Not a surprise to me that Tempe botches the new 67 config. as well.
Of course you're talking about business seats which few folks will actually purchase if they have the choice of an alternative carrier as the US product always comes up short given Tempe's vision for "new & improved".
To be honest, I don't think that the Envoy product is worth more than a Z fare rate. My wife and I aren't wealthy enough to purchase Zs on a regular basis, but we were willing to purchase upscale coach fares to get into the UG queue along with an occassional Z for a tight seasonal flight. Of course GoEnvoy and what ever in the hell the new TA UG fare policy is has screwed up that entire process. If Tempe had used its head, they could have created a small segment of elite flyers who would play the game be it GoEnvoy or however Tempe implemented it. All Tempe needed to do is give the elites a decent crack at buying the seat before the infrequent flyers queue up. The result could have been sold seats and pax happy to get the seat ( and who in turn could let some of the aesthetics go un-noticed ). And Tempe tweaks the revenue flow while actually assuaging pax.
My own observations about the Envoy product is that the lions share of those European pax who either purchase an Envoy seat or whose company bought the seat were underwhelmed by Envoy. These folks noticed the dirty seats and dysfunctional equipment. I suspect that they too would notice the short-comings in the new 67 product if it's as shoddy as described here. They'd remark that they either would not fly US again or they'd fly again, but only on the boss's dime.
But why restrict comments to Envoy? My wife and I had the "pleasure" of flying the 57 to LGW last month in coach. Fortunately our expectations were low and US more than met these low expectations. Still, I was surprised at how tight those seats and that cabin really are. The leather seats feel comfortable & I had perhaps 1 to 1.5 inches in front of my knees ( I'm 5'10" ). But shoulder-to-shoulder it was tight. Too tight for these 6 to 8 hour TAs. Once again, I was struck by the comments of the Brits who fly. These folks are well familiar with Ryan Air and Easy Jet and happily fly those carriers intra Europe. But lots of these pax remark that they're surprised with this US 57 configuration for a longer TA flight. It's not what they expect of a TA flight. I don't disagree with them. I too was surpised that Tempe doesn't spend a little more on the TA product since it is a revenue cow. But this is the "new" TA product and it doesn't cut the muster.
My biggest complaint? Although we both secured aisle seats, this was the first seat in which I was so completely aware of being bumped and jostled by each and every person who walked by me in the aisle. A very restless snooze on the way over. We also did not appreciate the LGW boarding policy which eliminates zone boarding completely ( Envoy excepted ). As we sit near the front, we're last to board and just barely find overhead space -- folks boarding behind us had no space and had to scrounge. A minor detail, but a PITA when you fly regularly and a kick ITA when you're an elite trying to do business with US. Also, two lavatories ran out of toilet paper 2 hours before reaching PHL. No problem for me as I ain't gonna take a dump on a plane, but there were a lot of upset ladies who are told by the distinterested FAs to use the tissues instead ( they were empty as well ) and then paper towels. Of course that's why we have threads on Flyer Talk about plugged up sh!tters on the TA flights isn't it?
It appears that the new operations focus upon timely departure/arrival with your bag in the hold is slowly catching on at US. Now if only US can realize that you don't crap on the customer and the product you fly does indeed matter despite those who insist we're all cattle.
If not for the fact, by their own admissions, they have a "captive audience" in places like PHL and CLT...I can't understand HOW they could actually make it
Despite living 20 minutes from PHL airport, I don't feel like a captive to US anymore. I'm a pissed off CP soon to turn Gold. We'll ride it out this year only because it makes sense to do so and US is either gonna serve our needs and do it the right way or else we make a move when it's time. Sure we might still let US get us to MAD, but next year, it's BA for our London trips and we're open to considering anyone flying out of EWR. Our eyes are wide open for product and connections to where we fly TA and it's either gonna be US or whatever new rides come into the region with Open Skies. We have vowed to
never fly that US 57 TA product again. I'm not gonna apply that "never" to US . . . . yet.
Barry
Are these NOT the same style seat that AA sent back? I think so.
