Horizon CRJ and Q400: what's the difference?
 

I need some quick advice. Taking Horizon from SEA to BOI and the choices are endless. Some flights are listed as being on a "Bombardier CRJ" and some are on the "Bombardier Q400." What is the difference? Comfort? Food? Lavatory? Seat pitch?

Time to travel seems to be different, with one taking longer.

Is the captain cute? :)

Can't really answer your question since I haven't yet flown in the CRJ, but I flew in the Q400 from SEA - BOI for some local skiing with some friends and I found it to be very comfortable, no issues.

Q400 is a 76 seat turboprop, while the CRJ is 70 seat jet. I personally find the Q400 to be a little more comfortable than the jet, but the jet is a few minutes quicker. Food will be the same on either. A snack which used to be of higher quality a year or two ago, free starbucks in the morning, and a free microbrew or wine in the afternoon. I believe the CRJ has a working sink in the lavatory, while the Q400 doesn't.

This probably won't apply to you, but on "short" flights on Horizon you can't get soda, only juice. I am at a loss as to what a "short" flight is. I experienced this kind of beverage service going from EUG to SEA last summer. EUG to SEA is one hour. One-hour flights on other airlines have full beverage service. Perhaps the rule is based on flight distance, as EUG to SEA is under 250 nm.

The Q400 goes a little slower than the CRJ. Still 5x faster than driving (at least on EUG-SEA).

I've flown on both the Q400 and CRJ700 (though the CRJ was on Skywest, not Horizon), and both seem about the same in width. However, according to Seatguru.com, the Q400 has wider seats. Legroom in any regional aircraft will feel cramped. I haven't been in the lavatory on the Q400, but the lavatory on the CRJ700 is a little uncomfortable. Due to the sloping ceiling near the actual toilet, urinating standing up if you're around 6 feet tall will be a little difficult-you either have to stand 2 feet back or "do your business" sitting down. Too much information, yet true.

The Q400 is pretty quiet but you can feel everything vibrating throughout the whole flight. The CRJ700 is deafiningly loud on takeoff.

I remember when I used to fly the Fokker F-28 on Horizon between BOI and SEA. How times have changed.

I don't know about the Horizon Q's, but I'm pretty sure the Q now comes with a working sink. Lav is kinda small though.

I don't think its possible to conduct any kind of food service without having a facility for the FA's to wash their hands.

Checko

The important thing is that there is free beer....and if the captain isn't very cute, they will give you refills!

"The Q400 is pretty quiet but you can feel everything vibrating throughout the whole flight. The CRJ700 is deafiningly loud on takeoff."

I don't know what 700 you have been flying on but the ones I fly are very quiet on takeoff.

Guess my question was premature. I'll be taking the CRJ over and the Q400 back, so I'll do my own comparisons. 1 hour 15 minutes vs 1 hour and 40 minutes.

If the captain is not cute, I am going to demand another one! :) Are Horizon captains as cute as the MD-80 ones in Alaska? ;)

Ask Saab, he can give you the info on all the cute Captains for every regional.