America West Airlines: anyone here had bad experience with them?

Cheetah8799

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2001
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Hey, has anyone here had problems in the past flying with America West Airlines? My girlfriend and I are flying to Sacramento in a couple weeks, and the best airfare is with this company. The problem is that on the way out we fly through Phoenix Arizona, and have to switch planes with only 45 minutes layover time. I'm nervous that if we miss the connecting flight, the airline may not help us, especially considering they are a discount type airline.

So, anyone here ever had issues with connecting flights through them? Did they help you out at all, or just say to get lost???
 

KEV1N

Platinum Member
Jan 15, 2000
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I've flown with them twice, no problems either time. However, I didn't have a connection. I can't see why they wouldn't accomodate you if you missed your connection.
 

royaldank

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2001
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I've used them in the past. Never had a problem at all. Never had a connection, but these guys are a big player and will take care of you. Might want to make sure they have another flight later in the day just in case you don't make it for the 2nd flight. I doubt they'd put you on another airline, but throwing you on a later flight shouldn't be a problem.
 

Cheetah8799

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: KEV1N
I've flown with them twice, no problems either time. However, I didn't have a connection. I can't see why they wouldn't accomodate you if you missed your connection.

Well, the reason I'm nervous is because I recently went to Boston and flew with ATA. On the way back, they stop in Chicago, but our flight was delayed a LOT (3 hours or so on the runway) due to storms in the midwest. They were telling people on the plane during the one single chance they could get off that if they didn't get off, and instead took the risk of maybe missing their connection flight, that ATA would NOT help them at all! They were on their own! I just don't want to end up as one of those people....
 

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
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Passenger rights.

You could probably goggle something more recent. Regardless of the airline you are flying you have specific rights regarding missing connections and such.
 

dud

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,635
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Cheetah,

I live on the east coast and usually fly Delta. Some times I go via diff airlines and to places that America West is the cheapest (for my employer). I can tell you that of the times I have flown them they have been late almost 100% of the time. Twice, the plane showed up REALLY late or not-at-all! (phoenix). On the plus side the employees all seem really nice and are professional. Now, if they could just fly on time. I believe they are getting better though ...
 

pyonir

Lifer
Dec 18, 2001
40,855
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Discount type? They are a large carrier just like United, Northwest, American, etc. They aren't a discount airline like ATA or Southwest.

I've flown with AmWest probably 10 times or so (round trips) and haven't had any problems. If they are delayed and you miss a connecting flight, they will get you on the next flight that they can.
 

sciencewhiz

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
5,885
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Originally posted by: Cheetah8799

Well, the reason I'm nervous is because I recently went to Boston and flew with ATA. On the way back, they stop in Chicago, but our flight was delayed a LOT (3 hours or so on the runway) due to storms in the midwest. They were telling people on the plane during the one single chance they could get off that if they didn't get off, and instead took the risk of maybe missing their connection flight, that ATA would NOT help them at all! They were on their own! I just don't want to end up as one of those people....

I'm having a hard time following what happened, so I'll give my experience with American (obviously not a small or discount airline), which sounds similar to that one.

I was on a flight from Rochester to Chicago and then on to LA. The flight was delayed in Rochester because of weather, after we were already on the plane, and we had taxied out. The whole airport was delayed because of it. Our plane was in line so that as soon as the weather cleared up, we would be in the queue to go. For some reason, we had to go back to the gate. There was one airline (I forget which one) that was getting ready to leave, and they weren't waiting for the same conditions as we were. They gave people the opportunity to get off the plane and try to get on the other plane. However, if you weren't back on the plane by the time it left the gate again to get back in the queue, you lost your seat. If you made it to Chicago via some other method, but missed your connecting flight, they wouldn't help. If you stayed on your original flight, and missed your connecting flight, they would get you on a different flight.
 

Cheetah8799

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2001
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Thanks for the replies everyone. I didn't realize that American West was such a large airline.

Sciencewhiz, you had a similar experience to mine. Only difference is that on mine, ATA said that if the people didn't get off the plane before it left the gate again, and instead flew to Chicago, then ATA would NOT help them find another flight in Chicago. THey would ONLY help the people if they got off the plane in Boston before it left and spent the night in a hotel or something to take the next flight out in the morning... pretty crappy deal if you ask me...

Hopefully I don't have any problems like what dud experienced...
 

Konigin

Platinum Member
Jan 21, 2003
2,358
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You shouldn't have a problem, just about every flight with America West connects in Phoenix. I flew from Chicago to Long Beach with a 45 minute connection in Phoenix and I didn't have a problem.
 

sciencewhiz

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
5,885
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There looks like there are 6 flights a day from phoenix to sacramento, and more from Las Vegas. You should easily make it, as long as you aren't the last flight of the night.

I've had one flight with no problems on America West (LA to Las Vegas to Dallas) about 5 years ago. I'm flying them again to go to Guadalajara in December.