Old Timer's Airline Quiz and Discussion.
Feb 12, 2026 | 10:00 pm
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BWIA BW 400 Barbados (BGI) 850a – 945a B Antigua (ANU) 1020a – 1230p S Kingston (KIN) 110p – 245p L Miami (MIA) 707-138 X36
Braniff BN 78 Miami (MIA) 415p – 600p S Dallas (DFW) 640p – 715p D Denver (DEN) 727-200
United UA 839 Denver (DEN) 830p – 1007p Boise (BOI) 727-100
Feb 12, 2026 | 10:02 pm
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Here's a few new head scratchers to tide you over! ✈️
GOOD LUCK, MEN!
GOOD LUCK, MEN!
Last edited by Seat 2A; Mar 1, 2026 at 8:06 pm
Feb 13, 2026 | 1:47 am
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Okay, back to #11 where we're looking for an airline flying MSP-MDW-EWR with a 72S in all-economy configuration. The only viable candidate I can come up with is Arrow Air, although I'm not sure they served MSP.
Feb 13, 2026 | 10:34 am
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25. (1987) Nobody ever said flying from Kelowna, BC to Pittsburgh, PA could be easily done, but my goodness! This itinerary is gonna take up most of the day, eh! Youll start out on a nonstop flight, followed by two additional two-stop flights for a total of seven take offs and landings. Three airlines will be involved, with the first and third airlines operating the same exact type of aircraft. The second airline will operate a different aircraft type, built by a different manufacturer. Identify the three airlines, the complete itineraries including all intermediate stops, and the two aircraft types.
- YLW-Vancouver/YVR, Air Canada D9S
- YVR-Seattle/SEA-Denver/DEN-Kansas City/MCI, United 727
- MCI-St Louis/STL-Indianapolis/IND-PIT, USAir D9S
Feb 13, 2026 | 11:09 am
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11. (1992) You're flying from Minneapolis to Ponce, Puerto Rico. Youre about to board the first of two all-economy configured aircraft, each operated by a different airline, which will fly you to Ponce today. Each flight will make one enroute stop. And, each flight will be operated by the exact same type of jet (i.e. make and variant) So please identify both airlines, the complete routing, and the aircraft type common to both flights.
Okay, back to #11 where we're looking for an airline flying MSP-MDW-EWR with a 72S in all-economy configuration. The only viable candidate I can come up with is Arrow Air, although I'm not sure they served MSP.
Alas, you did not hit the bullseye with Arrow Air, but allow me to offer a hint:
Alphabetically, Arrow Air is very close to the airline we're looking for...
Okay, back to #11 where we're looking for an airline flying MSP-MDW-EWR with a 72S in all-economy configuration. The only viable candidate I can come up with is Arrow Air, although I'm not sure they served MSP.
Alas, you did not hit the bullseye with Arrow Air, but allow me to offer a hint:
Alphabetically, Arrow Air is very close to the airline we're looking for...
Feb 13, 2026 | 11:20 am
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25. (1987) Nobody ever said flying from Kelowna, BC to Pittsburgh, PA could be easily done, but my goodness! This itinerary is gonna take up most of the day, eh! Youll start out on a nonstop flight, followed by two additional two-stop flights for a total of seven take offs and landings. Three airlines will be involved, with the first and third airlines operating the same exact type of aircraft. The second airline will operate a different aircraft type, built by a different manufacturer. Identify the three airlines, the complete itineraries including all intermediate stops, and the two aircraft types.
I *seriously* doubt we're looking for a two-stop regional turboprop on the last flight into PIT, so I'll offer this itinerary:
an alternative routing I have in mind involves two of these airlines and one of the jets ... after that, it'll be wild guess territory
Hmm... let's get you a fresh start...
Because all of the airlines, all of the jets and the entire routing has no relevance to the routing we've found. But good on ya for wading in and getting this one started
Here's a hint: Two Canadian airlines are involved...
I *seriously* doubt we're looking for a two-stop regional turboprop on the last flight into PIT, so I'll offer this itinerary:
- YLW-Vancouver/YVR, Air Canada D9S
- YVR-Seattle/SEA-Denver/DEN-Kansas City/MCI, United 727
- MCI-St Louis/STL-Indianapolis/IND-PIT, USAir D9S
- YVR-Seattle/SEA-Denver/DEN-Kansas City/MCI, United 727
an alternative routing I have in mind involves two of these airlines and one of the jets ... after that, it'll be wild guess territory
Hmm... let's get you a fresh start...
Because all of the airlines, all of the jets and the entire routing has no relevance to the routing we've found. But good on ya for wading in and getting this one started
Here's a hint: Two Canadian airlines are involved...
Feb 13, 2026 | 1:01 pm
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well, my alternative involved another Canadian carrier, so I’m gonna speculate it was at least partially correct
the fact that there’s a U.S. carrier in the mix isn’t surprising, but the fact that both AL and UA are out of the picture is complicating things; the challenges are identifying the second connecting point and the routing from there to PIT
that being said, I can actually envision an itinerary with all three flights on Canadian carriers, but without access to timetables/OAGs I obviously can’t say whether it would have worked in reality
so it’s into wild-guess territory a bit sooner than I anticipated:
the fact that there’s a U.S. carrier in the mix isn’t surprising, but the fact that both AL and UA are out of the picture is complicating things; the challenges are identifying the second connecting point and the routing from there to PIT
that being said, I can actually envision an itinerary with all three flights on Canadian carriers, but without access to timetables/OAGs I obviously can’t say whether it would have worked in reality
so it’s into wild-guess territory a bit sooner than I anticipated:
- YLW-Calgary/YYC CP Air 72S
- YYC-Regina/YQR-Winnipeg/YWG-Toronto/YYZ Pacific Western 737
- YYZ-Newark/EWR-Cleveland/CLE-PIT Continental 72S
Feb 13, 2026 | 2:19 pm
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Originally Posted by dliesse
11. (1992) You're flying from Minneapolis to Ponce, Puerto Rico. Youre about to board the first of two all-economy configured aircraft, each operated by a different airline, which will fly you to Ponce today. Each flight will make one enroute stop. And, each flight will be operated by the exact same type of jet (i.e. make and variant) So please identify both airlines, the complete routing, and the aircraft type common to both flights.
Okay, back to #11 where we're looking for an airline flying MSP-MDW-EWR with a 72S in all-economy configuration. The only viable candidate I can come up with is Arrow Air, although I'm not sure they served MSP.
Alas, you did not hit the bullseye with Arrow Air, but allow me to offer a hint:
Alphabetically, Arrow Air is very close to the airline we're looking for...
11. (1992) You're flying from Minneapolis to Ponce, Puerto Rico. Youre about to board the first of two all-economy configured aircraft, each operated by a different airline, which will fly you to Ponce today. Each flight will make one enroute stop. And, each flight will be operated by the exact same type of jet (i.e. make and variant) So please identify both airlines, the complete routing, and the aircraft type common to both flights.
Okay, back to #11 where we're looking for an airline flying MSP-MDW-EWR with a 72S in all-economy configuration. The only viable candidate I can come up with is Arrow Air, although I'm not sure they served MSP.
Alas, you did not hit the bullseye with Arrow Air, but allow me to offer a hint:
Alphabetically, Arrow Air is very close to the airline we're looking for...
Feb 13, 2026 | 2:25 pm
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26. (2001) Starting this morning from Tijuana International Airport just south of the U.S. Mexico border, you’ll somehow make it all the way up to Yellowknife, NT before the day is done. For the record, Yellowknife is way up in the Northwest Territory of Canada.
Rather amazingly, only three nonstop flights will be required – each aboard a different airline. Three different aircraft types will also be involved, with two of them having been built by the same manufacturer. So then, you know the drill by now. Please provide us with all the relevant details.
26. (2001) Starting this morning from Tijuana International Airport just south of the U.S. Mexico border, you’ll somehow make it all the way up to Yellowknife, NT before the day is done. For the record, Yellowknife is way up in the Northwest Territory of Canada.
Rather amazingly, only three nonstop flights will be required – each aboard a different airline. Three different aircraft types will also be involved, with two of them having been built by the same manufacturer. So then, you know the drill by now. Please provide us with all the relevant details.
However, I do recall one Mexican air carrier that did provide such service: Aero California. So lets board one of their DC-9-30 aircraft and make a nonstop hop up to LAX.
And once in Los Angeles, we'll board an Air Canada 767-200 and fly nonstop to Edmonton International.
We'll then connect to a 737-200 operated by Canadian North and fly nonstop to Yellowknife
Last edited by jlemon; Feb 13, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Feb 13, 2026 | 2:47 pm
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Feb 13, 2026 | 6:10 pm
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#11
Okay, Arrow Air is very close alphabetically but Atlas isn't far enough away. At least I'm headed in the right direction.
However, there are a lack of 72S operators at all, let alone all-economy, meeting the criteria. I think we're looking at different definitions of "very close"!
But there is one more possibility that might make the grade, though I have no idea what their route structure was for their short existence. How about Braniff (as in Braniff III)?
Okay, Arrow Air is very close alphabetically but Atlas isn't far enough away. At least I'm headed in the right direction.
However, there are a lack of 72S operators at all, let alone all-economy, meeting the criteria. I think we're looking at different definitions of "very close"!
But there is one more possibility that might make the grade, though I have no idea what their route structure was for their short existence. How about Braniff (as in Braniff III)?
Feb 13, 2026 | 7:12 pm
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25. (1987) Nobody ever said flying from Kelowna, BC to Pittsburgh, PA could be easily done, but my goodness! This itinerary is gonna take up most of the day, eh! You’ll start out on a nonstop flight, followed by two additional two-stop flights for a total of seven take offs and landings. Three airlines will be involved, with the first and third airlines operating the same exact type of aircraft. The second airline will operate a different aircraft type, built by a different manufacturer. Identify the three airlines, the complete itineraries including all intermediate stops, and the two aircraft types.
well, my alternative involved another Canadian carrier, so I’m gonna speculate it was at least partially correct. The fact that there’s a U.S. carrier in the mix isn’t surprising, but the fact that both AL and UA are out of the picture is complicating things; the challenges are identifying the second connecting point and the routing from there to PIT. That being said, I can actually envision an itinerary with all three flights on Canadian carriers, but without access to timetables/OAGs I obviously can’t say whether it would have worked in reality. So it’s into wild-guess territory a bit sooner than I anticipated:
The first flight was indeed Kelowna to Calgary. However, the airline was not CP Air and no 727s of any variant are involved in this itinerary.
A Pacific Western 737 is involved in this trip
CP Air's regional affiliate is involved in this itinerary
Regina is one of the stops on the second flight
Continental is not involved in this itinerary
Neither Winnipeg, Toronto, Newark or Cleveland are involved in this itinerary
So armed with this cavalcade of clues, I expect your next guess will be much closer.
Please, guess again!
well, my alternative involved another Canadian carrier, so I’m gonna speculate it was at least partially correct. The fact that there’s a U.S. carrier in the mix isn’t surprising, but the fact that both AL and UA are out of the picture is complicating things; the challenges are identifying the second connecting point and the routing from there to PIT. That being said, I can actually envision an itinerary with all three flights on Canadian carriers, but without access to timetables/OAGs I obviously can’t say whether it would have worked in reality. So it’s into wild-guess territory a bit sooner than I anticipated:
- YLW-Calgary/YYC CP Air 72S
- YYC-Regina/YQR-Winnipeg/YWG-Toronto/YYZ Pacific Western 737
- YYZ-Newark/EWR-Cleveland/CLE-PIT Continental 72S
- YYC-Regina/YQR-Winnipeg/YWG-Toronto/YYZ Pacific Western 737
The first flight was indeed Kelowna to Calgary. However, the airline was not CP Air and no 727s of any variant are involved in this itinerary.
A Pacific Western 737 is involved in this trip
CP Air's regional affiliate is involved in this itinerary
Regina is one of the stops on the second flight
Continental is not involved in this itinerary
Neither Winnipeg, Toronto, Newark or Cleveland are involved in this itinerary
So armed with this cavalcade of clues, I expect your next guess will be much closer.
Please, guess again!
Feb 13, 2026 | 7:29 pm
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26. (2001) Starting this morning from Tijuana International Airport just south of the U.S. Mexico border, youll somehow make it all the way up to Yellowknife, NT before the day is done. For the record, Yellowknife is way up in the Northwest Territory of Canada.
Rather amazingly, only three nonstop flights will be required each aboard a different airline. Three different aircraft types will also be involved, with two of them having been built by the same manufacturer. So then, you know the drill by now. Please provide us with all the relevant details.
Well, I believe that Tijuana (a suburb of San Diego) never had much in the way of transborder service to the U.S.
However, I do recall one Mexican air carrier that did provide such service: Aero California. So lets board one of their DC-9-30 aircraft and make a nonstop hop up to LAX.
And once in Los Angeles, we'll board an Air Canada 767-200 and fly nonstop to Edmonton International.
We'll then connect to a 737-200 operated by Canadian North and fly nonstop to Yellowknife
Well, I believe you're right about the dearth of trans-border flights north of Tijuana. And I do remember Aero California running a DC-9 of some variant up to LAX. Unfortunately, that flight is not reflected in the OAG used to reference this question. We're looking for a different airline operating a different as yet unidentified aircraft.
No DC-9s nor 767s of any variant were involved in this itinerary
Air Canada is Correct! between Los Angeles and Edmonton. However, the aircraft was not a 767
Canadian North is Correct! between Edmonton and Yellowknife. However, the aircraft is not a 737-200. It is an as yet unidentified aircraft
However, a 737-200 is involved in this routing.
So armed with this veritable cornucopia of clues, I expect your next guess will be much closer to our protagonist's routing
Please, guess again!
Rather amazingly, only three nonstop flights will be required each aboard a different airline. Three different aircraft types will also be involved, with two of them having been built by the same manufacturer. So then, you know the drill by now. Please provide us with all the relevant details.
Well, I believe that Tijuana (a suburb of San Diego) never had much in the way of transborder service to the U.S.
However, I do recall one Mexican air carrier that did provide such service: Aero California. So lets board one of their DC-9-30 aircraft and make a nonstop hop up to LAX.
And once in Los Angeles, we'll board an Air Canada 767-200 and fly nonstop to Edmonton International.
We'll then connect to a 737-200 operated by Canadian North and fly nonstop to Yellowknife
Well, I believe you're right about the dearth of trans-border flights north of Tijuana. And I do remember Aero California running a DC-9 of some variant up to LAX. Unfortunately, that flight is not reflected in the OAG used to reference this question. We're looking for a different airline operating a different as yet unidentified aircraft.
No DC-9s nor 767s of any variant were involved in this itinerary
Air Canada is Correct! between Los Angeles and Edmonton. However, the aircraft was not a 767
Canadian North is Correct! between Edmonton and Yellowknife. However, the aircraft is not a 737-200. It is an as yet unidentified aircraft
However, a 737-200 is involved in this routing.
So armed with this veritable cornucopia of clues, I expect your next guess will be much closer to our protagonist's routing
Please, guess again!
Feb 13, 2026 | 7:39 pm
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11. (1992) You're flying from Minneapolis to Ponce, Puerto Rico. You’re about to board the first of two all-economy configured aircraft, each operated by a different airline, which will fly you to Ponce today. Each flight will make one enroute stop. And, each flight will be operated by the exact same type of jet (i.e. make and variant) So – please identify both airlines, the complete routing, and the aircraft type common to both flights.
dliesse has correctly identified the 727-200 as the aircraft of record. Since then however, we know Carnival operated the final leg into PSE. Sun Country, Kiwi International and ATA are removed from further consideration. Will someone please help dliesse out with the missing all-Y 72S operator? Don't make me call jlemon! 😱
Okay, Arrow Air is very close alphabetically but Atlas isn't far enough away. At least I'm headed in the right direction.
However, there are a lack of 72S operators at all, let alone all-economy, meeting the criteria. I think we're looking at different definitions of "very close"!
But there is one more possibility that might make the grade, though I have no idea what their route structure was for their short existence. How about Braniff (as in Braniff III)?
Whew! Thank goodness we didn't have to call jlemon!
Braniff III is Correct! and the final itinerary looked like this -
Braniff BE 131 Minneapolis (MSP) 700a – 810a Chicago (MDW) 840a – 1130a Newark (EWR) 727-200
Carnival KX 126 Newark (EWR) 200p – 555p L Aguadilla (BQN) 630p - 700p Ponce (PSE) 727-200 Tu Th Sa
dliesse has correctly identified the 727-200 as the aircraft of record. Since then however, we know Carnival operated the final leg into PSE. Sun Country, Kiwi International and ATA are removed from further consideration. Will someone please help dliesse out with the missing all-Y 72S operator? Don't make me call jlemon! 😱
Okay, Arrow Air is very close alphabetically but Atlas isn't far enough away. At least I'm headed in the right direction.
However, there are a lack of 72S operators at all, let alone all-economy, meeting the criteria. I think we're looking at different definitions of "very close"!
But there is one more possibility that might make the grade, though I have no idea what their route structure was for their short existence. How about Braniff (as in Braniff III)?
Whew! Thank goodness we didn't have to call jlemon!
Braniff III is Correct! and the final itinerary looked like this -
Braniff BE 131 Minneapolis (MSP) 700a – 810a Chicago (MDW) 840a – 1130a Newark (EWR) 727-200
Carnival KX 126 Newark (EWR) 200p – 555p L Aguadilla (BQN) 630p - 700p Ponce (PSE) 727-200 Tu Th Sa
Feb 13, 2026 | 8:46 pm
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26. (2001) Starting this morning from Tijuana International Airport just south of the U.S. Mexico border, you’ll somehow make it all the way up to Yellowknife, NT before the day is done. For the record, Yellowknife is way up in the Northwest Territory of Canada.
Rather amazingly, only three nonstop flights will be required – each aboard a different airline. Three different aircraft types will also be involved, with two of them having been built by the same manufacturer. So then, you know the drill by now. Please provide us with all the relevant details.
26. (2001) Starting this morning from Tijuana International Airport just south of the U.S. Mexico border, you’ll somehow make it all the way up to Yellowknife, NT before the day is done. For the record, Yellowknife is way up in the Northwest Territory of Canada.
Rather amazingly, only three nonstop flights will be required – each aboard a different airline. Three different aircraft types will also be involved, with two of them having been built by the same manufacturer. So then, you know the drill by now. Please provide us with all the relevant details.
So for the first flight from Tijuana to LAX, let's go with an old reliable guess concerning a certain air carrier based in old Mexico: Mexicana operating a 727-200.
And from Los Angeles to Edmonton International, as we know the airline of record was Air Canada, I'll guess the equipment was a 737-200 formerly operated by CP....which I think makes a heck of a lot more sense, aircraft-wise, as the LAX - YEG nonstop route was probably rather thin concerning load factors.
So what about the equipment flown by Canadian North from Edmonton nonstop to Yellowknife? Well, I seem to recall that once upon a time this air carrier operated a rare bird specifically with regard to scheduled services in far northern Canada, being the Fokker 100.