Sweetbriar
Welcome to the Sweetbriar Directory.
based on 34 reviewsAddress
Philadelphia International Airport, 8000 Essington Ave
Philadelphia, Pa 19153
(800) 428-4322
Welcome to the Sweetbriar Directory.
Philadelphia International Airport, 8000 Essington Ave
Philadelphia, Pa 19153
(800) 428-4322
30 Comments
Call me crazy, but I don't think USAirways is that bad. Sure I've flown on other airlines that treat you better or the planes are a little more modern, but getting you to and from where ever is what they do and they do it well.
I normally fly SNA-PHX-PHL on the red eye and have no issues, well hell there shouldn't be right? I fly first class, so the flight attendants are normally very nice and accomidating to whatever needs I may have.
Gayle and I recently flew to Portugal (and back) on Continental Frequent Flyer miles. We took US Airways from SFO to PHL, and then changed planes at the International Terminal as we proceeded onwards to Lisboa. The big bonus is that I scored First/Business Class tickets all the way to our honeymoon destination. And at a price that would make Edgar V. Orion green with envy. However, coming back home (through a chaotic EWR) on TAP and Continental (Coach) was another matter, and will be the subject for an upcoming review.
They really do treat you differently up front, although the guy who was loudly snoring on the PHL leg put a bit of a damper on the experience. And isn't amazing on how often the chair in front of you can be "accidentally" kicked? We also ran into the snorer later in the International Terminal, but luckily he jetted off somewhere else.
The International part of our flight on an Airbus was especially noteworthy, with good food and service, lots of room and comfort, and stewards who actually enjoyed their work. At the same time and if I had to do it over again, I'd fly to Europe on a non-US airline, as there are some experience details that only they understand and execute (starting with on-demand video and flat seat beds). But Hey, US Airways was more than "good enough", and this beggar certainly couldn't be a chooser.
Gayle and I also had several hours between flights and our tickets also got us admission to the Business Class (Envoy) Lounge. It's located upstairs within the International Terminal and gives you a great panoramic view of the tarmac and into New Jersey. The place is huge, the seating is comfortable, and who's to argue when there's all the free food and booze that you want?
A few years ago I flew Coach in and out of Philly on US Air and endured the claustrophobic and funky terminal area. That hasn't changed much and if it wasn't for the escape to the Envoy Lounge and the International Terminal, I'd be right there with the rest of you at 2-3 Stars.
The only consequence of this unaccustomed First Class Service is that Gayle loved it and wants more.......
US Airways always ends up being the cheapest flights to Europe, and there are definite reasons for this.
The staff must have never been taught how to be polite, let alone practice good customer service. On a recent flight, I watched as two different flight attendants spoke to customers as if they were children when asking simple questions, basically dismissing their concerns as if they did not matter.
They constantly have delays (and sometimes even cancellations, as in my boyfriend's recent experience) and their reasons are absurd, making no sense to the customer.
I would give it a 1, but considering that it is the cheapest option, I have to give it the extra star. If you have the money, fly British Airways always.
By far the worse airline experience from the ground up. Traveling from Rochester, NY to Philadelphia to Zurich and back, from baggage handling to customer service to added charges, poor food, higher than usual charges for extras such as drinks onboard, this airline has a lot to learn from competitors like Continental. After having chosen my seats well ahead of schedule, on check-in I was faced with having to pay extra or be given the worse seat on flight... not my original seat choice. In the end, $50 surcharge for a luggage 2 lbs over, $35 each way for extra seat charges, onboard charges higher than other airlines, poor food, terrible cabin experience with only one TV monitor for an entire coach class cabin, arcane luggage compartments accommodating briefcase size carry on at best, this airline is only matched by 1970s air travel experience. Its only redeeming factor, the stewardesses.
I HATE YOU US AIRWAYS. To bad I'm not allowed to give Zero stars, because you deserve just that ZERO!
I can't believe you are still in business and I had to use you again.
- Ticket agents who yell at people to use the electronic ticketing machines and refuse to help anyone having problems.
- Ticket agents who toss your suitcase like the old Samsonite commercials of the monkey destroying your personal property.
- I watched a ticket agent refuse to allow a paralyzed man's medical equipment ship with his checked baggage for free. Really, you need to make money that bad that you take advantage of this person. Unreal.
- Gate agents who ignore you and just have an over hate of other people with poor people skills.
Air terminal waiting areas that are dirty, smell, and are not comfortable.
No A/C in the Philadelphia terminal C / US Airways area.
The Philadelphia Terminal C smelled and the airplane for flight #1469 PHL-ATL was even worse. It smelled like feet and a*$. Plus the blue water from the lavatory.
Airline flight attendants who again hate their job and people who pay their pay checks. Airplanes that are again, dirty, uncomfortable, smell, and make me feel unsafe. While in the lavatory I was looking for paper towels, I opened the cabinet under the sink and saw rat or mice droppings along with rat poison and a roach hotel trap. YUCK. But hey they have friends and need to travel as well.
This last flight I had on June 13, 2010 from Philadelphia to Atlanta had no Air conditioning. Flight was delayed to repair this. Instead US Airways loaded the plane and took off without the A/C working I suspect to prevent having to put people in hotels since this was the last flight of the day.
I have had 3 other flights with this Airlines where they loaded us on and pulled away from the terminal and had to sit on the plane waiting for a repair or weather to clear. Two such times that lasted over 10 hours. SHAME on you US Airways.
I HATE YOU!!!
I have moments of being an armchair economist. Like right now. When shopping for plane tickets, price sensitivity reigns. There is nothing, and I mean nothing that would ever (at least until I'm like 35 and livin' the life) alter my opinion on this.
All of this said, I really like US Air! They have really good snacks. These days, flying domestic coach, what else can you ask for? Really.
I have mixed feelings about US Airways.
The service I had was great.
The staff here in San Francisco was terrific!
The inflight service was terrific!
The problem was the connection in Philadelphia.
Once we landed at PHL, we sat forever. There were not enough gates open. I would have missed my connecting flight to Detroit but luckily I that flight was delayed.
Once I got to my connecting flight, we sat for over an hour waiting for takeoff due to light winds from the east.
Granted that is not US Airways fault. I was amused that the staff in Philadelphia acted as if it was no big deal because they are so accustomed to these sort of delays, including everyone else on the connecting flight.
Seems like PHL is responsible for many of the gripes against US Airways.
The airport really needs to expand and shouldn't be paralyzed by light winds from the east. causing so many delays.
Over all, I like US Airways.
I am stunned and amazed that US Airways is still in operation. It has been a couple of years since I have flown them and I suppose I have become spoiled by airliners who have it together. Unfortunately, this airline epitomizes everything that is wrong with air travel. And the combination of US Airways and Philadelphia Airport creates such a cosmic cluster fuck, you're pretty much guaranteed to have a miserable trip.
Oh where to begin...
- Both flights were overbooked and seats were assigned to more than one person.
- They didn't check our IDs when we checked our bags, only days after someone tried to blow up a plane in Detroit.
- They charged astronomical fees for checked bags (and even MORE to check curb-side!). As a result there was never enough overhead space which meant we needed to check our carry on baggage. On the flight out, the flight attendant was trying to tell my BF that he had to check his camera bag. There was no way in hell that was happening so we had to shove and stuff the equipment under our seats.
- There were issues with bathrooms on both flights. On the return trip, there was ONE BATHROOM for all of coach, nearly 200 passengers, FOR A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. Is that even legal?
- Our trays were filthy with crusted food and when I asked the bitchy flight attendant for something to clean it with, she presented me with a damp paper towel.
- The flight attendants were mean, ugly and unkempt.
- They no longer show movies and only passed through once offering drinks on a 4 hour flight that was 2 1/2 hours delayed.
- They landed us in Terminal A (isn't that the international terminal?) and made us walk to Terminal C to get our bags. Did I mention it was 1 a.m. and we were two and half hours delayed? There were no other flights coming in so they can't blame it on excess traffic.
With options like Southwest and Continental, I can promise I'll never fly this airline again except in an absolute emergency. My only hope is that they go the route of Eastern, TWA and PanAm.
It seems that people only Yelp airlines when they're really mad or when they're really relieved. Welcome to an anomaly; a lukewarm review for an airline.
US Airways isn't my first choice, but since I lived in Phoenix many years, I accrued a lot of America West miles, which are now US Airways miles. So be it.
Looking for flights home for the holidays, I wanted to use miles if possible, when I saw how expensive all flights were this year. On US Airways, flying LAX-PHL, I was able to get to the east coast on the 18th, as I hoped, and by returning a day early, on the 26th, I could use miles. Not only that, but for SOME reason, which I still don't understand, it was 45K miles and not 50K miles for my ticket, and that was first class round trip. Not bad, guys, not bad.
The planes aren't the nicest (That's Virgin America), and the crews aren't the best (That's IcelandAir), the food is nothing special (Gotta give props to United First for that)... but at the end of the day, despite bad weather, I got in about an hour late (not terrible), my attendants were pleasant enough, and it was a fairly painless procedure to use my miles. That'll do, pig. That'll do.
PART I of "how much I hate US Airways"....
If there were a negative star rating, US AIR would get -10 MILLION. They are dirty, dirty liars. So let me set the scene: 5 people on their merry way to have Christmas together in Bermuda...then suddenly the evil of US AIR interfered with this happy, fuzzy experience in the most heinous evil way possible. We, a family of 5 all weighing approximately 600 pounds COLLECTIVELY were told that we could not get on the airplane because there were too many HEAVY BAGS. WTF? People are less important than luggage?? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? HONESTLY? The only way we knew that we were not being allowed on the flight (the gate agents mysteriously disappeared at an interestingly opportune time) was watching the mother F***ing plane pull off....WTF? WHAT FANTASTIC customer service. wow. SO THEN we go and stand for 2 hours in line to complain and get reimbursed and they tell us that we need to write a LETTER to them explaining our grievances. REALLY? REALLY US AIR? It was pretty obvious that these money grubbing, penny pinching EVIL people had sold our tickets and gotten double the money for our seats (WE WERE ON TIME AND HAD BOARDING PASSES IN OUR HANDS). Why not just punch me in the face too? That would have been awesome. SO THEN instead of helping us WHATSOEVER they give us three bags of toiletries (sticky I might add) and sent us on our merry way. They are bad and terrible. What kind of organization is this? My fat kittens could have managed this whole situation better from their perches on the sofa. BAD BAD US AIR. HISSSSSSSSSS. BOOOOOOOOOO!!!
PART II of "how much I hate US Airways"....
So the return trip--yes we had to fly them home...the airplane smelled strongly of feet and BO. The stewardess talked for probably 15 minutes about some credit card you couldn't pay me to use in rediculously slow blather. THEN the plane was somehow unable to attach to the jetway...REALLY? How difficult is this? I've flown all my life and NEVER experienced crazy bullsh+*t (another 20-30min delay) thank you for stealing precious moments of my life USAirways, thank you. THEN the bags--they somehow ripped a 2foot long gash in a thick suitcase that has made it through many tough situations. It looks like someone took a rip saw and went at it. Thanks USAir, you have wasted my time, made me smell gross things, and have destroyed my property. BOOOOOOOOOOOO.