Would you pay more to fly on a turbojet plane vs a turboprop? (cost, airline)

[ginmqi]

So looking at a quick one way trip from Denver to KC, I see a United itinerary that's about 100 bucks which is on a Bombardier Dash-8, a turboprop.

A similar flight basically on a United turbojet plane OR I can pay $80 more for a Southwest itinerary which would be on a Boeing 737

I feel like a turbojet plane like a 737 would be safer than turboprop planes like the Bombardier.

Any thoughts? Worth the extra $80 to go ahead and do Southwest Boeing vs a United Bombardier?

[beachmouse]

Do you need to check a bag? If so, add $25 each way to the cost of the United flight.

If not, for me a $100 difference is enough to overcome my general distaste for United and take the puddle jumper.

Have you checked Frontier to see if they have a flight that works for you? They're often pretty cheap.

[ginmqi]

No checked bag at all, just a quick weekend with the GF so will be traveling light.


Frontier unfortunately is even more than Southwest, for some reason its at about $230 or so. Usually that's who I take and they are pretty cheap. But it is a sunday night flight so that may be why.
For me though I think the $80 may be worth it....I'll see if I can wait a day or two to see if southwest price goes down at all....

[apexgds]

Why do you think a turbojet will be safer than a turboprop? Any rational reasoning behind that?

If it's cheaper, I'd definitely take a turboprop.

[beachmouse]

So the two of you are saving $160 with the wee plane option, which can be a rather nice dinner or other fun activity in Denver.

[intelfan11315]

I'd go on a turbprop because they are cool

[ginmqi]

Good points! I think saving money and rejecting fear of a turboprop is the way to go.

Of course doesn't help when I saw an episode of air crash investigation where they featured a small turboprop that crashed on take off when the load shifted to the back causing the light aircraft to lose center of mass and then its nose pointed straight up and crashed

[rodentraiser]

I watch those shows all the time (and I think I remember that episode) and it makes me terrified of flying, Then I have to fly somewhere and I totally forget about those shows. My dad was a pilot (private planes, not an airline pilot), but he was smart and he was able to retire from flying. Look at it this way: there's a lot of planes that don't crash.

[apexgds]

Originally Posted by ginmqi

Good points! I think saving money and rejecting fear of a turboprop is the way to go.

Of course doesn't help when I saw an episode of air crash investigation where they featured a small turboprop that crashed on take off when the load shifted to the back causing the light aircraft to lose center of mass and then its nose pointed straight up and crashed

That can happen on a jet. The problem there is unsecured cargo, not the model of the plane. That generally not going to be an issue on commercial passenger flights.

[tnff]

Denver to KC? Unless it's down and back the same day, just drive. Heck DIA is halfway there anyhow.