If you like the takeoff power of the 757, try a 717 someday. This plane has some serious takeoff/climb power. And probably because of its smaller size and being closer to the ground, I really felt the acceleration and speed during the takeoff roll.

My favorite place to sit on a plane is upstairs on the older versions of the 747, where there are only a few rows of seats, really making it feel like a private jet.

For the cattle-class contingent, my favorites:
Long-haul/widebody
1. 777: great interior space, lots of room for carry-ons, modern
2. A330: also good interior space, comfortable
3. 767: solid all-around, though window seats are a bit cramped
4. 747: my coach experiences on this favorite of the J/F class crowd have almost all been miserable (SR and VS); the seats feel small and narrow and in general just doesn't feel particularly comfortable--though I agree with those who have noted the thrill of being on something so BIG

Short-haul/narrowbody:
1. 757: though it is maligned by some, I have yet to be displeased on a 757 on any airline (US, HP, FI, among others) on any flight of up to 4-5 hours
2. A320: was a favorite for the reasons cited by others, but my faith was shaken on a recent UA BWI-LAX flight in which the line was 3-deep for the 2 coach lavatories continuously from after breakfast until landing (I was seated in the last row of coach, back by the lavatories, thankfully in the window seat)
3. 727: others have said it all (and try the increased legroom configuration of the new Pan Am!)
4. 737: newer versions with larger overhead bins acceptable
5. MD80: overhead bins poorly shaped (DL, CO), but otherwise OK
6. EMB-145: preferable to a turboprop or old DC-9

[This message has been edited by chalf (edited 07-02-2000).]

When I was a teenager I used to fly the 747's 95% of the time and was always amazed how such a big aircraft ever got off the ground. I always got a thrill (and still do) when I'm in a 747 and it takes off. So needless to say my favorite is the 747. Whenever I got on a smaller plane, I felt really cramped.

After moving to the States 4 years ago, I started flying the smaller aircrafts more frequently, 80% of the time now and have grown to like the 767.

My favorite by class:

First - 747 - I love the nose of the plane especially in the BA suites where it feels more intimate and quiet.

Business - 747 - I love the upstairs. Higher passenger to bathroom ratio and sometimes cabin crew to passenger ratio.

Economy - 767 - Used to be the 747, but it is a pain if you are stuck in the middle or the window.

The choice to put video screens in the back of the coach seats is up to the airlines. Most long-haul routes have this feature(even Northwest has this on some of their 747's).

The A330/340 and 777 are very similar and are also the newest so should be no suprise they rate high. The main problem with the 777 is the buzz-saw sound you get from the engines on take-off and the 5 across seating in the main cabin.

The A319/320/321 beats the 737/757 hands down becuase they are wider. The 757 takes way to long of load and off load. Whenever you think of the flying tube in the sky, the 757 (esp the 300 seires) comes to mind.

When I was 23, the sky was full of 727s, 737s, DC9s, and some improved clones (737NGs, MD80s and 717s) are still flying with us today. Scaaaaa-ry.

When I was a kid, Boeing's Stratocruiser was the 747 of the day. It had a downstairs lounge. I liked the Constellation, too. It had a 3-finned tail. When I was a teenager, the CV-880 was my favorite plane. It looked like a 707 or DC8, but the seats were 2-3 abreast in economy. CO also had 2-3 seating in its 720's coach section. 720 was a 707 look-alike sister. The windows on CV-880 were wider at the top and narrower at the bottom so they weren't quite rectangular nor triangular. I also liked the Caravelle because it had true triangular-shaped windows. Anyway, these aren't important anymore.

The reason I fly at all is because I love airplanes. Each plane has its own merits. My favorite plane really depends on how each carrier lays out its cabins and installs the IFE and other systems. Some features are standard regardless of the airlines.

The Best for:
Speed: the Concorde, nothing goes faster commercially.
Standing room: the 747 (main deck) and 777, high and wide.
Cabin: the A320 and family, wider than Boeing's narrow-bodies.
Seat Configuration: the 2-3-2 in 767's Y cabin, or the 2-4-2 in A300/310/330/340 and L1011.
Windows: the 777 and DC10/MD11, the biggest. The 767-400ER will also have the 777-sized windows. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif
Lavatories: the A300, the last two aft lavatories can fit at least 3 people. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Marvel at the plane you're in. It's your sanctuary 35,000 ft. above earth. Enjoy your flights!

1) B747-200
Business class in the nose, First class upstairs... can't be beat. The -400 is also pretty nice, with the added bonus of some modern touches.

2) A319
Northwest and America West both fly these with a good number of added first class seats, creating a high premium-steerage ratio.

In Y:

DC-9-10
The original regional jet. Quite comfortable on the two seat side in an exit row or bulkhead, or anywhere on Midwest Express.

Single class:

Beechcraft 1900
I like the open cockpit... It's always nice having the ability to be a back seat driver in a commercial aircraft!