737 Coming Out of the Sky

by John Sickels on Nov 2, 2025 8:01 AM EDT

Actually I'll be flying on an Airbus 319 if the US Airways computer is telling the truth, but "Airbus 319" doesn't fit into a song very easily.

Non-baseball topic for a travel day. What types of airliners have you flown in? My family did quite a bit of flying when I was younger, but since we lived in the Midwest and never flew overseas, everything was a short or medium-haul route. As a result I've never been on a widebody long-distance airliner like a 747.

In my life I've flown on Boeing 727s, 737s, and 757s, Airbus 319 and 320s, McDonnel Douglas DC-9s and MD-80s, and an Embraer E-190. My favorite airliner of all time is the 727 tri-jet, but you don't see those in passenger service in the US anymore, due to poor fuel economy and noisy engines. I hope to fly in one of the bigger jets like a 767, 777, or the new 787, but unless I manage to get to Europe or Asia someday that's not going to happen flying out of Kansas City all the time.

I love flying, but the last few years it has become very painful. I have some sort of inner ear thing going on and the pressurization just kills me, to the point that I don't fly unless I have to. All the standard tricks like chewing gum don't work.

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Just this year

Airbus 319
Airbus 320
Boeing 737’s
Boeing 757’s
Boeing 767’s
CRJ - 50
CRJ - 700
CRJ - 900
Embraer 145
Embraer 170
Embraer 175
MD-88
MD-90

See you on Friday; currently sitting in Cleveland waiting on a CRJ-50 to Detroit to get a 737 back home to Orlando

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Nov 2, 2025 8:08 AM EDT reply actions

Off the top of my head

747
767
757
737
727
MD-80
DC-9
DC-10
A 320 family
A330 or A340 …don’t recall
Various regional jets and props

Did you try decongestant for the ear pressure? Do you participate in any of the aviation forums?

I’ve been overwhelmed and I’ve been underwhelmed. Can I ever just be whelmed?

by closetasfan on Nov 2, 2025 8:13 AM EDT reply actions

decongestent

If I take 2 sudafed, 4 advil, and 2 vicodin before a flight, 50% of the time there is no pain but 50% of the time there is.

Benadryl doesn’t help at all. Sudafed by itself helps a little, but the sud-advil-vike combination works best….I think by reducing swelling and the vike helping any pain that does develop. However, even that combination only works about 50% of the time. The other 50% I still end up in agonizing pain for hours afterward.

by John Sickels on Nov 2, 2025 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions

inner ear thang

john,
have you ever put cups over your ears? it’s sounds competely ridiculous, but i used to have an inner ear thing in my formative years and it made flying almost completely unbearable. If you’ve experienced that kind of pain, you know that one would be willing to do pretty much anything to make it stop. if that doesn’t work there’s always the animal sacrifice route…

by DeathSpeculum on Nov 2, 2025 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

i haven't tried that but maybe I will this time

by John Sickels on Nov 2, 2025 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

it's amazing

paper cups work best. keeps the pressure normalized on take off and landing.

by DeathSpeculum on Nov 2, 2025 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

This whole conversation is giving me pseudo inner ear pain.

I had to give up diving, which I love, to inner ear pain. I tried everything but I just can’t do it anymore. It’s just not worth the misery.

"When you find your way. Then you see it disappear."

by padmadfan on Nov 2, 2025 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

My favorite CCR song...

hell, one of my favorite songs period…

by dbreer23 on Nov 2, 2025 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

is it weird I've never paid attention to this?

some big planes, a couple really big planes, mostly smaller planes.

The 2008 Rogelio Moret League Fantasy Baseball Champions!

by The Congo Hammer on Nov 2, 2025 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

For in depth fantasy analysis be sure to visit the Hawk Fantasy Sports site @ www.HawkBall.com

by PHGold09 on Nov 2, 2025 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Pretty much every plane imaginable

I am a Premier Executive on United - which just means I travel WAY too much. My favorite planes are the A320s with the leather seats and the international 767s. The international 67 is the best. I get upgraded fairly often, and an upgrade on an international 67 means having a seat that folds all the way flat and your own personal 15" screen with a selection of 50-60 movies and tv shows.

The A319 is pretty much your standard plane. I hate flying US Air (they typically charge non-elite people for preferred seats such as exit row and some window/aisle seats).

by guru4u on Nov 2, 2025 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

Air

I’ve never flown US Air before. I prefer American, United or Frontier, but all of them wanted $40 more to fly me to Phoenix, and the AA and UA flights were not direct. With my inner-ear problem having multiple takeoff/landing cycles is excruciating.

I used to fly America West to Phoenix but they got bought by US Air. I was never satisfied with America West so I started taking American through Dallas or United through Denver until my ears became a problem.

We will see how US Air goes. Some suggest Southwest but that also cost 30-40 more out of KC than US Air.

by John Sickels on Nov 2, 2025 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Southwest

They are a very polarizing airline. People either love them or hate them. The people that work there are a little eccentric, and of course they do the group boarding as well. Personally I have never been a fan, but I can see how people that do not fly often would like them.

If I see you in Phoenix, I will buy you a beer. I have a meeting this afternoon here in Chicago, then head out there late tonight (on United on an A319).

by guru4u on Nov 2, 2025 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

They're adding wifi to the planes, which helps

Otherwise, it’s nothing special once you’re in the air. They board better than anyone because they don’t waste your time with fools trying to shove bodybags into the overhead to avoid paying baggage fees, but the blandness of in-flight options makes them an unattractive options for flights of any distance for me.

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Nov 2, 2025 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

That said, I'd fly a 10-stop Southwest flight before I took a direct US Air flight

Every time I fly them, problems abound.

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Nov 2, 2025 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

You and I both.

by guru4u on Nov 2, 2025 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I too limit my travels because of inner-ear problems, I can't even go to the supermarket

but if I do need to go, I usually take a chinese herbal medicine. I’m going to have to ask the english name to it, maybe it will work for those who suffer from it..

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Nov 3, 2025 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

you fly to the supermarket?

by dooblay on Nov 3, 2025 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

My plane tricks

Nasal spray (Otrivin), and fake yawning seem to do the trick for me.

by Marc Henderson on Nov 2, 2025 1:00 PM EDT reply actions

It seems like

the bigger jets don’t have the same pressure fluctuations problems as the smaller aircraft. I have never had any trouble at flying in the late model 777s for example.

The worst aircraft I have ever flown in was a C-17, and without exception it is always a painful experience.

by Dave Barry on Nov 2, 2025 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

I’ve also never had a problem with large planes. But, man, I traveled on a small plane in Central America this spring and it took three weeks for the pain to vanish and my hearing to be fully restored. So I empathize with those of you who have frequent problems.

by bolton on Nov 2, 2025 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I attempted to go scuba diving with a cold

Bad idea, ended up injuring my ear because i couldn’t clear my ears.

On the plane ride back, the pressure messed it up even worse. It ended to where if I tried to clear my ears I could make sounds. Have it on video playing Jingle Bells. But the plane ride HURT.

And as for flying… I dont like it. I’m 6’5" … I have to wedge myself into the seats. Usually try to sit in Exit Row.

by forloveofthegam3 on Nov 2, 2025 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

I am 6'4" myself

The main reason why I fly United almost exclusively is due to the economy plus seating. That extra 6" of legroom makes a HUGE difference for tall people like us.

by guru4u on Nov 2, 2025 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I LOVE the economy plus

I havent flown on any of the really big planes, 777, 747, a380, but I have been on most of the average size ones, 737, 757, a320, a319, CRJ, etc. My favorite airline has to be JetBlue. United and Delta have been pretty good, and southwest, and US just standard.

MOAR SEVERINO!

by jeff550 on Nov 2, 2025 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

A380

Recently flew Air France CDG to JFK. Parked next to an Air China 747 at JFK, the A 380 dwarfs it.

by drwmsu1 on Nov 2, 2025 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

I don't pay attention to that at all.

And I would just try to sleep once you get on the plane, so you won’t notice your ears clogging. The day before your flight, purposely get a bad sleep, and make sure you bring eye covers

by MilesC on Nov 2, 2025 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

Flight Report

There was a lot of turbulence due to a front passing through the Midwest, but overall US Airways was fine. I took 2 sudafed, 4 advil, and 2 vicodin before boarding, and had no problems with my ears.

by John Sickels on Nov 2, 2025 9:39 PM EDT reply actions

aircraft

I take my aircraft very seriously.

Today’s flight was onboard US Airways aircraft registration N816AW, an Airbus model 319-132, originally owned by America West Airlines delivered October 31st 2000. Became part of the US Airways fleet when the two airlines merged.

by John Sickels on Nov 2, 2025 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

Not surprised

As many of us are aware of your passion for ships. Curious where this stems from though - did it arise during your history major days?

by RedHopeful on Nov 3, 2025 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions

childhood

I don’t know. I’ve always had a deep interest in both ships and aircraft from childhood.

by John Sickels on Nov 3, 2025 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Airbus/A319/1350,N816AW-US-Airways.php

by John Sickels on Nov 2, 2025 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

Didn't know so many people cared about the airplane

An airplane is an airplane is an airplane to me.

by dudedudedude on Nov 3, 2025 1:11 AM EDT reply actions

I must say that as someone who flys a lot, I was beyond impressed with the new Airbus A321s

They’re much more roomy than their predecessors and I would take them over pretty much any other non transatlantic plane.

My biggest complaint is that the exit row is TOO side so I can’t reach the stuff under the seat in front of me! I’ll live I guess.

by bdlugz on Nov 3, 2025 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

here's a link I have from a while back

Full disclosure, I haven’t tried all methods listed, especially if I found them to be a bit ridiculous (the plastic cup one, for instance)
I usually swallow throughout the descent… oddly enough, I don’t have many issues on takeoff, but landing is the issue. Swallowing is about a 50-50 proposition. I usually don’t have a lot of pain, but there can be crackling for a few hours post-flight

Link (USA Today/free)
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/grossman/2004-06-07-grossman_x.htm

by msgg139 on Nov 3, 2025 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

Thank you for the link

Will try the earplugs next time.

by RedHopeful on Nov 4, 2025 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Airbus

Never flew on a Boeing but apart from the A380 I probably already did the entire Airbus range.

Worst plane ever was defintely the BAe 146, I took it once on a connection flight from Munich to Rome and I swear that instead of flying over the Alps it took the valleys as if they were roads. Faulty pressurization too, the only time ever that my ears gave me problems,

by nheck on Nov 3, 2025 8:38 PM EDT reply actions

Added the 787 to my list

Living in Japan means mostly transPacific flights on 777 or 747, with the occasional Airbus 333 thrown in. Also done the A380 to Singapore a few times, and flew the new 787 domestically just yesterday.

Others that I recall:
737
757
767
MD80
MD90
A320
A340
E170
E190
CRJ 700
CRJ 900
Dash-8

by sportsroadtrips on Nov 4, 2025 2:22 AM EDT reply actions