I guess I would concur with those who say anytime you can get an airline's long-haul equipment for a shorter hop within one country, that's usually ideal. Especially if you can apply an upgrade and get a decent J seat.

In terms of narrowbodies, I like the following:

- If I'm on an RJ, the UA-configured E170's, both in F and Y, are pretty nice. Frankly, the RJ experience on UA is tolerable...as long as you are on one of the larger ones.
- If I'm on a traditional domestic narrowbody, the UA A320 in either F or Y is good.
- The YX MD-80's are not bad, but service is not what it once was.
- For an "enhanced narrowbody" - used on short/medium international flights - I like the Austrian A320 in F. It's a 40+" pitch with excellent catering. (I've never flown UA's 3-cabin transcon 757, the only premium narrowbody U.S. service I see discussed a lot.)
- Best seat: Tropic Air (Belize). A passenger gets to sit next to the pilot.