America West

Pros: Cheap, but is it worth it?
Cons: Delays, baggage problems, goofball personnel, overall bad vibes. Gives being thrifty a bad name.

After a delay of over three hours in Las Vegas because of a "shared" gate with another airline (AW was the low man on the totem pole in this arrangement) a should've been flight of two hours turned into a five hour, um, shall we say character builder. Our flight arrived in Portland, Oregon at 3 am causing all sorts of connection problems. After seeing first hand various baggage problems "What do you mean it went to Portland, Maine?" type of stuff, I was glad to have carried on my luggage. It's hard to explain but the ambience of this cheapskate bunch really is creepy. And my frame of reference includes Continental during their awful days.
Use these jokers at your own risk.

Pros: clean, nice music
Cons: terrible luggage policy

America West has a really odd policy. my wife and I traveled together and shared one suitcase. as a result the suitcase weighed 57 pounds, 7 pounds over the limit. this caused us to incur a $50 fine.

Had we packed two suitcases at a combined weight of 100 pounds or less, we would be $50 richer.

am i the only one to see a problem here?

Pros: None
Cons: FF mile reclamation is impossible

America West claims to allow flights at 20, 25, and 30 thousand miles. I dare you to try and claim them. When you attempt to book a flight, the status of available flights is so restricted, that you will never be able to use them in any meaningful way.

I attempted to book a trip from San Diego to Detroit with one week's notice and relative flexibility in terms of departure dates. What should be a 25,000 mile flight turned out to be 50,000 miles.

I am attempting to book a flight from Detroit to Cabo with a 2 month advance. The flight is available for purchase, but not with Frequent Flyer miles. On an alternate day, I can book the flight, but it is over 100,000 miles instead of the advertised 30,000 miles.

These are not during holiday seasons or blackout dates, but regular, everyday flights.

I feel this is misrepresentation. America West treat their most valued customers like crap, so don't become one.

Pros: They were on time, did not have to wait too long for my luggage.
Cons: Food stinks, service was just OK in first class.

I paid $1,000 for a 1st Class RT ticket from Boston to LA and all I got for a meal was a HALF a sandwich! What kind of first class is that?

They would not even let me into the first class lounge at the airport.

Don,t waste your money or FF points on a first class ticket on this airline.

Pros: none
Cons: ridiculous fee, poor customer service

I will never fly America West again. They charged me a $100.00 reticketing fee to change to an earlier flight on Christmas Day. The plane was scheduled to leave Seattle at 8 am. The plane had mechanical problems so I sat in the airport until 4 pm. When I suggested that they should not charge the $100.00 the ramp agent agreed, made a phone call, and guaranteed me they would remove the fee. Well they didn't and their "customer service" person keeps saying it is their policy. Then they lost my bag for 24 hours.

Pros: Friendly service, understanding about my situation - which I didn't get from other carriers.
Cons: Return flight was late - but I didn't mind.

I live in Las Vegas. My father suddenly passed away in Florida, and I had to arrange a flight on short notice. Even when I explained the circumstances, Delta, American and Southwest wanted to charge my wife and me $1,000 each for the trip. I was faced with the possibility of leaving her behind because of cost. Then I called America West. They offered me a flight for less than half what the others were asking, and they waived the change fee when I had to stay behind longer than I had planned in order to settle some things about concerning my father's estate.

I sent the airline a thank-you note, and got a very nice letter in reply. I will always be grateful to America West for not gouging me in a very difficult time. I fly with them whenever I can, and I let others know how well they treated me.

Pros: Price
Cons: Delay after Delay, very bad costumer service

Delay after delay, turned a 4hr two stop flight into a 2day nightmare. Costumer service refused to offer a solution for stranding me in some random town, because of THEIR messup; offering me a flight almost 20hours later. I was accually hung-up on and told to figure it out myself! I had to stay over night and most of the next day in there smelly airport. Then that flight was delayed, FOR FUELING!!! IGNORANCE! Almost didn’t catch my connecting flight AGAIN! This airline service is a waste of time and money. If at all possible I will not flight with America West / US Airways again.

Pros: lower points needed for a ticket.
Cons: rarely are seats available, which actually makes this program cost more for a ticket.

I was drawn to America West's flight fund program because it only required 20,000 points for a ticket and generally flies to the areas in which I frequently travel. However, after trying to redeem points, I soon learned that the only seats ever available are for the 35,000 point levels! Even trying to book a year in advance, I am not able to find tickets at the 20,000 point level.