You're right! I guess I have those options, but since I don't mind RJs, I usually take them anyway. :)

In 2005 I flew 31 segments on CO metal, of which 26 were ERJs.... :td:

Well, I was doing OK with this program until I discovered I had to fly back from YVR to TUS. My choice was stark: non-SkyTeam on real jets, or DL RJ. EQM vs. a modicum of "comfort". Hmmm.

And then one CO 735 sector was downgauged to RJ. I had carefully concocted the itin to avoid this in the first instance, but there's not much to be done now. CO CSR: "Reason for rebooking RQ, don't like RJ...hmmm. Not in manual, no can do.." Or can you?

So far, of the approx. 75k BIS miles I have booked for the first half of '07, I have kept the toothpaste tube torture to four segs. But I don't see how I can avoid at least one more during the second half of the year.

RTS

I don't mind the RJR's, I usually fly them from EWR-RIC..One thing I don't miss is the Prop planes used from FLL/PBI-Nassau..Do they still use them? Or are they using RJR's? Haven't been on those in awhile...

Boy those were an adventure on a stormy day...:eek:

I did the prop plane FLL-Nassau a year ago but haven't done it since then so not sure what they're doing. I try to avoid RJs at all costs, though on some routes it's unavoidable.

I fly IAH-OMA about every month and take the one flight a day that's a 737 - which puts me in at 11:10 p.m. and leaves at 7:40 a.m. I then have a lovely three hour drive, so it's insanity at best, but it still beats a RJ.

I have flown 16 segments on COEX this year alone. 12 (75%) of those have been on the 1,021 mile route between CLE's terminal D and DFW's gate E7. The CLE-DFW was usually a drag because it was usually the 8:55PM departure that, in the winter, would sometimes push three hours wheels up to touchdown.

The plan is working...
 

Despite amassing my highest EQM total for this time of year, I've only endured four RJ segs so far this year. Two on DL and two on COEX - one of these was unexpected and unavoidable as I was downgauged late in the game on the last daily IAH-TUS sector. In fact this was the one where the COEX pilot bounced us off the runway at TUS to wake everyone up.

Anyway, it's much better. I'm prepared to drive two hours to avoid an RJ seg, which puts PHX comfortably in range when CO's TUS sched is downgauged for the summer. Otherwise I've made a range of decisions that help me avoid the toothpaste tubes; fly to BNA and SDF only on NW, for example, to avoid them. Use PHX when necessary.

RJ Segments
 

Only 90 YTD - a good year! Do Chautauqua segments count as 7 each (as in dog years)? If so, bump my total...

46 mainline and 46 ERJ. Last year, I flew over 100 ERJ segments. I memorized the ERJ safety demonstration eons ago and was actually allowed to recite it over the PA system recently when the CD player stopped working. This enabled the FA to do all the pointing, etc. without stopping to read each paragraph.

CHG EQP and Elite Miles
 

CHQ flights should be credit at twice the normal rate as they are twice as problematic.

RJ Misery
 

I am thinking back. But I earned plat for 07 in September of 06 and I believe if my math is correct only 4 or 6 segments were on MAINLINE. So a LOT of RJ's for me.

Yeah, great idea, provided they actually post! For every week I travel on Chautauqua-operated flights, it's almost certain that one of the flights won't post without me contacting the OnePass Service Center. Out of eight Chautauqua flights so far, I've had to contact the OPSC three times, and I have a fourth flight from last week that still hasn't posted that I'm probably going to have to request be manually processed. Usually it's not the flights out of IAH that are a problem. Instead, it's the ones out of a remote station back home to IAH that don't post. Since 1999, when I first joined OnePass, those Chautauqua flights, all flown since April 22, are the first flights I've ever had to contact the OPSC about not posting.

As for the quest to avoid RJs, this year I've flown 57 flights so far, twenty of which were on RJs, and three on turboprops (four after Friday). Only two of those flights were in a non-exit row seat, and one of those was in a bulkhead. Fortunately I've only sat in one standard 31" pitch Y RJ seat in the last 12 months. I doubt I'll ever be able to avoid RJs as long as I need to fly to places like LBB and MAF. Sure I could fly WN, but I don't find an ERJ all that bad.

Only 6 segs on RJs so far this year. Except for constantly hitting my head when I stand up (you'd think I would have caught on by now...), I'm much more comfortable in 12A on a COEX RJ than coach on a 737 to anywhere.

I also have had only six ERJ segments so far this year - usually, it's more by now.

You got that right.

50/52 segments this year on RJ. The EMB145 isn't too bad - the previous posters said it all. The CRJ-200 however is very uncomfortable, and I think those should be avoided whenever possible. Apparently no one over 5'6" is supposed to look out the windows...

I actually chose an ERJ over a mainline flight this week because 12A was available, and there were no decent aisle seats or exit row seats left on the mainline flight (and my chances for an upgrade, even on an H fare, are about 1%).

CRJs in general seem bearable - I was able to get thru a few DH flights (two IAD-ATL) with no complaints.

On Continental's ERJs, I feel like I'm flying in an elevator.

"TVCMH; Best strategy for avoiding RJ's in the Midwest: www.nwa.com"

tried that this week. even got upgraded to first for the trip. but NWA must have figured me out. cancelled the flight and rebooked me on Delta CRJ (four hours worth)

but there is good news -- one of the flights was a CRJ 900 and I got the exit row. not bad.... and there is even a first class section in the front. although that reminded me that there are no recip upgrades with them.

Also the best strategy to earn 50% EQM's if in the lowest 50% of fare classes, unfortunately.