PHX-MRY on a Dash-8? Good God.
Jan 19, 2011, 3:45 pm
#1
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PHX-MRY on a Dash-8? Good God.
That's right, the evening PHX-MRY flight, scheduled at 2hr45 (598 miles) is on a Dash-8-200. That's just mean! It makes the morning CRJ-200 flight look like paradise by comparison.
Jan 19, 2011, 4:07 pm
#2
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Wows. Two suggestions:
1) Go to the bathroom before. Seriously.
2) Bring earplugs. Or listen to your favorite songs now, because you could be deaf when you land.
1) Go to the bathroom before. Seriously.
2) Bring earplugs. Or listen to your favorite songs now, because you could be deaf when you land.
Jan 19, 2011, 4:29 pm
#3
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Ah the ole flying tanks. At least the wing won't block your view of the beautiful coastal California scenery on approach
Jan 19, 2011, 4:43 pm
#4
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Or just fly to the Bay Area and drive. What is it, like an hour to 90 min from SJC to the Monterey area? But you'd probably be on an old 737 to SJC.
Jan 19, 2011, 5:05 pm
#5
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90 minutes is a good conservative estimate.
I haven't seen the old 737s in SJC*. I see them more doing the ONT run.
*unless you meant the other airline...the one that I can never get upgraded on.
I haven't seen the old 737s in SJC*. I see them more doing the ONT run.
*unless you meant the other airline...the one that I can never get upgraded on.
Jan 19, 2011, 9:57 pm
#6
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The Dash-8 while a noisy and slower aircraft is actually more comfortable than the CRJs. I'd pick a Mesa Dash-8 anyday over a CRJ especially in 1CDF or 4ACDF. And yes the lav isnt all the spacious and it has no running water, but its not all that bad.
Jan 19, 2011, 11:52 pm
#7
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Do not blame the Dash-8 as it is a fine aircraft, I've flown them several times on Air Canada and the experience is totalaly different.
The "Silencers" on the AC versions are operational as oppossed to the US/Mesa Versions that have disconnected them as a cost cutting measure. (The High Cost of Cheap Again).
The aircraft is not the problem. The airline operating the aircraft is THE problem.
Jan 20, 2011, 1:23 am
#8
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Its the aircraft not the airline. Its more spacious comparing to CRJ but I'd rather be on a CRJ. Last year I've done my first DHC-8 flights.
PHX-YUM-PHX on USX
PHL-DCA on USX
DCA-EWR-DCA on COC.
The noise is the biggest problem. Bombardier calls them -Q400, Q for Quiet. Yeah right.
I think the only -Q verision for USX are with Piedmont and they are -300 variants.
The -200s operated by Piedmont and Mesa are non-Qs.
I'd take ATR-72 -200 or -500 anyday over DHC-8.
PHX-YUM-PHX on USX
PHL-DCA on USX
DCA-EWR-DCA on COC.
The noise is the biggest problem. Bombardier calls them -Q400, Q for Quiet. Yeah right.
I think the only -Q verision for USX are with Piedmont and they are -300 variants.
The -200s operated by Piedmont and Mesa are non-Qs.
I'd take ATR-72 -200 or -500 anyday over DHC-8.
Jan 20, 2011, 1:37 am
#9
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I believe that it's the noise that Sparrow-Hawk is talking about. PDT and probably Mesa had the Q version - all Dash 8's deliver since 1996 had the noise suppresion system - but removed the noise cancellation system due to maintenance costs. To be fair to Tempe, US did it on the PDT -300's well before the merger. Since Mesa didn't operate the Dash-8 for US prior to the merger, it was either HP management's decision or Mesa's with no HP disapproval.
There is definitely a difference between the Q's and those that have had the Q system deactivated - try to imagine buying a good set of noise canceling headphones then taking out the noise canceling parts.
Jim
There is definitely a difference between the Q's and those that have had the Q system deactivated - try to imagine buying a good set of noise canceling headphones then taking out the noise canceling parts.
Jim
Last edited by BoeingBoy; Jan 20, 2011 at 6:40 am
Jan 20, 2011, 3:45 am
#10
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Spoken like somebody who has such a hatred of an airline (and its partners) that cant believe when something even remotely positive is said.
Also how would just saying that one plane is better than another, qualify anybody as a shill or employee? I didnt say the Dash-8 was great, I just said it was better than the CRJ.
Also how would just saying that one plane is better than another, qualify anybody as a shill or employee? I didnt say the Dash-8 was great, I just said it was better than the CRJ.
Jan 20, 2011, 6:55 am
#11
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Mesa's Dash-8's are truly deafening - it is like flying inside a cement mixer filled with buckshot through a hailstorm.
Since the folks flying PHX-MRY are generally well-heeled, I am always surprised that US would let Mesa tarnish their reputation so thoroughly on this route. It isn't like the high-net-worth individuals can't make a change to an alternate form of transport on this route. I know of two guys who have just to avoid this airborne annoyance.
Since the folks flying PHX-MRY are generally well-heeled, I am always surprised that US would let Mesa tarnish their reputation so thoroughly on this route. It isn't like the high-net-worth individuals can't make a change to an alternate form of transport on this route. I know of two guys who have just to avoid this airborne annoyance.
Jan 20, 2011, 7:02 am
#12
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I don't mind flying the Dash 8 on really short routes, but I think more than an hour on the thing would be brutal! I honestly like the CRJ more than the Dash 8 also. I regularly fly SCE-PHL and the reverse, and they mix CRJ's and Dash 8's. I take the CRJ anytime I can because I don't feel there is that much difference in the seating and the CRJ gets me there in almost 1/2 the time.
Jan 20, 2011, 7:11 am
#13
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If this airline is so offensive to you, why stick around? The constant banging of the anti-US Airways drum got old a LONG time ago. You think US is poorly managed and that upper level management is aweful. We got it already!
As for the Dash-8, I'm kind of fond of them for shorter hops as they are basic, simple flying machines. I'd take a Dash over a CRJ for DCA-PHL (or similar) any day.
Jan 20, 2011, 2:05 pm
#14
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Ahh yes the good ol' APUless Mesa Ocho's!!! When I was at MAG we did PHX-MRY on the 900 for a while.
Jan 20, 2011, 4:38 pm
#15
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Actually, it is the Mesa air Group that operates these birds, and they are THE problem. Yes, HP had its faults, and grafting on old US added some more, but the new US is light-years ahead of the game compared to the shambling wreck that is Mesa and JOrnstein.