Old Kowloon Club

Airplanes are one of my favorite topics. I think planes are really cool, and I love to nerd out about them and things related to them like airports and air travel. Flying is one of my favorite things to do, and I take any excuse to do it, whether for vacation or traveling for work. I'm also pursuing my Private Pilot License (PPL). I have a goal of flying on as many different types of aircraft as I can, and visiting as many different airports as I can. For this reason, when traveling, I often seek out new aircraft I haven't flown on or airports I haven't been to before. This has led to some pretty unique trips! Below you'll find some of my personal aviation stats (like I said, I'm a nerd), as well as some of my favorite planes and airports.


My stats


These are rookie numbers... gotta pump those numbers up! 😢

(If you are a fellow aviation nerd and want to keep track of your stats, check out the app Flighty!)

My favorite planes


E175

The Embraer 175 or E175 for short (or E75 for even shorter!) is one of my favorite planes. These planes are very common for short regional flights, especially in the North American regional market. The E75's main competition is the Bombardier CRJ900 (CR9). I prefer the E75 to the CR9 because the fuselage is larger in diameter, resulting in a taller cabin that doesn't require as much ducking, especially when using the restroom. The seats are also wider and more comfortable. It's a small plane that doesn't feel as much like a small plane as the CR9. In my opinion, the E75 compares favorably to the Airbus A220 and Boeing 717 aircraft often used by the major airlines on similar length routes. The seating configuration in the main cabin of the E75 is 2-2 as opposed to 2-3 on the larger aircraft, meaning there are no middle seats. Also, the E75 has the same number of seats in first class as the A220 and 717, and they are spread out in a 1-2 configuration over 4 rows compared with a 2-2 configuration in 3 rows. The result is a more comfortable first class cabin on the smaller jet, especially if you get a seat on the left side. Overall, the Embraer 175 is a great little plane, and easily one of my favorites.


747

The Boeing 747 is one of the most iconic aircraft ever to take the skies. With its trademark 'hump' at the front, it is also one of the most recognizeable and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful planes ever designed. The deeply-swept wing design and 4 engines contribute to its impressive look. Airlines appreciated the 747 for its large capacity and especially its long range. The 747 was the first wide-body airliner (meaning it has two aisles between the seats in the cabin), and inspired the name 'Jumbo Jet'. Originally, the second deck of the aircraft was used as lounge space for premium passengers, but airlines soon began using that space for first class passenger seating. The 747 and its variants have also attracted high levels of government, military, and cargo use due to its size, range, and quality design. This is most notable in its use as Air Force One, the plane that carries the President of the United States, and a beautiful plane in its own right. Over time, as the airline industry has evolved and the market shifted more toward a point-to-point model over the previously dominant hub-and-spoke model, the 747 became less attractive since the combination of high capacity and high range was less necessary. This has resulted in lower demand for massive wide-body jets in general. I find this trend to be a little sad, since I think these planes are a magnificent sight to behold (with the exception of the massive, and massively ugly, Airbus A380). The quintessential representative of the jet-set age, the 747 is one of my favorite planes.


My favorite airports


BOS

Boston Logan International Airport is one I've flown to and from many times for work. It's very easy to access from the city, and the terminal drop off and pick up areas are well-organized to avoid congestion, with each terminal physically separated from the others. Even when it is busy, security is a breeze as they have both TSA Precheck and CLEAR, including dedicated lines for travellers with both. I can usually get through in under 60 seconds. The airport also has a great selection of lounges. Most major airlines have dedicated lounges, and Chase recently opened a new one for their Sapphire customers in terminal B. My favorite is Delta SkyClub in the Terminal A satellite. It is quite large, with plenty of seating options, a good hot food selection, a good bar, and an excellent view of the tarmac for plane watching. The airport recently finished its new international terminal. I haven't flown through it yet, but it is supposed to be very impressive. Overall, Boston Logan is a well-organized and clean airport with great amenities, offering a great experience for those flying to, from, or through it.


CLT

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is another one I have flown to and from many times. It is fairly easy to access from the city. Unfortunately, the pick up and drop off areas are not well organized or efficient. All 5 concourses are served by a single curb about a quarter mile long, with a set of lanes each for transit and private cars. The result is a mess of congestion at all times, made significantly worse on busy days like holidays. This is unfortunate, and something the airport should aim to fix, given that it is one of the busiest airports in the world and is only likely to get busier as the city grows. Although the airport does not have CLEAR, all 5 concourses are connected post-security, so it is possible to simply choose the shortest security line in the central terminal building and walk to your concourse afterward. The lounge situation isn't perfect, but is improving. There are 2 American Airlines Admirals Clubs, as well as a nice American Express Centurion Lounge. The latter is my personal favorite. Concourse A also has a small Priority Pass lounge, and a small Delta SkyClub will open this winter. Charlotte Douglas is known for its rocking chairs and Southern charm, and I have to say I agree. As the city grows, and the airport with it, I hope they can successfully improve the infrastructure to keep up with the growing demand.


SLC

Salt Lake City International Airport is one I tend to fly through on connections between the East and West coasts of the US. While smaller by passenger count than many of the other major international airports in the US, it is still a busy and growing airport that has been under near-constant construction and expansion for a decade. One of my favorite parts about SLC is that the long terminal has floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides which afford excellent views of not just the operations on the tarmac, but most impressively the majestic Rocky Mountains in the background. The Delta SkyClub is large and well-appointed, and offers perhaps the best views of the snow-capped peaks in winter.


(Dis)honorable mentions


CRJ900

The Bombardier CRJ900, or CR9 for short, is a regional jet popular among airlines operating in the North American market. It is one of the highest-selling commercial jets ever produced, with nearly 2000 delivered to airlines around the world. Despite its popularity, I find it to be a thoroughly loathsome aircraft in most respects. It has a long, narrow fuselage relative to its size. This results in a cabin that feels cramped, with smaller overhead bins and narrower seats. You'll often have to duck when boarding, entering or leaving your seat, or using the restroom. Spending an hour or more crunched up in the main cabin is a recipe for soreness and back pain for the next week. The only way to be slightly less uncomfortable (not comfortable, mind you, just less uncomfortable) is to fly first class for the slightly larger seat and hope for one on the left side. I usually go out of my way to avoid flying routes served by the CR9 at all. I truly wish airlines would stop flying this plane, but given its popularity and the investment involved in updating a fleet, we will likely see a lot of them for years to come. Perhaps the only reason for hope is that the program was recently acquired by Mitsubishi, which has decided to end production of the abominable little plane. Finally.


A380

The Airbus A380 is the world's largest passenger jet. It has the highest capacity of all commercial airliners, with the capacity for over 500 passengers and up to over 800. It is the only fully double-decker commercial aircraft, and one of only a handful of quadjets still flying. An expensive program to develop and produce, the A380 is considered in many respects a commercial failure because of Airbus' misreading of market demand for a super jumbo jet and the industry's general shift over the last couple of decades from a hub-and-spoke model to a point-to-point model. This led to less need for ultra high capacity and long range aircraft, and subsequently a cooler reception and far fewer orders than anticipated. Airbus had wanted to compete with Boeing's 747 for this market, but by the time the A380 arrived (36 years after the 747!) the market was a fraction of the size. Barely over 250 have been produced, and Airbus has ceased production. This can be considered a mercy, since the A380 is a tremendously ugly airplane. I mean, just look at the thing. It is, however, quite impressive for its size. Furthermore, despite its repulsive appearance, it is a remarkably comfortable and safe aircraft. The handful of airlines that operate it tend to use it for a small number of flagship routes. Most famously, Emirates flies it between Dubai and major international hubs. The first class cabins are often considered among the most premier products in the skies, and are fairly universally well-regarded by passengers. I probably shouldn't list it down here among my least favorites, but it's just so, so ugly.