But it's a short flight from IAH to anywhere in Louisiana. If your flight weren't operated with an ERJ or a turboprop, it probably wouldn't exist.

See, Steph3n can do it!

Now here's where I have a beef with CO. As I've stated many times, I'm cool with Q400s on routes like EWR-ALB and with ERJs on routes like EWR-GSO. But when CO puts Q400s on longer routes (EWR-RDU, EWR-MYR) and ERJs on really long routes (like the aforementioned IAH-ORF), that's when I have a problem. Perhaps we'll get some good news in this department with the merger, a new contract with the pilots, etc...

Airbus says they can do it with their A330 tanker at the same cost and their system is ready to go RIGHT NOW......

Personally, I actually prefer the ERJ 170-195 series to the mainline single-aisle planes, because FC is very intimate and comfortable, while there is never a middle seat in Y.

The overhead bins are large enough for any reasonable carry on and, because most of these flights operate as RJ's, in most cases you can still do gate check.

If you're flying an ERJ 175 or 190 on AC, you will also get AVOD and USB at every seat.

Vermando is correct.

CO has as many flights each day into AEX (my home airport) as AA and DL combined.

I will go out of my way to not fly DL. I even fly CO to ATL even though I could fly nonstop to ATL with DL. Twice in the past year DL has cancelled their flight from AEX to ATL approximately 5 - 10 minutes after a CO flight left with available seats. This has resulted in me cancelling one trip and having a seven hour delay on another. To me this is unacceptable and I'm voting with my wallet.

That leaves AA and CO for me. I am unable to leave ORF prior to 5:00 p.m. AA cannot get me to AEX the same day so I'll be taking CO and the RJ to IAH and another RJ to AEX. Yes, I don't like the RJs but as cjgibson said if it weren't for RJs and Saab 340s we wouldn't have any service in many locations in Louisiana.

Same thing with DL Connection/ASA LFT-ATL. They simply are not as reliable as COEx.

I disagree on the food issue. I certainly don't prefer A to C, but there's a Grain Station in the middle of the gate A20-A28 terminal that sells healthy food options (sandwiches, yogurt, fruit, snack bars). In many cases, the food I've picked up there has been better than meals I've been served in F.

Well, there's hope then.....

Yes, but as has been said, there are ERJs and there are ERJs. I was not in favor of the merger with United until I flew one of their ERJs - more comfortable seat, first class, E+. It was heaven.

I don't expect a lie-flat seat and steak au poivre, but I don't think a first class option and an aisle I can stand up in are too much to ask.

On longer routes, or on routes that link hubs to important business markets, I agree with you.

But from IAH to anywhere in Louisiana-- except New Orleans-- I think it probably is too much to ask. There probably just isn't enough traffic from places like BTR, AEX, SHV, etc. to support using E-Jets or CRJ-700s/900s. And FWIW, United doesn't offer F or E+ on its CRJ-200s or ERJ-145s either.

In the coming years, however, you might see some of these routes switched from ERJs to Colgan Q400s. And in my opinion, you'll be missing the ERJs.

You're quite right. I doubt we would see E-Jets/CR7s/CR9s here in LFT and we had CO 737 service at one point to IAH. As mentioned previously, I've also heard (unofficially) that Colgan intends to introduce the Q400 for at least some of the IAH short haul feeder routes this fall. The thought did cross my mind that they may try to replace ERJs. And if that does indeed happen and we lose COEx ERJ service completely, I would then seriously consider switching airlines with AA being my most likely choice (the AA Eagle turboprops that were based in DFW are long gone).

Sweet goodness are you serious?

NWA/DL here I come!

No, they are not. The just switched to ATR slaveships.

in addition the Q400 is way better than a Saab or a ERJ145 anyday. one may gripe about colgan, but the Q400 is a great plane.

My reaction was to Colgan more than the plane. I'd switch to NW or DL before I flew them as my primary connecting carrier.

Whoops! You are correct, sir! AA had sent me an e-mail awhile back announcing that "all the Saab 340s are gone" having been replaced by ERJs. I see now that announcement was route specific (LFT-DFW). It appears the AA Eagle ATRs in DFW are all the newer -500 models. I flew on a new ATR-72-500 operated by Air Tahiti PPT-RFP r/t and was actually impressed with this turboprop. And I agree with you concerning the Q400 having flown with Horizon. Colgan is another story.....

P.S. - I will still take an ERJ 145 operated by ExpressJet over a Q400 operated by Colgan any day - for a number of reasons.