Yup
 

I was just about to remind the O/P that the Q400 has propellors

Thanks dkul

That cracked me up - thanks!

But would CAL ever buy something other than Boeing? Word is they have an exclusivity clause with Boeing that lowers the total cost of the aircraft. Who knows if its BS or not though.

Many people bring this up without realizing why. The CRJ series (-50/100/200/700/900) are all based on the Canadair Challenger corporate jet. When Bombardier decided to make it into an airliner they needed more floor width to accomodate the 2-2 seating. Only way they could do that (while maintaining the original fuselage) was to raise the floor (since the curvature of the fuselage widens) but that caused the windows to be too "low" for normal viewing. The Embraer's were purpose built as airliners and therefore don't have that problem.
OK...history lesson over. :p

Many of the large US-based carriers had a gentlemen's agreement with Boeing.

I agree with much of the above and would love to add a distinction:

The first category is, I think, the traditional use of the regional jet, so the current configuration has generally been fine. I have the feeling that they have increased the second category of use, though, in recent years. I think that's great - I love me some frequent point-to-point flights - but if that's going to be a significant and permanent part of the schedule then I would also appreciate them looking into an FC configuration a la COPA.

NW's RJs with F/C
 

I would like to add my 2 cents that these Embraers with F/C are fantastic - even coach is not bad. I use CO often for TATL flights, but I usually use NW to get to/from EWR because of the awful RJs that CO flys. Somehow CO ended up with the worst of the worst. Their RJs are not only cramped, but they seem to always smell of LAV. I would consider CO as my primary carrier now that DL/NW are merging, but I just can't handle all of my initial outbound and final return segments on their RJs. It is particularly insulting after hours in BF on a TATL flight to end up those last few hours on one of their RJs. They really need to upgrade the RJ experience.

I recently ran BTR-DEN via NW in one of these F/C RJs. My 2 cents: I found no vast difference in seats. Given the plane was newer, but I just did not see the appeal.

Now on a slightly unrelated rant - I dont think I can fly NW RJs anymore since it looks like Delta has thrown all regional traffic through MEM and those boys just dont know what to do - i.e. We DOUBLE PARKED an a/c!! From the deck was heard "Well folks looks like they forgot to get a gate for us so bare with us while we ...." In the end the RJ was put wing to wing underneath 2 gate parked 737/A40/whatever they were. It would be amusing save for the fact I was a-paul-ed! :-)

Everyone write!
 

All of you out there in RJ served cities (like MCI), Lets rally for FC service on the RJs!^


For now we have 1 flight a day to/from IAH on a 737. The RJs to EWR are torture!:td:

Several years prior to Boeing's acquisition of McDonnell Douglas, Boeing signed exclusive contracts with AA, CO and DL. As a condition of attaining anti-trust approval, the European Commission required Boeing to not enforce the exclusivity clause. Of course, the European Commission did this solely to preserve a free market and consumer choice, not to protect or subsidize their own commercial aircraft industry :rolleyes: