Airlines like little jets; passengers aren't so sure
By KIRSTEN TAGAMI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/13/04
Frequent traveler Jerry Grasso calls them "flying minivans" because they're small and seem to be everywhere these days.
Regional jets — miniature airliners that typically carry 50 or 70 passengers — now account for more than one in four of the nation's domestic flights.
That's up from 14 percent in 2001, according to a recent study by Reconnecting America, a transportation policy group.
The planes were conceived in the early 1990s to replace turboprops on short hops from small cities to hubs. But they can fly much farther and faster than turboprops, so airlines increasingly use them for flights of two hours or more.
The mini-jets' mushrooming role has created a backlash among some frequent fliers. They say the planes were a welcome upgrade from turboprops but are no substitute for full-size planes on long runs.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines runs both regular-size and Delta Connection regional jets on its nearly three-hour Atlanta-Montreal route. United Airlines will begin using a regional jet on Atlanta-Denver flights this spring.
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.
"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.
Grasso dislikes the limited carry-on space, low ceilings and what he feels is the sometimes-choppier ride of regional jets vs. midsize jets. He tries to avoid them as much as possible.
That's getting harder.
Delta, through its subsidiaries and partners in Delta Connection, has more regional jets than any other airline, said spokesman John Kennedy. Delta Connection operates more than 380 regional jets and is expecting delivery of 23 more by the end of the year, he said.
After 9/11, regional jets allowed Delta to continue serving small markets or where demand had dropped.
"In many cases, it's a regional jet or nothing," Kennedy said. Delta goes to 245 cities worldwide, and 97 have only regional jet service, he said.
As an added bonus for ailing airlines, regional jets are operated and serviced by lower-paid pilots and other employees who work for subsidiaries or affiliates of major airlines.
As travel rebounds, regional jets also are being used to bypass increasingly crowded hubs. Savannah-New York is one example of a route that has enough traffic to justify nonstop service in a smaller plane, instead of a connection at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Regional jets also are being used to increase the frequency of service between certain cities, something that appeals to frequent business travelers by giving them more options, Kennedy said.
Still, he said, the overwhelming majority of Delta's regional jets are used on short jogs.
Peter Lamas, who flies on Delta every other week for his work as a commercial real estate appraiser, has grown accustomed to regional jets.
"I'm 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, so they're nice and comfortable for me," said Lamas, who lives in Tucker. "They're OK for short flights of an hour to 1 1/2 hours, like Atlanta-New Orleans."
But Tom Kerver, a Denver retiree who has traveled widely, fumes about the growing use of regional jets, especially for longer flights.
"It's like getting into a submarine," he said.
"There are no headsets, no in-flight entertainment of any sort. Tiny restrooms. The bar is limited because there's no galley space. Now they want people to sit in these things for three or four hours."
Chris McGinnis, an Atlanta business travel consultant, said he hears from frequent fliers who are frustrated that they can't use their elite status or big mileage stockpiles to upgrade on regional jet flights.
Then there's the tight quarters, he said.
"Ask any traveler who has had to sit next to an oversized seatmate on a regional jet for more than two hours, and you'll find an angry traveler."
By KIRSTEN TAGAMI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/13/04
Frequent traveler Jerry Grasso calls them "flying minivans" because they're small and seem to be everywhere these days.
Regional jets — miniature airliners that typically carry 50 or 70 passengers — now account for more than one in four of the nation's domestic flights.
That's up from 14 percent in 2001, according to a recent study by Reconnecting America, a transportation policy group.
The planes were conceived in the early 1990s to replace turboprops on short hops from small cities to hubs. But they can fly much farther and faster than turboprops, so airlines increasingly use them for flights of two hours or more.
The mini-jets' mushrooming role has created a backlash among some frequent fliers. They say the planes were a welcome upgrade from turboprops but are no substitute for full-size planes on long runs.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines runs both regular-size and Delta Connection regional jets on its nearly three-hour Atlanta-Montreal route. United Airlines will begin using a regional jet on Atlanta-Denver flights this spring.
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.
"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.
Grasso dislikes the limited carry-on space, low ceilings and what he feels is the sometimes-choppier ride of regional jets vs. midsize jets. He tries to avoid them as much as possible.
That's getting harder.
Delta, through its subsidiaries and partners in Delta Connection, has more regional jets than any other airline, said spokesman John Kennedy. Delta Connection operates more than 380 regional jets and is expecting delivery of 23 more by the end of the year, he said.
After 9/11, regional jets allowed Delta to continue serving small markets or where demand had dropped.
"In many cases, it's a regional jet or nothing," Kennedy said. Delta goes to 245 cities worldwide, and 97 have only regional jet service, he said.
As an added bonus for ailing airlines, regional jets are operated and serviced by lower-paid pilots and other employees who work for subsidiaries or affiliates of major airlines.
As travel rebounds, regional jets also are being used to bypass increasingly crowded hubs. Savannah-New York is one example of a route that has enough traffic to justify nonstop service in a smaller plane, instead of a connection at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Regional jets also are being used to increase the frequency of service between certain cities, something that appeals to frequent business travelers by giving them more options, Kennedy said.
Still, he said, the overwhelming majority of Delta's regional jets are used on short jogs.
Peter Lamas, who flies on Delta every other week for his work as a commercial real estate appraiser, has grown accustomed to regional jets.
"I'm 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, so they're nice and comfortable for me," said Lamas, who lives in Tucker. "They're OK for short flights of an hour to 1 1/2 hours, like Atlanta-New Orleans."
But Tom Kerver, a Denver retiree who has traveled widely, fumes about the growing use of regional jets, especially for longer flights.
"It's like getting into a submarine," he said.
"There are no headsets, no in-flight entertainment of any sort. Tiny restrooms. The bar is limited because there's no galley space. Now they want people to sit in these things for three or four hours."
Chris McGinnis, an Atlanta business travel consultant, said he hears from frequent fliers who are frustrated that they can't use their elite status or big mileage stockpiles to upgrade on regional jet flights.
Then there's the tight quarters, he said.
"Ask any traveler who has had to sit next to an oversized seatmate on a regional jet for more than two hours, and you'll find an angry traveler."
