Midwest Airlines Midwest Miles (Pre-Alignment) - Midwest operated by Frontier flight

I just finished a RT from MKE - LAS yesterday and I could not be happier with the service. I know the GA and FA's are still having a tough time saying this is a Midwest flight operated by Frontier. The FA's had some of us chuckling in the plane when they kept stumbling over certain parts of their announcments only to have to come back and correct their mistakes. As everyone knows I love the IFE that is Direct TV. It really does pass the time for me. I was surprised to find out they still had sandwiches left since I was sitting in row 19. The turkey wrap was excellent by the way. On my return flight I wasn't able to check in online so I decided to check in at LAS. The CSR looked at my carry on and asked me if I wanted to check it free of charge. I looked at him and repeated "free of charge?". When he nodded I didn't have to think twice and handed it over. I hate carry on lugguge with a passion! :) I didn't ask why they checked my luggage for free.... I can only guess because every seat on the plane was sold and overhead storage was going to be scarce. I sat in row 19 again and they still had BOB meals available! I wasn't hungry so I just had the free soda. This time I was checking out the pitch in the seating since they will be adding stretch seating soon and the pitch will become a little tighter. I figure they can take an inch away from the pitch and my knees would not be planted into the seat back in front of me. If my knees are ground into the back of the seat I will not fly on that plane. Frontier has a great product and I think Midwest will benifit from it. I would love to see the A319's in Midwest livery though.

I would love to see the A319's in Midwest livery though.


Does this hint at the future of the Midwest brand? I've often had that question in the back of my mind.

I would love to see the A319's in Midwest livery though.

Or E190s in Frontier livery. (Yes there were once E170s operated by Republic in F9 paint).

Since BB wants to retain brand loyalty, maybe Midwest and Frontier could work similar to how Alaska and Horizon do now: F9 flys the Airbuses, Midwest (Republic) flies the E jets, and they call any other contract flying of smaller planes Midwest (operated by ?). Color schemes could be coordinated, but not identical. For example, I don't think F9 green goes with the silver/grey block letters on the side of the fuse. So why not paint the engine nacelles Midwest blue instead of green, along with blue background on airport signs, and maybe blue seats as they come due for replacement. Then maybe the gold stripe/trim on Midwest becomes silver/grey. This way, they maintain separate identities, but an integrated image. Passengers can gradually get to know that Frontier and Midwest are one, but no wholesale abandonment of one company (except the YX crews).

BTW, the napkins on my last F9 flight had Midwest on one side, and Frontier on the other.

And animals on the tails of each aircraft!

.......This time I was checking out the pitch in the seating since they will be adding stretch seating soon and the pitch will become a little tighter. I figure they can take an inch away from the pitch and my knees would not be planted into the seat back in front of me. If my knees are ground into the back of the seat I will not fly on that plane.......Sounds like a good flight.

Any idea when this is coming? Will it be similar to or the same as Signature seating, or something different?

Sounds like a good flight.

Any idea when this is coming? Will it be similar to or the same as Signature seating, or something different?

http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/faqs/stretch-faqs.do

E190 (Available beginning 11/3/2009)
* STRETCH Rows 1-4
A320 (Available beginning 12/15/2009)
* STRETCH Rows 1-4
A318 (Available beginning 12/24/2009)
* STRETCH Rows 1-4
A319 (Available by 2/1/2010)
* STRETCH Rows 1-4

Thanks much.

Sounds like a good flight.

Any idea when this is coming? Will it be similar to or the same as Signature seating, or something different?

From what I have been able to ascertain. STRETCH will be four rows of 3X3 seating. 18" wide with 36" pitch.

Not exactly Signature seating.

You are correct. Pitch is less important to the vast majority of people than having a middle seat with people on both sides of you.

I really enjoy the 2X1 configuration available on the E190 as I am travelling alone most of the time. It also has a wider seat.

I've got a flight to LAS in January on the A319. I booked seats in the first 4 rows just in case the particular plane has been fitted for the STRETCH seating a few weeks before the 2/1 date.

I've got a flight to LAS in January on the A319. I booked seats in the first 4 rows just in case the particular plane has been fitted for the STRETCH seating a few weeks before the 2/1 date.

From a post in the Frontier forum, indications were that anyone booked in Rows 1-4 prior to the launch of STRETCH was moved into coach. The 318s and 320s have been completed, and some passengers have experienced this.

I've got a flight to LAS in January on the A319. I booked seats in the first 4 rows just in case the particular plane has been fitted for the STRETCH seating a few weeks before the 2/1 date.

Great minds think alike :) I'm flying to LAS in February on the A319 and chose a seat in the first four rows for the same reason. I'd think the system could automatically move us back at some point, but we shall see.

I think I'm going to miss the wider Signature seat a lot.

I think I'm going to miss the wider Signature seat a lot.

AirTran has a very affordable Signature Seat in Business class, 37" pitch, 22" width. You are able to upgrade with $$$ or AirTran Credits.

AirTran has a very affordable Signature Seat in Business class, 37" pitch, 22" width. You are able to upgrade with $$$ or AirTran Credits.

I booked myself a one-way leg in business on Airtran for next year and am looking forward to trying it out!

I think those seat dimensions are about the same as the gone-but-not-forgotten Midwest Signature Seats, aren't they?

I booked myself a one-way leg in business on Airtran for next year and am looking forward to trying it out!

I think those seat dimensions are about the same as the gone-but-not-forgotten Midwest Signature Seats, aren't they?

Rather similar according to seatguru....YX 717 was 21.5 wide and 35-36 pitch in Signature.

The YX Signature seat lives on with the E190 flying as Midwest, a 20" seat with 38" of legroom. It's a smaller section than the 717's had, but proportionally a better ratio of premium to standard seats then the YX M80's and the FL 717's and 737's.


From what I've heard the several additional E190's coming on board from USAirways will also have the wider 1x2 seating in front, and with that expansion the mixed seating will return to several additional YX markets. I think the first one comes online in January.

I booked myself a one-way leg in business on Airtran for next year and am looking forward to trying it out!

On the topic of FL's business class, a recent change to their website makes me suspect the days of buying an upgrade from any fare bucket might be numbered. I posted about this on the AirTran section of flyertalk:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airtran-airways-rewards/1032185-discount-fares-losing-eligibility-paid-business-class-upgrades.html#post13058150

(I mention this here because it seems more people want to discuss the business side of AirTran on the Midwest board than the AirTran board.)

(I mention this here because it seems more people want to discuss the business side of AirTran on the Midwest board than the AirTran board.)

Aren't we more likely to discuss all things MKE related here, Knope?

After all, AirTran is the number 2 carrier.

Very true...and given the heated history between YX and FL it's to be expected, I suppose.

Rather similar according to seatguru....YX 717 was 21.5 wide and 35-36 pitch in Signature.

The YX Signature seat lives on with the E190 flying as Midwest, a 20" seat with 38" of legroom. It's a smaller section than the 717's had, but proportionally a better ratio of premium to standard seats then the YX M80's and the FL 717's and 737's.


From what I've heard the several additional E190's coming on board from USAirways will also have the wider 1x2 seating in front, and with that expansion the mixed seating will return to several additional YX markets. I think the first one comes online in January.

Thanks for the information, knope! I always enjoy reading your posts.

I'd love to give the E190 Signature Seat a try in the future. The E170s I have been on have been some of the most comfortable and "airy" feeling planes I can remember. Has Midwest, or what is left, made any noises about the E190 being converted to all coach? Or is the Signature section a feature they intend to keep?

Thanks for the information, knope! I always enjoy reading your posts.

I'd love to give the E190 Signature Seat a try in the future. The E170s I have been on have been some of the most comfortable and "airy" feeling planes I can remember. Has Midwest, or what is left, made any noises about the E190 being converted to all coach? Or is the Signature section a feature they intend to keep?

From what I've heard, the original plan was to make the E190's all 2x2...and the first two E190's (which were delivered with a 1x2 section) were going to be retrofit to all-2x2 as soon as they could be rotated off the line.

However more recent word has them keeping the 1x2 seating for Midwest service. The original E190's have been kept 1x2, and the birds coming from USAirways are planned to stay with dual seating as they are currently configured.

So it seems rather likely that the 1x2 sections are staying on YX flights operated by the E190...a small number of flights today but likely to expand significantly as more E190's come.

That question was addressed in last quarter's conference call with Republic management.

Bedford indicated it was their intention to keep the dual class configuration on the E190.

That question was addressed in last quarter's conference call with Republic management.

Bedford indicated it was their intention to keep the dual class configuration on the E190.

They could probably sell the 1x2 section of the E190s as "Stretch" seating on Frontier operated flights. I'm beginning to think that there may be other reasons for keeping the premium section on the planes as well.

I've also been hearing rumors that all of the E190s will be equiped with IFE. There likely will be a decision about WiFi in 2010 too.

I've also been hearing rumors that all of the E190s will be equiped with IFE. There likely will be a decision about WiFi in 2010 too.

That makes complete sense...I imagine they have been getting some blowback from the regular passengers of Frontier who have boarded the Midwest E190's without the IFE. If they continue to integrate the Midwest planes into Frontier than they need to come up with some kind of standard package for in-flight experience.

Just got back from a Vegas trip. Flight there didn't have STRETCH but the flight back (different plane) did, so the 319s are definitely in the process of converting.

Just got back from a Vegas trip. Flight there didn't have STRETCH but the flight back (different plane) did, so the 319s are definitely in the process of converting.

Did you sit in stretch or coach? How much was the pitch different in coach?

I booked myself a one-way leg in business on Airtran for next year and am looking forward to trying it out!

I think those seat dimensions are about the same as the gone-but-not-forgotten Midwest Signature Seats, aren't they?


Similar seat - more pitch. 37" - with wifi and also XM radio. Bring your own earphones.

Jeff