Canadair ???

[moondance]

First let me start by saying that the info I get from here is great. I've been waiting and waiting to book my airfare for an upcoming trip to WDW the end of October. Like many of you, I've been waiting for SW to open up the schedule. I lost a great opportunity for RT from JFK to MCO non stop at $140 RT last night. It was there one minute and gone the next. I am still finding some low fares ($130 RT from JFK with a connection in IAD). I really don't want to drive. This is where I have a question. Has anyone used Canadair? It seats 50 passengers. It is used on one leg of the trip. Also, what is considered enough time to get to my connection. I will be traveling with my husband, and 2 daughters (1yo & 9 yo). Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Darlene

 

[mom_rules]

Isn't Canadair an aircraft manufacturer? They make anything from small private jets to large airbus types? I know of a small jet 50 seater, part of the Canadair "fleet" is Bombardier aircraft.
It's call a CRJ200 Series that was manufactured around 1995.

This probably doesn't help you. Alot of major airlines use these type of planes to get you to their "hub" and then you would board an airbus type of plane for the longer leg of your journey.

 

[chicknoodle99]

Darlene,

mom_rules is right..Canadair is the type of airplane that you will fly for that segment. It is usually a 40-50seat regional jet. They arent too bad to fly in...the configuration is 2-2 and the seats are pretty tiny. DH is a bigger guy and its uncomfortable for him to sit in with me next to him. They usually dont fly real long routes so you shouldnt be on it for long. If I remember right, the overheads are really tiny so you have to gate check you carryons (the roller style) and they are put in the cargo bin and you get them when you get off the plane for your connection.

Most airlines consider 30mins a legal connection time and you usually cant book anything less (I belive). I am not familiar with IAD airport so not sure how big it is. Of course you should be checked in all the way through JFK/IAD/MCO (unless you are switching airlines in IAD??!!) and your luggage will be automatically transferred. With children I would give yourself at least an hour...I know some dont like to wait in airports but I would rather have the time to make my connection than miss it...but that is my personal opinion.

Good luck! Have fun in WDW!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Originally posted by chicknoodle99
It is usually a 40-50seat regional jet. They arent too bad to fly in...the configuration is 2-2 and the seats are pretty tiny. DH is a bigger guy and its uncomfortable for him to sit in with me next to him.

I think I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you. A CRJ (or any of the other Regional Jets) is not very comfortable to ride. I'm 6'0", 225, and I have no problems with any other airline seats, but on the RJ's, I feel very cramped, as the seats on an RJ are quite a bit more narrow than other seats. (For comparison, on a typical 737, the seats are between 30-32 inches wide, on an RJ, the seats are typically 27-28 inches wide)

I've got a friend who's probably 5'3", 120, who flies a lot for business. Even she says the RJs are the most uncomfortable of any plane that she's flown on. She says she doesn't have to worry about hitting her head on any plane, except RJs.

(I typically go one step further, and point out that I am actually more comfortable on a turboprop than I am on an RJ)

Luckily, due to the size of the engines and fuel tanks, most RJs will only be used in the flights that are less than 2 hours, and virtually every RJ flight will have a max length of 2 1/2 hours.