I commute on Expressjet and I see it frequently enough to pray one of the bent wing jets pulls into parking so it won't be an issue. I have no idea if it is landing or takeoff weight related. The Q400 is a lowly prop but it carries 74 adults, 114 bags, and a jumpseater 99% of the time...if it ain't broken.

You must live in a city where one of our EPs still operates. They are slowly going away, but only slowly. If its a captain that cares usually we can take a few hundred pounds less fuel and its a none issue. Any of our other 200 airplanes can take 52 and max bags everytime, but that doesn't help you if you live in those few select cities. We have 2 usuable jumpseats so 99% of the time commuters prefer us, but again, those EPs are the exception.

at Eagle all our 145s are heavy weight mod, and we RARELY see any problems, unless its a full boat and a really short flight, with a bunch of extra gas.

Now the 135/140, well that is a different story.

Good god, I hate EPs. My record weight restriction on one of those was 25 people out of EWR to IAD. (Booked to 52, of course).

WJ started in 96 and now has 98 airplanes. They are getting at least 6 new airplanes a year through 2016. You won't find an old retired plane in their fleet plan.

The Q's will get split up... they won't all go to the same company if PNCL doesn't keep them.

dont agree. 35 airplanes of such a rare type would be far too expensive to split up. 2 different companys flying 17 and 18 rare planes each would cost united far more then just 1 company.

Sorry man but are you new? Where'd you get that the EP's are going away? It'd be nice if they did but I haven't seen them being parked really. There are only 23 of them but unless you know something I don't, I think that number has stayed pretty constant in the five years I've been here. And not to nitpick but the other 200+ can't take 52 pax plus all bags everytime. Usually they can but if you've ever done Columbus/Milwaukee/etc to Houston on an LR - and more and more that's a daily occurrence - you know it can be a struggle to get 48 or 49 on no matter how creative you get.

390 Q 400's (1050+ Dash 8) flying don't make them that rare. Most are out of North America so it may seem like it.

Where did the 11 Lynx planes go? Horizon, Skyservice, Western Europe, and RAH I think? Doubt anyone wants or has the money for 35 extra planes right now... especially in the US.

I dont mean to start a fight or anything, but im not sure you understand how this all works. If RAH or SKW are quoted a lease rate that allows a profit with the fixed fee from UAL, then its an instant money maker.....on paper. Its up to the individual company to balance the cost of crews and other staffing requirements within the profit on paper to determine if its viable.

The Q is a rare plane is the sense theres only so many flying in the USA. The only USA carrier that flys for UAL and currently has a complete and ready Q program is RAH.

Yes, I follow your reasoning but I don't think you can find a US carrier that is looking at adding capacity right now... especially fixed fee from UAL. Bedford already tried to pimp out Q's to all the major carriers with no luck. Colgans agreement with Continential was cost only for 3 years so Continental got the better of that deal.