you will not be dissapointed. The crew were friendly which is one thing that saved them.

whappeh · Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:07 am

Average is the best way to describe it. You have in seat screens for your entertainment, and what is a pretty good selection of things to watch. Service isn't anything special, but its not bad. You get a meal, and they come through the cabin with drink service fairly often. Its not the most comfortable seat, but its not bad. I find my self having to get up on occasion when I sit in Y. The Crew can be the most redeeming quality of the flight, I've personally never had a bad US crew going overseas.

elmothehobo · Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:13 am

I flew the same route back in 2004 on the same plane. It's actually pretty comfortable. The front cabin has a bit more legroom. Being a college student you probably have a laptop, buy an Empower cord for your laptop - every seat has a powerport. Seat back IFE with AVOD.

I'll go as far as saying that US Airways' Economy Class transatlantic product on the A330 is THE best transatlantic Economy product offered by any US carrier.

Adam T. · Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:19 am

Elmo,
Yeah I do have a laptop but I don't plan on taking it with me as it would be too much to handle for a 3 1/2 week trip. Thanks for the suggestion though Smile

Whappeh.....I found myself getting up and moving around the cabin alot when I flew Qantas LAX-AKL and back. I did request an aisle seat when I fly to FRA and back. Ever since sitting at the window ATL-CDG and back and being terribly uncomfortable I now prefer sitting at the aisle during long flights so I can just get up when I want to do and I feel like I have a little more breathing room. Though I do miss the window seats during those flights....LOL.

Adam

[Edited 2007-03-24 19:20:11]

captaink · Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:23 am

Quoting ElmoTheHobo (Reply 5):
I'll go as far as saying that US Airways' Economy Class transatlantic product on the A330 is THE best transatlantic Economy product offered by any US carrier.

It sure isn't any worse than AA, UA, CO, DL or NW over the pond. The food service isn't anything to shout about, but it isn't terrible. You have your Sony Passport personal IFE, nice touch. You have about 34in pitch on average throughout coach so the room isn't that bad either. Then to top it off US generally especially on the international flights have very pleasant crew.

Type-Rated · Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:25 am

Watch it with those group tickets. Your professor may have received a special "group rate" for your class. In this case you may or may not not be able to upgrade to Envoy class easily.
As always check with US in advance. They can look at your PNR and determine if your fare basis is upgradable.
Have a great trip!

Adam T. · Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:37 am

Quoting Captaink (Reply 7):
You have about 34in pitch on average throughout coach so the room isn't that bad either.

I was wondering about that.......I saw on Seatguru where it said that US A333's have 31inch seat pitch in economy but everywhere else i've seen it says they have about 34 inch. I do like as much legroom I can get....LOL.

Quoting Type-Rated (Reply 8):
Watch it with those group tickets. Your professor may have received a special "group rate" for your class. In this case you may or may not not be able to upgrade to Envoy class easily.
As always check with US in advance. They can look at your PNR and determine if your fare basis is upgradable.
Have a great trip!

I was also wondering about that.......i'll call US Airways and ask them.

Thanks!

Adam

BAe146MEX · Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:42 am

I flew C in December and it is a decent product. I would probably not use 30000 miles on it (I had a free upgrade). Economy class is about average. Entertainment is AVOD so you get to pause and rewind and start any selection, I love it, although the selection they have now is not a good as pre 9/11. It is still the best US carrier across as far as entertainment (CO is getting there on there 777). Space is slightly better than average, but nothing extraordinary (you can check seatguru.com ). And the food is the worst of the transatlantic flights I have been on, in C it is much better. The only great thing about C is you get to use the lounges on departure and arrival, so you can have a shower in FRA, but since you are going in a group this is probably not possible anyway.

whappeh · Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:01 am

Quoting Adam T. (Reply 9):

I was wondering about that.......I saw on Seatguru where it said that US A333's have 31inch seat pitch in economy but everywhere else i've seen it says they have about 34 inch. I do like as much legroom I can get....LOL.

I think the new re-done aircraft (I think there is only one) has more Y seats, and thus a smaller seat pitch. In my opinion, one of Parker's dumber moves.

N174UA · Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:20 am

Quoting Adam T. (Thread starter):
I wanted to ask if anyone on here as flown Economy on US' A330s?

Last summer I flew PHL-FCO on an A330. Nice plane, seat wasn't bad, but as I was in a window seat, I had the entertainment box obstructing my legspace a little. The meal wasn't very good, service was alright. For the fare, it's what I would have expected. Overall, it wasn't a great flight, but at the same time I didn't have anything to really complain about either.

Quoting Pacifica (Reply 2):
from what I've heard their transatlantic service on the A330 is about average.

As far as an upgrade goes, if there's room, they'll offer for $500 an upgrade to Envoy class. I had that option to FCO but didn't take it as I was at the start of my 3-week vacation. For 400 Euros ($512 last Sept.), I took it on the flight from FCO back to PHL. I was told twice there were no upgrades available, but once I got to the actual gate at FCO, I asked again and got it after a couple turned it down. Persistence pays off.... Wink

Perhaps I was lucky, but I got one of the sleeper seats, which worked fine for most of the flight before it started acting up. Food was great, service not bad, but it wasn't UA.

While US would never be my first choice or recommendation, I would consider flying them again transatlantic. The domestic part of PHL is a dump, but I have to say that the Int'l. terminal is very nice and modern, but not a lot of food choices. I've never flown via CLT.

flyboyaz · Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:30 am

Quoting Whappeh (Reply 11):
I think the new re-done aircraft (I think there is only one) has more Y seats, and thus a smaller seat pitch. In my opinion, one of Parker's dumber moves.

The seat pitch was reduced, we took out some Envoy seats and added more coach. I know they are doing something to change it again because there were a lot of complaints from the crew...what they are changing I can't remember. It's all about economics. We weren't selling many full priced Envoy seats so they added seats that do sell...makes sense really...not necessarily to an airline guru!

burnsie28 · Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:48 am

If your in coach, US charges for headseats.

MCOflyer · Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:53 am

Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 14):
If your in coach, US charges for headseats.

Tell them your with a group and they may hand some out.

Etops1,

are you working this flight?

MCOflyer

AlexPorter · Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:26 pm

I have been wondering the same things, since I am PHL-CDG-PHL in May and June, in Y. I'm up in row 9, so that's good.

I've heard really good things about the IFE, although you have to pay for headphones in Y, but oh well. What's $5 on a $900 flight?

Thanks everyone for the responses (even though I didn't ask the question).

On a side note, aren't they redoing the cabins? I know that row 9 used to be the second row of economy, but now it is the 4th (or will be by May when I fly). Does this mean the seats are replaced, too? Are there newer, more comfortable seats or is it the same seats?

Bridogger6 · Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:10 am

Quoting AlexPorter (Reply 16):
Does this mean the seats are replaced, too? Are there newer, more comfortable seats or is it the same seats?

The seats are the same, but they're really not all that uncomfortable... they do just fine. Although, with the cabin reconfigurations, there may be less leg room, I haven't personally seen what it looks like, so that dumb move may effect your comfort level.

Adam T. · Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:12 am

Quoting Flyboyaz (Reply 13):
Quoting Whappeh (Reply 11):
I think the new re-done aircraft (I think there is only one) has more Y seats, and thus a smaller seat pitch. In my opinion, one of Parker's dumber moves.

The seat pitch was reduced, we took out some Envoy seats and added more coach. I know they are doing something to change it again because there were a lot of complaints from the crew...what they are changing I can't remember. It's all about economics. We weren't selling many full priced Envoy seats so they added seats that do sell...makes sense really...not necessarily to an airline guru!

Flyboyaz......do you happen to know what the new seat pitch in coach is on the reconfigured A330s? Will they all be reconfigured by May?

US Airways A330 Economy

US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airrways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

RE: US Airways A330 Economy

Who is online

Popular Searches On Airliners.net