QXflyer

The Q400 is a great plane. Plenty safe and thousands of passengers fly them each day, made more comfortable by the provision of great Horizon service.

I, as long with everyone in this thread it seems, would recommend you fly the Q. If you've never flown one how can you know for certain they are scary?

Kaphias

Only? No. The difference in the way the two aircraft handle turbulence is due solely to wing loading, all other things being equal. The 737 has a higher wing loading than a Q400, and will therefore cut through any turbulence "better" than a Q400.

Also: If I'm in the very front or back of a Q400, it's decently quiet. If I'm stuck in the middle, I wear earplugs.

EIPremier

I've always liked flying on the Q400, at least for short distances. Just avoid sitting near the wing if you don't want your view blocked by the prop (and also the noise). The noise and vibration doesn't bother me at all. I'd say it reminds me of having a large purring cat sitting on my lap.

BearX220

Try them out before you judge them. IMO they're more comfortable for short flights than a CRJ200, which is a jet.

alphaeagle

True, but the difference between the two isn't going to be noticeable. The bigger issue is not dealing with turbulence, rather avoiding it completely.

beckoa

Hands down YES. Stay away from the CRJ200 torture tubes.

There is actual headroom in the Q400.

You'll be fine

char777

Not sure what would have changed from starting a nearly identical thread from two months ago. Props are perfectly fine, safe, and reliable planes to fly. If you're really that worried and prefer a jet despite having never been in a prop, DL will start flying the CRJ-700 on SEA-EUG in April.

Chugach

This again? Try it..if you don't like it then drive or take the train next time (and statistically, neither of the latter options are as safe).

Crzn33k

And depending what time of day Free beer or wine

ctporter

Ive flown SEA PDX, SEA MSO, SEA BOI, SEA EAT, SEA YAK, SEA HNL, SEA BZN, SEA STS, SEA PSC, SEA ALW, SEA LSW, SEA TWF, SEA GEG, SEA EUG, and SEA BIL. (plus all the returns of course, there might be more but that is all I could think of off the top of my head). They are absolutely fine.

Tips: if it is rainy or cold, wait to debark until the bags on the Ala carte are out. (why stand outside in cold or rain?)

Ask VERY nicely if there is an empty row, even if at the propeller it is nice to have both seats to yourself

Last row seats often get two servings of the beer/wine/other options.

Are they worse than a 737? well, there is no FC, but otherwise they are ok. I read my Kindle, rarely use my iPod and earphones so obviously I am not bothered by noise. It is impossible to work on a laptop, but I have had less room on larger jets and could not work on them either.

Are they worse than the CRJs? They seem about the same to me, although the exit rows have more leg room than row 2 on the Q 400.

If you are looking for an experience such as the "mood" lighting on VX then you will be disappointed unless you love beige. (newer ones, though rare are brighter)

Bottom line is that if you need to get between point A and B, and you have a choice of a CRJ or a Q400 go for time of day, length of flight, and cost. Those are much more relevant for decisions IMHO

Frequentlander

If you've not been on them before, how do you know you "hate" them?

Seriously though, you'll be fine. I've done SEA-EUG multiple times on Horizon Q400s and have done over 50 segments on Q400, ATR and Fairchild prop planes this year and lived to tell the tale. Flying a Q400 hands down beats fighting traffic on I5, and Eugene airport is quite user friendly.

jrl767

I trust you mean SEA-YKM and SEA-HLN
(Yakutat might be makeable, but Honolulu would require a ferry configuration with an extra fuel tank)

concur with all

bofc

Safe? Yes. As enjoyable a customer experience as most jets? Not IMO. But if there are no other options than driving take the Q400.

trooper

If bumps in the road don't scare you when driving your car...why do bumps in flight?

Its the same thing really....

And turbulence has to be "Extreme" to damage the aircraft if that's your fear... just as a bump in the road has to be pretty extreme to really damage your car....

Note... unless your informant was on one of a small number of well known flights, they are unlikely to have experienced anything worse than "moderate" turbulence.... weather radar and forecasting these days tends to keep us away from really nasty conditions... (yes, I said tends!)

Personally I LOVE Q400s... SAAB 340s... Beech 1900s...ATR 72s (but not the Texas Lawn dart...lol) They actually FEEL like an aeroplane!

Full disclosure.... they feel quite BIG to me... I did over 1000 skydiving sorties in everything from a C172 Hawk to a Twin Otter....

jrl767

^ glad to know of another turboprop aficionado out there ^