DAL and "flying minivans"

[Stifler's Mom]

I fly the ATR (Winnebego), and atleast on an RJ (Mini-Van) I don't have to wear earplugs when deadheading on it. My hearing, and everybody else who has to listen to the sound of props beating outside the cabin should atleast appreciate that aspect.

 

[sabreliner]

They whine about Turbo-Props and hub connections. The industry gives them RJ's and direct service. Now, they wine about that. I've even heard heard people complaining when they get on an MD-88. Where does it stop. Do these ignorant people think we should run a 747 back and forth between DFW and SNA?? That'd make a lot of sense. We could operate it about once a week and it might be full.

The pax will NEVER BE HAPPY!!! THEY WILL ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING NEW TO WHINE ABOUT.

Make me think more highly of a career flying boxes.

 

[canyonblue]

Passengers will vote with their feet---right over to the more comfortable LCC mainline sized aircraft.

Man, I am totally agreeing with GL. Who would of thought?

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

I think this flying minivan term is a great analogy.

No one ever, ever dreams of riding in a minivan but many do. They buy for economic reasons. People would rather have a BMW or SUV.

The same will apply to air travel. Those that can afford direct flights on big planes will make fun of those traveling on the RJ's.

But wait...that's what the folks flying corporate are saying about those flying on airlines.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

I'm not sure what's worse. A 2 hour flight in an RJ or PDX-ATL in the middle seat of a 737-800. Funny that noone is complaining about 738's replacing widebodies on transcons.

 

[captainv]

>Regional jets such as the widely used Canadair 50-seater have a relatively skimpy 31 inches of legroom, with no chance to upgrade to roomier first-class seats. Most regional jets are all-coach.

seat info according to Delta, stolen from another board:

Aircraft Seat Width x Seat Pitch
CRJ/CL7 17.5" x 31"

732/733/MD90/762/763 17" x 30-32"

738/752/764/777/MD80 17" x 31-33"

763ER/MD11 18" x 31-33"

so apparently on a 732/733/MD90/762/763 you can get a smaller seat than on an RJ? yeeks!

"I feel for the guys who are 6-foot-5. Their knees are in their eyeballs," said Grasso, who travels often for his job as spokesman for Atlanta-based Internet service provider EarthLink.

being 6'5" myself, of course anything besides first class royally sucks. the only perk of a mainline a/c is the possiblility of in-flight entertainment, but not much of that commuting from ATL-CVG.

true story: I had a guy get off a 50-seat RJ from YUL-ATL (2:51 actual) and say that our plane was more comfortable than his Air France flight! must be a cramped corner in the Airbus somewhere...

 

[MK82Man]

Sabreliner -- be careful.

I ride on the back end to the tune 100,000 miles a year for business. When you start labeling all pax as ignorant and whiners, you risk driving off the guy who pays your meal ticket. I can tell you, I avoid the RJs like the plague. MD88, 37 or larger always. I will adjust my schedule to do it ... but sometimes, it is RJ or spend another night away from home and miss mama another night .... I'll go RJ. Platinum on AA and Gold on DL means I want the stuff I've earned, with an RJ, you don't get it ... oh I get to board early in my tiny seat that doesn’t recline (except for 2”s) and has no power for my laptop all the way to DCA. The poster who alluded to the FF bait and switch is so right, our core business clients are going to find a different way -- you can’t build FF loyalty if the traveler can't use the benefits and with the RJs / ATRs, it no workeee.

Will some pax go RJ, sure …who is it? In my judgment, LCC customers: in-frequent travelers and the folks that want to go at the cheapest seat cost with max flexibility. Not all of us are whiners. Some of us really do have a choice in which carrier we fly and every customer deserves the respect to choose – he bought the ticket.

 

[MetroSheriff]

Sabreliner -- be careful.

I ride on the back end to the tune 100,000 miles a year for business.

....but according to your profile you are a T38 IP on Active Duty. Do you have a thriving business on the side?

Not that it really matters, just curious.

 

[General Lee]

CaptainV,

99% of the time that is not the case. Most people prefer getting on a larger plane, not having to bend down as much as they walk the aisle, etc....You can't change that perception. And, businessmen want free upgrades to first class---where the pitch and width is ten times better than your RJs. Those pax are the most important, and they seem to dislike the RJs the most.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[captainv]

Gen. Lee,

Sure, people prefer the larger plane, overhead bins, boarding via jetway, thicker seats, etc. Always have, always will. My point is, 90% of the pax aren't sitting up front. And from the seat perspective, the Delta mainline experience is maybe an inch or so bigger, apparently in some cases less. the 777, for example, is 1/2 inch more narrow than an RJ seat.

in-flight entertainment makes the biggest difference, in my opinion. but even if RJs had TVs, you wouldn't get much out of it because of the short nature of most flights.

sit in coach on a MD-80 from ATL to PHX, one snack service, no entertainment of any kind, for 4:23. is it that much different than 3:30 in a 70? 14 in 1st, 128 in the back. those 14 may be more important, but it's the unwashed masses that are providing 2/3ds of the flight's revenue. if there's one lasting impression JetBlue leaves on aviation, I hope it's a 5" LCD on the back of every airline seat...

Captainv



>99% of the time that is not the case. Most people prefer getting on a larger plane, not having to bend down as much as they walk the aisle, etc....You can't change that perception. And, businessmen want free upgrades to first class---where the pitch and width is ten times better than your RJs. Those pax are the most important, and they seem to dislike the RJs the most