US Airways Carrier

I flew US Airways to Amsterdam to attend the then very popular New Years Eve Travbuddy Meet-up: I must say I did not even know that they had International flights to Europe until my travel consultant Malcom told me I could save $400 by using an "American Carrier". I went from a $920 ticket on British Airways to a $435 on US Airways return to Amsterdam. Now I must say initially I did not know what to expect because my perception of the airline was that it was domestic. If it was anything like Delta, I was not expecting much, however the ticket cost posed more questions about the quality of their service.Nontheless I traveled at a much lower cost than I have ever traveled to Europe from the United States during peak travel season. I have always flown the more reknown international carriers like British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Cathay Pacific across the Pacific. I was pleased with the service for the price I paid. By the way, the International segment of the flight was ontime: no I take that back, it took off a few minutes before the scheduled departure time and everyone was on board. The domestic segment out of Phoenix to Philadelphia however was 30 minutes late.Watch out for the deomestic part of the flight if you are connecting on an International one, I would give myself enough time (at least a two hour connecting time to be safe). Besides the security lines for International travel are such a hassel even if you have only a carry-on.

I have reviewed US Airways before. In January this year I flew US Airways to Amsterdam to attend a Ne Year's Eve Travbuddy Meet-up and I was impressed by the level of service not to mention the great price I paid.

This time I flew with them again from Phoenix Sky Harbor to New York's JFK to pick up my daughter. The reason I'm writing about this trip particularly is because I was dumbfounded and flabbergasted b the fact that I was being charged an extra $15 for a window seat that I had originally been assigned when I made my online booked.

I had called the night before to reconfirm my flight and spoke to a Jeremy who confirmed my seat and Desire's one way return flight as well. At the counter at Sky Harbor, the lovely lady behind the counter looked at me straight faced and told me the same thing three times like I was stupid "Ma'am you can have a window seat for $15, we now sell our window seats as priority seating"

Well "why was I confirmed online" I asked
"I don't know why they would have told you that Ma'am" she replied. By this time, I could tell I was fighting a loosing battle. I went ahead and told her I was a premium frequent flyer to which she immediately responded by puling up my details in her computer. With a changed expression n her face, she tells me "Ma'am if you can stop at the desk at the boarding gate about 9:25 am, you might be given a priority seating if they are not sold out"
That was better than nothing, I smiled at her and she gave me my boarding pass giving me directions to my gate. As I turned to walk away, she smiled again and said "Ma'am if you go straight to the gate desk, you can get the window seat". I bowed half way in gratitude and walked away.

The security gates were busy: this is the international terminal at Sky Harbor so I had to wait in line for my turn. The lines moved smoothly, soon I was passed security and onto the gate. I did not go to the gate immediately, I went to Starbucks for coffee and a cheese danish (both heavenly for this time of morning). After about 25 minutes, I finally made my way to the desk; the smiling service provider behind the desk goes "Ma'am how is it that I can help you" I asked for a window seat, he made a grimace, then turned up and said, "I have one, lets get it for you before someone else takes it". With that I was set with a window seat on aisle 13 which is by the engine.