Is it just the MD-88, or do all planes really suck when it comes to air conditioning while on the ground? I've never noticed this problem before, but with all of my flights this summer being on an MD-88 I'm seeing a trend on this particular model of aircraft.

With the temps on the east coast this Summer regularly in the 90's and sometimes 100's, bad airconditioning becomes evident really fast. When we're at the gate, the air vents blow out a whisper of somewhat cool air. When we push back from the gate, the vents pretty much shut off and do nothing until take off. This is when it starts getting oppressive. The plane doesn't reach a comfortable temperature until close to cruising altitude, which means upwards of an hour of sweating if you're one of the first to board. And I know it's not just me, I look around at my fellow passengers and I see people with their pant legs rolled up and sweat dripping down their faces.

It's gotten to the point where I change out of my business attire at the airport. Certainly this can't be normal for all planes, or is it?

I'd wager that the pilot is keeping one of the engines off to conserve fuel. Those old MD-80s are gas guzzlers.

Air flow on older planes is actually air from the engine's air compressors that is siphoned off into the cabin, so when the engine is off there's no air flow.

This question has been discussed several times on these boards this summer. Consensus is that to use a/c or not is the pilot's call. As long as the pilot is cool in his cabin, he may or may not be thinking of the comfort of passengers. And, as has been stated frequently, it is a fuel-saving measure to leave the a/c off while on the ground. Different airlines have different guidelines, but the final decision is the pilot's.

Actually, the problem is with the ground based "coolers" not being able to handle high temps and lots of human activity (boarding) while the aircraft sits on the ground.
APU burns fuel = $