If the seats are configured the same way from LAX to NAD as they were from SYD to Suva last year, that flight would be a taste of hell. Four hours on such tight seating was so unbearable, that I paid full price for two business class fares on our return. Business class was barely adequate. Not everyone cares about these things, however.

Old Gold, I should clarify. 737s from the -200 on have received a/c specific ETOPS certification (by installing a center fuel tank, which reduces cargo space, in the case of the -200). ETOPS requires range, additional radios and other avionics, and over-water gear (life rafts, etc.). The range issue is whether the plance can carry full pax, cargo, and fuel and still get the ETOPS certification. My understanding is that the -800 is the first to do so ex-factory. Otherwise, we would see -600s and -700s on scheduled over-water routes.

nanook:

Was that a 747-200 that you travelled on? Seems that Air Pacific is lacking in quality otherwise I am sure oneworld would have taken it in given its strong ties to QF. The pictures on their website for their business class seating looks miserable (well, like domestic F on US or AA)


As for CO, I guess they do the same but on many more hops. You can get clear across the Pacific on just 2 stops (HNL & NAN) on Air Pacific,

Eidetic:

Aloha uses the 737-700 aircraft between Oakland and Hawaii:

http://www.alohaair.com/pressrel/pr022800.htm

[This message has been edited by Old Gold (edited 09-01-2000).]

CO flies a 757 from CLE to LGW. Even to get that the Cleveland business community (read BP-Amoco) had to guarantee they would fill the seats.

Some fares for this service.

YVR-HNL-YVR for C$540 (about US$360). Just over 2x to and from NAN from YVR. Business class is C$3,500 YVR-NAN-YVR with C$500 rebate per couple.

Speaking of long flights on narrow-bodied aircraft....I flew on TW LAX-SJU-LAX....757...non-stop....3379 miles! Not too bad, considering we had videos to watch. Plus the flights both ways were not full, so I was able to stretch out on 3 seats. That makes a BIG difference!

Old Gold, yes, AQ does use a -700 . As I said in my previous post, "737s from the -200 on have received a/c specific ETOPS certification ".

ETOPS - clarify ?
Engines
Turning
Or
Passengers
Swim
?

Those 737-800 are not that bad. Especially airlines are still running 400's PHL-SEA, ouch!

------------------
Onic
http://go.to/iapdb
"Life Is A Journey Not A Guided Tour"

I'd feel safer on a 738 or 757 than an L1011, DC10, or 747-200.

Yes, I too would feel much safer on these NEW 737-800 rather than the older aircraft types.

I thought Air Pacifics 737 fleet was the most modern and most advanced in the South Pacific...even more modern than Qantas who use 737 400 and Air NEW Zealand who still use 737 200 and 737 300.

I would much rather travel on the air pacific modern aircraft!