Hehe, I am with the pro DC9. What I wouldn't give to sit even Y in a DC9 rather than a barbie jet!!

DC9-50's will start to be eliminated this year with them finishing elimination by 2013.

"Being a big global airline".... Big global? Who writes that stuff lol?

DC-9 or MD-88 2-3 over any 3-3 seating on a 737 or 757 in Y. 25E on the M88 is my favorite Y mainline seat. GM so I don't have many upgrade shots so being comfortable in Y is biggest planning problem right now.

According to: http://www.delta.com/about_delta/cor...ircraft_fleet/

they have 24 of them with an average age of 33.8 years (the oldest in the fleet)

Surely at least some of that joy was because you were coming to Pittsburg(h)!!! :D

+1 on the tanks. Most of DLs DC9s are over 30 years old.

Douglas officially gave approval to produce the DC-9 on April 8, 1963. Back in the day when planes had to be a little overbuilt for safety. That is why the old birds still fly. Today we have computers and designers who reengineer every part to minimum strength to save weight.

Like the Airbus guys who used an new (read unproven) and crack prone alloy on the A380 wing rib attach plates to save a few grams each. They pushed too far and the plates are now cracking. I bet those plates on a DC9 are a few ounces heavier than a modern computer can slim them down to, but on the other hand they are 40 years old and still flying with no cracks. Yep, tanks. Also means the plane is stronger if you ever have to belly land in one. ;)

Oh dang, love the 9 with its high angle of attack, only thing better was the 727 taking off and making altitude.

Just to add that NW completely gutted and refurbed the DC-9's in the 1990's with 717 style interiors. Other than the cockpit, the interior of the DC-9's certainly do not appear to be 30+ years old. I enjoy the DC-9's, but it seems that some of the under-30 set can only look at them in terms of their age (a DC-9? Gosh, that's older than a Playstation One!).

I have been on 13 DC-9 segments this year and I am scheduled for five more in April and May. I love the DC-9, since there are not many 727's around. I love the loud noise of the engines. The louder the better. Even if I have to sit in the back during landing, reverse thrust is like music to my ears.

Just want to stress to the youngons how nice first class was. You had more room between you and the other person on your side. It was literally a small (say 6 inch wide) table between you which was a great place to set your beverage of choice. Back before everyone went bankrupt, NWA flew both a 9 PM and 10 PM flight from MSP to Duluth that I was often on. They were always DC9's, and as a Silver, I always knew I'd get the bump up.

Now, living in Sioux Falls, Delta runs 7 flights a day to MSP and only one of them is on a A319, with only 3 rows of first class, and it has been years since I have seen a DC9 here. (Rest of the flights are ALL CRJ 200; big reason for hating Delta). After reading the fuel problems with CRJ 200 (my understanding is it cost more per passenger for a full plane to fly than a A319), I am hoping they will cut flights and move to real Delta metal. Then, maybe, just maybe, I could take one last flight on my beloved DC9.

I fly em 8-9 times a year, between ATL and BHM. I like em, I actually schedule my trips TO get the -9, since my other options are CRJ 700's, or the MD-80/90's. I prefer the DC-9's due to their size. 2-3 seating in coach is a good thing (ATL-BHM is a elite heavy route, I occasionally have to go to the back) but being smaller than the 80/90's there's a better chance for me on the UG list. Haven't missed this year so far. I'm actually going to miss them when they're gone. I fly 90% of the time on CRJ's of one type or another, and while I like the A rown on the 900's, I dislike the 700's due to no lav. So, yeah, I'll take a DC-9 any day of the week.

THANK GOD. It's about time!

I've spent nearly all of my Delta life on MD-88s or DC-9s. They are a horrible product with uncomfortable seats, awkward storage space, and are the loudest plane I've ever been on. I flew up front on the MD-88 last week for the first time (as segment-qualifying GM, mind you... so much for good F/Y ratio!) and was SHOCKED at how loud it was. My wife was across the aisle and it was too loud for us to talk the entire time (nearly 3 hours).

There were at least 6-7 pax in BE on this flight that had never been on one of these horrid planes, and were convinced they would at least have drop-down screens since they lack AVOD. One girl started crying when she found out there isn't even in-seat power after I told her there isn't video or even audio.

Yes Delta, your horrid fleet even makes small children cry.

DC-9's are a man's plane. Great takeoff performance, sharp, quick turns, roaring engines that smell like jet fuel and that funny little siren that goes off when the engines are brought online. They're like flying hot rods.

I'd take a DC-9 over almost anything else in DL's fleet. They might not have AVOD, but the upgrade ratio on them is great, and they're an awesome ride.

This is why I purposely choose lines that are not on any Airbus metal. I'd take any Boeing plane (or even a DC-9 for that matter) over an Airbus any day!