Does anyone avoid the ex-NWA planes?
 

I've heard the horror stories about the condition of their fleet, especially the Airbusses and the 753's. Has Delta gotten around to refurbishing these planes? Are they as bad as I've heard?

I wouldn't avoid them. I think the 757-300s are probably the best domestic F product on the NW fleet, especially in terms of least-rattiness.

While I do think the NW interiors are inferior compared to Delta's, I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid them by any means.

Short answer: no.

IMO, row 5 on the A319/20 is the best seat in the domestic network. I would gladly sit there any day.

and unlike DL's 757's, row 1 has cutouts for your feet on the NW aircraft.

Right about Row 5 on the A320
 

They don't have a bulkhead between F and Y, only a very heavy curtain, there's plenty of legroom, easy to put a bag under Row 4, and on some of the planes seats 5A and 5F don't have armrests next to the wall of the plane, giving a few extra inches of lateral comfort.

As I happen to like cloth seats, I'm happy with the NW planes.

Hands down. Throw the DC-9 in there as well. I heart Row 5.

Another nice advantage - 2D on the NW 757-200s is one of my favorite domestic F seats in the fleet. The 5500's cutouts are huge - you could fit a rollaboard in there. The 5600's are not as big, but still large enough for a briefcase.

I'll take NW's A330s over DL's 767-300ERs any time.

The choir says Amen. While I have yet to sleep in the WBC seats on the A330s (I've only sat up front once, on an ATL-MSP flight), they were pretty nice seats.

And coach. Well. I can't help but laugh. A330 in coach is infinitely better than 767-300 coach.

I could tell you stories about all the US mainline carriers, in particular some American MD-88s and United 737s which could be dramatized into "horror", but they're not reasons to make me avoid those carriers.

Sure, there are some old interiors showing the wear and tear, but no reason to go out of your way to avoid them.

Some of the 757-200's show their age, but some have been remodeled and look very new. The process stopped when the merger came into the picture.

Reports are the DL is proceeding with interiors, though it seems very sporadic right now. Most of the DC9's are on the way out -- numbers are dropping even more than the CRJ900 and ERJ-175 delivery schedule plans. Anyone else fight for 6D on the DC9 (3 wide row with no seat in front of you!)?

Some DC-9-50s and Airbuses (A319/A320/A330-200s) have had some re-upholstering done to the leather seats. Haven't been on any yet, but I've heard the F/As and posters here talking about it.

The DC-9-30/40s are on their way out, but the -50s will be here for a few more years (hence the repainting and changing the seat covers). Don't expect any of that for the -30/40s.

^+100,000 for Row 5 on the DC9/A319/A320. Heaven.

The choice is easier for me. I actively avoid, whenever possible, ANY CRJ (except the CR9 with an FC cabin). So if I can find a flight on an ex-NW DC-anything that keeps me off an RJ, I'm in! Don't know if they could get ratty enough to make me choose the RJ.

My only complaint about planes involves the one that only have the heavy curtain between F & Y and passengers who think the armrest in front of them is a footrest. The last two flights I've taken on these, I've had cretins behind me who have removed their shoes and used the armrest between the seats as a footrest. The most recent flight, the young woman, when asked to remove her foot, did so. But, proceeded to kick my seat with force off an on every few minutes for the rest of the flight. Thankfully, that was only another hour. It really makes you appreciate the wall between F & Y on Delta.