I made a decision no time like the current for causes I’ll clarify to assessment the Alaska Airways’ 737 MAX expertise as Alaska Airways’ MAX expertise is the longer term right here now. Due to this fact, I simply rescheduled a latest flight out of Seattle to the Bay Space to a flight having a 737 MAX airframe.
The Boeing 737 MAX I acquired to fly on – N919AK – in accordance with ch-aviation.com was delivered on March 8, 2021 and has a present market worth of $43,610,000.
Airline: Alaska Airways
Flight: AS169
Plane: Boeing 737-9 MAX N919AK
From: Seattle (SEA)
To: San Jose (SJC)
Date: 13 April 2022
Departure: 07:30
Arrival: 09:35
Flight Time (Gate to Gate): 2:05
Seat: 3A
Attending to the Gate
However first I needed to get to the gate to board the flight. I made a decision to take a pleasant Uber from my Airbnb to the airport as a result of early hour and having heavy luggage. As a result of having a heavy bag full of garments and items, I made a decision to make use of the primary class free bag check-in. I obtained good assist checking in a bag, one thing I usually don’t do.
Then I used the Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport’s Spot Saver that I made an appointment for to hurry in about 14 minutes from checked bag drop off to the top of the mandatory safety checks. That’s together with the time of me having to return in line after a tote field hung up on the road.
Visiting the Alaska Lounge Once more
My pancake breakfast with two pancakes from the Alaska Airways Lounge. Photograph: AvgeekJoe Productions
As common readers could recall, I lately wrote a information to the Alaska Airways lounges. I made a decision since I paid for a firstclass ticket to partake once more in the identical North Satellite tv for pc Alaska Lounge’s views, and sure the pancake machine. It was good to chill my heels and revel in some pancakes ready for the MAX 9 to drag as much as the gate.
I used to be so excited to fly that I made a decision as soon as the MAX 9 pulled as much as head downstairs to my gate and wait. Will admit that I’m ‘that Joe’ who will make some extent of fist-bumping aircrew and need them nicely as I’m so filled with constructive vitality earlier than flying.
From 737-100 to MAX 9
Earlier than we talk about me boarding the MAX 9, some background is so as. The Boeing 737 has been a product household born first out of a requirement for a short-haul jet by Lufthansa. The 737 initially reused a variety of Boeing 727 elements and parked the engines below the wings. The engines have been positioned below the wings so as to add seats to the fuselage. Over time, the Boeing 737 design has been stretched and modified for brand new generations of jet engines.
One ought to word the -100 had a wingspan of 28.35m or 93ft, a size of 28.67m or 94 toes, and a wing space of 91.1 sq. meters or 980 sq. ft to assist a max takeoff weight of 49,895 Kg/109,999 lbs. In the meantime, the MAX 9 I flew on has a 35.9 m (117 ft 10 in) wingspan, 42.16 m or 138 ft, 4 in size, and 127 sq. meters (1367 sq. toes) to assist a max takeoff weight of 88,314 Kg/194,697 lbs. My level is that the 737 airframe has grown plus been modified considerably over the generations.
Alaska Airways determined lately to provoke phasing out each the mainline Airbuses and regional de Havilland Canada Sprint 8-400s (aka Q400s). Moreover, Alaska Airways has positioned with Boeing 145 agency orders and choices for Boeing 737 MAX plane. The order was lately recalibrated to order 70 737-9s, 60 737-10s, and 15 737-8s for now. For Alaska Airways, one of many advantages of going with the MAX in accordance with their web site is:
737-9 MAX plane are about 14% extra gasoline environment friendly than our present Subsequent Technology 737s, with higher engines and extra superior winglets. Our sustainability efforts are essential to us, so utilizing much less gasoline and decreasing carbon emissions makes a variety of sense – and it’s good for the surroundings.
Nonetheless, some 737 Subsequent Technology (-700/-800/-900) jets will keep within the fleet for some time.
As you possibly can see beneath, the cockpits are also very completely different from the 737-100 to the 737-900 to the 737 MAX 9 with the growing use of laptop know-how over the generations.
Boarding and Seating
As a result of having a number of disabilities, I used to be capable of board first. It was additionally good to have the ability to get a number of images of a comparatively empty cabin for the journey assessment.
I used to be pleasantly shocked on the ample legroom as much as 40 inches as you possibly can see right here with a few luggage for scale. I additionally appreciated there was boxed water prepared for me additionally. The seat was a Recaro CL4710 for top quality passengers like me. The lap seatbelt was simple to make use of and regulate, and I might nonetheless flip round and take footage out of the rear window to get the MAX-9 wing & engine within the body in flight.
Talking of images out the window, I’ve to say that it might be fantastic if the bottom crew might wipe down the home windows earlier than every flight. However as soon as we took off, the views have been good till we entered the overcast.
Really Flying
That stated, the take-off was a thrill. The MAX-9 made a great preliminary climb after which made a easy flip to San Jose Worldwide and an altitude of 39000.0 ft – and I ought to word all my altitudes are from FlightRadar24 monitoring of my flight. As soon as protected, I politely requested a glass of champagne to have fun my first MAX flight – and I not often drink champagne or another alcoholic product. However having a private first MAX flight was price a really celebratory drink in a comparatively quieter MAX-9 than in a -900ER that I’m form of used to.
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I made my conventional go to to the flight attendants’ workplace – aka galley – and thanked them for his or her assist with the flight. I additionally acquired a number of images of their small workplace and subsequently requested a cup of espresso to take pleasure in in a ceramic mug with views from 35,000 toes as we started to descend.
Sadly, clouds obscured a view of San Francisco on the descent, however seeing Bar Island from 12,000+ toes above sea stage was a aid. Because the MAX-9 descended to 4,750 ft over the Sierra Azul Open Area Protect, I used to be capable of flip round and get images out the rear window of the 2 I had entry to, so I had the MAX-9 within the body.
Arriving at San Jose Worldwide Airport (SJC)
I then landed and confidently was capable of retrieve my checked bag upon making it to baggage declare after taking some closing images of the MAX-9 on the gate. The airport appeared very pleasant and up-to-date, and I want I might fly into it extra typically. Particularly with a free VTA bus shuttle to the native BART station. 25 minutes from the bus cease to the BART Milpitas station faregate, very good – and for airline passengers of all courses.
General, an exquisite expertise
I’m very proud of my expertise on this flight regardless of the very fact I paid extra for top quality. If having the trimmings of luxurious like glasses and mugs and never paper + plastic cups to drink out of are essential to you; then investing in an Alaska Airways First Class ticket is an efficient funding. Or maybe like me, you want having an unique flight attendant plus a floater flight attendant if want be plus a great entrance of the jet window plus sure, an Alaska Lounge that gives free pancakes. The selection is yours.
So would you fly top quality on Alaska Airways? Why or Why Not?
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