# Do you know what airplane you are on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 24, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681 "2021-02-24T22:58:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/41 "2021-02-25T20:25:29Z")
I usually look at the card in the pocket behind the seat if it is an airline I have not used before, since the options on shorter flights within Europe tend to be Airbus A32x or Boeing 737. Airlines such as Ryanair have only one type, since they do not fly long distance (\> 3 hours)… I do not know of an airrine in Europe that uses or used the 737 MAX, which I would refuse to board. Flying is boring. One aluminum tube is like another. I usually go for a window seat, and the only immediate difference is whether there are two are three seats in the row. Just two seats in a jet means it is an Embraer or a Bombardier, or else it is a turboprop. Beyond that, one plane is like another. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/42 "2021-02-25T20:38:17Z")
Last time I was on a plane (other than as a sightseer looking around the inside of a B-17) was in '98, when I flew from NYC to Bahrain, and then on to Fujairah, and I have no idea what kind of planes those were. In fact, the only plane types I’ve ever flown on that I could positively identify were a C-5 (Frisco to San Diego) and a C-141 (Spain to Virginia). ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/43 "2021-02-25T20:50:54Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > > Haven’t been on a 787 or A380 yet, but I should still have the chance > > As to the A380 you better hurry. They may all be out of service in a couple years unless COVID eases up quickly & international travel resumes in quantity. Yep, the A380 was already in trouble prior to COVID. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/44 "2021-02-25T21:18:28Z")
98 times out of 100, I’m on Southwest, so some flavor of 737, usually the -700, but I was once on one of their Max-8 birds before they started dropping from the sky. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/45 "2021-02-25T22:00:22Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > I do not know of an airrine in Europe that uses or used the 737 MAX, which I would refuse to board. I’m back to flying MAXes regularly. You’re more than welcome to run your life as you prefer, but your concern is unfounded. In Europe Ryanair has a bunch of MAXes now and over 200 on order. Norwegian Air Shuttle has a bunch, as does Turkish. Icelandair has a few. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/46 "2021-02-25T22:28:53Z")
My dad worked for Boeing. Even though he’s been gone for 32 (!) years, I _always_ know what kind of plane I’m on. Always. He’d hate what’s happened to the company. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/47 "2021-02-25T22:53:10Z")
Well if I’m on Southwest then it is a 737, and if I’m on Frontier it’s an A320. I like transportation and machine stuff, so I probably have a good idea, but it doesn’t particularly matter to me. 20-30 years ago I’d make an effort to avoid MD-80/90, 727, L-1011, and similar with engines on the fuselage, because they’re so much louder than wing mounted engines. Can I tell the difference between a random bolt or nut in my yard that fell off the lawn mower versus one that fell off a PW4000? I guess we’ll find out this summer. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/48 "2021-02-25T23:10:43Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > 20-30 years ago I’d make an effort to avoid MD-80/90, 727, L-1011, and similar with engines on the fuselage, because they’re so much louder than wing mounted engines. Depends on where you’re sitting. Towards the back they’re quite loud, but near the front they’re almost eerily quiet since the engines are so far behind you. There was some airline, I think it was Eastern, that branded their 727s “Whisper Jets” for that reason, which sounds really ironic now considering how loud they were compared to modern planes. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/49 "2021-02-25T23:19:35Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Depends on where you’re sitting. Towards the back they’re quite loud, Well, you can guess where I always ended up sitting! Actually, my first international flight was on an L-1011, and I was somewhere near the middle, so it wasn’t too bad. Somehow the evil people that design airliner seating managed to put most of the seats on the 727 and MD-80 in the back. No matter what row of coach I picked, I still ended up in the back. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/50 "2021-02-25T23:23:15Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Despite being a pilot, I can’t say it matters much to me the specific airplane I’m on if flying commercial. All I care about in that case is getting safely from point A to point B and yes, how much the ticket is. I’ve flown on a lot of B373’s and know that only because I used to fly Southwest a lot. Airliners just don’t excite me. They’re a flying bus service, except the last time I rode a commercial bus I had a lot more leg room. B373s? Is that the one with the seats on the wings and the engines inside? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/51 "2021-02-25T23:25:09Z")
I usually check the aircraft type on the plaque on the door while waiting in line. Then I check the card, just out of curiosity. Back when I flew I mostly fly Southwest, so the only difference was the 737 class. It mattered because one had a lot more leg room than the other. But it has been so long I forget the numbers. ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/52 "2021-02-25T23:32:24Z")
I do know and have scheduled some flights based on the aircraft type. Do I trust the 737 MAX? Yes. I am guessing the original poster was talking about flightaware’s message board. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/53 "2021-02-25T23:54:07Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > B373s? Is that the one with the seats on the wings and the engines inside? I really need to stop posting before my morning caffeine kicks in… ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/54 "2021-02-26T07:54:39Z")
I’ve seen all the arguments concerning the 737 MAX and I am not happy that a radical redesign that had never been subject to the full approval process has made the plane unsafe to fly without software intervention that was an add-on. I regard it as an unsafe kludge. I often use Ryanair, mainly because it is one of the very few options for my favorite route, but in future I will ask what type of 737 is being used on my route if they do buy MAXes. ---
**Author:** ![cytop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@cytop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cytop)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/55 "2021-02-26T10:15:48Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > I often use Ryanair, mainly because it is one of the very few options for my favorite route, but in future I will ask what type of 737 is being used on my route if they do buy MAXes If that comment relates to RyanAir then the very first line on this page may save you a minute or 2 in the future. > **[Book cheap flights using Fare Finder | Ryanair](https://www.ryanair.com/us/en/useful-info/about-ryanair/fleet)** > > With over 200 destinations to choose from, use Ryanair’s Fare Finder to find the lowest fare to your preferred destination. Low Fares Made Simple. (It seems it will not generate an image of the page for some reason - so … **Ryanair fleet** Plain speaking about our planes. Ryanair only use Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This streamlined fleet helps us to keep costs down and safety standards up. On a personal note I always know the aircraft type and prefer to fly Boeing. Have always had one of those slight niggles (even now) if an Airbus, triggered, I think, by the Air France flight 296 crash at Mulhouse-Habsheim. > **[Air France Flight 296Q](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France_Flight_296)** > > Air France Flight 296Q was a chartered flight of a new Airbus A320-111 operated by Air France for Air Charter International. On 26 June 1988, the plane crashed while making a low pass over Mulhouse–Habsheim Airfield (ICAO airport code LFGB) as part of the Habsheim Air Show. Most of the crash sequence, which occurred in front of several thousand spectators, was caught on video. > This particular flight was the A320's first passenger flight and most of those on board were journalists and raffle ... The A320 was new at the time and a lot of fuss was being made about its ‘fly-by-wire’ controls. It was impressive to watch it fly-by-wire into the ground. At least that was my assumption at the time and I really don’t know the actual cause but the mental image has remained as vivid as ever… ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/56 "2021-02-26T10:55:36Z")
> **[Book cheap flights using Fare Finder | Ryanair](https://www.ryanair.com/us/en/useful-info/about-ryanair/fleet)** > > With over 200 destinations to choose from, use Ryanair’s Fare Finder to find the lowest fare to your preferred destination. Low Fares Made Simple. Quote: “Ryanair has an option on 100 737 MAX” That is an option and not an order. Yes, Ryanair uses only 737-800, as I have noticed. As yet Ryanair has not had a crash or even a major incident, they are a budget airline but a good one. I don’t worry about Airbus these days. The problems have been worked out. The Mulhouse crash was partly due to an an over-enthusiastic pilot trying to impress. And Boeing uses fly by wire in its newer planes. As for safety, there is a BIG question mark over the lithium batteries used in the newest Boeings Airbus refuses to use lithium batteries… One aluminum tube is like another. If I did not know beforehand what plane was being used, I would not know if it was a 737 or a 320. In flight there is no difference. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/57 "2021-02-26T13:32:37Z")
If it wasn’t printed on the safety card (or have a 747 hump) I wouldn’t have a clue or the interest to find out. Does anybody take note of the make of the city bus they last rode? ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/58 "2021-02-26T15:08:59Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PDtVP6R6C0g/maxresdefault.jpg ""Big Pretty White Plane" - Johnny - Stephen Stucker - Airplane! (1980) in HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDtVP6R6C0g) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/59 "2021-02-26T17:33:16Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > [Book cheap flights using Fare Finder | Ryanair](https://www.ryanair.com/us/en/useful-info/about-ryanair/fleet) > > Quote: “Ryanair has an option on 100 737 MAX” > > That is an option and not an order. I think Ryanair’s own website is out of date (possibly on purpose). Plenty of other sources confirm they’ve placed an actual order for 737maxes. In fact they were one of the few airlines to order _more_ of them after the grounding, almost certainly using the grounding to negotiate an extremely low price from Boeing. [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-737max-ryanair/ryanair-buys-75-boeing-max-jets-in-largest-order-since-grounding-idUSKBN28D27O](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-737max-ryanair/ryanair-buys-75-boeing-max-jets-in-largest-order-since-grounding-idUSKBN28D27O) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681/60 "2021-02-26T19:17:34Z")
most of the time I see the model on the safety brochure. Almost always on 737 or A320 since I mostly travel within the US. Southwest only uses 737s for ease of maintenance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-what-airplane-you-are-on/933681.md?page=4)