A few weeks ago US Airways sent out this email:

You already share foodie photos, so now here’s your chance to be rewarded!I just haven’t made it around to any of the Divident Miles Dining rewards restaurants and I’m not a user of Instagram, but it might be worth it to eat at Paco’s Tacos to pick up some credit and have a shot, but this ends May 31 so make sure you hop to it!

Registration link

Searching the US hashtag doesn’t pull up many results so there may be a chance.

If you prefer to use another program, here is a list of other hash tags:

Scott McCartney from the Wall Street Journal recently evaluated airlines for reward redemption.  Among US carriers Southwest and JetBlue topped the charts with Delta and US Airways rounding out the bottom tied for last amount airlines evaluated.

At a recent travel blogging conference many of us were talking about what kind of a traveler we are.  Since I have to travel where I need to go each week for work and want to do it as comfortably as possible I’m not a mileage runner kind of flyer and I’m not a churner to get free vacations all on credit card points.  My primary goal is to travel as comfortably as possible and hopefully get first class upgrades often.  This is part of why I changed from crediting to United to US Airways since I fly on US.  This means I’m actually getting upgrades, but I’m not sure how everything will play out booking my next vacation.  I booked my vacation this fall using my remaining United miles since they had low-tier availability and Delta didn’t.  I just keep letting Delta miles build up because I can never use them, but I love flying Delta.

So let me rehash an old meme and point out that McKayla is not impressed with Delta and US.

By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Goal: to be the preeminent business travel blogger for the Charlotte market as evidenced by page views and quotes in news outlets.

Step one towards this goal: Why do I live in Charlotte.

Unlike most workers and even many business travelers I have the luxury of living near any hub I want.
I could live in a glamourous city like NYC or LA
I could live near a mega hub airport like ATL or ORD
I could even live somewhere with super dirt cheap direct flights like MCO

I chose Charlotte and I think that is an important thing to understand.  I moved there for the airport and I stay because of friends and because the airport still suits my needs.

What keeps me in Charlotte?  A variety of suitable flights with plenty of mainline and larger regional jets on major carriers (US Airways and Delta), fast security, and convenient parking.

What would I like to see?

• Lower fares for sure.  Charlotte may not always be the cheapest.
• More direct flights to the west coast.  When I head over there US Airways is usually the the cheapest, but most west coast destinations require a hop in PHX.  It’s crazy how many people on my flights between CLT and PHX are double hopping XXX-PHX-CLT-YYY instead of XXX-hub-YYY like I can usually do on Delta.  It will be interesting to see how that plays out with the AA merger and adding DFW and ORD to the list of hubs in the middle.
• Fix the moving walkway from A concourse back to the terminal so it works more than 1 week before it breaks again!
• I wish there was still a parking lot to walk to the concourse, but I also see the big picture that things will be much better very soon.

What is CLT doing well?  Unlike the impression I get at the NYC airports, there is no doubt CLT is a very light and airy airport.  I think it is kept very clean (hence my post years ago about the bathroom attendants), the new signage put in before the DNC is very clear, bright, and inviting.  There are a variety of places to eat from sushi to gelato Chilis and even Bad Daddy’s to bring some local Charlotte flavor.

Going forward I will do my best to be more timely with posts about this great city’s airport.

I know I bash US Airways a lot. I like Delta’s service much better and I like to point out US’s shortcomings.
Yesterday’s flight from CLT to DEN was an exception. The lady working First Class (name withheld, but reported to US already) was probably the most friendly and service-oriented FA I have experienced on US in a while.
It is not a true fair comparison since I have been flying in Delta first class for 6 years, but I have only been flying in First on US since October. I also can’t compare the FA in first to the FA in coach since they are never apples to apples.
So thank you for making my 3 hours in the air pleasant and letting us all see how much you enjoy your job. I hope you are a positive influence on your coworkers who may be jaded.

I’ve become very accustomed to Delta’s service, especially first class service and I’m up to 45 segments on them with only 21 on US Airways so far this year.  Today was my first major delay in US Airways first (and it was mechanical, not sequestration FAA related).  We sat on the taxiway for 45 minutes before returning to the gate for an hour before finally being cleared to depart.  Now, on Delta I’ve had quite a few weather delays and without fail the second the captain announces the delay the flight attendants offer another beverage service in F and quickly go back to Economy with water and cups.  The FAs on my flight today just talked in the galley.  They didn’t leave the galley at all except once when they came to ask what we wanted to drink *after* takeoff.

One of my blogging friends and I even used to joke “This is a 3 bloody mary delay already” to indicate the level of service Delta provides during delays.

To their credit, we did receive predeparture beverages which according to Flyertalk seem more rare than the glory days.  Also, a US Airways FA on twitter asked me if the door was opened or closed.  Does that make a difference?  I’ve had delays on Delta still at the gate and on the taxiway and still received service.

OK.  Whine off.

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There was recently a news article in the Daily Mail about two gentlemen who were declined boarding for First Class due to a dress code.  I like to dress in business attire because my slacks are often more comfortable than my jeans and I feel like I am taken more seriously when I do, but I also know that often the worst dressed people in First are often some of the highest paid people there (actors, musicians, other celebrities trying to lay low by dressing down or .com execs who shun business norms) and I never judge anyone in First by how they dress.

That being said, US Airways and other airlines do have a dress code for employee travel benefit users.

First or Envoy Class: Pass travelers may wear casual attire, including blue or black denim attire, skirts, capri-style pants, and sandals, provided it is well groomed, neat, clean, and conservative. Unacceptable attire in First Class/Envoy includes tee shirts, shorts, jogging suits, athletic gear, baseball caps, athletic shoes, beach footwear, flip flops including Croc style footwear.

The men were reported to be wearing jeans, hoodies, and baseball caps.  Jeans are listed as appropriate, but baseball caps are not and the hoodies could fall under jogging suites or athletic gear and should be changed for a button up shirt.  Employees who allow a friend to travel on buddy passes are supposed to inform them of any of these regulations.  I am sorry the men had to experience this humiliation and maybe US Airways will reconsider their dress code since revenue and upgraded passengers in First class do not have a dress code (and that is a discussion for another post!).

The Daily Mail link features a video of the men.

I’m not a fan of Southwest, but they do serve a purpose in the aviation world.

On Sunday, April 14, Airtran will be replaced by Southwest in Charlotte.  It sounds like there will be some kind of a party in A6 because I heard a lady telling others where to put the food and other things.  A few years ago I was in Sacramento when Delta added a new flight (Detroit if I recall correctly) and they gave us all cake.  Considering this is the first new airline to enter Charlotte since Midwest entered (and quickly departed) back in 2007.  Well…They are really just taking over AirTran in my mind, but instead of Baltimore, Orlando, and Atlanta they are cutting Atlanta and adding Houston (Hobby) and Chicago (Midway).  This is good because Delta runs almost hourly service to Atlanta and US Airways is pretty close as well, plus there is Megabus or just driving the 250 miles .  Houston is already served by United and US Airways, but that is to Intercontinental, not Hobby.  Chicago is already served by United, US Airways, and American, but that is to O’Hare and not Midway.  Many of those flights are in Regional Jets which don’t have First Class anyway so as an infrequent flyer Southwest on a 737 is much better than a CRJ-200 or an EMB-145 for a couple hours…and anything is better than the lowest in industry seat pitch on AirTran.

Do I think this will do anything to airfares?  No.  Research tells me US Airways is 90% of Charlotte and I’ll repeat…they are just taking over Airtran service so if Airtran didn’t lower prices in Charlotte, Southwest won’t either.  CLT-BWI was always the cheapest flight I could find though and I think that was due to US Airways’ former presence there and AirTran’s takeover.

I got to see them working hard to fix the benches in the A6 gate area.  I was flying Delta out of A8 and the lady had to manually check us off because the computer wasn’t working.  I blamed it on Southwest.

My upgrade %age on US Airways has been pretty good, but as a lowly silver usually I seem to get the bulkhead. I hate the bulkhead, but I also figure that since it’s a free upgrade that beggers shouldn’t be choosers so if another seat isn’t available online I don’t ask at the gate. Last week I had a double whammy…bulkhead aisle.
I got to the gate area and heard my name called out. I approached the agent and she said there was a party that I was right in the middle of and asked if I minded moving to 3F. I said “that’s a window, right?” She said yes. I told her I’d be more than happy to switch because I hate bulkheads and I love windows. She then replied “I was hoping you wouldn’t mind. Women love windows so i figured it was was easier to move you. Men love the aisles.”

I know I love windows, my male coworkers love aisles, but many female friends I know who travel a lot love aisles as well.

I was just happy I got a better (to me) seat. I should have bought a powerball ticket after that!

Of course after I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and decide to migrate my purchases to that going forward I get this in my inbox:

Use your US Airways Dividend Miles MasterCard April 1 through June 30, 2013 and earn 2 bonus miles for every $1 you spend—up to 2,500 bonus miles—on purchases you already make today in the following categories¹:

	• Restaurant purchases (including fast food restaurants)
	• Gas Station purchases
	• Home Improvement store purchases

This won’t derail me too much though.  I’ll max out this promo pretty quickly and move right back to Chase to rack up some URs and hit the $3000 for the bonus.