I recently had the choice to choose between a US RJ (EMB170 I think) and a Midwest Airlines 717 when flying to Kansas City from DCA. Guess what I chose? You got it - the nicely equipped 717 with wide leater seats and friendly flight attendants. Plus, they serve a delicious warm cookie after the meal (to purchase). All in all a great round trip flight.

I would have preferred to take this flight, and others like it, on US or other *A partner so that I could achieve CP status (I am a lowly Gold with approx 85k/yr on *A). Yet, I chose another airline to avoid the AWFUL RJ seats on a long flight.

Now, if US's jet was equiped with a FC cabin like the UA 170's than I would definitely have taken the US flight. Does US know how much business like mine (full fare - last minute business travel) they are losing with their RJ's? They have probably lost 15-20k miles from me this year from these jets. I can't believe that packing the 170 with no FC cabin is good for customer loyalty.

rant over.

Does US know how much business like mine (full fare - last minute business travel) they are losing with their RJ's? They have probably lost 15-20k miles from me this year from these jets. I can't believe that packing the 170 with no FC cabin is good for customer loyalty.
The short answer is no I don't think they do. But like my fight against kiosk, it is a battle we are going to lose. I think well over half of my 100K+ miles on DL this year are the result of routes where US uses Barbie Jets and DL used a mainline aircraft. I'm simply not going to fly a Barbie Jet for more than 30 minutes if I have a choice. This week US lost a $1,500 plus ticket because 5 of the 8 legs were on US BJ's. Next week the process looks like it is going to repeat itself with another loss of revenue of $1,600 to DL. I understand the economic argument for the BJ's. I just hope they understand I'm not going to support it.

You must have never flown on any of the single class CRJ's operated by United :rolleyes:

That is the single worst experience I have ever had. There are only a handful of UA CR700s operated by Mesa that have first class, getting one is like pulling a lottery ticket.

The exit row on US's ERJs is like business class compared to the overwhelming number of UA CRJs in the single class configuration. UA also operates these on extraordinarily long routes like RDU-DEN and AUS-ORD. US's express service and fleet far exceed UA's with the exception of no F Class.

Before you embrace UA's 170's as the best thing since sliced bread, remember that they are replacing UA's 737's which were more comfortable IMHO. Oh and don't forget about TED sucking F class seats out of the UA system too. :td:


I recently had the choice to choose between a US RJ (EMB170 I think) and a Midwest Airlines 717 when flying to Kansas City from DCA. Guess what I chose? You got it - the nicely equipped 717 with wide leater seats and friendly flight attendants. Plus, they serve a delicious warm cookie after the meal (to purchase). All in all a great round trip flight.

I would have preferred to take this flight, and others like it, on US or other *A partner so that I could achieve CP status (I am a lowly Gold with approx 85k/yr on *A). Yet, I chose another airline to avoid the AWFUL RJ seats on a long flight.

Now, if US's jet was equiped with a FC cabin like the UA 170's than I would definitely have taken the US flight. Does US know how much business like mine (full fare - last minute business travel) they are losing with their RJ's? They have probably lost 15-20k miles from me this year from these jets. I can't believe that packing the 170 with no FC cabin is good for customer loyalty.

rant over.

You must have never flown on any of the single class CRJ's operated by United :rolleyes:

That is the single worst experience I have ever had. There are only a handful of UA CR700s operated by Mesa that have first class, getting one is like pulling a lottery ticket.

The exit row on US's ERJs is like business class compared to the overwhelming number of UA CRJs in the single class configuration. UA also operates these on extraordinarily long routes like RDU-DEN and AUS-ORD. US's express service and fleet far exceed UA's with the exception of no F Class.

Before you embrace UA's 170's as the best thing since sliced bread, remember that they are replacing UA's 737's which were more comfortable IMHO. Oh and don't forget about TED sucking F class seats out of the UA system too. :td:


You misunderstood me. I do NOT fly on RJ's for any flight over about 45 minutes. Even then, I try to avoid them. I do think its insane to outfit the 170 without a FC cabin however.

Living near DC, I tend to have lots of options.

The exit row on US's ERJs is like business class compared to the overwhelming number of UA CRJs in the single class configuration. UA also operates these on extraordinarily long routes like RDU-DEN and AUS-ORD. US's express service and fleet far exceed UA's with the exception of no F Class.



I agree! I booked Mrs. jimcfsus and myself on an ERJ last week CLT-CRW in the exit row... very nice seating (gave her one aisle, I took the other... guy in the window was a PITA on the cell phone and finally got up and moved back a few rows before the door was shut and then kept yaking away).

We had a CRJ on the first leg of that return (ATL-CLT)... packed flight as they had a earlier flight that was delayed with weather, so our flight took everyone, so a packed flight. We were glad it wasn't any longer than an hour. Something like RDU-DEN would have been uncomfortable.

I rode my first 170 a few weeks ago from ALB to DCA and thought it wasn't bad for that distance. I then took a CRJ from DCA to RDU, and the CRJ definitely did not compare favorably to the 170. My biggest complaint the 170 is the hard, narrow armrests, which are like the CRJ. Otherwise, the seat cushions and pitch weren't bad, and my roll-aboard fit in the overhead.

I agree! I booked Mrs. jimcfsus and myself on an ERJ last week CLT-CRW in the exit row... very nice seating (gave her one aisle, I took the other... guy in the window was a PITA on the cell phone and finally got up and moved back a few rows before the door was shut and then kept yaking away).

We had a CRJ on the first leg of that return (ATL-CLT)... packed flight as they had a earlier flight that was delayed with weather, so our flight took everyone, so a packed flight. We were glad it wasn't any longer than an hour. Something like RDU-DEN would have been uncomfortable.

I would not consider the E170 to be an RJ. It is more like a mini-airbus. Plus, the seats are WIDER and have MORE LEGROOM than seats on any of US's main-line coach aircraft (excepting the legroom available in the mainline exit rows)

So I don't see what your deal is. If it is that you will not fly in anything but F Class, i can respect that. But E170 coach is far better than mainline coach, so on an apples to apples comparison, I think the E170 Y beats mainline Y just about every time.

I don't think it is insane not to have F Class on such a small plane, have you met TED??


You misunderstood me. I do NOT fly on RJ's for any flight over about 45 minutes. Even then, I try to avoid them. I do think its insane to outfit the 170 without a FC cabin however.

Living near DC, I tend to have lots of options.

I don't think it is insane not to have F Class on such a small plane, have you met TED??

But, but they did promise it to us! I have not met TED but I like his friend, E+. :D

IWe had a CRJ on the first leg of that return (ATL-CLT)... packed flight as they had a earlier flight that was delayed with weather, so our flight took everyone, so a packed flight. We were glad it wasn't any longer than an hour. Something like RDU-DEN would have been uncomfortable.

Something like boarding any single-class CRJ-200 is torture to me, much less flying anywhere in one. I have done exactly one segment on that metal and intend to keep it that way. In fact, last time I was faced with a re-route on UA that would have involved a CRJ (EWR-IAD) I walked over to CO and paid walk-up Y to fly direct to my destination.

IWe had a CRJ on the first leg of that return (ATL-CLT)... packed flight as they had a earlier flight that was delayed with weather, so our flight took everyone, so a packed flight. We were glad it wasn't any longer than an hour. Something like RDU-DEN would have been uncomfortable.

Something like boarding any single-class CRJ-200 is torture to me, much less flying anywhere in one. I have done exactly one segment on that metal and intend to keep it that way. In fact, last time I was faced with a re-route on UA that would have involved a CRJ (EWR-IAD) I walked over to CO and paid walk-up Y to fly direct to my destination on an ERJ.

1) I think the only folks who define the EMB-170 as a "Regional Jet" are those who haven't been on one. The only way I can see anyone even thinking it is an RJ is just because it has 70 seats instead of 100 or more. In my opinion, the coach seats on this plane are the most comfortable in the entire US fleet, period.

2) Given the choice between US and Midwest, of course Midwest is better, the problem is in my experience they're also more expensive on the MCI-DCA route, though I'm sure if you buy far enough in advance this isn't always the case. In general though, US' fares on the MCI-DCA route have been downright insanely low (sub-$200 for no Saturday night stay with just 7 days advance purchase and stuff like that).

[QUOTE=Beckles]1) I think the only folks who define the EMB-170 as a "Regional Jet" are those who haven't been on one. The only way I can see anyone even thinking it is an RJ is just because it has 70 seats instead of 100 or more. In my opinion, the coach seats on this plane are the most comfortable in the entire US fleet, period.

I would agree totally! Flew the EMB-170 from PHL to MCI last week. There were 6 of us (adults) and all were happy with the seats and legroom. :) I wish AA flew this plane as we get stuck on their RJ's quite frequently and they ARE a PITA. :td:

1) I think the only folks who define the EMB-170 as a "Regional Jet" are those who haven't been on one.

...and the folks who interpret the scope clauses in UA and US' mainline pilot contracts....

The only problem with the EMB-170 out of PHL is being exiled to the F-terminal...