US Airways Versus Delta Airlines

I just flew back to the United States with US Airways. Generally in the past I have flown with Delta. In Italy, Delta Airlines works as a partner of Alitalia (Italy's state-run airline) and because Alitalia has for years been the only game in town for flights out of Italy I was forced to fly Delta.

But Italy's new free-market system has changed all that. Now it's all about low prices baby. Alitalia (and its partner-affiliations) no longer corner the market for direct flights out of Italy. There are several airlines that offer direct flights out of the country. For starters, US Airways saved me nearly $150 on a round-trip ticket to Ft. Lauderdale. But that's not what I REALLY enjoyed about US Airways.

The savings on my ticket were appreciated. But compared to Delta Airlines, what US Airways really impressed me with were the in-flight MOVIES!

US Airways has a most way-cool thing by mounting an individual viewing screen into the back of each passenger seat. So everyone who travels literally has the best seat in the house (or plane in this case). And what's even better: instead of being force-fed two movies and a handful of sit-coms like they do on Delta -- on viewing screens that are always too far away and in the worst of locations -- US Airways gives you a whopping 8 movies to choose from, plus several other viewing categories like one for kids and another that offers travel and documentaries.

You do have to pay for your earphones however. But I'll make that concession. If US Airways is going to offer me enough movies to make it through a ten-hour flight, that I will pay them five dollars for a set of earphones.

I gotta tell you: that ten-hour flight from Brindisi to Philadelphia went a lot quicker and a lot smoother thanks to the viewing selection offered by US Airways.

The movie selection was pretty good too: Rocky Balboa, Dream Girls, Ms. Potter plus some great documentaries on Egypt courtesy of the History channel. The only thing missing was the popcorn.

In other flight categories I was pleased as well: I feel US Airways offered me a bit more leg and elbow room than Delta Airlines and the meals on my US Airways flight were not micro-waved into oblivion. And did I mention that I was able to get seconds on mid-flight snacks (like sandwiches) on my US Airways flight? O-k, I'll admit, on Delta they serve you free complimentary wine with your meal. But on Us Airways -- it was plenty of movies. And anyone who flies the friendly skies knows it's all about the movies.

I also have to give US Airways high marks in one other critical area: their lavatories seemed bigger than the ones on Delta. Now maybe I'm imaging things, but six months ago when I last flew with Delta on a flight back to the United States, I swear I was sitting elbow to elbow with the sides of the lavatory. One small mistake on my part and I'd have pee'd all over myself. So imagine how thrilled I was when I stepped inside the WC on my US Airways flight and had enough room to stretch my arms (and a few other parts of my anatomy as well).

Now I don't know, maybe if the flight was packed my feelings might differ. Maybe if the entire flight was standing room only, I'd be less enthused about flying with US Airways as opposed to Delta Airlines. But I'm thinking even if the flight was sold out, the very fact I could huddle in my own private space and watch movies for 10 hours without twisting my neck is worth the price of a ticket.