Originally Posted by
flying_gibbon
The LRs are actually still relatively young airplanes, delivered to Delta in 2008-2010. The ERs were mostly delivered in 1999. I've only flown on the ER, but my understanding is the interior is largely the same on the two variants.
Aesthetically on the exterior, the two have very slightly different wingtips and the ERs have Rolls Royce engines while the LRs are GE.
Good to know. Shows how I am colored by my bias, haha.
Basically, I do not see many LR's with other airlines, so I had a mental association going on with them not being "as desirable". I guess the reality is it too much plane for most routes, and the 787's and A350 have that long distance market cornered now.
Expanding on the A350, I am so happy that Delta has these now because as far as I am concerned, they are the superior American airline ... but they do not show as well as they could in a lot of ways due to old planes, their hubs being mostly 2nd/3rd tier cities, and their route network, in my opinion, not being as "worldly" as American and United. I realize these are mostly prestige things, and there is more to running a good airline than being glossy on the outside, but I think showing well on the international stage is worth something.