Last week I had to fly from San Diego to Colorado Springs. In the past, this trip required at least one layover. But on this occasion I was excited at the prospect of getting from the Pacific Ocean to "The Springs" directly in two hours. Thanks to Express Jet Airlines (full disclosure: we contribute content to their in-flight mag), non-stop trips to second-tier cities such as Colorado Springs, Spokane, Omaha and Oklahoma City are now available from large cities throughout the U.S.
I'll take a direct route over a layover any day of the week, but without yet flying on ExpressJet I was curious how their service would stack up against the competition. My verdict? While a few features of the plane take some getting used to, I enjoyed my experience and highly recommend putting Express Jet on your radar.
Express Jet flies 50-passenger planes ; most carriers fly these regional jets to/from short destinations ; eg, San Diego to Phoenix, etc., but EJ's entire fleet is limited to this size plane. Not to be confused with a prop plane, the jets are smooth and quiet. However, the seats are narrow and leg room is less than on a 737. Seats are arranged with one on the aisle's left side and two seats on the right. If you're traveling alone, try to snag a single seat on the left and you'll enjoy a little more room. The backs recline somewhat and the chairs are leather padded.
Due to the plane's smaller size, only one flight attendant is on board. I found that they hustle through the cabin and provide excellent service with a smile. It might take a few more seconds for them to respond to your "call button" than first-class service, but remember you're not paying for that privilege. Complimentary snacks and soft drinks are offered; a turkey sandwich and cookies; not necessary, but a nice touch.
By far, the best feature of flying on ExpressJet is the availability of XM satellite radio. Listening to a baseball playoff game on the way home was awesome! Not to mention that it made the ride fly by; pun intended. Even if a major sporting event isn't scheduled, passengers can enjoy what seems like a limitless number of audio channels. I had to keep referring to the channel guide to review the numerous options.
Bottom Line: Have no reservation about making a reservation on Express Jet. They're definitely here to stay.
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Flew them for the first time
Flew them for the first time this week as well and had a similar experience, with an on-time departure/early arrival and a motivated flight attendant. The direct flight from Raleigh NC to San Antonio TX was well worth the slightly reduced leg room and if the return flight is as good, they will definitely be my preffered carrier for this route as in past it was always a change at DFW. Besides, imagine how cool it will be if the merger between Sirius and XM goes through, it will be like having Howard Stern sitting next to you on a long flight:>)
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