Aircraft you hated flying in
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Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Aircraft you hated flying in
The DC4 was grim. It was for a school expedition, about 1973, I think. From JNB to WDH in (what was still) South West Africa. It became clear that a group from another school took the bus (it was NOT a coach!) finishing their 9 day trip at Windhoek airport. The old crate took us out - we swapped over - and then the bus did the tour and back. There were some good things about the trip but ALL the transport was grim!
Somewher I have a photograph.
Somewher I have a photograph.
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: There and here
A BN Islander or Trilander(?) from Antigua to Barbuda and return. Revenue flight, but a charter. As you can imagine it was LOUD LOUD LOUD! and also a bit long in the tooth. I've tolerated most aircraft, perhaps helped by being interested in aviation and haven't 'hated' any aircraft. It's more the other passengers or a tech issue causing delays or weather making the flight uncomfortable/dangerous. A flight on a BA777 with half my footpace taken by a large metal box for the in-flight entertainment. 10hrs of discomfort and no sympathy from either BA or the crew.
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: se england
I had the IFE under the seat in front experience and think that was on the older triple 7 200s I have only flown on 300s lately so not sure if that problems still there. i wouldnt say i hate it but I dont like the triple much , sort of wallows through the air and the engines constantly hunting up and don to maintain whatever s been put in the auto pilot, DC10 wasn't a favourite either. Have to judge them for their time of course behind the wing on non fan 707s was pretty unpleasant but not that different than early jets as a whole
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: scotland
Any modern 737. The cabin feels tiny, they have put far too many seats in them and as a result they are very cramped - i'm 5"10', not a giant (and not that fat). A320 is a breath of fresh air in comparison, even ones where they have shoved as many rows in as they could get away with!
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: There and here
It was on that fleet that were based at LGW, I seem to remember they were inherited in a purchase. Whoever thought that the under the seat in front real estate heist was obviously never a passenger flying long distances. As you say, we need to judge aircraft for their time and not compared with contemporary offerings.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Cornwall
Worst ever flight a BEA vanguard from GIB to LGW, felt like it took days.
Another vote for the 777, how I dislike that aeroplane but so often seem to be inflicted with it. Next year LHR-MLE, can just about cope with PE, can't afford Club these days!
Another vote for the 777, how I dislike that aeroplane but so often seem to be inflicted with it. Next year LHR-MLE, can just about cope with PE, can't afford Club these days!
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: GA, USA
Any modern 737. The cabin feels tiny, they have put far too many seats in them and as a result they are very cramped - i'm 5"10', not a giant (and not that fat). A320 is a breath of fresh air in comparison, even ones where they have shoved as many rows in as they could get away with!
I love paying for a window seat and no window.
Eternal hell and damnation for the intern that came up with that idea.
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From: Everett, WA
It's certainly not exclusive to the 737 - nearly every pressurized passenger aircraft out there has a few rows where there is no window due to the requirement to send conditioned air to the overhead.
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: UK and Italy
The Tupolev Tu-114. Gods it was noisy, if you wanted to communicate with the cabin crew you had to write them a little note. I didn't fly in one that often (I think twice) but I think my hearing loss started then.
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Auckland, NZ
Another vote for the 777. I will go out of my way to avoid it: earlier/later flights, different routes - anything to not have to fly that uncomfortably loud and wallowing aircraft.
The others I can forgive for being old - and as they are old have their own charms.
The others I can forgive for being old - and as they are old have their own charms.
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: GA, USA
There is very reasonable reason for that - it's necessary to pass air from the packs to the overhead area for distribution through the cabin.
It's certainly not exclusive to the 737 - nearly every pressurized passenger aircraft out there has a few rows where there is no window due to the requirement to send conditioned air to the overhead.
It's certainly not exclusive to the 737 - nearly every pressurized passenger aircraft out there has a few rows where there is no window due to the requirement to send conditioned air to the overhead.
*Concocting evil spells*
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From: Reading, UK
Joined: May 2024
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From: Near SOU
Up until August 2025 I didn't have any aircraft that I hated to fly aboard.......that was until I experienced 4 flights in 24 hours aboard an ATR. OMG. Maybe due to being given a seat that was stuck in the tail section, I don't know, but they are absolutely awful. It was like travelling down a road in a Mini, without suspension, finding every single crack and pothole in existance and thudding and bouncing in all of them. I am not a nervous flyer by any means but the ATR certainly managed to rattle me a bit. Definitely no likey the ATR...at all.
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From: Reading, UK
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: UK
Any modern 737. The cabin feels tiny, they have put far too many seats in them and as a result they are very cramped - i'm 5"10', not a giant (and not that fat). A320 is a breath of fresh air in comparison, even ones where they have shoved as many rows in as they could get away with!
Small, cramped, basic, and very old. The systems are limited and archaic, the automatics are only partially automatic, the cockpit is very cramped, and terrible. They are laid out for a Captain and a secretary, rather than two fully qualified pilots. Do the main doors still have the loose girt bar that has to be manually placed into clips to arm the door ?
The A320 family: the cockpit, instruments and layout, aircraft, automatics, systems etc are an order of magnitude better.
Someone mentioned the ATR. From a technical point of view; a nice aircraft, but from a passenger point of view: if you had to get out of one in a hurry, I can't see how it would be possible - you would even be hard pressed to climb over the top of the seats there is so little space. Shudder...........
Again from a pilot's point of view: all aircraft with only a tiller on the Captain's side. Why ?? If you trust a first officer to land at 130kts at night in turbulence and crosswind, and take over, descend and land solo if the Captain becomes incapacitated; why don't you trust them to taxy along the ground very slowly following a painted line or line of green lights ?
Because of this stupid policy, the very first commercial aircraft I taxied onto stand, was an A330 - a very large and heavy aircraft for your first time threading that needle.