Originally Posted by
s5804
So will it be cramped in economy class with an over booked plane?
Expect the seat pitch to be about 31 inches - not roomy but not painful if you're not too tall. The seats are pretty standard Airbus economy class seats so if the plane is full, you'll be rubbing shoulders and sharing the armrest with your fellow passengers.
Is there any free water or even free orange juice? Or what is the price I can expect?
Non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary - water, soft drinks, coffee, OJ. There should be a least two beverage services on a trans-con flight.
Shall I even bother to buy the on board food?
Personal preference and somewhat dependent on whether you have time to grab something at PHL when you make the connection. Do keep in mind one thing - there will not be enough Buy on Board (BOB) meals provisioned for every passenger to purchase one. If they sell all that are available before they get to you, your only food will be what you bring on board or the little bags of snack mix. There are supposed to be new BOB selections available starting Oct 1 - better quality but at a higher price ($7).
How is PHL? I am connecting from FRA-PHL and have 2.5 hours transfer time.
That should be adequate time, although nothing is guaranteed.
Is PHL notoriously delayed and baggage lost?
Yes and yes, but the delays will be weather dependent to a large degree and your baggage has a better chance of making the connection with your 2.5 hour connection. However, by all means try to pack a change of clothes/etc in a carry-on bag just in case it takes a day or two for your baggage to catch up with you.
Jim