Has anyone flown on a Saab 340 PropJet?

[Tina]

We are going to Las Vegas in about a month and we got one of those fateful calls from USAirways last week. Since we were flying in and out of Washington National, we had to change our flights. It seems our original flights didn't meet the new curfew at National. All the changes are fine, but we are on a Saab 340 Prop Jet for the first hour for a layover in Pittsburgh. Anyone ever fly on one of these? Do they make the passengers get out and wind up the propeller? I'd like to hear anyone's experience on this aircraft.

 

[cbrfan]

I think a Saab 340 Turboprop is the same thing. There are 2 seats on one side of the aisle and 1 on the other. We've flown these a few times on US Air. I was terrified the first time I had to fly on one (I didn't know about it until we were actually boarding). But it didn't take long for me to relax and enjoy the flight. They're a little noisier than a jet but I can't really say anything negative about them. Personally, I've even gotten to where I enjoying flying on them. Tip: I always try to get seated in Row 8. It seems to have more legroom than the other rows.

 

[p-nut]

I have flown on them several times. A little noisy but other than that it should be a good flight

 

[cindala]

My DH flew a prop jet on a business trip from some more remote area to Kansas City. He said that they asked everyone what their weight was, to calculate how heavy the plane would be. Not everyone made the flight because of weight restrictions. He also said he could just about see over the pilots shoulder and reach out and fly the plane. Now this was a few years ago, and for all I know it was a crop duster, but he said it was small, 2 seats on 1 side and 1 on the other. Good luck!!!!

 

[flyingcircus]

Actually, ALL planes have weight restrictions. When you fly the big commercial planes, you are unaware of it, but they are there. They usually adjust the cargo, or actually take people off the plane. In Denver, because of the altitude, there are weight restrictions on many planes in the summer months.

On the smaller regional jets, same thing. I have flown on flights that can hold 19 passengers, but with cargo, weather conditions, altitude etc, can onlt take off with 10 psgrs.

Be prepared for more noise, and oh yeah- no reinforced cockpit doors- there are none!!

 

[Sandy Fisher]

Our flights from Hagerstown, MD to Pittsburgh (USAir) and on the return were both on those planes. They are definitely noisy and not terribly roomy inside, but they are okay. The first time we flew a "commuter" plane it only seated something like 8 passengers. So this one felt "big" ha ha. I much prefer the larger planes, but it's okay for a short trip (about 40-45 minutes).
And I have seen them rearrange the people in the plane so that they are sitting more evenly divided. That bothered me a little at the time but I didn't know why they did it. We had a full flight this time and at least half the passengers appeared to be checking two bags and carrying one on.
You'll do fine. Have a great trip!

 

[Beverly Lynn]

you will come into E concourse in pittsburgh on that flight and then have to go to concourse A or B. which is a tram ride from E.

 

[Tina]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I'm not feeling as nervous about this trip now. Thank you also to Beverly Lynn. We were wondering how far we'd have to travel to switch to the 757 in Pittsburgh. I'm glad to hear there's a tram. I was afraid it would be like our last PA layover in Philadelphia, where we had to literally RUN from one end of the airport to the other to catch our connection. We were lucky enough to have a delayed takeoff, so we didn't miss the flight!