US PHL-AMS-PHL
Mar 14, 2003 | 2:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LHR
Posts: 396
US PHL-AMS-PHL
A business trip to AMS. I’m a AA Gold but AA doesn’t fly to AMS. I’d have to do a circuitous route via Zurich on Swiss to make that happen. So I decided to stick with the simple US Airways non-stop.
8 Mar 03
US 42
PHL-AMS
B767-200ER
Dep: 8:25pm (actual 9pm)
Arr: 10am+1 (actual 10am+1)
Seat 5B
My first time on a US Airways international flight. I have not flown US Airways even on domestic flights since my Ithaca days.
There was no line at the international counters and check-in was quick. I asked for a bulkhead seat at check-in but was told that they’d be assigned at the gate. The domestic counters were packed with a 100+ line. After wondering why people were still so unsure of using the kiosks (no lines) I went over to the terminal B marketplace for dinner and then to terminal A for the flight.
The flight was packed to the rafters with tourists. Given that it was a Sat evening, I expected a light flight. No such luck. Maybe US ran a sale on that route.
The gate agent took down my seat number and said that she’d try to assign a seat in the bulkhead row 5. This is different from AA where the check-in agent can give you the bulkhead on day of departure. Eventually I got 5B and boarded on time.
We then proceeded to wait for 45 mins at the gate waiting for cargo and bags to be loaded. My seat-mate in 5A was a local news producer for CBS in Seattle and we chatted for some time about the state of television programming. She was joining a friend flying Northwest to AMS for a week’s vacation in AMS and CDG. She had flown in at 2:30pm from SEA and had spent the day walking around downtown Philly. We finally pushed back at 9pm and were off.
Seatguru.com recommends 5B as a very good seat with extra legroom. I beg to differ. Yes, there is more legroom. But AA’s MD-80s have more space in the bulkhead allowing one to stretch the legs straight. I am 5-11 and couldn’t do that and kept hitting the base of the wall. In a regular seat, I could’ve stretched the legs under the seat in front.
Dinner was a chicken-or-pasta choice. After the so-so pasta, wishing for MRTC, I settled in for the night by angling my feet into the aisle. Not a comfortable solution at all and slept for only 2-3 hours.
Because of flight time padding and favourable winds, we landed on time at AMS. The train into the city is very convenient. I only wish the ticket vending machines took Euro notes instead of just coins. Even better if they took credit cards, but they don’t. I then took a tram from Amsterdam Centraal station to the Marriott. Once again, very easy to navigate and use.
Amsterdam
Based on previous Flyertalk suggestions, I wanted to go the Sama Sebo Indonesian restaurant for lunch, but the concierge said that they are closed on Sundays. He said many restaurants are closed for lunch on Sundays and suggested a pasta place near the Van Gogh museum, a 5 min stroll from the hotel. After a nice panini at Pasta di Mama, I walked over to the Van Gogh. The concierge had sold me a ticket for the museum so that I could avoid the ticket lines. I spent the rest of the day at the museum and walked all over the town.
You can go around Amsterdam easily on foot. Yes, the trams are good, but distances are really not that far and you’ll see a lot more by just walking around aimlessly in the non-tourist areas; away from the Leidestraat and Dam square areas.
Amsterdam has great Indonesian food. Don’t miss it. One suggestion. Avoid the Chinese-Indonesian restaurants; they are more Chinese than Indonesian. I tried to go to Sama Sebo Monday evening but it was booked solid.
On Tuesday, while walking around, I found a small coffee-shop called “Coffee & Jazz” (113 Utrechsestraat) that also served Indonesian food. The spicy chicken curry with rice is highly recommended along with the fine coffee.
12 Mar 03
US 43
AMS-PHL
B767-200ER
Dep: 12:15pm (actual 12:15pm)
Arr: 3:15pm (actual 2:45pm)
Seat 8F
The tram-train combination deposited me back at the airport in 45 mins flat. The US Airways check-in desks opened 3 hours before departure.
Security was tight. They first ran the check-in baggage through the X-ray machine and then hand checked it before I got to the counter. The hand baggage went through 2 scans, entering the terminal and at the gate. At the gate, they also did an interview on where I was coming from, where I was going, etc. Not quite an El Al style grilling, but something new.
The flight was very, very light, barely 20% full. After another pasta meal and a quick nap, I spent the rest of the time reading. I also chatted with an FA in the back for some time. “Times are tough,” he said, “but I’ve my health, my wife still loves me, and my kids still love me. If I don’t do this any more, I’ll go full-time with my photography business.”
Curiously, I found audio channel 4 to be like UA's channel 9. I could hear all the ATC conversations, complete with our pilot's request for North Atlantic Track Bravo.
We got in 30 mins early and breezed through immigration and customs.
All in all, the flights on US Airways were pleasant and the FAs friendly. I just wish I had stayed away from the bulkhead row. If AA had flown to the destination, I’d have taken it for the extra legroom even if I had to make a connection.
[This message has been edited by pk45cu (edited 03-14-2003).]
8 Mar 03
US 42
PHL-AMS
B767-200ER
Dep: 8:25pm (actual 9pm)
Arr: 10am+1 (actual 10am+1)
Seat 5B
My first time on a US Airways international flight. I have not flown US Airways even on domestic flights since my Ithaca days.
There was no line at the international counters and check-in was quick. I asked for a bulkhead seat at check-in but was told that they’d be assigned at the gate. The domestic counters were packed with a 100+ line. After wondering why people were still so unsure of using the kiosks (no lines) I went over to the terminal B marketplace for dinner and then to terminal A for the flight.
The flight was packed to the rafters with tourists. Given that it was a Sat evening, I expected a light flight. No such luck. Maybe US ran a sale on that route.
The gate agent took down my seat number and said that she’d try to assign a seat in the bulkhead row 5. This is different from AA where the check-in agent can give you the bulkhead on day of departure. Eventually I got 5B and boarded on time.
We then proceeded to wait for 45 mins at the gate waiting for cargo and bags to be loaded. My seat-mate in 5A was a local news producer for CBS in Seattle and we chatted for some time about the state of television programming. She was joining a friend flying Northwest to AMS for a week’s vacation in AMS and CDG. She had flown in at 2:30pm from SEA and had spent the day walking around downtown Philly. We finally pushed back at 9pm and were off.
Seatguru.com recommends 5B as a very good seat with extra legroom. I beg to differ. Yes, there is more legroom. But AA’s MD-80s have more space in the bulkhead allowing one to stretch the legs straight. I am 5-11 and couldn’t do that and kept hitting the base of the wall. In a regular seat, I could’ve stretched the legs under the seat in front.
Dinner was a chicken-or-pasta choice. After the so-so pasta, wishing for MRTC, I settled in for the night by angling my feet into the aisle. Not a comfortable solution at all and slept for only 2-3 hours.
Because of flight time padding and favourable winds, we landed on time at AMS. The train into the city is very convenient. I only wish the ticket vending machines took Euro notes instead of just coins. Even better if they took credit cards, but they don’t. I then took a tram from Amsterdam Centraal station to the Marriott. Once again, very easy to navigate and use.
Amsterdam
Based on previous Flyertalk suggestions, I wanted to go the Sama Sebo Indonesian restaurant for lunch, but the concierge said that they are closed on Sundays. He said many restaurants are closed for lunch on Sundays and suggested a pasta place near the Van Gogh museum, a 5 min stroll from the hotel. After a nice panini at Pasta di Mama, I walked over to the Van Gogh. The concierge had sold me a ticket for the museum so that I could avoid the ticket lines. I spent the rest of the day at the museum and walked all over the town.
You can go around Amsterdam easily on foot. Yes, the trams are good, but distances are really not that far and you’ll see a lot more by just walking around aimlessly in the non-tourist areas; away from the Leidestraat and Dam square areas.
Amsterdam has great Indonesian food. Don’t miss it. One suggestion. Avoid the Chinese-Indonesian restaurants; they are more Chinese than Indonesian. I tried to go to Sama Sebo Monday evening but it was booked solid.
On Tuesday, while walking around, I found a small coffee-shop called “Coffee & Jazz” (113 Utrechsestraat) that also served Indonesian food. The spicy chicken curry with rice is highly recommended along with the fine coffee.
12 Mar 03
US 43
AMS-PHL
B767-200ER
Dep: 12:15pm (actual 12:15pm)
Arr: 3:15pm (actual 2:45pm)
Seat 8F
The tram-train combination deposited me back at the airport in 45 mins flat. The US Airways check-in desks opened 3 hours before departure.
Security was tight. They first ran the check-in baggage through the X-ray machine and then hand checked it before I got to the counter. The hand baggage went through 2 scans, entering the terminal and at the gate. At the gate, they also did an interview on where I was coming from, where I was going, etc. Not quite an El Al style grilling, but something new.
The flight was very, very light, barely 20% full. After another pasta meal and a quick nap, I spent the rest of the time reading. I also chatted with an FA in the back for some time. “Times are tough,” he said, “but I’ve my health, my wife still loves me, and my kids still love me. If I don’t do this any more, I’ll go full-time with my photography business.”
Curiously, I found audio channel 4 to be like UA's channel 9. I could hear all the ATC conversations, complete with our pilot's request for North Atlantic Track Bravo.
We got in 30 mins early and breezed through immigration and customs.
All in all, the flights on US Airways were pleasant and the FAs friendly. I just wish I had stayed away from the bulkhead row. If AA had flown to the destination, I’d have taken it for the extra legroom even if I had to make a connection.
[This message has been edited by pk45cu (edited 03-14-2003).]
Mar 14, 2003 | 11:52 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 1,570
pk45cu - I enjoyed your AMS report on US Airways...
When I read your report initially, I thought that seat 5b would be business class...then, after looking @ seatguru, I saw only 1st & Y class.
Being that I am not familiar with US Airways, it surprised me that it was only a 2 class International cnofiguration.
Blessings to you, and thanks for your report...
------------------
Patrick A. Inouye, CMT
volunteer trip reports moderator
When I read your report initially, I thought that seat 5b would be business class...then, after looking @ seatguru, I saw only 1st & Y class.
Being that I am not familiar with US Airways, it surprised me that it was only a 2 class International cnofiguration.
Blessings to you, and thanks for your report...
------------------
Patrick A. Inouye, CMT
volunteer trip reports moderator
Mar 21, 2003 | 6:21 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LHR
Posts: 396
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by azmmza:
you could have done a aa/ba combo and maybe even reach plt staus (via challange) on this trip!</font>
you could have done a aa/ba combo and maybe even reach plt staus (via challange) on this trip!</font>
If only the BA PHL-LHR flights count towards status.
If there is another way to do what you suggest, please let me know. Thanks.