I was looking up a booking last night and ran into yet another plane type in the reservations system. Now that we've started seeing the E70 (Embraer 70ish-seat RJ) show up on flights, the CR7 (I guess CanadaAir RJ 70ish-seat) is poking its head up on a few flights. I saw one for CLT and PIT in the mid-June timeframe.

Anyone know if there's anything different or special about these new planes? I note that the USAirways Aircraft page still doesn't even have the E70, so I can't be surprised the CR7 is missing.

The reservation system is showing only coach inventory on the new CR7 flights. I guess this means none of the new regional jets are going to be in a dual class configuration, contrary to the original press release dated May 12, 2003:

The CRJ Series 700 aircraft and the Embraer 170s will offer both First and Coach-Class service.

Having flown the Comair/Delta Connection CR7, I can tell you they are about as cramped as the CRJ-200s.

Two things:

Is anybody really suprised, given the penchant at CCY for stretching the truth to build an unrealistic expectation that both kinds of "big" RJ are single class?

Secondly, these (the CRJ700s) are not going anywhere until the mainline ALPA MEC and the PSA ALPA MEC decide on the staffing ratios under the Jets 4 Jobs protocol. Several of these aircraft have been sitting in both DAY and YUL for weeks due to this very issue (ready to fly in US Express colors).

The reservation system is showing only coach inventory on the new CR7 flights. I guess this means none of the new regional jets are going to be in a dual class configuration, contrary to the original press release dated May 12, 2003:

The CRJ Series 700 aircraft and the Embraer 170s will offer both First and Coach-Class service.

Having flown the Comair/Delta Connection CR7, I can tell you they are about as cramped as the CRJ-200s.

Yes, it has been known that Siegel lied about this for a while.

I've flown the E70 - not enough room for a slightly overstuffed FAA-legal sized bag, and no gate check. I had the pleasure of waiting at baggage claim for luggage on a business trip for the first time in 3 years.

I cancelled my return E70 flight.

I've flown the E70 - not enough room for a slightly overstuffed FAA-legal sized bag, and no gate check. I had the pleasure of waiting at baggage claim for luggage on a business trip for the first time in 3 years.

Unreal.

If you can't fit a 22 inch roller slightly overstuffed into those overheads, I'll never fly one. Period.

No planeside/jetway check and return setup would lead me to never fly these things on business. Ever.

Glad I switched my potential E70 flight to a mainline...and then got bumped (free ticket)...and then got held up when CLT shut down for Air Force One (which parked right next to the runway and my 1F seat had a great view on take-off). It was a cool day. :)

If they don't have gate check, then (I can't believe I'm saying this) I'll take the 50-seat RJs instead.

If they don't have gate check, then (I can't believe I'm saying this) I'll take the 50-seat RJs instead.

I was back in my regular ERJ-145 exit seat yesterday.

some of you folks have become the biggest bunch of babies that I have met. I too flew the 170 a day or so ago and thought it was absolutely fine. A lot better than the turboprops that have been flying around the system and a lot better than the 50 seat sewer pipes that both US, CO Express, and Eagle have been flying.

Jesus.

some of you folks have become the biggest bunch of babies that I have met. I too flew the 170 a day or so ago and thought it was absolutely fine. A lot better than the turboprops that have been flying around the system and a lot better than the 50 seat sewer pipes that both US, CO Express, and Eagle have been flying.

Jesus.

Sorry if you find my/our opinions offensive. You liked the E70. Fine. I didn't - I went back to a 145. Better than a prop - yes. Better than a CRJ/ERJ. Not for me.

I'm fine with differing opinions. I'm not sure why it has to sink to insults and name calling. (Or violating one of the 10 Commandments on for what, for some of us, is the most holy day of the year.)

Lighten up, Francis.

I feel like it's my money being spent, so I should pick whatever is most convenient and useful to me, and everyone else should do the same. My goal is to clear through the airport and airline system as quickly as possible so I don't waste any extra time when going on a short trip to visit friends or be a tourist. I save a bunch of time by not checking any luggage. I don't have to worry about luggage being lost or waiting on the claim to finally spit out my luggage.

If they work for other people, then that's great. The props don't bother me; I think some of them are nicer space-wise than the ERJ and CRJ.

If it happens to fit better in my schedule, I'll try it one time, but I'm not going to go out of my way to see that it happens. With some of the schedule changes that have appeared on future booked tickets, the system might end up doing it for me anyway.

ITRADE

Whiners or not, I think CPRich's first experiences (which I havent been able to see for myself yet) about baggage issues are extremely relevant. I agree that often there's silly complaining about ice cubes and limes :) but whether my bag fits on the plane or not - saving me lots of time which I already have allocated in my day - is a huge deal.

Rest assured, if the baggage space issue is as bad as Rich says, US will hear about it as frequent fliers let them know they've had enough with the downsizing. And there wont even be an F cabin to offset some of the bad vibes.

As mentioned by someone else, one reason alot of people are willing to fly Express flights is that they know they can at worst get their bag back from the baggage handler at their destination. Historically the worst-worst case was waiting 5 minutes at a remote station bag carousel with little traffic (where the turboprops mostly flew). Now that they're putting the new Emb's on decent sized routes (PIT!) there could be an hour delay waiting for a bag.

I have little faith in bag handlers. They lost a gate-checked box on me once. Handed it to them before stepping on a turboprop in LAN, wasnt there at PIT. Took them 6 hours to un-hide it.