There are many reasons to like the Boeing 737. It is reliable. It is prolific (over 8,500 built). It has been around for almost 50 years. It has a fantastic safety record. It is fuel efficient. It is not an unattractive plane to look at. I have never liked it.
This week I reached a milestone with my 299th flight on a 73. There is no other plane I have been on as many times. The 737 has taken me 340,000km (212,000) to 91 airports on five continents. I have disembarked as far south as Queenstown, New Zealand, as North as Reykjavik, Iceland! Westerly it has been Honolulu and the furthest east was Wellington, New Zealand!
Thirty-one carriers have operated the B737s, I have travelled on. Although, just three of them make up two thirds of the all 737 flights I have been on: Qantas, Virgin Australia and the all 737 US airline: Southwest.
For years the cliche: “If its not boeing, I am not going” was my mantra. The 747, 777, 757, 767 all get me excited. (plus I loved 707 and 7272s).Yet after flying on every variation of the type with 29 different airlines, the 737 leaves me cold.
I have tried to analyse what it is I do not like about the 737. Is it because the 737 is too familiar, too pedestrian?
The cabin feels cramped to me -even in Business Class on the airlines that operate such a class.I don’t like the cabin wall shape, the windows, galley location or the lavatory layout. In today’s modern layouts, its annoys me that the windows and seats do not line up! Even, the noise of the landing gear retracting annoys me!
Any other reasons?
Which aircraft do you hate or love? And which ones have you flown the most?
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You make some good points. The 737 doesn’t have much in the way of comfort or glamour. While prevalent in many Boeing aircraft, I particularly dislike the 17.2 inch seat width, but then again I’m 6’5 and over 250 lbs. The 747, which often has the same seat width, is a gorgeous plane that’s a lot of fun to fly. JMTC
So it took that many flights for you to decide you did not like the 737 ? Hmm maybe you should find another form of transportation! Or could not think of a relevant topic to post?
I feel this way about the A319, love the 737. Bigger windows, and no annoying brake/flap noises during taxi.
I love the 747!!
I think I made it clear I have never liked the 737! Thanks for your comment.
I am glad I’m not the only one. I have avoided Southwest Airlines because all they fly are 737s. So far, I’ve been able to do that. I was never crazy about 727s either but I will take one of those over a 737. I remember the 727 was revered but if I could get on something else I would. I prefer wide bodies to narrow bodies. It is so hard to find wide bodies now, especially for domestic flights. The aircraft I enjoy flying on the most is the 767. You either got an aisle seat or a window seat except for about 14% of the plane. When I was married on other planes one of us would end up flying in the middle seat but on the 767 one of us got the window and one the aisle.