\nFlying on the Last US Airways Flight from PHX to SFO<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhFJgQmREP9hxoZ5b3PwmhaaNJ3hxORSmigZro6VIMcgT1EB6FHV9L-bqrUixIUM1rIQS6uUwsdaL8MFt9Ib_Ph6uLUxnHOpWR5WkDUfctg9Jy9-SIgKKSsLLGN7j-tJ6o5ER78QsWLuwx2\/s1600\/5D3_5818-copy.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nOctober 17th, 2015 was a significant day for the merger between American Airlines (AA) and US Airways (US).\u00a0 Known as \u201cCutover\u201d, the two airlines switched to a single Passenger Service System and became a single airline that day.\u00a0 The two airlines now have a common reservation system, a single airline policy, and single airport operations.\u00a0 For the customer, there is just one airline \u2013 American.\u00a0 (The two airlines were already flying under a single operating certificate, received in April of this year). This also meant US Airways would operate its last fight on October 16th.\u00a0 To commemorate, the airline flew a special flight from Philadelphia (PHL) to Charlotte (CLT) to Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO) and back to PHL, with the final SFO-PHL segment being the actual last US Airways flight.\u00a0 Despite it being a special flight, the routing itself was not special and the flights would be sold and operated as ordinary flights.<\/p>\n US Airways traces its roots back to All-American Airways, founded in 1939 in Pittsburgh.\u00a0 It later became Allegheny Airlines, which became US Air, which ultimately became US Airways.\u00a0 The final flight would carry the flight number 1939 to honor the airline\u2019s founding.\u00a0 Routing for US1939 touched all the hub cities in the US Airways system.\u00a0 Notably, Pittsburgh – the original home of All-American Airways – is no longer a hub or focus city for the airline and it was unceremoniously skipped.<\/p>\n When the farewell flight was announced, I realized I could do a day trip from SFO to PHX and back on US1939 for $250 roundtrip.\u00a0 The final leg from SFO to PHL and back would have cost over $600.\u00a0 Being a redeye flight, as well as the high expense involved, I didn\u2019t think it was worthwhile.\u00a0 So I decided on PHX-SFO.<\/p>\n The day before my flight, I received this email from American:<\/p>\n \nYes!<\/i>\u00a0 As an aviation enthusiast, this is what I live for.\u00a0 I just love it when airlines go out of their way holding special events, getting everyone involved to mark their history.<\/p>\n The seat map at check-in.\u00a0 Despite being a special flight, it would not be full going to SFO.\u00a0 This was not the case for the final segment to Philly, however.\u00a0 Supposedly, the standby list for the PHL flight got up to 1000 names filled with employees wanting to take part in history.<\/p>\n \nI arrived at PHX from SFO three hours before departure.\u00a0 Out the window at this busy US Airways hub, at certain angles, I can still see just US Airways tails<\/p>\n \u00a0 \nAt gate A5-A7, staff was still busily setting up for the farewell party.<\/p>\n \nFoam airplanes marked with \u201c1939\u201d was cheesy but fun!<\/p>\n \nThe US Airways A320 model held a particular attention with everyone, especially with employees, who all wanted to get in on a photo.<\/p>\n \nOf course, I did too!<\/p>\n \nFlight US1939 was operated by Airbus A321 with registration N152UW. The aircraft received a water cannon salute from the Phoenix Fire Department upon arriving from CLT.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nNot coincidentally, the Allegheny retrojet was strategically parked at the next gate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nInside, arriving passengers from CLT received a rousing welcome and applause by airport staff members.\u00a0 Many were interviewed by the local media.<\/p>\n \nParty at the gate was fully underway.\u00a0 Everyone enjoyed sandwiches, cookies, and something special in a box\u2026 <\/p>\n \nLogos of all the predecessor American Airlines carriers decorated the box.\u00a0 What was in the box?<\/p>\n \nIt was a cupcake!\u00a0 I was disappointed.\u00a0 I wanted it to be a souvenir of some sort.<\/p>\n \nJohn Daley, American Airlines\u2019 Managing Director at PHX addressed the crowd gathered at the gate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nAn official at PHX airport added the importance of American Airlines to Phoenix.<\/p>\n \nTwenty minutes before departure, I got in line for the green screen photo – at the same time when boarding started.<\/p>\n \nI had to get my souvenir!\u00a0 There was a lot of confusion between the green screen line (set up near the boarding door) and the boarding line.\u00a0 I think the intent was to get your photo before boarding.\u00a0 Well, that didn\u2019t work.\u00a0 People got in the photo line thinking it was the boarding line and people who wanted photos ensured that they didn\u2019t mistakenly get into the boarding line.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the line was very slow moving, because the process involved costumes and large groups of people taking part.<\/p>\n Boarding Group 1.\u00a0 Group 2.\u00a0 Group 3\u2026\u00a0 I was getting very antsy.\u00a0 I got my photo just in time as final call for boarding was made.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t get a chance to type in my email at the photo booth but at least I got a print and made it to the door with plenty of time.<\/p>\n \nMy last use of the US Airways app.<\/p>\n \nUS1939<\/b>, Phoenix (PHX) \u2013 San Francisco (SFO)\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n \nAircraft<\/b>:\u00a0 Airbus A321-211 \nScheduled Departure \u2013 Arrival<\/b>:\u00a0 5:10 pm \u2013 7:12 pm Takeoff PHX Runway 08<\/b>:\u00a0 5:22 pm Flightaware flight track<\/a><\/p>\n \nAt the gate, friendly agents thanked me for flying and handed me another box.\u00a0 Maybe this one was a souvenir?\u00a0 No, still a cupcake.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nI knew the flight was special when I saw this on the catering bin.<\/p>\n \nI guess I could have waited because more people were still coming on.<\/p>\n \nMy seat was at 23F, at the aft cabin exit.\u00a0 Having flown on the US A321, I knew that was a special seat.\u00a0 It was a \u201cnormal\u201d window seat (that is, not a seat with a door right next to you) but without a seat ahead; access for the large emergency door would be there.\u00a0 There was a ton of legroom, easy access to the aisle, and a real window.\u00a0 The only drawback was my underseat storage was two rows ahead.<\/p>\n \nOnly two and a half years old, this aircraft was clean and still looked new inside.<\/p>\n We pushed back one minute early.\u00a0 Staff gathered at the next gate (where the Alleghany retrojet was parked) and photographed our pushback and departure.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nPrior to the safety demonstration, the lead flight attendant announced the historical significance of our flight.\u00a0 He concluded, \u201c…use #US1939 \u2013 but not right now\u201d to the laughter of all avgeeks on board.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Prior to taking position on Runway 08, the captain told everyone on the right side of the aircraft to wave at the photographers watching us at the terminal.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nAt 5:22 pm, we made a high-spirited takeoff run, rotating steeply off the runway and feeling the Gs.\u00a0 Awesome!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n View of PHX airport below with a bit of rainbow.\u00a0 It was a bumpy ride throughout the climb.\u00a0 I later learned the region below us was hit by very strong dust and rainstorms that day.<\/p>\n \nIt took us almost 20 minutes to break through the top of the ceiling.<\/p>\n \nTo commemorate our historic flight, we were given an US Airways cookie and Champagne for toast.<\/p>\n \nWatching the flight attendants unscrewing all those small Champagne bottles and hurrying to pour 170 cups (each bottle only filled two or three cups) gave me an appreciation of the difficult situations they work under.<\/p>\n \nTo US Airways \u2013 for all the sacrifices, celebrations, and for a long life!<\/i><\/p>\n \nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ar9Q6Z6yUcs<\/a><\/p>\n \nTo my surprise, with 40 minutes of flying time to go, the normal beverage cart service commenced.\u00a0 I wanted to have coffee to go with my cupcake-in-a-box, but hot beverage was not available due to turbulence.\u00a0 I instead settled for water.<\/p>\n \nOut the window, we were rewarded with a beautiful sight of the setting sunlight on the storm clouds below.\u00a0 Unfortunately, due to the turbulence, the seat belt light was only off for a few minutes, extinguishing any opportunities socializing with fellow avgeeks on board, damping the joyous mood.<\/p>\n \nIn fact, beverage service was temporarily halted due to turbulence.\u00a0 With the prolonged seat belt light and turbulence, service item pick up was not performed until the before landing cabin check.<\/p>\n Descending into SFO with San Jose city lights below.<\/p>\n \nAt 7:02 pm, flight US1939 touched down on Runway 28L at SFO to the applause of everyone on board.\u00a0 The lead flight attendant thanked everyone \u201cfor participating in the historical flight with us.\u201d\u00a0 We waited for some traffic before parking at Gate 45B two minutes early.\u00a0 Total flight time was 1 hour and 59 minutes.<\/p>\n \nCaptain Richard Mitchell led the crew of US1939 from PHX to SFO.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nAt Gate 45, the party was just starting; the real excitement was here.\u00a0 Everything throughout the day culminated to this final flight from San Francisco to Philadelphia.<\/p>\n \nAs with PHX, the gate area was decorated with balloons.\u00a0 A scrumptious food spread highlighted by an US Airways sheet cake awaited us.\u00a0 Not having had dinner and super hungry (I missed out on the sandwiches at PHX because I wanted to get my green screen photo), I engorged myself on finger sandwiches and cupcakes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The star of the evening was Ed Colodny (below, left).\u00a0 He started with Allegheny Airlines in 1957 and became CEO of US Air in 1975, later Chairman in 1978.\u00a0 He held those titles at the airline for 17 years, retiring in 1992.\u00a0 During those years, he was known as \u201cmaster of mergers\u201d, acquiring Piedmont and PSA.\u00a0 Mr. Colodny flew from his home in Vermont via PHL just to fly back to PHL on the last US Airways flight.<\/p>\n \nThe lady in the foreground, Glenda Yarse, is a former Allegheny flight attendant; she was wearing her old uniform.\u00a0 Mr. Colodny was very happy to see her (top photo).<\/p>\n \nAt age 89, Mr. Colodny was cheerful, bigger than life and extremely friendly.\u00a0 He remarked he couldn\u2019t believe seeing his airline went from flying the DC-3 to the A330.\u00a0 He asked the crowd, \u201chow many of you have even flown on the DC-3?\u201d\u00a0 More than half of the audience raised their hands.\u00a0 Laughter ensues.\u00a0 Maybe he should have known better in a crowd of aviation enthusiasts!<\/p>\n He was the celebrity of that evening, obliging all autograph and photo requests.\u00a0 He spent time chatting with everyone, got to know a little about them.\u00a0 As an example, here was my brief interchange:<\/p>\n \n\u201cWhat do you do, Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am a systems engineer at Lockheed Martin\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Lockheed Martin.\u00a0 I know that company.\u00a0 Bethesda, Maryland, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know because I used to sit on the Board!\u201d<\/p>\n Laughter all around<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cDo you work on the F-35?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, a spacecraft\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOK, I won\u2019t ask you anymore because I won\u2019t understand it\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \nI later found out that after US Airways, in 1997, Mr. Colodny became chairman at COMSAT Corp, a satellite-based telecommunications company.\u00a0 COMSAT Corp\u2026wait for it\u2026merged with Lockheed Martin in 2000.\u00a0 Somehow, I think Mr. Colodny knows a thing or two about spacecraft.<\/p>\n Mr. Colodny with pilot Douglas Rice, the Captain of the final US Airways flight to Philly.<\/p>\n \nMe with my friend and former Bay Area resident Captain Mike, who was flying on the final flight to PHL.\u00a0 Incidentally, this was not the first time we had an airport connection-meet up.<\/p>\n \nAfter the obligatory speeches, boarding commenced early which allowed everyone time to get settled on board, given the activities going on.<\/p>\n \nUnfortunately, Gate 45B was not visible from the inside the terminal so this photo of another US Airways A321 parked at the next gate will have to suffice.<\/p>\n \nFarewell US Airways!<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n \nSouvenirs from that day. <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\nPre-Flight<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nHowever, inside, there was no sign of US Airways.\u00a0 All signage have been changed to American Airlines complete with the standard shade of AA blue.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n\nThe Flight<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
\nRegistration (msn)<\/b>:\u00a0 N152UW (5588)
\nDelivered new to US Airways, May 2013<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nActual Departure \u2013 Arrival<\/b>:\u00a0 5:09 pm \u2013 7:10 pm
\nDuration<\/b>:\u00a0 1:59<\/p>\n
Landing SFO Runway 28L<\/b>:\u00a0 7:02 pm<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n\nPost-Flight<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n\nPostscript<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n