Daron4000 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 712 posts, RR: 1 Posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2172 times:
I was wondering why so many ORD-East Coast flights, basically all of them, are operated on MD80's when United fills those same routes, often at similar times, with larger aircraft like A320's (I know pretty similar) and much bigger 757's. Couldn't some markets like ORD-LGA warrent bigger service.
AA 777 From United States of America, joined May 2002, 803 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2147 times:
The only real domestic plane that AA has at ORD is the S80 (ok, there are a few 757's here and there). AA got rid of the 737 at ORD and moved them to MIA and taking the S80's out of MIA and moved them to ORD. This saves AA a ton of money for many reasons - parts, crew bases etc. While some routes could use a 757 for a few flights, AA has opted to go for frequency, with LGA-ORD being a good example - 18x a day.
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10189 posts, RR: 62 Reply 2, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2097 times:
Quoting Daron4000 (Thread starter): I was wondering why so many ORD-East Coast flights, basically all of them, are operated on MD80's when United fills those same routes, often at similar times, with larger aircraft like A320's (I know pretty similar) and much bigger 757's
Because UA is bigger at ORD, and because AA has -- very smartly -- recognized that it is not worth it to fly many aircraft types, at ORD or across its entire network, just so they can highly customize their capacity per departure. Instead, AA no longer flys 737s at ORD or F100s at all, both of which used to fly extensively to the east from ORD, and as such are now saving millions each year on spare parts, equipment, staffing, maintenance, training, etc. AA is profitable, UA is not.
Quoting Daron4000 (Thread starter): Couldn't some markets like ORD-LGA warrent bigger service.
UA may fly bigger planes on ORD-LGA than AA, but AA easily beats its ORD rival in the market, with eighteen flights per day against less at UA. AA has more flights and more seats than UA.
Apodino From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 3638 posts, RR: 6 Reply 3, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2034 times:
Quoting Commavia (Reply 2): UA may fly bigger planes on ORD-LGA than AA, but AA easily beats its ORD rival in the market, with eighteen flights per day against less at UA. AA has more flights and more seats than UA.
Not true, United has sixteen flights per day between ORD and LGA. most of them are on 737's, but there are a couple on the 320 and even a 757 thrown in for good measure. Capacity on the route is probably similar between the carriers.
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10189 posts, RR: 62 Reply 4, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1990 times:
Quoting Apodino (Reply 3): Not true, United has sixteen flights per day between ORD and LGA. most of them are on 737's, but there are a couple on the 320 and even a 757 thrown in for good measure. Capacity on the route is probably similar between the carriers.
Nope.
AA flies 19 daily MD80s, for a total 2,584 daily seats.
UA flies 3 daily A319s, 3 daily A320s, 4 daily 757s, 4 daily 737-300s and 2 daily 735-500s, for a total of 2,190 daily seats.
All AA flights seat 136 passengers, while UA’s average is 136.9. AA has 18% more capacity than UA on this route. I’d say that’s a big difference.
Venezuela747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 1407 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1902 times:
Daron,
Have you seen DFW Terminal C it is packed with MD80s......MD80 is probably the only Domestic aircraft....they use the other when loads are high are necessary other wise MD80 it is
Dfwagt From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 75 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1780 times:
Longhornmaniac From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 3094 posts, RR: 48 Reply 7, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1754 times:
Quoting Dfwagt (Reply 6): And who likes to fly on MD-80s?
MD-80s are really good airplanes. I would much prefer a 757 on my short hop from AUS-DFW, but thats just because I like the size and the roar of the 75' engines. MD-80s are really dependable workhorses, and actually very comfortable inside, really quiet.
Quoting Venezuela747 (Reply 5): Have you seen DFW Terminal C it is packed with MD80s......MD80 is probably the only Domestic aircraft....they use the other when loads are high are necessary other wise MD80 it is
There are several other kinds of planes that make regular appearences at terminal C. The 738 and 757 to be more specific.
JetBlue From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 388 posts, RR: 5 Reply 8, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1756 times:
Quoting Dfwagt (Reply 6): And who likes to fly on MD-80s?
I do if I'm sitting forward of the wing. Haven't been on one in a while and am in denial.
jetBlue
We know for you it's not just a seat on a flight to a place. It's a seat on a flight to your life.
Kappel From Suriname, joined Jul 2005, 3533 posts, RR: 18 Reply 9, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1602 times:
Quoting JetBlue (Reply 8): I do if I'm sitting forward of the wing. Haven't been on one in a while and am in denial.
How are the interiors? I recently was on IB's MD 88's (EC-FOF and EC-FPJ) and especially the interior of FOF looked terrible! It's obvious that IB is planning to replace these planes. My seat cushion was completely flat and I could take it off the seat. But I did like the plane. I was seated ahead of the wing, and it is really quiet up there. I was actually surprised how quiet.
StarCruiser From United States of America, joined May 2004, 301 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1584 times:
Quoting Dfwagt (Reply 6): And who likes to fly on MD-80s?
I do. It's quiet, a bit roomier with 2 X 3 rather than 3 X 3 and it's a great plane which has worked for AA for a long time.
Ckfred From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 4652 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1537 times:
AA used to use a variety of aircraft on many routes. In the early 90s, ORD-DFW had 727-100, 727-200, MD-80, 757, 767-200, and DC-10.
Since then, AA has gone with the model of having 1 basic aircraft type and a route, and to fly more frequently. When AA flew 6 different types on ORD-DFW, it had 10 to 12 roundtrips daily. Now, it flies 19 roundtrips, and had 23 roundtrips before September 11th.
ORD-LGA has been pretty much MD-80s since the mid-90s, although it used to have one or two 757s scedule during morning and evening rush.
ORD-LGA used to have a more aircraft types, including DC-10s and 767s, but the widebodies were phased out as AA increased service between New York and DFW.
Saxman66 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 518 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1465 times:
Those MD-80's are truly the workhorse of the airline. AA plans to keep them for a very long time, (because they can't really replace them right now). Many pilots I talked to really like the MD-80 as there are many good lines to bid from, and it really is capable of alot. Fuel efficiency wise, its not up to todays standards, but AA is determined to make it as efficient as possible. For example, one little brass washer then went somewhere use to cost them $25 each. Now AA has learned to make many of their own material and they can make those same washers for under $5 each. Thats just one way they are trying to make the MD80's extremely efficient.
I just get tired of the MD-80 becuase they are hard to avoid whenever you fly AA.
QQflyboy From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2198 posts, RR: 14 Reply 13, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1376 times:
Actaully, they are very decent. AA installed new interiors on all of it's MD-80s starting in 1999. The TWA MD-80s were finally standardized to AA's interior, although the coach seats may vary on some TWA birds... not all TWA birds have adjustable headrests in coach. All AA MD-80s now feature expanded bins on the three seat side and power ports.
Here's some pix of AA's MD-80 cabin:
(The first photo was taken prior to extensions being added to the overhead bins.)
MarshalN From Hong Kong, joined Sep 2005, 1521 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1341 times:
But it does get noisy if you're sitting in the back though... and sometimes they have that occasional annoying high pitched noise that I notice that won't go away.
Lastordu From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 367 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1337 times:
Quoting Saxman66 (Reply 12): Those MD-80's are truly the workhorse of the airline.
That is because they have 346 of them and that is as of 06/06/05
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