I am the only one who asks how old is the plane when flying? (FAA, flight attendants)

[jet757f]

I would take a nice B-767 built in the 80s over the Dreamliner any day. So just because the aircraft is new doesn't mean anything.

[Javacoffee]

I've always been more concerned about whether the pilots and the mechanics drink heavily. Now I have something else to worry about.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by survivingearth

I know that age isn't necessarily as important as maintenance, but i have a habit of asking how old is the plane whenever i fly? anyone else do that or other weird habits

I never ask how old a plane is that I am going to fly. But I am aware that some types of planes are older than others!

[eastcoastguyz]

Originally Posted by survivingearth

I know that age isn't necessarily as important as maintenance, but i have a habit of asking how old is the plane whenever i fly? anyone else do that or other weird habits

And if you don't like the answer, do you not fly?

[DutchessCottonPuff]

Yes , when you have been maried to a 30 year long A&P you end up wondering about lot of things on your plane .
Especially when Continental put me in a single seat "Jump seat" thing ( it was sort of a half seat - thank goodness I am small, that seat demanded it ) by the rear bathroom on a commuter flight and my husband and youngest daughter across and up in 2 regular seats and when the pilot shook my hand he looked like he was 13 with a glue on moustache from the dollar store lol and husband says " They have to get flight hours in somewhere"

[fluffythewondercat]

Age isn't as important as the number of flight cycles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Airlines_Flight_243

[jackmccullough]

I've never checked, but I flew next to a guy one time who said that he liked to check the prices paid for used airplanes on the theory that carriers that take better care of their equipment get better prices when they sell.

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by jackmccullough

I've never checked, but I flew next to a guy one time who said that he liked to check the prices paid for used airplanes on the theory that carriers that take better care of their equipment get better prices when they sell.

Typically airliners are owned by leasing companies, not the airlines. This avoids the massive capital expenditure of buying a passenger jet and allows an airline to increase capacity temporarily if need be.

To give an example on the freight side, Amazon is leasing forty 767s from two air cargo companies, who also supply the flight crews.

[P47P47]

The only time I ever asked was 20 years ago, the last time I flew aboard a 727, my favorite airliner. The one I was on had been built in 1984.

[Aleister Crowley]

Boeing planes have a metal vin like plate on the cabin doorway entry that says when the plane was manufactured. The other tell tale signs are the overhead bins and lighting or windows of the aircraft.