# Do you pay attention to what kind of plane you're flying on? And do you care? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786 "2019-05-30T16:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [June 1, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/41 "2019-06-01T00:19:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I hate turboprops because every damn time I have to fly on one they stick me in the window seat where the prop whizzes by your face at a million miles per second, and you can’t shut the little window for “safety” reasons. It is like laying down and trying to relax with your face inches away from a running lawnmower blade…times 100. You can shut the window when you are airborne, but yeah, turboprops aren’t great. > [@racer72](#): > > I pay attention, the big airplane company in Seattle is my employer. Haven’t flown on one of my company’s planes since flying home from New Zealand in 2013, the 10 flights since have been on Airbus or Embraer. 4 of the 10 flights were on an airline that proclaims it has an all Boeing fleet. My next scheduled flights are in December, going back to New Zealand. All the flights are on Airbus a330’s. You’re flying with the wrong company bro, try Air NZ and you will get a 787 or 777 depending on where you’re travelling from. In fact they’ve just put in an order for 787-10s from your mob. > [@Spoons](#): > > I notice, but as long as the aircraft gets me there, that’s all that matters. > > I have taken many commuter flights in turboprop aircraft (mostly on Beechcraft 1900D’s), and they are so loud that you cannot hold a conversation. In a few weeks, I’ll be flying on a Dash-8. Can anybody comment on how loud the Dash-8 is? The Q model Dash 8s (Q200, Q300, Q400) have active noise reduction through the cabin. It works quite well though you probably don’t really appreciate that unless the system fails mid flight and then you find out how noisy it really is. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/42 "2019-06-01T00:43:07Z")
I don’t pay attention. I don’t care. I don’t know much about airplanes. Obviously, I can tell if I’m on a huge jetliner or a small prop plane, but all I want the plane to do is get me where I’m going. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/43 "2019-06-01T15:08:19Z")
> [@](#): > > You’re flying with the wrong company bro, try Air NZ and you will get a 787 or 777 depending on where you’re travelling from. In fact they’ve just put in an order for 787-10s from your mob. Flying Hawaiian Airlines, Seattle to Honolulu, then to Auckland. Taking a bit longer to get there but the savings were great enough to fly business class instead of coach. Going to spend 3 days in Hawaii on the way back. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/44 "2019-06-02T01:21:31Z")
I voted _Other_. I don’t pay attention for the typical 1.5-4 hour domestic flights where I’m flying coach whether for business or pleasure. For long haul work flights, I’ll do whatever I can to book the trip on an A380 over a 777. Business class on A380’s is usually marginally more comfortable than on 777’s. That 10% difference in comfort is noticeable when the flight is 15 hours long. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/45 "2019-06-02T01:32:03Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > The Q model Dash 8s (Q200, Q300, Q400) have active noise reduction through the cabin. It works quite well though you probably don’t really appreciate that unless the system fails mid flight and then you find out how noisy it really is. Thanks, **Richard**. Much appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/46 "2019-06-02T02:44:20Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > For long haul work flights, I’ll do whatever I can to book the trip on an A380 over a 777. Business class on A380’s is usually marginally more comfortable than on 777’s. That 10% difference in comfort is noticeable when the flight is 15 hours long. I might argue that the difference is more than 10%, but otherwise I completely agree with this. 🙂 Unfortunately Logan airport, where I fly out of, only added A380 capacity a couple of years ago, and it’s hit or miss whether you’re going to get one. Emirates for example flies both the 777 and the A380 out of there. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/47 "2019-06-02T03:32:25Z")
I’ll pay attention to the aircraft but more for the comfort level than anything else. For example, my usual airline to fly is American and if I am headed for Chicago with a choice between a 737 or one of the several widebody airplanes (they do one 777 per day and a couple 787’s) I’ll take the widebody every time as those are usually configured for international travel and a bit more comfortable to ride. One flight I scored the upgrade to first class on the 777 and we were delayed about three hours after boarding. The international configuration meant I had a suite to myself and a flight attendant refilling my bourbon regularly. Only time I ever enjoyed a delay. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/48 "2019-06-02T04:49:45Z")
Absolutely don’t notice and don’t care. But I’m surprised I don’t. I’m geeky and obsessed enough that I could see myself memorizing (or making a handy spreadsheet detailing) the features/drawbacks of each plane. It would complicate my booking a flight, but that’d be consistent with my usual MO. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/49 "2019-06-02T05:16:51Z")
I wrestled with whether to select option 1 it 2 I’m another seat guru user, so I’m certainly aware of what I’ll be flying. I rarely choose based on the aircraft. Usually, the price and schedule dictate my choice. But I did pick a flight once to try out the 787. I will sometimes pick a flight to get a plane with a single aisle, rather than one of the ones with interior seats. I really hate being stuck in the interior, and I had a bad experience on a 747 as a kid. And sometimes I’ll pick a flight to get the turbo prop yeah, they can be noisy. But they fly lower so I get a much better view of the ground, which I always enjoy. And because they are smaller they take much less time to load and unload. For a very long flight, I prefer a slight larger aircraft. But for most of the flights they use turboprops for, I enjoy them. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/50 "2019-06-02T18:14:21Z")
> [@digs](#): > > …I’m geeky and obsessed enough that I could see myself memorizing (or making a handy spreadsheet detailing) the features/drawbacks of each plane. It would complicate my booking a flight, but that’d be consistent with my usual MO. Umm, you do know that this is exactly what Seat Guru does? Right? But you don’t use it? The plane model is seldom a primary consideration, but as others have pointed out, it has a lot to do with what to expect from your flight ergonomically (seat, noise, entertainment, etc.). If I make personal reservations, I will have Seat Guru open and use it to check the seats available versus their pluses and minuses. I can also find out what amenities are available. Sure it adds 30 seconds to the process, but I’m willing to put in the time. 🆒 I’m surprised at the number of “passive” passengers in these replies- letting the airline determine your level of comfort, waiting until you reach the airport to find out how long it will take to get to the plane, living with the anxiety of not knowing if you are going to make a connection that is 45 minutes or less. There is such a wealth of information on the web and free resources for travelers, it just doesn’t make sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/51 "2019-06-02T18:57:10Z")
I do, but I don’t care really. To me it’s not the plane as such, as it is who is maintaining it and flying it. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/52 "2019-06-03T18:07:05Z")
Southwest most of the time, and they only use 737s so I “know” by default. They didn’t fly too many 737 MAX planes, by the way. Horizon flew de Haviland/Bombardier Dash 8, so it was definitely a “what the heck am I on???” Googling situation. I might check later but I’m not enough of a plane geek to have a preference because I don’t know the differences. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/53 "2019-06-03T22:32:55Z")
Can I just say I really like how the poll results are forming a nice bell curve. 🙂 A somewhat lopsided one perhaps, but that’s to be expected when there are only five possible responses. > [@eschrodinger](#): > > I think turboprops are kind of fun… Add me to the apparent minority who actually thinks turboprops are kind of fun. I picked option two in the poll since it’s usually not the primary consideration, but other things being equal I’ll probably pick the turboprop flight if it’s an option. On the very short flights they’re typically used on the difference in speed is pretty much negligible anyway. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Southwest most of the time, and they only use 737s so I “know” by default. They didn’t fly too many 737 MAX planes, by the way. Well, that’s only because the 737MAX is so new that no one has very many of them yet. IIRC Southwest has more than any other airline in the US and has a lot more on order. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/54 "2019-06-03T23:50:23Z")
I don’t like small regional jets and I don’t fly with airlines that aren’t reputable major carriers. I’m sure it’s probably perfectly safe but I’ve watched too many episodes of Air Crash Investigation about badly paid/poorly trained/inexperienced pilots on smaller or shoddily operated airlines, or small planes crashing because of something like weight balance (Air Midwest 5481 for example) that would not have been so finicky on a bigger plane. For example, I’m flying to Israel next month. I’m going IAD-FRA-TLV rather than IAD-EWR-TLV because the first option has two big planes instead of a big plane and a small plane. Not the first time I’ve done something like this. I’ve flown into larger airports and then rented a car rather than taking a puddle jumper. Just a hangup I have. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/55 "2019-06-04T01:13:09Z")
Regarding noise in prop liners: try to get a seat behind the wing trailing edge. Loudest place is along or close to the plane of the propeller disc, and the usual configuration leaves very few if any seats forward enough of it to get out of the high noise zone. Now, yes, it is true it’s the airline that configures the seating, but given that, one can figure that for the same airline, for instance, a 767 normally has a better ratio of aisle/window seats to middle seats than a 757 or A321 (because it’s usually laid out 2-3-2 so there’s only one middle seat per row). Or you can know that an ERJ-145 has single seats with no overhead on the left side (because that’s what fits) so you are likely to have to gate-check. So if the airline offers different combinations of such equipment for the segments of your route you may choose based on general probability of comfort, betting there will be no last minute changes. So I do notice and I do look up what is the equipment on my flight. However, haven’t rejected any on account of what model it was, so far, I just like to know. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/56 "2019-06-04T02:06:26Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > … > Add me to the apparent minority who actually thinks turboprops are kind of fun. I picked option two in the poll since it’s usually not the primary consideration, but other things being equal I’ll probably pick the turboprop flight if it’s an option. On the very short flights they’re typically used on the difference in speed is pretty much negligible anyway. > … On the short flights turbo props typically fly, the shorter boarding and exiting time usually makes up for the slightly longer air time. Also, to answer the implicit question: yes, I will be avoiding the 737max for the foreseeable future. Since I always look at the model of aircraft, and often consider multiple criteria in online a flight, this won’t be any extra effort. ---
**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:** [June 4, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/57 "2019-06-04T21:41:08Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Also, to answer the implicit question: yes, I will be avoiding the 737max for the foreseeable future. I purposely didn’t mention the MAX in the poll because I didn’t want it to influence people’s responses, but since the thread seems to be starting to peter out and it’s already been mentioned anyway, I’ll confess. Yes, the recent incidents with the 737MAX was the motivation for this poll. Specifically on another board composed mainly of aviation buffs there was a discussion of some poll (an actual scientific one, unlike this one) that determined 44% of people will avoid flying on the MAX for at least a year after it returns to service. A lot of people there dismissed that result by claiming most non-aviation buffs don’t even know what kind of plane they’re on anyway. So I was curious if that was actually true. It does seem like at least in my unscientific poll that a slim majority either doesn’t know at all or doesn’t know until after they’re onboard (at which point it’s probably too late to change flights). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/58 "2019-06-04T22:49:33Z")
If I had guessed with no data, I would have guessed that the majority of people who flew in the last year didn’t know what plane they we’re taking in advance, but the majority of flights were booked by people who did know. People who fly a lot are more likely to have opinions about aircraft, and to think about things other than where, when, and how much money. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/59 "2019-06-05T03:54:01Z")
While it’s not a deal breaker, I do look for certain aircraft types when booking. When flying coach, I actually prefer smaller planes (e.g. Embraer series) because we can get just two seats between the window and the aisle. The seats aren’t any bigger but not having the middle seat exist at all is a psychological boost. In first class, the larger aircraft seem usually to be more comfortable, but I’ve found this varies with the airline and probably other factors as well. Apart from all that, I’m generally interested in airplanes generally, so I always notice. If I ever have a chance to fly in one of the classic postwar turboprop airliners, I’d seriously consider booking a ticket just for the ride. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786/60 "2019-06-05T06:50:03Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Regarding noise in prop liners: try to get a seat behind the wing trailing edge. Loudest place is along or close to the plane of the propeller disc, and the usual configuration leaves very few if any seats forward enough of it to get out of the high noise zone. It’s trade-off in my case. I mentioned earlier about how loud the Beechcraft 1900D’s were. I tend to sit as far forward as I can, because then, I can read the instrument panel, and can tell our altitude, direction, etc. And I get to look out the front window on approach. I used to go flying a lot with a friend in his Cessna 172, and I learned how to read the “six-pack.” Even though I’m not next to the pilot on these Beechcraft flights, it’s kind of fun to once again watch the instruments and look out the front window. If it’s loud, well it’s only a 40-minute commuter flight. Still, I am looking forward to the Dash-8 flight I mentioned earlier. Let’s see how the noise-suppression system that **Richard** mentioned works. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pay-attention-to-what-kind-of-plane-youre-flying-on-and-do-you-care/834786.md?page=4)