Do you avoid RJs?
#46




Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 153
I considered that. I've done LAX --> IAD --> CAE a couple of times and gotten on the 777 going to AMS.
However, I hate IAD's G Terminal and got stuck in CAE due to a bad aircraft and had to re-route to ORD (at least I got out) and then rode in the last row of an A320 in E- (wow--I didn't realize how bad that could be).
That said, if I had bad aircraft in ATL, I have more choices than CAE so that is a thought (except Mesa is the one flying the RJ from IAD to ATL and back).
However, I hate IAD's G Terminal and got stuck in CAE due to a bad aircraft and had to re-route to ORD (at least I got out) and then rode in the last row of an A320 in E- (wow--I didn't realize how bad that could be).
That said, if I had bad aircraft in ATL, I have more choices than CAE so that is a thought (except Mesa is the one flying the RJ from IAD to ATL and back).
#47
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,491
Someone on FT used to have a signature line: Friends don't let friends fly RJs It is a statement I agree with wholeheartedly.
#48
Join Date: Nov 2000
Programs: AA Plat, Alaska MVP, HHonors Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz PC, National Executive Elite, UA Kettle
Posts: 897
You don't have to tilt your neck at such an unnatural angle to look out the window in a 700 or 900.
#49




Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 104
claustrophobic and small UA planes
I fly United almost 200K a year. The last thing in the world that
I was, was claustrophobic until a year or so ago. The last few
years I have had to fly hundreds of flights on United small planes
and it got to the point that if I did not have a isle seat near the
front of the plane I would start to almost freak out, as a 1K MM
I usually got the seat area I wanted but a few times with weather
etc. I found my self in window seats totally in the back and
actually got off the plane and waited several hours for a bigger
plane.
Finally I talked to several doctors who specialize in claustrophobic
people and all of them said this was becoming more and more
common with people who fly a lot.
One doc gave me a RX for alprazolam 0.05MG and told me to take
one before flying on a small plane, I have not tried this yet as I
refuse to get on one.
Believe me it can happen to you, its not fun.
I was, was claustrophobic until a year or so ago. The last few
years I have had to fly hundreds of flights on United small planes
and it got to the point that if I did not have a isle seat near the
front of the plane I would start to almost freak out, as a 1K MM
I usually got the seat area I wanted but a few times with weather
etc. I found my self in window seats totally in the back and
actually got off the plane and waited several hours for a bigger
plane.
Finally I talked to several doctors who specialize in claustrophobic
people and all of them said this was becoming more and more
common with people who fly a lot.
One doc gave me a RX for alprazolam 0.05MG and told me to take
one before flying on a small plane, I have not tried this yet as I
refuse to get on one.
Believe me it can happen to you, its not fun.
#50
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: DEN
Posts: 2,040
When I fly Den-ATl my only choice is an RJ. For flights over an hour from Denver, I use Frontier instead. 4 hours on an RJ is insane. No IFE, cramped seats, surly FA who hates their job. Ack! On Frontier you get Direct TV, movies, free food like bagels and pizza sticks, an A319 with leather seats and a cheaper price tag.
To each there own but I have flown that route several RTs this year on the ERJ 170, great plane in either first or bulkhead. I have had no problem getting an upgrade on that route OR in the case of this week I got a cheap Q UP fare that was actually the same price as a Frontier seat on that route, I will take the excellent domestic first class seat for the same price thank you
#51
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SBN
Programs: UA, AA, DL status lost across the board.
Posts: 3,184
RJs aren't a lot of fun for two hours or so, but they beat the EMB-120 that UE/SkyWest flies around California. The LAX-PSP run (my usual beat) isn't too bad, except for the approach to PSP on a hot and windy day. The LAS-PSP route -- which has begun with the pilot talking to the cabin and noting how safe the plane is -- is like going across a rutty field in a pickup with no suspension.
.
#52




Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,431
I fly United almost 200K a year. The last thing in the world that
I was, was claustrophobic until a year or so ago. The last few
years I have had to fly hundreds of flights on United small planes
and it got to the point that if I did not have a isle seat near the
front of the plane I would start to almost freak out, as a 1K MM
I usually got the seat area I wanted but a few times with weather
etc. I found my self in window seats totally in the back and
actually got off the plane and waited several hours for a bigger
plane.
Finally I talked to several doctors who specialize in claustrophobic
people and all of them said this was becoming more and more
common with people who fly a lot.
One doc gave me a RX for alprazolam 0.05MG and told me to take
one before flying on a small plane, I have not tried this yet as I
refuse to get on one.
Believe me it can happen to you, its not fun.
I was, was claustrophobic until a year or so ago. The last few
years I have had to fly hundreds of flights on United small planes
and it got to the point that if I did not have a isle seat near the
front of the plane I would start to almost freak out, as a 1K MM
I usually got the seat area I wanted but a few times with weather
etc. I found my self in window seats totally in the back and
actually got off the plane and waited several hours for a bigger
plane.
Finally I talked to several doctors who specialize in claustrophobic
people and all of them said this was becoming more and more
common with people who fly a lot.
One doc gave me a RX for alprazolam 0.05MG and told me to take
one before flying on a small plane, I have not tried this yet as I
refuse to get on one.
Believe me it can happen to you, its not fun.
This has happened to me. I was on a flight from springfield, MO to Ord. Tornado sirens were going off but we decide to take off. I should've got off but i didn't. I stayed on the plane and was stuck in a window seat. Trying to get up on a crj200 in the middle of thunderstorms was awful. To make it worse when we were landing we got to close to a 747 and the plane rocked back and forth like we were out of control. This is the last time i fly an rj. i will never again do it. I choose southwest or AA when united only has rj on certain routes. I prefer flying to another airport and driving the rest of the way. I was never scared of flying until this incident.
#53
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 47
I never thought someone would rather fly a Brazzy than a jet!
When I flew from SAN to LAX, there was a brief glorious time when UX flew the CRJ-200s instead of the Brazzy. I was loving it. Now it's all Brazzys all the time. They do one CRJ-700 at the end of the night, returning the next morning. Otherwise you can't avoid the Brazzy anymore.
When I flew from SAN to LAX, there was a brief glorious time when UX flew the CRJ-200s instead of the Brazzy. I was loving it. Now it's all Brazzys all the time. They do one CRJ-700 at the end of the night, returning the next morning. Otherwise you can't avoid the Brazzy anymore.
#54
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 47
Don't take the drug, you actually get worse over time (if it is a narcotic that gets you wasted). That's cause you never actually "deal with it" to get better.
A beta blocker drug is much better, you don't get stoned, but your body is still calm and doesn't over react.
I had to fly a Delta crj 700 from PWM to ATL. 3 hours with no e+ on a full plane, window seat!! That was pretty brutal. I looked like a praying mantis trying to type on my laptop scrunched between my legs and chin.
I don't normally get claustraphobic but I was starting to on that one.
#55
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 47
If you are based in LAS, you should have nerves of steel. My worst bumpiest flights always involve LAS.
Summer heat + winds + whatever else makes Vegas bumpy = E ticket ride.
Last time coming in to Vegas a gal in the back freaked, thought she was having heart attack, paramedics get on to look at her. Was just panic attack.
Summer heat + winds + whatever else makes Vegas bumpy = E ticket ride.
Last time coming in to Vegas a gal in the back freaked, thought she was having heart attack, paramedics get on to look at her. Was just panic attack.
#56




Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,431
If you are based in LAS, you should have nerves of steel. My worst bumpiest flights always involve LAS.
Summer heat + winds + whatever else makes Vegas bumpy = E ticket ride.
Last time coming in to Vegas a gal in the back freaked, thought she was having heart attack, paramedics get on to look at her. Was just panic attack.
Summer heat + winds + whatever else makes Vegas bumpy = E ticket ride.
Last time coming in to Vegas a gal in the back freaked, thought she was having heart attack, paramedics get on to look at her. Was just panic attack.
#57
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: bouncing around
Posts: 1,274
The E+ seat being leather and softer, was more comfortable than the typical mainline E+. Yes I can now look out the window without craning my neck like a flamingo. There's no chance to get stuck in the middle (not that the chance is that high for us, but still). The main thing it lacks is channel 9.I've come to realize that my beef with UX CRJs was the lack of E+ and leg room. If only they can mod all the non explus planes ...
#58
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: LAX/SFO/ASE
Posts: 176
it is what it is
I fly LAX-OAK 100 segments a year on the CRJ 200 and about 30 segments LAX-ASE on the CRJ 700..get 1C on the 200 and 3C on the 700..it is what it is...not great, not bad...just long enough to read two newspapers
#59


Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Near Chicago and Under the MDW and ORD Flight Paths, IL, USA
Programs: UA recovering Premier
Posts: 948
I just got home from ORD-SFO-SAT-ORD. I could have had three direct flights, but did ORD-SFO, SFO-DEN-SAT, SAT-DEN-ORD just to stay away from 3+ hour flights on RJs (ok, the extra segments and miles were ok, too). I'll tolerate them for short haul (up to 90 minutes), but no longer. And it seems like everything to Texas out of ORD is going UX.
I'm also finding that roller coaster rides on the RJ fleet will make me motion sick -- and that has never happened on mainline.
The E-170 isn't bad, but it doesn't seem like I can get them enough on my routes, so I stick with mainline.
It also seems like UX is much more likely to strand you when there are irreg ops, so I stick to mainline whenever possible.
And I was real happy to score 9J on UA 256 tonight. That is my new favorite seat
I'm also finding that roller coaster rides on the RJ fleet will make me motion sick -- and that has never happened on mainline.
The E-170 isn't bad, but it doesn't seem like I can get them enough on my routes, so I stick with mainline.
It also seems like UX is much more likely to strand you when there are irreg ops, so I stick to mainline whenever possible.
And I was real happy to score 9J on UA 256 tonight. That is my new favorite seat
#60



Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: UA Plat/1MM, AC 25K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 467
Yes, I avoid RJs. If RJs are all UA offers on a route, I fly another airline such as WN.


