MD-80 “Super 80” aka “Mad Dog” memories, “longest goodbye”
Oct 16, 2018, 5:55 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Posts: 2,035
If companies weren't so greedy, we could keep planes like the MD-80 around (except more modern). Bring back comfortable seating, more pitch, bigger bathrooms, real food, and FA's that actually smile.
Oct 16, 2018, 6:42 pm
#21
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
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Oct 16, 2018, 6:42 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: COU
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 499
They're getting rarer for sure, but I still seem to run into these fairly regularly. I think I hit them most often on STL-DFW (or the reverse) but also other routes; suddenly kicking myself for not recording equipment in my tracking sheet. Mostly I'm a fan; as others have said J is a treat and Y is better than most of the rest of the fleet. With two caveats: the seats toward the back are really just evil loud, and it's probably the worst aircraft in the fleet to be stuck on a hot tarmac in. I did about 4 hours away from the gate at DFW this summer in 100F heat, and that thing has effectively zero AC when it's not spooled up. We were frying like bacon...
Oct 16, 2018, 6:47 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LGB
Posts: 1,205
All of the other times, I think I would have preferred just about any other mainline aircraft. (CRJs and other overbooked gliders can F right off.)
Oct 16, 2018, 6:59 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,153
Spent way too much of my domestic time aloft on MadDogs, though, for all the complaints about them, I liked the FC seats and "quiet" front cabin.
Oct 16, 2018, 7:58 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
I actually didn't mind the MD in F, I started flying AA only a few years ago and battery life on laptops made the lack of real power a requirement and the seats were pretty comfortable for the short hauls where I found myself on them (often DFW-IAD).
Wow you flew on all those planes!? You. Are Old! 
though unlike myself seems you were able to enjoy the "golden age" of flying for which I'm jealous.
though unlike myself seems you were able to enjoy the "golden age" of flying for which I'm jealous.
Oct 16, 2018, 8:25 pm
#27
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: KSUX
Posts: 906
Flew on quite a few Mad Dogs mainly between ORD and PHX over the years. First time flying in the pointy end was on a mad dog from PHX to ORD. The F seats were nice and getting a seat on the two side made coach bearable. Kinda sad to see them go but the last one I few on to DFW in 2017 was in a pretty sad state.
Oct 16, 2018, 8:44 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1MM
Posts: 185
A favorite frame of mine I would do 15-20 roundtrips a year on DFW-LAX/SAN/SAN/PSP/ONT. Add in a few trips to LAS/ORD/LGA and that sums up my domestic travel from 1999-2010.
And fortuitous enough, most of my other flights were on the overpowered 757. Happy days..
I really enjoyed traveling during that time period. I qualified for EXP twice and my domestic upgrades were 100% both years.
Must get one more trip in before they are gone, even if I book a trip just to fly the frame.
A retiring airliner that has better seat comfort than its newer replacements, go figure.
Great thread, I will for sure follow this one.
And fortuitous enough, most of my other flights were on the overpowered 757. Happy days..
I really enjoyed traveling during that time period. I qualified for EXP twice and my domestic upgrades were 100% both years.
Must get one more trip in before they are gone, even if I book a trip just to fly the frame.
A retiring airliner that has better seat comfort than its newer replacements, go figure.
Great thread, I will for sure follow this one.
Oct 16, 2018, 9:25 pm
#30
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I actually didn't mind the MD in F, I started flying AA only a few years ago and battery life on laptops made the lack of real power a requirement and the seats were pretty comfortable for the short hauls where I found myself on them (often DFW-IAD).
Wow you flew on all those planes!? You. Are Old! though unlike myself seems you were able to enjoy the "golden age" of flying for which I'm jealous.
Wow you flew on all those planes!? You. Are Old!
though unlike myself seems you were able to enjoy the "golden age" of flying for which I'm jealous.Photo: Stinson SM-6000-B panel, taken by owner Greg Herrick. AA mD-80 cockpit c/o Airliners.net
Last edited by JDiver; Oct 16, 2018 at 9:32 pm