Do you avoid RJs?
 

OK, I know I do. However, I've got a possible upcoming trip and I can't get their direct (LAX to ATL). So, now that I'm looking at a connection, I've got choices (direct is always my first choice).

Right now, it appears cost is not the issue between choices. If I fly via ORD for example, I get more miles (~500 more RT) but have a longer trip by as much as 1.5 hours.

In addition, if I go via ORD, I get mainline, and First class (either upgrade or I may just buy a QUP).

If I fly via DEN for example however, I have to deal with Theodore (RAR!) and have an RJ on a segment, but the overall travel time is less (and get fewer miles).

So, what would you do? How do you decide? An no, I'm not flying DL. :p

Mainline through ORD. F on mainline is worth an 1.5 hour to avoid TED (RAR!) and a UX RJ any day.

I do not avoid E70s or CR7s for flights under 90 minutes if I can get an E+ aisle, or ERJs if I can get the exit single. But I avoid CRJ-200s unless it is at a time where I know the flight will be empty enough for me to get 8AB to myself for the brutal 75-85 minutes it takes to fly LAX-OAK or ORD-BNA.

In your situation, I'd go via ORD.

I do. Unfortunately, more than half the flights out of BUR (my closest airport) are on CRJ-200s which are probably the worst airplane in UA's fleet.

I try and fly mainline as much as possible (and my home airport is only services by US Dash-8 turbo props)

Why would you have to go on Ted if you go through DEN?

Yes, I avoid RJs.

I also avoid 737s when I can get an Airbus or a 75'.

I also avoid narrowbodies when I can get a widebody.

I also avoid domestic config wides when I can score an int'l config.

And I avoid int'l config. 76's and 777s when I can get UD on the 744.

Your question, OP, is really: do you have aircraft preferences?

Yes, I do.

You're a 1K so your upgrade percentage is better than mine, but as a mere 1P who doesn't ride in F that much anyway, I've never seen the big deal about Ted. E+ in a Ted 32S is the same as E+ in a mainline 320 or 319. I wouldn't mind Ted + an ExPlus segment, but I'd accept a lot more travel time to avoid a non-ExPlus CRJ200.

You can also go via IAD and get a lot more miles and have only a short segment on an RJ.

I have an extremely strong dislike for CRJ-200s. They are my least favorite aircraft in the fleet by a long shot. If I could get an exit row on TED then I wouldn't avoid the routing cause of TED, but I would avoid the DEN routing if it involved a CRJ-200. The CRJ-700 ExPlus is nice if you can get first and not much worse than mainline E+ if you can't.

I can't believe all of you!! I jump on those flights like flies on cow crap. :)

Em2 > *

OP: Keep in mind that RJs, when operated by Mesa, are significantly more likely to be delayed.

Actually, if I did LAX --> DEN --> ATL I wouldn't. I was looking at ONT--> DEN --ATL since it's another airport option (didn't want to muddy my question up too much).

Thanks.

Well the RJ DEN to ATL is United Express/ Shuttle America. How are they?

ANY plane over a CRJ200. Any.

They are evil.

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).

Agreed. :D

Well, when I flew UX DEN-ATL last October, it wasn't Shuttle America, it was Mesa. If i recall correctly, the flight was on time. F wasn't too bad; the seats are nice. But there was no liquor on board (except a few bottles of beer), and the Ex-plus snack boxes they give to F pax are just horrible: greasy, disgusting crap. There was one bathroom for the whole plane, and that was even more cramped than usual. That said, there wasn't a line when I went to use it, even though the plane was full.

The bottom line is that F isn't too bad, but it's galling not to get the nice hot meal you would have gotten had it been a mainline flight (provided it departs during mealtime hours). But, if the flights are now operated by Shuttle America, maybe liquor will be on board more consistently?

I avoid the RJs and use Frontier out of Denver
 

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.

It depends. I avoid CRJ-200's unless they're the only option on any *A carrier into a destination with no nearby alternate airport. I'd rather fly a SF-3 or an EMB-120 than a CRJ-200. :td:

I tolerate the EMB-145's, telling myself, "At least they're not CRJ's!"

I don't go out of my way to avoid CR-7's, particularly if I'm upgrading. And I would prefer the E170 over some mainline a/c.

The CRJ is simply my least favorite plane in the fleet, so I try and avoid it any day of the week! So yes, I absolutely avoid RJ's. Too bad I can't say the same about Ted.:(

You could always move, until Ted creeps and encroaches on your new hometown... just choose a hub city to be safe for a bit longer, I guess. ;)

Or something which would be a bit cheaper (and easier) would be a simple switch to AA.:p

Really? The flight DEN to ATL is an E170. On the other route, I get a 733 and an A319.

Edit: Oh, and the flight time DEN to ATL is listed as 2h48m.

I don't mind them for some reason, and the bump potential on them has always been way higher for me. I think well over 75% of my bumps are on RJ's

One of the three DEN-ATL flights is operated on an A319.

I've taken the E170 on ORD-ABQ (3h12m) and ORD-MSY (2h18m) and definitely prefer it over most of the 73x fleet; for whatever reason, the 73x a/c seem very, very cramped to me, whereas the F and the E+ in the E-170 seem much roomier.

While I also prefer a Frontier A319 over a UX CRJ200, you pay for the movies, the fare may or may not be cheaper, and the seats on Frontier are NOT leather.

I'm severely claustrophobic and will drive up to 5 hours out of my way to avoid an RJ or *gasp* fly AC if need be. YVR-LAX is a CRJ so I have to fly AC on that route :eek:

There's no avoiding CRJs for me. EVERY flight out of BHM on UA is either CRJ-200 or 700s :(

Isn't 700s just longer version of 200s? Same diameter aluminum tube?

I'm beyond sick of RJs myself. E70s would be ok since they have a decent overhead bin, but the other rj's won't hold my laptop bag in the overhead forcing me to put it under the seat in front of me. I won't gate check my laptop thats just out of the question.

Being MCI based, I have a lot of RJ fligts to hubs. UA only does RJs to IAD from here and DEN seems to be about half RJ and half 757 (go figure), ORD is my only hope for regular mainline service. I fly CO for my TX business and we only have one mainline flight a day to IAH from here, otherwise its all ERJ and CRJ.

I'm claustrophobic and don't like flying on anything smaller than a CR7. Even when it's coming out of my pocket, I'll pay more to avoid the smaller CRJ's. I've flown on the CRJ-200, but it's been several years. I've never flown on the EMB-145.

Avoid RJs?
 

Like the plague.

At Least you have RJs
 

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.

I'd always rather fly an EMB120 than a CRJ200.

What you describe is part of the fun!

I, too, prefer the EMB120 to a CRJ200.

Trip Report
 

Well based upon feedback here and my own preferences, I took the trip LAX via ORD to ATL.

Bottom-line: glad I did. Both LAX-ORD and ORD-LAX had good food service and nice crews. Nothing spectacular but no complaints either, just good flights.

The only thing that surprised me was there was no food service on either flight ORD to ATL and ATL to ORD. ORD to ATL wasn't a big deal--mid afternoon flight. However, the ATL-ORD flight was a 7:35am departure out of ATL on a 757. The flight is listed as 2h5m so I don't get this "no food service for flights < 2 hours bs". Heck, I often fly LHR to AMS on bmi and always get food.

Oh well, trip was good nonetheless. Two 757's, a 767, and an A319. Not a RJ to be found. 

CRJ700 explus are better than TED IMHO.

FAs fro skywest often seem less burnt out.

Why do most people like EMB120 over the RJ's? I have never flown a 120 because I always try to avoid them. I am on a ERJ 145 in a few weeks and hope that is not too bad.

I have a large laptop case and I know it wont fit in the overhead so I recently purchased a padded sleeve for it at Office Depot. I will check the briefcase at the plane and just bring the laptop on the plane.