US Airways 2004 Annual Report Download - page 7

Table of Contents
• Our Web Check-in product was modified in 2004 to allow customers to self check-in and obtain a boarding pass 36 hours prior to departure. This
was later modified to 24 hours prior to departure to meet objectives set forth in a Transportation Security Administration or "TSA," security
directive to all carriers. In December 2004, Web check-in represented almost 7% of all passenger check-ins.
• Throughout 2004, we significantly expanded the availability of self-service check-in kiosks across our system (218 units deployed in 43 of our
airport facilities). In December 2004, self-service check-in represented nearly 50% of all boarding passes in stations with kiosks.
• Over the year we expanded the number of interline e-ticket agreements with other carriers from three (Continental, United and American Airlines) to
five (now including Delta and Hawaiian). In early 2005, we added Northwest Airlines to our interline e-ticket agreement list of carriers. These
agreements make travel easier for customers who need to utilize multiple airlines in their itinerary.
• We were the first airline to introduce an alternative payment method called "Bill Me Later®", making it easier for customers to budget for their
travel plans. Customers who make purchases online at americawest.com with Bill Me Later®, have at least 90 days to pay the balance in full with no
interest.
• Customers now can give the gift of travel with an America West Gift Card. Gift cards in $50, $100 or $250 denominations are available for purchase
online at americawest.com or by calling our reservation center. Gift cards also can be purchased in $50 and $100 denominations at many grocery,
convenience and drug stores.
• In addition to the initiatives mentioned above, we emphasize improving our handling of customer re-accommodations during irregular operations
(flight cancellations and delays). Although our goal is to operate every flight and depart on time, there are circumstances such as weather and Air
Traffic Control or "ATC," delays that cause disruption to planned flight activity. During 2004, we initiated several new programs and improved
automation to speed the process of re-accommodating customers to alternative flight arrangements during these circumstances.
Regional Airline Alliance
We have a regional airline alliance agreement with Mesa. Mesa, operating as America West Express, provides regional feeder service to and from our
Phoenix and Las Vegas hubs to destinations in the western United States, Canada and northern Mexico operating regional jets and large turboprop aircraft.
Through this arrangement with Mesa, we offered America West Express service to an additional 33 destinations as of December 31, 2004.
In 2004, we entered 16 86-seat CRJ-900 regional jets into America West Express service. Additionally, we completed a reconfiguration program that
converted the CRJ-900 aircraft from a dual class 80-seat configuration to a single class, 86-seat configuration. At December 31, 2004, the America West
Express fleet operated by Mesa included 49 aircraft comprised of 25 CRJ-900s, 18 50-seat CRJ-200s and six 37-seat Dash 8 turboprop aircraft.
Alliances with Other Airlines
AWA maintains alliance agreements with several leading domestic and international carriers to give customers a greater choice of destinations. Airline
alliance agreements provide an array of benefits that vary by partner. By code sharing, each airline is able to offer additional destinations to its customers
under its flight designator code without materially increasing operating expenses and capital expenditures. Frequent flyer arrangements provide members with
extended networks for earning and redeeming credits on partner carriers. Lounge arrangements provide lounge members with access to partner carriers'
lounges.
AWA's alliance agreement with British Airways allows British Airways to code share on flights operated by AWA connecting to and from British
Airways' Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston and New York services. The agreement also allows AWA FlightFund members to earn credit
for travel on British Airways and for frequent flyer benefits earned by AWA customers to be redeemed for travel on British Airways' system.
Relationships with Northwest Airlines or "Northwest," and EVA Airways or "EVA," provide connecting service on AWA from those airlines' Pacific
routes to Las Vegas and Phoenix. The frequent flyer agreement with Northwest also provides for AWA FlightFund members to earn and redeem credit on
Northwest's transpacific flights. In addition, AWA lounge members have access to Northwest's WorldClub lounges in the United States and EVA's lounge in
Taipei, Taiwan.
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