Flying in an MD-80
Jun 25, 2014 | 11:37 am
#31
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,445
Above is wild exaggeration. 
I fly on tons of AA MD-80s as well as plenty of other types operated by AA, DL, MQ, OO... I also track all my flights.
There is no airline/equipment type in my experience that jumps out as having a disproportionate number of delays.
I've had mechanical delays on AA MD-80s... at about the same rate as I have had mechanical delays on other types and other airlines.
Jun 25, 2014 | 11:48 am
#32
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 162
I am susceptible to motion sickness as well and I think the MD-80 is fine. The wild card is the weather/air as you can experience motion sickness on any size plane, but bigger is better (I have had a very few bad rides on 767's and 777's). Take some Bonine the day of the trip. It does not make you as drowsy as Dramamine. The bracelets are worthless (IMHO).
Jun 25, 2014 | 2:17 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,783
The MD-80's are a lot more quiet in my experience. By the way, Mythbusters did find ginger to be effective against flight sickness. If she doesn't like small planes though, might be easier to book on a bigger one. Not that many MD-80's around.
Jun 25, 2014 | 2:39 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
I am susceptible to motion sickness as well and I think the MD-80 is fine. The wild card is the weather/air as you can experience motion sickness on any size plane, but bigger is better (I have had a very few bad rides on 767's and 777's). Take some Bonine the day of the trip. It does not make you as drowsy as Dramamine. The bracelets are worthless (IMHO).
My wife has never been troubled by the severe motion sickness she used to suffer since she got a Relief Band. We got one with a replaceable battery, which is unfortunately no longer available. Relief Bands are registered medical devices which work very well for many people. I've loaned it to a colleague whose wife also suffers, and it worked perfectly for her, too. Two out of two successes in my not-so-vast experience!
Jun 25, 2014 | 7:31 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Far from CDG
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,672
MD-80 is small? Naah, an Embraer Brasilia EMB-120, Pilatus PC-12 or a Beech 19 is small. Since the wing loading, max take-off weight, # of passengers etc. are pretty comparable between the MD-80 and the 737 (and both have a lot of variants) the ride will be about the same. My advise would be to travel early in the day when the bumps will be less, give her a 1/2 a Valium and enjoy the ride.