American Airlines Cancels Yet More Flights
When my kids and I fly American, we choose widebodies (and bring our own TV entertainment).
by Wendy Perrin
Arrrrgghhh! American Airlines has canceled more than 1,000 flights today. That's in addition to the 460 it canceled yesterday. The planes--all of them MD-80s--were grounded so that AA could reinspect the reinspection that apparently didn't go right two weeks ago.
I'm as sympathetic as the next guy to those 100,000 or so inconvenienced passengers who are desperately trying to get on alternate flights, but still, I gotta ask: Why on earth would you pick a loud, aged, gas-guzzling MD-80 in the first place? To quote one commenter on the Airline Biz Blog, it's the "Greyhound Bus of the sky."
Obviously, travelers on certain routes have no choice. But those on many routes do. And whenever you're faced with a choice between an MD-80 and something else--say, something with two aisles, or seatback TV screens, or more legroom--I encourage you to go to sites like SeatGuru, InsideTrip, and AvoidDelays, study the pros and cons of the flights you're choosing among, and make an educated decision. Anybody else know of good online tools for comparing the comfort and hassle factor on different airlines?
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I guess one would choose an MD-80 because they're safe? I was told by my father-in-law who is an aviation enthusiast that they're one of the safest planes out there.
The bad thing is, that British Airways on the international flight that we took to the UK, their 777 had exactly the same amount of leg room in coach as the MD-80 we flew to DFW from San Antonio. I have to say I see very little difference in coach between airplanes, they all lack any sort of space whatsoever... must fly first! (or at least premium economy) :D
And from now on, I am so checking seat guru before I book, especially on an international flight!
Posted by: tracker1312 | April 10, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Hey Tracker! You're back! How was England?
You make a good point, and Cranky agrees with you:
http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/10/dont-blame-the-md-80-for-this-mess/
Always great to hear from you,
Wendy
Posted by: WendyPerrin | April 10, 2008 at 02:21 PM