US Airways Employees Offer Holiday Travel Tips

Just in time for the holidays, US Airways (NYSE: LCC) employees offer tidings of joy and their advice for seamless travel this busy holiday season, including some little-known tricks of the travel trade.

What’s new for the holidays: It’s no secret that things have changed in the airline industry, especially over the past year. US Airways wants to remind travelers of new policies that may apply to their travel plans. Not all airline policies are exactly the same, and when flying with US Airways, travel information can always be found online at www.usairways.com. Below are some highlights to keep in mind:

• Secure Flight: On Oct. 1, US Airways joined other airlines and began requiring additional personal information when customers book tickets. Secure Flight is a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program which has been implemented as an added security measure. When making a reservation, passengers will be asked to provide the following Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) to US Airways:
  • Name as it appears on government-issued I.D. when traveling
  • Date of Birth
  • Gender
  • Redress Number (if applicable to the customer)

Additional information and updates about Secure Flight can be found at the TSA’s Web site, www.tsa.gov.

• Baggage Fees: If traveling within the U.S., to the Caribbean, Latin America, or Canada, US Airways charges $20 for the first checked bag and $30 for the second when pre-paid online, plus a $5 surcharge for each checked bag paid for at the airport. Hint: Save $5 per bag and pay for them online. Customers who have pre-paid for their bag online, can take it to an agent at the airport to receive their bag tags. For especially generous gift givers or grateful gift receivers, a third checked bag (through the ninth checked bag) will cost $100 per bag.

• Carrying extra weight (in your luggage, not around your midsection!): Checked bags weighing in excess of 50 pounds, bags between 71 and 99 pounds as well as oversized bags, those that are 62 to 80 inches around (take a measuring tape and wrap it completely around your bag to measure), are subject to additional fees. Complete policy information can be found at www.usairways.com.
• Traveling overseas? Trans-Atlantic passengers can check their first bag for free. If checking a second bag, passengers will pay $50 online. Remember, if paying for a second bag at the airport, a $5 surcharge will apply.
  • Ask an Expert: Baggage Service Specialist Vicky Notle Vollrath (home base: Phoenix), keeps this secret in her carry-on bag: "When checking your bag, make sure that it is checked all the way to your destination and not just to your connecting city. Visually look at the bag tag being put on your bag and know your final destination three letter city code.” Hint: Before handing over their bags to an agent, customers should check that the airport code on their bag tags match the code on their boarding passes.
• Checking in: Curbside check-in is available at many US Airways locations for a $2 fee plus the fee to check a bag.
• Choice Seats: Want to be one of the first off the plane to see your family? US Airways offers the option to purchase some of the most popular seats in coach class during the check-in process. Fees range from $5 to $30 per flight segment.
• The US Airways MarketPlace™: US Airways now offers an upgraded onboard menu in our coach cabin with food, snacks and beverages available for purchase. Premium snacks, fresh meals, well-known ‘pick-me-up’ beverages, award winning Stirrings Cocktails, as well as beer and wine, are a refreshing way to re-energize before heading over the river and through the woods. Customers needing to rest up before sitting down to dinner with extended family might want to consider purchasing a Power-Nap Sack™ for an in-flight snooze. US Airways accepts cash on all flights and Visa, MasterCard and American Express on some flights for in-flight purchases.

Check-in early: Visit www.usairways.com to save time at the airport. The US Airways Web site provides automated check-in options, including the ability to pre-print boarding passes up to 24 hours prior to departure time. Customers taking advantage of Web check-in also receive a higher boarding priority.

• Ask an Expert: Station Analyst Jimmy Young (home base: Charlotte, N.C.), knows how to use the extra time at the airport he saves by checking in early to relax in one of Charlotte airport’s infamous white rocking chairs or do some last-minute shopping: "Head to the Atrium in the center of the terminal to enjoy our airport’s signature white rocking chairs, great views of the airfield, live piano music and a variety of dining choices. If you need to pick up a unique gift, check out The NASCAR® Shop, which is also located in the Atrium.”

Check flight status: US Airways provides three automated ways to make sure our customers’ flights are on-time before they leave for the airport.

1. Customers can receive instant flight status information through their text-enabled mobile devices by texting their flight number to TEXTUS (839887) to receive real-time flight information.

2. Up-to-date flight information is always available at usairways.com.

3. Flight arrival and departure information is available 24/7 by calling 800-428-4322.

• Ask an Expert: Senior Manager, Passenger Service Manal El-Hajal, (home base: Philadelphia) knows how intimidating his large airport can be. Here is how he finds his way through Philly without leaving a trail of breadcrumb stuffing: "There are handy terminal maps located in the back of the free copy of the US Airways Magazine that I read in-flight. I just take the magazine with me, and I can see where the international, Express or other terminals are, and how I need to plan my time at the airport so I can get to the gate quickly.” Hint: If travelers want to leave the US Airways magazine for a fellow traveler, they can download a map of the Philadelphia terminal to their iPhone, computer or PDA at http://www.phl.org/terminal_map.html. Customers are encouraged to check their airport’s Web site to see if they have any downloadable features to help get them to grandmother’s house.

• Ask an Expert: Customer Service Supervisor Nick Pellegrino (home base: Phoenix) offers this tip: "During winter months weather can be an issue. Even though it may be sunny where you are, storms elsewhere can cause departure and arrival delays. Since I always have my mobile phone with me, I frequently text my flight number to TEXTUS to be sure my flight is running on-time.”

Allow plenty of time -- for lines, parking and security. US Airways recommends arriving at the airport two hours prior to departure time – longer for international flights.

• Ask an Expert: Flight Attendant Derek Hanna (home base: Phoenix) shares this super-secret time saving tip: "Even if my flight leaves from the A gates at Phoenix Sky Harbor, I usually go through the B security check-point where security lines are much shorter. Sure, it’s a little bit further of a walk once you get past security, but that’s what the moving sidewalks are for. And, you can preemptively walk off that turkey dinner!”
• Ask an Expert: Senior Manager, Marketing Communications and Partnerships (and full-time mom) Jen Adams (home base: Phoenix) has the ultimate kid-friendly tip: "Because the holidays are the busiest travel times of the year, airports are crowded and lines are long. My little one doesn’t have a lot of patience so we make waiting a game. Each hour, he gets a different snack or activity and that helps him count down the time to arrival and pass the time. Also, since you don’t know how fast the security line is going to move, make a pit stop before getting into the security line. Pre-emptive planning solves a lot of potential headaches!!”

Pack carefully: When packing checked and carry-on bags, customers are advised to bring only the necessities and be aware of TSA restrictions regarding items that can be included in carry-on luggage. Among others, liquids, creams and gels are restricted to one quart-size clear plastic bag (about the size of a sandwich bag), containing bottles of three ounces or less (the sizes typically given at most hotels and offered as "travel sizes”’ at most retailers), per passenger. Leave the presents unwrapped and don’t pack toys that might be confiscated, like toy guns. View all TSA restrictions and requirements at www.tsa.gov.

• Ask an Expert: Operations Control Coordinator Mike Price, (home base: Pittsburgh) offers this travel savvy and eco-friendly tip: "Be sure to drink plenty of water when you travel. It helps prevent jetlag and headaches associated with dehydration. Take advantage of the water fountains once you’re through security, and celebrate an eco-friendly holiday at the same time: Bring an empty water bottle or thermos and fill it up on the other side!”
• Ask an Expert: US Airways Club Representative Angela Banks (home base: Charlotte) says: "Keep your tickets, identification, credit cards and Club member cards handy. You want to have them in a place that is easy to retrieve when needed (i.e. a purse or inner garment pocket). You will be amazed at how much time you save not having to dig through luggage to find these things.”

Provide accurate contact information: Passengers should provide US Airways with appropriate contact information at time of reservation or online at www.usairways.com for notification purposes in the event of a flight irregularity. Passengers should clearly mark their luggage both inside and out with their address, phone number and email.

• Ask an Expert: Central Baggage Resolution Specialist Benjamin Russell (home base: Phoenix) wants travelers to know, "Most bags look the same to a weary traveler, or frankly, to an energized traveler. It’s always a good idea to put identifying markings on your bag to make locating it much easier. Use colored tape, a ribbon or a funky bag tag attached to the handle.”

Relax and remember the reason, no matter what season, you celebrate: With crowded airports and everyone vying for limited space, patience can run short and tempers potentially flare.

• Ask an Expert: World Renowned Gift Giver Santa Claus (home base: North Pole) reminds travelers: "No matter what your spiritual beliefs or holiday traditions, remember the spirit of the holiday season centers around doing more for others, especially those less fortunate, at this time of the year.”

For more travel tips, go to www.usairways.com and click on "Travel Tools,” or visit www.tsa.gov/travelers.

"US Airways’ 32,000 employees wish each and every passenger good health and good cheer this holiday season. We’ll be working diligently to ensure that our customers arrive at their holiday destinations on-time and in a festive spirit,” said Vice President, Reservations and Customer Service Planning Kerry Hester.

About US Airways

US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,000 flights per day and serves more than 190 communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Latin America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 19,000 daily flights to 1,071 airports in 171 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. And for the eleventh consecutive year, the airline received a Diamond Award for maintenance training excellence from the Federal Aviation Administration for its Charlotte hub line maintenance facility. For more company information, visit usairways.com or on Twitter @USAirwaysNews. (LCCG)

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