US Airways Envoy Suites: Philadelphia - Paris

After the big disappointment on inbound flight with old Envoy Class (although sufficient for a day flight) we hoped to get Envoy Suites on the night flight back to Europe. But first we had to get from the American countryside to Philadelphia...

It worked quite well despite of changing planes in Charlotte and New York La Guardia. The Dash-8, Airbus A319 and Embraer 145 were in good shape. Between Charlotte and New York we got an upgrade to First Class again. The seats are really wide, but seat pitch is only a bit better than in Economy due to the thick upholstery. Beverages are made to order and small snacks (biscotti, shortbread, chips, nuts, etc.) are offered during the flight.

Airline: US Airways
Aircraft: Airbus A330-200
Class: Business
Route: Philadelphia - Paris
Date: November 2010 

Having arrived in Philadelphia we had a quick look at the assigned gate for Paris to check out the aircraft. A330-200: good! Registration 285: better! Checking with FlyerTalk that only numbers 281 (the one of inbound flight) and 283 haven't been refurbished yet: priceless!

A big smile came up and we decided to spend one hour in US Airways' Envoy Lounge at Philadelphia before boarding. You need to take the elevator to the lounge. And it's big, really big! With nice view over runway and A-gates, by the way.
Well, I was prepared for the USual lounge snacks (chips, nuts, cookie) I had only seen until then (however, I hadn't been to the Envoy Lounge before). Eyes got bigger when I saw what was offered here:
- huge platters with fresh fruit (pineapple, melons, strawberries, grapes...)
- tomatoes / mozzarella
- huge platters with fresh vegetables (cherry tomatoes, sliced tomatoes, cucumber, sweet peppers ...)
- antipasti
- different sauces and dressings
- small cakes
- bowls of apples
- various breads and crackers (also European bread!)
It really tasted very good! We drank juice and tea, but there was also wine etc. available.

Five minutes before official boarding time we were informed about boarding being about to start (loudspeaker).
At the gate a crowd was in front of the door. No priority line for Envoy. They were boarding zone 1 at that time, but we only found that out by asking. Some passengers' hand luggage was manually checked again.

On board we were greeted and shown the way to our seats. Sorry, suites! First impression was WOW. It looks really spacious. The combination of wood and grey and blue seats is really nice and they are soooo comfortable. There are four seats in the row (1-2-1) and so every seat has direct access to the aisle. They are turned away from the aisle (to the window and to each other in the middle section). The front part of each suite holds the video monitor and provides lots of space for (computer) bag and shoes under the footrest. There is also a hook for your coat and a small space in which the amenity kit fits perfectly. There is also a bottle holder in the seat, so the bottle won't be in your way when you sleep, but it is always at hand. (A 0,5-liter bottle was given to every passenger.)
Moreover you have the traditional light above, but there is also a dimmable LED reading lamp next to the remote control for the video screen. Additionally, there are outlets for earphones, USB and power and the seat control. The seat itself is very comfortable to sit in and it goes totally lie flat, so there is no angle.
We were offered a pre-departure drink (served again in plastic glasses) and orders for other drinks were taken. After take-off warm nuts and beverages (from now in in glass and porcelain) were served. The movie system was started as well. You have a wide choice of movies in many languages and with subtitles, if wished. If you want to pause in between, you can decide if you want to set a marker or not. The headphones really blocked noice excellently and were comfortable to wear.

Then time for dinner. Here the menu:

TO START
Warm mixed nuts with your preferred cocktail or beverage

APPETIZER
Classic shrimp cocktail with tomato mozzarella skewer

SALAD
Mixed greens with hearts of palm, artichokes and grape tomatoes
Choice of peppercorn ranch or balsamic vinaigrette dressing
Selection of warmed breads

MAIN COURSE
Our Signature Selection
Filet of beef with demi-glace served with red skin mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus

Herb Marinated Chicken Breast
Served with portobello mushroom demi-sauce, rice pilaf and sautéed spinach with shallots

Eggplant Cannelloni
Served with tomato ragout and Mediterranean couscous

EXPRESS MEAL
A light quick meal complete with an appetizer and dessert, to give you more time to work, relax or sleep
Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad
Ahi tuna served on a bed of mixed greens with baby potatoes, kalamata olives and haricot vert
Dijon vinaigrette dressing
(May be served without ahi tuna upon request)

DESSERT
Assorted petit fours
Lemon mousse
or
A selection of fine cheeses

MID FLIGHT SNACK
A selection of refreshments are available in the galley between meal services

BREAKFAST
Prior to arrival, a choice of the following will be offered:
Scrambled eggs with cream cheese, tomato provencale and seasoned potato wedges
or
Fuit yogurt with crunchy granola
Both selections are accompanied by seasonal fresh fruit and wamed breads.

It was served quickly and was of good quality. An express meal was available, so you had more time to sleep. However, the flight was much too short anyway. The captain had announced it would only last 6:05 hrs, so we would land one hour too early in Paris. The flight attendant asked if we wanted to have breakfast, she would wake us up then one hour before landing.
After dinner, we put table cloth and table wear away (the dividers between the sets can be used as little tables) and went to sleep. The seat is great and offers plenty of space as the armrest can be pushed into the seat so that there is additional space provided. Unfortunately, the blankets were not upgraded. It's still that nasty plastic thing that makes you feel like set on electricity. But once settled we fell asleep in a second. A really good sleep (unfortunately too short!). This time it was great to have a warm cabin (at some point really almost too warm) in contrast to the outbound flight when the cabin was - American style - almost a fridge.

 
Breakfast was served about 1:15 before landing. From then on the cabin was cooled down again within minutes, unfortunately. The food was delicious, a really big fruit plattern. Granola came in a little plastic box and yogurt was also served in plastic (like in supermarket), but you could mix as desired in porcelain. Tea and coffee came in a big porcelain cup. Unfortunately there were only sweet warm breads (croissants and muffins) served, no toast or normal bread.

Afterwards freshing up, brushing teeth etc. The lavatory was still super clean and well maintained. We noticed that row 1 is a little different to the other seats in the Envoy cabin: the video monitor is fixed and doesn't need to be swiveled. It also looks a little bit roomier, but actually it isn't. There is also no coat hook in row one. But as your coat is anyway stowed by the flight attendants, it doesn't matter.

We indeed landed one hour too early. Luggage was delivered quickly. Ehm, half of the luggage. One bag: missing. And we were not alone with that problem. Five other passengers of our flight also missed a bag as well. It was 6:15 in the morning and the lady at the baggage tracing desk told us she could not access the system. The service is open from 9 till 18, and then her colleague could access the system. She couldn't as the colleague had the access rights. Strange. We had to fill in the obligary form, were provided with a bunch of contact details and were told that details and tracing details would be e-mailed to us. Then we would be called where the bag should be delivered to. Annoying. Well, but can't be helped. (We were not offered an amenity kit with tooth brush etc. or buy clothes. US Airways lost a bag of mine in New York in 2006 and the amenity kit was given out immediately without having to ask for it, and the bag was delivered to the hotel within 10 hours.)
So we just waited for our connection flights home. As it was on Austrian, we could use the Air France Lounge in Teminal 2. Really nice one.

One day later the bag was found (still in New York as we suspected) and sent directly to Frankfurt (where we will pick it up anyway tomorrow).

Résumé:
US Airways has really taken a great leap forward into upper class seating. The seat is really top, and number three after Air New Zealand (offers guest seat, huge table) and Turkish Airlines / Air Canada (open foot area might be more comfortable for really tall people). But the blanket really has to be changed. It doesn't fit the elegant style of the cabin and it's pure plastics, so not comfortable for ladies with long hair (it jus will fly!). The food was quite good and the service was very friendly and efficient. Improvements have to be done at boarding (priority line to speeden the process) and baggage tracing counter in Paris as well.

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US Airways Envoy (cradle seats): Paris - Philadelphia

We still had two Chairman upgrade vouchers, so we decided to spend fall in Tennessee. As we wished to try the new Envoy Suites, we took the flight to the US from Paris, therefore a separate flight from Germany to France was needed.


Frankfurt - Paris

Our connecting flight has landed in time, we immediately proceeded to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge. Unfortunately it was totally crowded. Really difficult to find a seat! The floor was dirty (area in front of the coffee machine sticky) and two waiters are simply not enough to clean up (although they did their best!). As the Business Lounge next door is being renovated, no restrooms are accessible. You have to leave the lounge and use the ones at gate A25. Plenty of newspapers are available, too; however, not a single magazine. If you wish to read one, you have to go to the front desk. Your membership card will be taken “hostage” while you read. Strange.
For dinner you could have sausages, potato soup, bread, meatballs and a small selection of salads.

 


Our flight to Paris CDG on Lufthansa (Boeing 737) was uneventful. We got the exit row and therefore had three seats for the two of us and plenty of space. A sandwich was offered as snack. Baggage in Paris was delivered quickly.

We took the CDGVAL shuttle train to station Roissypole as we had booked a night at the Hilton CDG Airport. It's really hard to find as there is just one tiny sign at the end of the hall! We got a comfortable Executive Plus room which offered plenty of space. It just took ages for the hot water to reach the shower and there was also no heating in the bathroom.

Airline: US Airways
Aircraft: Airbus A330-200
Class: Business
Route: Paris - Philadelphia
Date: October 2010

In the morning we took the hotel shuttle and CDGVAL to Terminal 1. Really ugly! A long row was waiting for passport check in the EU passports line. “All passports” was empty. And only US citizens were allowed to use it.

Still we passed it surprisingly quickly and went to the Star Alliance Lounge. It's nice and offers a good variety of food and drinks.

Then we went to our gate (Singapore Airlines A380 next door!) to board the flight. Boarding was somehow chaotic, lines couldn't really be seen. On board then BIG disappointment: old Envoy Class! Reservation hotline had confirmed Envoy Suites, and even the seat map checked the previous day had shown it. Loooong faces! The walls of the cabin have already been refurbished and row 1 has been removed. Therefore we had plenty of space, around 1.80 m. The seats (cradle seats) were quite comfortable as relaxing chairs. You can also have a good sleep in them if you are not used to sleeping on the side.

However, the seats looked old. Painting going off etc. The cabin wasn't really clean either. Plastics, table cloth and earplugs between seat and window, a newspaper stuffed into the table storage space, crumbs in the seat pockets. We got our amenity kits containing socks, ear plugs, eye shades, L'Occitane lip balm and hand cream, toothbrush and toothpaste. A big white pillow was on the seat, the blanket in a plastic bag. Unfortunately it was one of those synthetic blankets which make your hair fly.

Before departure we were offered champagne or orange juice. Our coats were taken care of and the flight attendants already asked for our choice for lunch, including drinks. 10 mins after take off we got our video players. Those Archos players are put into a holder which is in your armrest. Movie selection was ok, however, there was no good movie description available and sometimes the holders didn't stay in place.

Beverages and nuts (served in small porcelain bowls) were brought to our seats, served on white table cloth. 50 mins after take off it was time for the appetizers: salad and sea food. We had chosen chicken and the vegetarian option as entrée, it was really delicous! As dessert we chose ice cream with chocolate and strawberry sauce, whipped cream and nuts were offered as well. Every passenger got a 0.5-liter-bottle of water and a snack bar was available to everyone in the galley. 

 The menu (strangely in English and DUTCH, no French)

TO START
Warm mixed nuts with your preferred cocktail or beverage

APPETIZER
Grilled shrimp and scallops with a cream cheese stuffed cherry pepper and artichoke

SALAD
Mixed baby greens with julienned red peppers, asparagus and roasted pumpkin seeds
Choice of sun-dried tomato or balsamic vinaigrette dressing
Selection of warm breads

MAIN COURSE
Our Signature Selection
Boursin crusted beef filet with balsamic sauce, sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes

Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breast
Served with white cream veloute sauce, fresh asparagus, baby carrots and polenta

Paneer Do Pyaza
Paneer simmered with onions and tomatoes, saffron basmati rice and red bean curry

DESSERT
Made to order ice cream sundaes
or
a selection of fine cheeses

MID FLIGHT SNACK
A selection of fresh fruit and refreshments are available in the galley between mail services.

PRE-ARRIVAL REFRESHMENT
Thai-style noodles topped with a seasoned beef skewer served with a mixed green salad (noodles may be served without beef skewer upon request)
Orange mustard vinaigrette dressing
Chocolates

We then slept some hours. Until loud talking and laughter from the galley woke us up. About two hours before landing we got a small snack (cold Thai noodles with beef and salad).




Apart from the old seats this was a pleasant flight, the crew very friendly, good food and we landed in time. However, it took us 45 mins through immigration followed by another 40 mins at second security check for connecting flights. Therefore we missed our connecting flight to Tennessee and had to wait 4.5 hours for the next one in the US Airways Club. Re-booking was done without any problem. However, a transfer connection via Charlotte was not accepted although it would have arrived in Tennessee two hours earlier than the nonstop flight.

Now waiting for the flight back to Europe, hopefully with Envoy Suites!

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US Airways First Class: Fort Lauderdale - Los Angeles

The mission: Go for bmi Gold!
Magnificent side-effect: Tour of several national parks in the American West (highly recommended!)

Airline: US Airways
Aircraft: Boeing 737, Airbus A320, Airbus A321
Class: First
Route: New York La Guardia - Washington Reagan - Fort Lauderdale - Philadelphia - Los Angeles / Los Angeles - Charlotte - Fort Lauderdale
Date: August 2010

We decided to take US Airways from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles in First Class (450 EUR + taxes). As we stayed in the countryside, we could add a mini-mileage run to Fort Lauderdale from New York. So we stayed at the Clarion La Guardia (bad decision! really bad!) for one night to be refreshed for next day's trip.
Early in the morning we took off to Washington Reagan. Although booked in cheapest Economy Class fare, we had already been upgraded to First Class (due to US Dividend Miles Chairman Preferred). From Reagan we flew south to Fort Lauderdale. The crew were very friendly, drinks and snacks could be already ordered before take-off and they were served immediately when in the air. The flight attendants also used our names when welcoming us (not only on this flight, but on all flights of the tour which offered First Class cabins).

Fort Lauderdale

In Fort Lauderdale we had some short stopover which was enough to have proper lunch, then the run for Gold started. First back north to Philadelphia (with beautiful views of the Bahamas, as the captain informed). On this way we were already provided with 1-l-bottles of water, pillows and blankets.

Flight Fort Lauderdale - Philadelphia

Flight Fort Lauderdale - Philadelphia

US Airways First Class: tight seat pitch

In Philadelphia we spent some time in the US Airways Club and then our transcontinental flight to Los Angeles started. The aircraft was a new A321 and equipped with inflight WiFi. A warm welcome, followed by drinks and snacks. For dinner we could choose between salad (unfortunately drowned in cheese again) or beef, so we went for the beef. There was nothing to complain about. Good, simple, but tasty American cooking. The crew didn't explicitly tell when it was possible to use WiFi, but in the middle of the flight I tried and it worked. It would have cost 18 USD, so it didn't pay off anymore for 2 hours flight, but surfing the US Airways website was free, so at least one could get a nice impression.

US Airways domestic First Class

Dinner

Flight Philadelphia - Los Angeles

Some impressions about "First Class". The cabin was clean and well maintained. Same goes for the lavatories.
The seats in US Airways First Class are not real First Class, rather Premium Economy.They are really wide, thick and look like grandma's cosy chair by the fireplace, but the seat pitch is limited just like the recline of the seat. No doubt, it is definitely far more comfortable than Economy, but I wouldn't call it "First Class". Even if the passenger in front of you doesn't recline, it's hard to get out if you are seated at the window. If the seats are reclined it's impossible to access the aisle from your window seat. The upper part of the seat doesn't have any adjustable headrest, there are also no footrests. You can stretch out very well if you don't have any hand luggage under the seat in front of you, but your head always falls down as the leather is somehow slippery. So it's a good advice to bring your own inflatable pillow that can be worn around your neck.
This kind of First Class is ok for the price, but definitely not worth 1000s of dollars that are sometimes called for on some routes. The long flight time is also just on the edge for this kind of seat. It would be a good idea to replace those seats with the old Envoy recliner seats, at least on the transcontinental routes or flights to Alaska, Hawaii or the Caribbean (if no 767 or 757 is used anyway).
The food was surprisingly good, although some more variation in inflight snacks would be nice (it's always the same: nuts, chips, biscotti, cookie). What about offering an apple or a banana? Or fruit salad?
As I said, it is really acceptable (esp. for this price on this specific route) and great as you get lots of miles, but not more. The seats and snacks are great for short flights, but when it comes to flights of 5-6 hours, they are outdated, simply not state-of-the-art anymore.

We landed in Los Angeles in time. Unfortunately it took quite long until the luggage was delivered, about 40 mins before the belt started moving at all!
The following 10 days (unfortunately we didn't have more time) were full of nature. From Hertz we got a Nissan Altima Hybrid, and that car was really a positive surprise. Powerful and cheap as it needed so little fuel.
First we travelled to Yosemite National Park. From there to Mono Lake, through Death Valley and the deepest point of the US to Las Vegas, then going north to Utah where we visited Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park and Arches National Park. In Monument Valley we were trapped by a thunderstorm, so we could only do a drive-by as everything turned into mud and red torrents came down the hills. One highlight was Antelope Canyon, a hidden jewel in Page. Afterwards we paid a short visit to the Grand Canyon (North Rim) before we took two days for relaxation in Palm Springs. Then it was already time to fly back to the East Coast, unfortunately!

Yosemite NP

Mono Lake

Death Valley

Death Valley, Artist's Drive

Death Valley, Devil's Golf Course

Death Valley, Badwater Basin

Death Valley: air pressure experiment :-)

Las Vegas

Bryce Canyon NP

Bryce Canyon NP

Capitol Reef NP

Capitol Reef NP

Capitol Reef NP

Arches NP

Arches NP, Delicate Arch

Arches NP: Landscape Arch

Mexican Hat during thunderstorm

Thunderstorm in Monument Valley

Thunderstorm in Monument Valley

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon

Navajo Bridge

Grand Canyon North Rim

Grand Canyon North Rim

Sunset in Arizona

The flight from Los Angeles to Charlotte was uneventful, but the view from the window spectacular. A nightflight took us from Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale. The moon was shining brightly and the sea was sparkling. In between silver clouds, so it looked like a Disney creation, but it wasn't. Unfortunately the photo camera couldn't catch that scenery.

US Airways First Class

Flight Los Angeles - Charlotte

US Airways Snack

Flight Los Angeles - Charlotte

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