I booked my mother on one of those cheap TPA-AMS fares ($365 w/tax, celebrating the LH nonstop CLT-MUC) for travel End of May/Mid June.

As far as I can see, her flights are on the good old 767 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif... but PHL-AMS is not that long, so she should make it. I just wanted to make sure that:

-Headsets are $5/5Euro and are 2-prong type electronic (not the hollow stethoscopes you get on DL's 767s)... Would she have to pay the charge if she brings her own?

-Alcoholic drinks (including wine with dinner) are $4/4Euro.

-They don't seem to load enough bottled H2O on board, so bring your own.

-How many meals are served in each direction... just 1 hot meal or 1 cold + 1 hot?

-I presume no toothbrush, socks or eyeshades are provided... well, no US carrier seems to give them out any more.

-Are the planes cleaned regularly (I know they are well aged), or is the state similar to the domestic fleet?

Thanks!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BackOfTheBus:



-I presume no toothbrush, socks or eyeshades are provided... well, no US carrier seems to give them out any more.

Thanks!</font>

Only in Envoy

I usually fly PHL to AMS on US every year. (Except this year when I flew UA, and yes, I enjoy UA over US).

The last time I flew US to AMS was Nov. 2002.
If memory serves, the headphones on the 767 are 2 prong type and you don't have to pay if you bring your own.

Drinks were $4/4 Euro

Bottled water was available, but I usually bring my own. After the Wall Street Journal article on airplane water, I don't trust them not to refill the water bottles.

I can't tell you anything about the meals, they are not memorable.

No toothbrush, socks, etc. As posted above, thats for Envoy passengers only.

Plane was not anymore dirty or clean than any other.

Your mother will get a hot dinner and about 1.5 hours out of AMS she'll get "Dave's Doughnut's" with juice. They no longer give coach passengers their own bottled water, but she can aske for 2-3 glasses when they do the beverage service. They also do 1-2 water/juice runs during the night.

Based on a few roundtrips in the past months on US 767's:

- No charge if you bring your own headsets. Should you buy them, they are yours to keep for future flights. The type is the same as on CO (wish I had known that...)

- Booze was $5/5EUR/3GBP per drink (IIRC, I usually avoid alcohol on board)

- During daylight they make several passes with OJ and H20 (during the night fewer). But there are always drinks available at the back galley.

- 1 hot meal + 1 snack (to Europe it's a doughnut type thing, from Europe it's a pretty decent turkey sandwich w/a cholcolate bar and trail mix).

- No amenities.

- Planes seemed reasonably clean and comfortable.

Thanks for all your answers! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I will be sure to supply me mum with bottled H2O, socks, eye shades, neck pillow, toothbrush/toothpaste and headphones before the flight. Am I missing anything? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

you can also go to radioshack and buy a little adapter for your headphones that you may already have.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BackOfTheBus:
Thanks for all your answers! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I will be sure to supply me mum with bottled H2O, socks, eye shades, neck pillow, toothbrush/toothpaste and headphones before the flight. Am I missing anything? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif</font>

Ear plugs or a noise cancelling headset.

&gt;"Am I missing anything?"

Some Euros? And, a wheelchair if she can't negotiate long distances. It's a trek to customs and baggage from the USAir gate.

Jane in PHL

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JanePond:


Some Euros?
</font>

Just get Euros by using your ATM card overseas.

Thanks, will definitely look into the earplugs. Thank you for the wheelchair reminder, by the way, it is indeed something useful for when grandma/pa come and visit. Ma still hasn't hit 50 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I have a couple of CO 2-prong headsets, so I'll give her one of those.

&gt;"Just get Euros by using your ATM card overseas."

Of course, and now 'we' know that 'Mother' is young, but if said 'Mother' happened to be 75, giving her some Euros is a head start on her trip so she doesn't have to hunt down an ATM getting off the plane. That's all.

Jane in PHL

The first ATM I found in AMS was right outside of arrivals just next to baggage claim.

Isn't Mom worth an upgrade? LOL &lt;just kidding&gt;

If you fly to AMS on United from ORD or IAD, you will start off with a cocktail service with pretzels. Alcohol on international is free as are the headsets. You will then get your hot meal, which is either chicken or pasta with a salad, cheese and crackers, and cake. You will then get a coffee, tea and liqueur service.
Water service is done throughout the flight and if not, just come to the back galley where it will be set up.
90 minutes prior to landing, you will get a breakfast bagel sandwich with a snakc box with oj and fruit.

There is a foreign currency exchange booth at PHL, on the concourse leading into the international terminal. Might be a good idea to have some cash (Euros) prior to landing. I believe it's a Thomas Cook, and you can charge the money to your credit card.

Believe me the (not so great) exchange rate is more than offset by the peace of mind having a little pocket money prior to landing. You NEVER know where you'll find a working ATM, and at that hour and state of grogginess, going on a cash hunt mission can't be pleasant.

Or, if you're prone to advance planning, just hit your bank, or American Express office prior to the trip.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by rrz518:
There is a foreign currency exchange booth at PHL, on the concourse leading into the international terminal. Might be a good idea to have some cash (Euros) prior to landing. I believe it's a Thomas Cook, and you can charge the money to your credit card.

</font>

Be careful charging foreign currency exchanges to your credit card. Your credit card company will probably treat the transaction as a cash advance, and sock you with the corresponding interest charges (in addition to the poor exchange rate). I would recommend just exchanging $50 of cash for peace of mind, and avoid using your credit card for this transaction.