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US Airways Takes Steps to Ensure Reliablity and Service for Winter Season and Offers Holiday Travel Tips

Posted on: Thursday, 15 November 2007, 09:00 CST

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways is augmenting staff, checking equipment and reaching out to airports and federal officials to ensure that US Airways customers have smooth flying this holiday season and throughout the winter. The airline is also offering travel trips to help customers who will be taking to the skies during a very busy holiday travel season.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050223/LAW097LOGO)

US Airways Vice President Customer Service Planning Kerry Hester said, "Our airline is taking a thorough approach to supporting our employees and our operation so that our customers receive the level of service they expect and deserve this winter. Specifically, we're ensuring that we have staff to cover busy periods, double-checking our equipment and putting procedures in place to minimize the impact of bad weather or other delays during the holidays."

Highlighted below are just some of the actions US Airways is taking this winter in regards to staffing, equipment, facilities and irregular operations response:

-- Increasing staffing to reinforce customer assistance, specifically: -- Adding staff in airport lobbies to help customers quickly navigate through the airport process. -- Increasing the number of agents available to help customers who are checking in using our self-service kiosks. -- Placing additional staff at baggage belt induction points to help move bags to airplanes quickly and accurately. -- Adding personnel at airport towers to facilitate smooth customer connections by managing incoming traffic efficiently, especially at hubs. -- Curbing controllable delays by readying equipment and facilities, including: -- Carrying out preventive maintenance checks and full inspections on all ground equipment and bag belt systems. -- Completing system de-icing equipment testing allowing for reliable winter operations. -- Establishing contingency rental equipment from other ground handling service providers including additional de-icing support if needed.

"Most delays in the winter are attributable to some kind of bad weather -- ice storms in particular -- so we are planning now for smoother operations during bad weather," Hester said. Steps the airline is taking include:

-- Holding additional spare aircraft for placement into scheduled service if need be. -- Scheduling additional reserve crews at crew bases to operate flights if necessary. -- Expanding Passenger Operations Control staff dedicated to reaccomodating passengers during irregular operations. -- Placing ample staff at Reservations to quickly and courteously handle customer inquiries. -- Proactively identifying reaccomodation options and available hotels when winter weather is forecast.

While US Airways works hard to provide a smooth travel experience, below are some "tried and true" travel tips to help customers get over the river and through the snow this holiday season:

-- Check in Early: Visit usairways.com to save time at the airport. US Airways' web site provides automated check-in options up to 24 hours prior to your departure time. Or visit an airport kiosk up to 8 hours before departure. -- Check flight status: US Airways provides three automated ways to make sure your flight is on time before you leave for the airport. 1. New this year, customers can receive instant flight status information through their text-enabled mobile devices. Customers simply text their flight number to TEXTUS (839887) and US Airways will text back with real-time flight information, including arrival, departure times and gate information. 2. Up to date flight information is always available at usairways.com. 3. Receive recorded flight arrival and departure information by calling the airline at 800-428-4322. -- Allow plenty of time -- for lines, parking, and security. US Airways recommends arriving at the airport 2 hours prior to your flight time - longer for international flights. Have your government-issued photo identification card and your boarding pass ready to zip through lines and get to your gate. -- A reminder: Passengers with bags to check who are departing from the following airports must check-in at least 45 minutes prior to departure: Atlanta, Buffalo, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Maui, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Washington (Dulles), Seattle and Orlando. -- Pack carefully: Understand fees and restrictions when packing checked and carry on bags. -- Make sure to abide by the FAA mandated carry on policy of one piece of luggage and one personal item such as a purse or briefcase per person. All carry on luggage must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. -- Don't put medicines, keys or important documents in your checked bags. Keep them with you in your carry-on bag. -- Be aware of TSA restrictions regarding items that can be included in your carry on luggage. Liquids, creams and gels are restricted to one quart size clear plastic bag per passenger, containing bottles of three ounces or less. For more details on TSA restrictions, please visit http://www.tsa.gov/. -- If you're starting your holiday vacation or packing for a long trip, be aware of excess, oversize and overweight baggage rules. US Airways customers can check up to two pieces of luggage without charge. Each bag in excess of two will incur an $80 fee, with a maximum of nine checked bags. Any checked bags weighing in excess of 50 pounds will incur a $50 fee, and bags between 71 and 100 pounds will be subject to an $80 fee. US Airways will not accept checked luggage weighing more than 100 pounds. For all baggage policies, visit usairways.com -- Travel in comfort: -- Dress comfortably. Wear clothing that is soft and breathable, and wear shoes that can slip on and off easily at security check points (don't forget socks so you aren't barefoot in the airport!) -- Wear a zip up sweater or jacket to expedite the screening process. These layers will also come in handy as a makeshift blanket or pillow in flight. -- When traveling with children, pack healthy snacks, games and explain to them what is happening every step of the way. The airport can be a fascinating distraction when waiting to board your flight. -- Provide accurate contact information: Be sure that US Airways has all of your contact information for the duration of your travel, so that we can contact you if there is a flight irregularity.

For more travel tips, go to usairways.com and click on 'Travel Tools', or visit http://www.faa.gov/passengers/. US Airways wishes all our customers a safe and happy holiday travel season!

US Airways is the fifth largest domestic airline employing more than 36,000 aviation professionals worldwide. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express operate approximately 3,500 flights per day and serve more than 230 communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. US Airways is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers our customers 16,000 daily flights to 855 destinations in 155 countries worldwide. This press release and additional information on US Airways can be found at http://www.usairways.com/. (LCCG)

-Fly with US-

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050223/LAW097LOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

US Airways

CONTACT: US Airways Media Relations, +1-480-693-5729

Web site: http://www.usairways.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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