Thunderroad

Thanks for all of the useful replies to my question, folks. It's just a short hop from SFO to Eugene, Oregon, but this is good to know for future reference (and avoidance! ).

blackllotus

The existing posts in this thread are accurate but I do want to add that if you are on the shorter side then window seats will be more comfortable than aisles. I'm 5'7 and being able to lean against the fuselage is a big comfort win vs the aisle.

Defendem

I love that FT calls this the Devil's Chariot! The CRJ is the bane of my existence, flying, as I do, mostly out of FAT.

I used to always select 1B/1C...but I'm a tall (6'5") and broad shouldered guy and I could never get comfortable in this seat because I am constantly rubbing shoulders with the person next to me--and there is ALWAYS a person next to you in this row, because it's marketed as E+ or its given to the non-revs if not purchased or selected by others. I have to lean out into the aisle and block the FA constantly.

As an experiment the other day I selected 13B(?)...the seat next to the lavatory. It was amazing. First, there really isn't any less pitch then Row 1, but now I can lean into the aisle with no chance of disturbing anyone else because the FA doesn't have to walk past me and very few people use the lav. Also, I find that by the time I've deboarded they've usually just started to unload the valet bags, so I didn't end up waiting any longer than usual.

Now I'm sure I'll have a bad lav experience at some point, or a tight connection that won't permit sitting at the back of the bus, but so far I recommend it to my larger compatriots.

eng3

I'm flying on a CR2 for the first time in a while (UA5250, UA5628, use to be a RJ45). The seatmap is unfamiliar. Rows 1-13 (no skip to 18). Row 2 and 3 are not marked as E+ (instead of Row 1) and 8 isnt e+ at all (which makes sense). Do rows 2,3 really have more legroom?

WineCountryUA

Row 1 (bulkhead) is the only row marketed as E+ and that is only for the lack of a seat reclining into the row. Row 2,3 are pretty much the same as the rest.
BTW, this is an alternative row numbering that is found on some versions of this aircraft.
There are no good seats on this aircraft.

EmailKid

I ride / rode Devil's Chariot more so than most, so sadly familiar with this bird

Rows 2 and 3 get the preferred treatment due to proximity to door and an early exit, and have EXACTLY the same legroom as ALL rows except 1 and exit row, which has an inch or two of extra legroom (I've never measured it, but there IS extra legroom).

My condolences, E145 is a much better ride (ask me how I know ).

pushmyredbutton

The last row near the lav (14 or 23?), does it have a window?

thewayofthefuture

It's been a while but I'm fairly certain it does, albeit at knee level like the other windows on that plane.

Defendem

Yes. On the planes I routinely fly it is numbered row 13, and there is a window...plus you get the added benefit of being able to store things under your own seat without filling the space in front of your feet.

pushmyredbutton

I have a few really short hops coming up. Betting the last row will stay empty and not much lav use...

Hope I'm right

SKYEG

Ahhhh. I don't miss the frequent YEG-DEN on the devil's chariot. 1019 miles of torture. No idea how they got away with this. It was always full too! The ONE time I booked YEG-DEN on a 737(me and 3 friends were all in J), it got downgraded to a CR2 LOL!!! Fun times.

Row 1 is the only good seat; to get ASAP!

cheaptom

I want to valet check my carryon bag at the gate because I know it wont fit overhead for the first leg of my trip. But I need my bag for the the layover and for the second leg. Does the offer to valet check a bag (where they tag your bag and I pick it up after the first leg) vs. Gate Check come from the airline, the airport, the mood of the baggage handlers? Can I find out in advance?

StuckinITH

Since I live in a small city, I have to take CR2s on my first leg of the trip all the time to connect to a bigger plane on my outbound flight and when coming back connecting to the last leg of the trip. So, here's what will happen. At the gate, you'll get a green tag that you'll affix to your luggage. You will take your luggage to the end of the jet bridge where you see a door to the outside and leave it there.

This system of the green tag comes from the airlines. It does not depend on the mood of the baggage handlers. In 30 years of flying small planes, I only have two times when it was not delivered to the jet bridge at the end of my small plane flight. Both times, it happened in the small airport at the last leg of the trip. Both times it was due to inclement weather. One time it was extremely cold and they thought that it would not be good for the baggage handlers to have to spend more time than needed outside and it would not be good for the passengers to wait on the jet bridge as the jet bridge is not heated. The other time, there was a lot of snow. So, it would be easier for the baggage handlers to send all the luggage to the terminal.

dsquared37

You didn't specify it's no longer ITH... .OK, I'll slink away unscathed at this point.

StuckinITH

No longer ITH but I still have the problem of the small plane (in this case, CR2s) to escape from here. My wife wishes it was still ITH. This small city is bigger but there's much less to do.

Actually, a few months ago, I had my first experience of the reverse process on the CR2. The UAX pilot asked for more fuel due to the bad weather. Then we got overloaded and the pilot needed that some bags get moved from below to inside the cabin. Difficult to do since most roller luggage carry on would never fit in the small bins of the CR2s.