MD-80 “Super 80” aka “Mad Dog” memories, “longest goodbye”
#46
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For the first time in a couple of years, I flew one last month, and remorsefully reflected whether it would be the last time. For two decades plus when I was based out of DFW, it seemed like I rarely got anything but the MD80.
I was a 20B guy (and 21B back when that was the front exit row). As a non-EXP elite, with upgrades the exception rather than the rule, the exit row offered extra comfort long before MCE, even before MRTC. I used to joke that I spent so much time in that seat, I could board the plane and find the seat cushion pre-formed to my butt. On one weekly commute I did, Monday morning, I would always find the same woman sitting in 20A; I guess we all had different preferences.
But I always liked that aircraft, though many did not. It was way back in 2005 that I was inspired to start this thread:
In defense of the Mad Dogs / MD80s
I was a 20B guy (and 21B back when that was the front exit row). As a non-EXP elite, with upgrades the exception rather than the rule, the exit row offered extra comfort long before MCE, even before MRTC. I used to joke that I spent so much time in that seat, I could board the plane and find the seat cushion pre-formed to my butt. On one weekly commute I did, Monday morning, I would always find the same woman sitting in 20A; I guess we all had different preferences.
But I always liked that aircraft, though many did not. It was way back in 2005 that I was inspired to start this thread:
In defense of the Mad Dogs / MD80s
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
I too love the MD80/90 aircraft as a passenger. They are way more comfortable, even in coach.
BUT I am no fool. I know they are outdated, and the number of pilots that can actually fly them are dwindling and younger pilots are much more fly by wire trained. I also know that these aircraft are a bit more tempermental in terms of the flight envelope, and they are aging which means more maintenance issues.
BUT I am no fool. I know they are outdated, and the number of pilots that can actually fly them are dwindling and younger pilots are much more fly by wire trained. I also know that these aircraft are a bit more tempermental in terms of the flight envelope, and they are aging which means more maintenance issues.
#48
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: HSV (formerly AUS)
Programs: AA MM (like it matters!) All of my flying was personal travel, and COVID-19 stopped that.
Posts: 223
I rode a lot of Mad Dog HSV-DFW hops. 3F was my favorite seat.
The HSV-DFW hops routinely flew with every seat occupied, and the Scarebus A319s couldn't match the Mad Dog seat count. They had to cut F in half, and reduce the seat pitches considerably, to get CLOSE to the Mad Dog seat counts.
The original plan had been to replace the Mad Dogs with 737s, which would have given a somewhat higher seat count, lower operating cost, AND kept decent seat pitches.
I was not impressed.
Now, of course, HSV is all-RJ all-the-time. There is no mainline AA metal service to Huntspatch any more.
The HSV-DFW hops routinely flew with every seat occupied, and the Scarebus A319s couldn't match the Mad Dog seat count. They had to cut F in half, and reduce the seat pitches considerably, to get CLOSE to the Mad Dog seat counts.
The original plan had been to replace the Mad Dogs with 737s, which would have given a somewhat higher seat count, lower operating cost, AND kept decent seat pitches.
I was not impressed.
Now, of course, HSV is all-RJ all-the-time. There is no mainline AA metal service to Huntspatch any more.
#49
Join Date: Aug 2018
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Ahhhh... The good old MD-80. I have several fond memories of them:
1. They were basically the only airframe I rode in while in college. See, in the late 90s TWA had an amazing student fare that was something ridiculous like $50/region one way... So, for me, flying from Seattle (home at the time) to Boston (University) was $50 SEA-STL, $50 STL-BOS, and the same on the return. Which meant that it was $200 r/t. And West coast to Hawaii was one region as well, so my annual Christmas flights to Grandma's in Honolulu were $300 r/t BOS-HNL. Oh, and you earned mile on those tickets. Also, becaue it was TWA... you ALWAYS connected through Lambert International. Gosh how I hated that airport. In the 90s, it really was a pit.
2. My first ever F upgrade was on one of those STL-BOS flights. My first Christmas home from Uni, I was opening my mail and found a "Welcome to TWAs FF Program" F upgrade voucher. Needless to say, I slew back to Boston up front... and enjoyed that TWA didn't do anythign so gauche as carding their First Class passengers. ;-)
3. As a long time AA flyier, my loyalty came with the TWA aquisition, I flew many MD-80s, even before I was elite and I always booked in 7B. I had just started flying a lot for work (later this same year was my first year ever making Gold, Plat and then ExPlt) so I had signed up for the Citi Executive World Elite Master Card (or whatever it was they called it back then) and was loving the Lounge access. So, I'm flying from ATL to SEA and, of course, there's a layover in DFW. I'm at the gate waiting for my flight and there was this really attractive young lady also waiting. So, I board with my Credit Card priority group and, shockingly, several groups later that same youg lady shows up and is in 7A*. Needless to say we get to talking and it turns out that we both have a VERY long layovers in DFW and we're both flying out of Terminal D later that night**. Craziest of all? Adjacent gates!*** Of course I invite her to be my "lounge buddy", one thing leads to another and, well, let's just say we had a great layover and nearly missed our flights. ;-) As an aside, how convenient is it that there's a Hyatt attached to Terminal D?**** I never did get her last name or her number... mostly becasue she was headed overseas for a year's study abroad and I had just been through a brutal breakup. But I'll never forget that layover, our parting as we each boarded our respective planes (You that way, me this way as Shakespere wrote), or watching her A380 push back. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I'd gotten her number. I also sometimes hope we'll cross paths on another MD-80. =)
*This has never happened to me before or since.
**Also never happened before.
***Yeah, real life is never like this. It was a serious "Who's life am I living???" moment, but in a good way.
****Again with the never before or afters.
1. They were basically the only airframe I rode in while in college. See, in the late 90s TWA had an amazing student fare that was something ridiculous like $50/region one way... So, for me, flying from Seattle (home at the time) to Boston (University) was $50 SEA-STL, $50 STL-BOS, and the same on the return. Which meant that it was $200 r/t. And West coast to Hawaii was one region as well, so my annual Christmas flights to Grandma's in Honolulu were $300 r/t BOS-HNL. Oh, and you earned mile on those tickets. Also, becaue it was TWA... you ALWAYS connected through Lambert International. Gosh how I hated that airport. In the 90s, it really was a pit.
2. My first ever F upgrade was on one of those STL-BOS flights. My first Christmas home from Uni, I was opening my mail and found a "Welcome to TWAs FF Program" F upgrade voucher. Needless to say, I slew back to Boston up front... and enjoyed that TWA didn't do anythign so gauche as carding their First Class passengers. ;-)
3. As a long time AA flyier, my loyalty came with the TWA aquisition, I flew many MD-80s, even before I was elite and I always booked in 7B. I had just started flying a lot for work (later this same year was my first year ever making Gold, Plat and then ExPlt) so I had signed up for the Citi Executive World Elite Master Card (or whatever it was they called it back then) and was loving the Lounge access. So, I'm flying from ATL to SEA and, of course, there's a layover in DFW. I'm at the gate waiting for my flight and there was this really attractive young lady also waiting. So, I board with my Credit Card priority group and, shockingly, several groups later that same youg lady shows up and is in 7A*. Needless to say we get to talking and it turns out that we both have a VERY long layovers in DFW and we're both flying out of Terminal D later that night**. Craziest of all? Adjacent gates!*** Of course I invite her to be my "lounge buddy", one thing leads to another and, well, let's just say we had a great layover and nearly missed our flights. ;-) As an aside, how convenient is it that there's a Hyatt attached to Terminal D?**** I never did get her last name or her number... mostly becasue she was headed overseas for a year's study abroad and I had just been through a brutal breakup. But I'll never forget that layover, our parting as we each boarded our respective planes (You that way, me this way as Shakespere wrote), or watching her A380 push back. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I'd gotten her number. I also sometimes hope we'll cross paths on another MD-80. =)
*This has never happened to me before or since.
**Also never happened before.
***Yeah, real life is never like this. It was a serious "Who's life am I living???" moment, but in a good way.
****Again with the never before or afters.
Last edited by Well Red; Oct 17, 2018 at 11:28 pm Reason: Fixing Typos
#50
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 12
I too love the MD80/90 aircraft as a passenger. They are way more comfortable, even in coach.
BUT I am no fool. I know they are outdated, and the number of pilots that can actually fly them are dwindling and younger pilots are much more fly by wire trained. I also know that these aircraft are a bit more tempermental in terms of the flight envelope, and they are aging which means more maintenance issues.
BUT I am no fool. I know they are outdated, and the number of pilots that can actually fly them are dwindling and younger pilots are much more fly by wire trained. I also know that these aircraft are a bit more tempermental in terms of the flight envelope, and they are aging which means more maintenance issues.
They are phasing them out for several reasons, one is the ADS-B requirement which isn't insurmountable and the other is the lack of stall training for the simulators. Also, the FAA said no more new hires after August of this year because we have a slightly different version of the FMS on the line, and they won't let AA train in one without having one of those airplanes on the line.
Also keep in mind at full load (140 pax), the S80 burns around 7000 lbs per hour. The same as an older CEO A321 does carrying fifty people more. That is certainly the biggest issue and why they are being phased out.
So basically s mutiltide of factors. They were originally supposed to be gone in 2016 IIRC.
#51
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 170
I think it would be neat to get some of those first class seats for theater-style seating.
Maybe I'll make some cold calls to Roswell or Tucson or wherever they're tearing them apart. Can't imagine there is much of a second-hand market for them so it might be a case of just showing up and taking them?
Maybe I'll make some cold calls to Roswell or Tucson or wherever they're tearing them apart. Can't imagine there is much of a second-hand market for them so it might be a case of just showing up and taking them?
#52
Join Date: May 2017
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Plat Pro, HH Gold, National Exec
Posts: 41
I have one coming up in a couple of weeks to TUL. I used to really dislike them but the longer I have flown the more they have grown on me. Lots of flights to DFW-IAH and back on them. Plus as a lowly Plat status the chances of an upgrade area always better(well, not on the IAH flights).
#53
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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I think it would be neat to get some of those first class seats for theater-style seating.
Maybe I'll make some cold calls to Roswell or Tucson or wherever they're tearing them apart. Can't imagine there is much of a second-hand market for them so it might be a case of just showing up and taking them?
Maybe I'll make some cold calls to Roswell or Tucson or wherever they're tearing them apart. Can't imagine there is much of a second-hand market for them so it might be a case of just showing up and taking them?
CAVU Aerospace Inc.
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Link Airlines Magazine article on MD-80 and a final flight to ROW
Link (8 MD-80s fly to ROW)
Link (20 MD-80s fly to ROW)
#54
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ORD, LGA
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 348
Thanks for the memories. I loved those planes. Looking at those pictures was like looking at pictures of a long lost love. That was the first plane I had a monogamous relationship with (I'll admit I did stray once in a while but only on routes where you had to take either a wide body or a RJ), . Second half of the last decade I was an EXP every year and flew ORD-LGA almost every week. Back then, upgrade priority within tier was by when you booked your flight (until 24 hours before departure). I would book my tickets usually three months in advance so it was rare for my upgrade not to clear. I had one streak of 98 flights in a row where my upgrade cleared. Settling into 3E at the end of a work week going home felt like I was almost home. On rare occasions when my upgrade didn't clear, well, exit row aisle wasn't so bad. The mad dogs were so comfy. Only once did I have to endure row 31 (in E no less, my own fault).
I don't do the weekly commute anymore but when I do have to fly ORD-LGA, well, the 737s feel like I traded in a reliable partner for a younger trophy partner. Sure, she is younger and sexier, but my darling mad dog was a way better partner. Mad dog just took better care of me, unlike the younger, sexier 737. She was intimate and familiar. I miss my darling mad dog and if she would take me back, I'd go back in a heartbeat.
[/Midlife crisis off]
As for the best memory, I was in seat 3B flying LGA-ORD. I was getting pretty hammered on complimentary V&Ts. I saw behind me in 5E was Illinois ex-governor Rod Blagovich. This was two weeks after his impeachment. After the flight landed, I chatted him up and got a picture with him. Magical memories on the mad dogs.
I don't do the weekly commute anymore but when I do have to fly ORD-LGA, well, the 737s feel like I traded in a reliable partner for a younger trophy partner. Sure, she is younger and sexier, but my darling mad dog was a way better partner. Mad dog just took better care of me, unlike the younger, sexier 737. She was intimate and familiar. I miss my darling mad dog and if she would take me back, I'd go back in a heartbeat.
[/Midlife crisis off]
As for the best memory, I was in seat 3B flying LGA-ORD. I was getting pretty hammered on complimentary V&Ts. I saw behind me in 5E was Illinois ex-governor Rod Blagovich. This was two weeks after his impeachment. After the flight landed, I chatted him up and got a picture with him. Magical memories on the mad dogs.
#55
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: PBI/MIA
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I flew them ONT-DFW back in the day. Of late, most of my flying has been on the East Coast, but I did get a final MD trip last year IAH-DFW. Short trip, but nice to have one last ride in a Douglas.
I don't go back as far as JDiver, but my first trip was in an Electra.
I don't go back as far as JDiver, but my first trip was in an Electra.
#56
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,086
Countless AUS-DFW and vice-versa MD 80 flights for me. Always tried to pick the starboard side if in F (slightly more pitch) and port side if in Y (due to the 2 seat config). It was (is) a quiet ride up front and the seats are the most comfortable I've encountered for a standard domestic (US) narrow body, excluding the transcon 321T.
I'm already missing them being based out of AUS. Don't remember the last time I saw one at my home airport.
I'm already missing them being based out of AUS. Don't remember the last time I saw one at my home airport.
#57
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Washington DC Metro Area
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Countless AUS-DFW and vice-versa MD 80 flights for me. Always tried to pick the starboard side if in F (slightly more pitch) and port side if in Y (due to the 2 seat config). It was (is) a quiet ride up front and the seats are the most comfortable I've encountered for a standard domestic (US) narrow body, excluding the transcon 321T.
I'm already missing them being based out of AUS. Don't remember the last time I saw one at my home airport.
I'm already missing them being based out of AUS. Don't remember the last time I saw one at my home airport.
I also loved that they were relatively “quiet” in F and that they felt so stable even in rough air (by-product of high wing-loading). Takeoff and the occasional go-around were always a high-speed express elevator ride to a usually smooth ride above it all.
Farewell ‘Dog. I miss you still...
#58
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,086
Well, I might have jumped the gun.. Currently have r/t tix on hold for a trip to CMH (Columbus, OH) for a college football weekend, and voila, it has 2 segments on the Mad Dog to and from DFW. Funny how these things work out..
Booked Y, got the 21 A seats, since I like window seats, but looks pretty open, at least on the way up, so might be able to experience the splendor of the MD-80 F again ;-)
Booked Y, got the 21 A seats, since I like window seats, but looks pretty open, at least on the way up, so might be able to experience the splendor of the MD-80 F again ;-)
#59
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA/RIC
Programs: HH LTD, AA LTG
Posts: 1,015
Great thread, thanks for starting it JDiver. I too will miss these when they completely leave the fleet. Us older folks had the pleasure to ride such a diverse collection of aircraft and had the opportunity to experience the golden age of flying. My favorite jet was the 727. Since that has long since been retired in the US the MD-80 was the next best thing to me. The 747 when the upper deck was configured as a lounge would have been much better I presume but my 747 rides were all relegated to the main deck and after they removed the lounges to put in seats in the upper deck. I am with you on seats 3 or 4 F in F as my favorites but prefer 20A vice 21A in Y since I do not recline my seat while in coach and have had some experiences in 21A reclining on its own during takeoff.
I have ridden lots of MD-80s as they were all AA flew from RIC to my west coast destinations of SAN, SFO, LAS and TUS via DFW for over a decade back before Duggie took over and canx many of the DFW flights and replaced with CLT flights from RIC.
No comparison in aesthetics between the shiny aluminum of the MD-80s compared to the lame paint on the new composite planes IMO.
Now however my west coast trips are relegated to boring 737’s and A321’s. These planes while functional remind me of Chryslers K cars of the 70’s.
Remember back to when AA boasted the most legroom in coach, and the best folks had to ***** about was the “bistro bags” replacing served lunch/dinner in coach – lol and sad at the same time?
I have ridden lots of MD-80s as they were all AA flew from RIC to my west coast destinations of SAN, SFO, LAS and TUS via DFW for over a decade back before Duggie took over and canx many of the DFW flights and replaced with CLT flights from RIC.
No comparison in aesthetics between the shiny aluminum of the MD-80s compared to the lame paint on the new composite planes IMO.
Now however my west coast trips are relegated to boring 737’s and A321’s. These planes while functional remind me of Chryslers K cars of the 70’s.
Remember back to when AA boasted the most legroom in coach, and the best folks had to ***** about was the “bistro bags” replacing served lunch/dinner in coach – lol and sad at the same time?
#60
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ft Worth, TX, AA PLAT 4MM, UA 1K, HH Diamond,
Posts: 266