Atlanta to Billings, MT, a 4 hour flight on a CRJ?
Jul 28, 2009, 6:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Glastonbury, CT USA
Programs: Hilton HHonors Diamond, AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 213
Atlanta to Billings, MT, a 4 hour flight on a CRJ?
I'm looking for flights to get to Yellowstone National Park next year and see a great deal on flights through Atlanta into Billings, MT. That's nearly four hours in a CRJ!
Has anyone done this flight before? Seems like a long time to be in such a small plane. I would be interested to hear from someone who's done this flight.
Thanks,
AGS
Has anyone done this flight before? Seems like a long time to be in such a small plane. I would be interested to hear from someone who's done this flight.
Thanks,
AGS
Jul 28, 2009, 6:21 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
I believe it's on a CRJ-900 - comes out to 1525 miles, which is indeed a long flight for a CR9 even. Best hope to be upgraded to F on that flight - I wouldn't want to be sitting in that back of that flight for so long.
Jul 28, 2009, 6:27 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
I'm looking for flights to get to Yellowstone National Park next year and see a great deal on flights through Atlanta into Billings, MT. That's nearly four hours in a CRJ!
Has anyone done this flight before? Seems like a long time to be in such a small plane. I would be interested to hear from someone who's done this flight.
Thanks,
AGS
Has anyone done this flight before? Seems like a long time to be in such a small plane. I would be interested to hear from someone who's done this flight.
Thanks,
AGS
Personally, I would never subject myself to ATL-BIL on a CRJ even the 900 that I believe is operating the flight. Depending on what you want to see in the park, BZN is a better gateway to most of the "park sites." But, BZN is usually more expensive than BIL. If going to Old Faithful, Paint Pots, The Firehole, (the Western end of the park) expect 3:30-4:00 hour drive from BIL. It is about 2:00-2:30 from BZN.
Jul 28, 2009, 6:35 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,856
Jul 28, 2009, 6:58 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Glastonbury, CT USA
Programs: Hilton HHonors Diamond, AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 213
Depending on what you want to see in the park, BZN is a better gateway to most of the "park sites." But, BZN is usually more expensive than BIL. If going to Old Faithful, Paint Pots, The Firehole, (the Western end of the park) expect 3:30-4:00 hour drive from BIL. It is about 2:00-2:30 from BZN.
AGS
Jul 28, 2009, 7:10 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: San Diego DL Diamond Medallion 2.4 MM
Posts: 249
Gosh, and I'm "almost" complaining flying an A-320 from SAN-MSP and then another one from MSP-DCA every other week with no IFE!
(the great NW service makes the difference; and the
weather in MSP vice ATL in the summer is no comparison)
Let us know how you make out.
(the great NW service makes the difference; and the
weather in MSP vice ATL in the summer is no comparison)
Let us know how you make out.
Jul 28, 2009, 7:10 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
Jul 28, 2009, 7:16 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
If it was a factor of three, I would probably bite the bullet and fly into BIL.
Jul 28, 2009, 7:18 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Yes, that's an awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwfully long flight for a CRJ. The DL exit row's not too bad.
Jul 29, 2009, 4:40 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Glastonbury, CT USA
Programs: Hilton HHonors Diamond, AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 213
Thanks all for the advice. What I forgot to mention is that I'm 6' 7", which makes the long CRJ flight even worse.
I found a similar fare on another carrier, so I'm going with that. Seems worth it to fly into Billings for that price ($238 vs. over $500 into Bozeman).
AGS
I found a similar fare on another carrier, so I'm going with that. Seems worth it to fly into Billings for that price ($238 vs. over $500 into Bozeman).
AGS
Jul 29, 2009, 4:43 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
Of course you can fly to Europe from BZN for less than $750. Go figure.
Jul 29, 2009, 5:23 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,543
4 hours on a CRJ, even a 900, is a 4 hour root canal without novacaine. Even in F it would get old fast.
I'm surprised the direct flight is that cheeap. Did you look into connecting at SLC? Usually connections are cheaper than non-stops.
Good luck to your back and butt if you take this flight....
I'm surprised the direct flight is that cheeap. Did you look into connecting at SLC? Usually connections are cheaper than non-stops.
Good luck to your back and butt if you take this flight....
Jul 29, 2009, 5:24 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,425
Nice try....it has the same seat width and pitch as most "mainline" aircraft.
Jul 29, 2009, 5:27 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
DL can route you through MSP or SLC but that may not get the cheap fare.
Long, low demand routes don't support big aircraft at high frequency. If DL didn't have CRJs (all variants) to fly ATL-BIL non-stop, they wouldn't fly it at all.
Long, low demand routes don't support big aircraft at high frequency. If DL didn't have CRJs (all variants) to fly ATL-BIL non-stop, they wouldn't fly it at all.
Jul 29, 2009, 5:30 am
#15
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
When DL started a PIT/SLC non-stop a while back it was on a CRJ (I forget what version) which is 135 miles LONGER than ATL/BIL - and this was during SKIing season!! They eventually upgraded it to an MD (90 I think). Then, of course it was elimnated during the fuel price crisis. I think somebody somewhere said that this was one of the longest CRJ routes that existed. There's a thread on it somewhere! Good luck to the 6'7" guy!! 
