Once I fly for private causes, I’ll usually consider a attainable story angle earlier than my flight. Typically I discover one, typically I don’t. Throughout a latest journey from Seattle (SEA) to Houston (IAH), I flew on an Alaska Airways 737. I believed what attainable story angle might I provide you with that could possibly be distinctive when I’m flying one other Alaska 737 out of Seattle? I figured that this might simply be a flight that I might get pleasure from and no story to be instructed (which isn’t at all times a nasty factor).
As I sat on the gate, ready to board, I checked out my flight particulars. Sure, I’m a bit embarrassed to confess that I didn’t take a better have a look at what plane I used to be flying on earlier, however that allowed me to have a pleasant little shock. I wasn’t simply flying on any Boeing 737, however a 737 MAX 9. That was vital to me, as a result of this was my first MAX flight… recreation on.
I rapidly modified from “civilian mode” (a reputation I take advantage of when flying as a passenger, not doing a narrative) to “blogger mode.” I began to consider what pictures I wished to take and the way. Be certain I took good notes (I usually overlook within the giddiness), and never look an excessive amount of like a complete nerd in entrance of different passengers.
As I boarded the airplane, I questioned how totally different the MAX can be. It was nonetheless utilizing the identical fuselage because the 737-100 that launched service in 1968, so would a typical passenger even discover? Would I discover? I used to be excited (really extra giddy) to search out out.
This will likely be my first max flight… a @AlaskaAir @BoeingAirplanes 737 MAX 9. Something totally different I must be searching for? pic.twitter.com/7w8bg0xPcV
— David Parker Brown (@ARdpb) December 7, 2022
Boarding my Alaska 737 MAX
I’ve been disconnected from the airline world for a bit, so I wanted to refresh my reminiscence of the variations between the NG and MAX. I didn’t have a lot time, so fortunately my friends on Twitter helped. It was type of refreshing going right into a story not as ready as I usually am. I felt extra like a traditional passenger exploring the variations as they got here up versus simply reporting (would anybody learn AirlineExplorer?). As I walked on my plane, N933AK, I couldn’t assist however discover the scent of recent airplane — that by no means will get outdated. The scent is sort of a mixture of luxurious automotive meets magic. I rapidly observed the Boeing Sky Inside and Alaska’s roomy Area Bins. Nothing actually new, however at all times a welcome addition to the 737.
BONUS: A Trekkie checks out Alaska’s new Star Wars livery
As I moved to the again of the airplane, making an attempt to remain forward of different boarding passengers, I observed the refreshed (and bigger) top quality cabin. I then blew previous financial system, since I knew that I might have 4 hours to strive it out throughout my flight. As I reached the again of the MAX, I circled and absorbed what I used to be experiencing. It very a lot felt like extra of a evolution than revolution, however that’s not a nasty factor. It additionally felt like I ought to make it again to my seat, so I wouldn’t be caught within the rear of the plane.
I really feel that Alaska had completed an ideal job with the complete bundle of their 737-900ER plane; arduous product (seats, leisure, and so on), mushy product (meals, pre-order meals), and customer support (flight attendants, social media, and so on). The MAX bundle takes what they already had and places it to the… nicely… I can’t assist myself right here… to the MAX (don’t fear, I’m giving myself an eyeroll).
These engines… oh my!
As I returned to my window seat, I used to be excited for takeoff. The factor I heard most from folks was how totally different the brand new CFMI-Leap engines sounded. I do know that typically us AvGeeks get excited if an engine is just 1dB quieter or barely sounds totally different. I hoped this might be extra apparent.
BONUS: Trying out the Virgin America affect on Alaska Air
As soon as we had been lined up for takeoff, our pilots pushed ahead the throttles. It was immediately noticeable to me that the engines had been quieter. By the point we had been in entrance of the terminal, close to the top of our rollout, I used to be questioning once they had been going to push the throttle farther for takeoff. Certainly we weren’t at takeoff thrust.
BONUS: Flying on the Alaska 737 MAX inaugural flight
Then we easily lifted off, virtually like we had been floating. With my complete one time taking off within the MAX, I might say the expertise was nearer to taking off in an Airbus A380 than in a 737 NG or perhaps a 787. I believe that the A380 has that comparable disconnect from the thrust and it seems like you might be rapidly accelerating in a brand new Cadillac Escalade (or for our European readers, a Vary Rover) vs an outdated Chevy Tahoe.
My Alaska Airways 737 MAX Conclusion
If you’re uninterested in flying on 737s, that is sufficient of a change to maintain you going. Most passengers should not going to note and naturally most of what I skilled will likely be totally different from airline to airline as they equip their planes in a different way. I really feel that I’ve a minimum of a dozen extra MAX flights earlier than they too make me itch for one thing greater than a 737.
In case you have flown a MAX, please go away your ideas within the feedback. Have been the sounds of the engines noticeable to you? Should you had been on one other airline, did they replace their cabin in a approach value mentioning?
