FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - What With the Front of the Plane to Barrows?
Old Mar 13, 2008 | 3:59 am
  #5  
jackal
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Originally Posted by EIPremier
The new ones have the same bins (ie adequate) and seats you would find on any non-combi 737-400. AS has 5 737-400s that were converted to a fixed cargo/72 passenger configuration.
Yes, I flew one ANC-SEA in January. Standing at Row 16 and looking back, there is absolutely nothing that tells you you're in anything different than a normal 737-400. But if you're sitting in row 16, you've got possibly the best coach seat on any AS aircraft in the fleet--the bulkhead is probably a good six feet in front of you, so your legroom is practically unlimited. The front FA jumpseat is opposite 16D, but unless you like to stick your legs straight out (and the FA does, too), you wouldn't bother each other.

My theory on the smaller bins in the 732s was because of the convertible nature of the aircraft--the bins had to be small enough to fit cargo pallets along the whole length of the aircraft. Since the new 734s are in a fixed configuration, the overhead bins in the seating area no longer need to fit cargo pallets (and I would presume there are no overhead bins in the cargo space).

Loading on the 734 Combis is done via airstairs out of the rear left door, so I got to experience the rainy Seattle tarmac when deplaning. (I also got to get yelled at by a ground worker for accidentally straying on the wrong side of the cones and almost walking under the wing, because I had my cameraphone out and wasn't paying attention while I was snapping pictures...)

I rented a DigEplayer on a return flight over Thanksgiving, and there was a great documentary on the 732s and what their retirement meant to the crews and passengers who regularly flew them. Apparently, crews and pax liked them because the cabins were small and the pax were very regular, so everyone got to be on a first-name basis, and everyone knew each other and would talk about their families and lives--a taste of a Bush Alaska experience.

Even though they're missing F, it's worth taking a flight on a Combi at least once for the experience (particularly if you can get row 16). Fun stuff!
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