Flying around the US with an air pass

OK, first off please excuse my ignorance. It is many years since I used an air pass to fly around the States and in those good old days it was a Delta Airlines pass bought in conjunction with my Transatlantic ticket and was valid for unlimited travel for a month (albeit standby).

I'm planning a trip to the US early next year and will be visiting AZ, IL, AR, NC and FL. What experiences have any of you had with these air passes? I'd like to use Virgin as my Transatlantic carrier. Are there any air pass programs I could use with my Virgin ticket? Is it something that I could book via the web when I've planned my itinerary or is it better for me to visit my local travel agent? I understand that the air passes are now pre-booked in sectors (say 6 or 8) and if the flight from A to B involves a stopover that may count as 2 flights.

Any advice here and other observations much appreciated.

Edit: Should have also mentioned that my preference would be an open jaw flying into Chicago and out of Miami or Orlando. Would that be easy to achieve or more cost effective if I were to do the Transatlantic into and out of say Miami?

Phil

[Scrooge]

This is not something I have looked at the be honest with you.

A couple of things.

Airlines are slashing capacity, I don't know if I would be comfortable flying stand by anywhere right now.
And if your going to be targeting ORD and MIA I would see what AA offers as the have a huge operation at both airports.

Originally posted by Scrooge
This is not something I have looked at the be honest with you.

A couple of things.

Airlines are slashing capacity, I don't know if I would be comfortable flying stand by anywhere right now.

Hi Scrooge. No, they wouldn't be standby as the airlines don't do those type anymore. Exact flights booked beforehand and changes I think are allowed afterwards for a fee.

Point about AA's extensive route noted. I think they are part of One World Alliance (BA et al).

Phil

[Scrooge]

Ok, it's not something I have ever looked into, I know AC has a thing where you can pay a fee and take unlimited flights for X amount of time, I didn't know any US domestic airlines did.

Yes AA are part of oneworld.

[Nottingham Nick]

I did this many, many years ago with Northwest, when we got the 30 day unlimited travel version, which was brilliant.

I have done it a few times more recently with America West with their Visit USAPass, where you paid per flight and pre-booked your tickets, getting confirmed seats and VS points (including TPs for transcontinental flights), however I have had a brief look at the USAirways site, and I can't see anything similar since they swallowed up merged with America West. [n]

May be worth giving them a call though, as they are still listed as earning partners on the FC website.

Nick

Would this be it?
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/sp ... /vusa.aspx

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanks - Sealink, that look the same, but a little more expensive than it used to be, but then again; what isn't? [;)]

Nick

[Scrooge]

And going OT as usual, America West swallowed up US air, not the other way around.