Originally Posted by
cerealmarketer
Let's not forget the 'ghetto bird' 767s and the domestic 777s or DC-10s.
Each ushered in a new level of density.
Airlines don't want to be flying international config birds dedicated to domestic milk runs unless there's something wrong with the int'l market (read post 9/11 / SARS) or they can do quick turns when connecting. There's no valid 3 cabin market for IAD-LAX outside of a few who connect in IAD (when they should be taking a nonstop on another airline).
That's where these domestic only widebodies come / came in. They weren't comfortable rides 20 years ago, and they aren't today. At least this one has lie flat seats in first.
But the lax>iad wide body 3 cabin was for when they tried to make IAD an international gateway of a flight to every major international capital in the world in the mid to late 2000's but they couldn't compete. I used that flight frequently when going international to flights only operated from IAD. It was great and then they cut it and started to downguage to A319. What a horrible experience that was. I am sure if they could have made the distance work they would have made it a crj200.