PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - New passenger on prop. What to expect?
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Old 7th Aug 2002, 12:59
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knobbygb
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Paros, Greece
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A bit less technical...

The inside of the aircraft will seem very cramped if you're used to larger jets - you can't stand upright, and there is virtually no overhead bin space. If you have anything but the smallest hand luggage, this will probably be taken from you on boarding and returned as you leave the aircraft. The seating is three abreast (1+2) - great if you like privacy and once sat down you should have plenty of room - get a single seat on the left hand side. As the posts above say, it'll be a bit nosier and possibly more bumpy than you're used to, depending on the weather, but flying lower and slower you'll get a better view of the scenery too.

All the turboprops will be parked together at MSP and you'll walk out to the aircraft. Boarding and deplaning is so much quicker with so few passangers (approx. 34 seats) and the few Saab 340/Embraer 120 (similar aircraft) flights I've had have been a refreshing change and quite enjoyable.

Dont expect too much in the way of cabin service (not that you get that anyway over there . There'll be a single flight attendant who MAY hand out water etc.

How long is the flight? Turboprops travel at approximatley half the speed of jets (a bit more actually) but you'll find that if the flight is less than perhaps 200 miles, it will take not much longer on a turboprop than a jet.

All in all, a (relitavley) painless experience - enjoy it while you can as most routes using these aircraft seem to be being switched to regional jets.
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