New Booking Tool Allows Travelers to Avoid Flights on Troubled 737 Aircraft
A new booking tool allows travelers reserving airline itineraries to avoid the beleaguered Boeing 737 MAX jet, which has recently suffered a number of issues that have alarmed passengers. The website Alternative Airlines allows travelers to purchase tickets with routes and airlines that don’t utilize 737 models.
Y’all, there’s a website called “Alternative Airlines” where you can specifically search for flights with airlines that do NOT use #Boeing aircraft.
— Gabrielle A. Perry, MPH (@GeauxGabrielle) March 12, 2024
I’m changing my flights today https://t.co/L8Z1nzkbT6 pic.twitter.com/OcO5VQyenD
"At Alternative Airlines, we make it easy to see which type of plane is being used for each flight when you're buying your flight. This means that you can easily avoid any flight that is being operated with the Boeing 737 MAX," the company's website states bluntly.
You can filter your model options by first entering your itinerary on Alternative Bookings. When the options pop up, click the "details" button. A list of which models are being flown on each route will then be displayed.
Boeing’s 737 MAX 9 jet is currently the subject of a federal investigation, which found many glaring issues. It came after a much-publicized incident in which the exit door of an Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight due to loose bolts. The news began an onslaught of bad press for both Boeing and the 737, with the CEO of Alaska Airlines subsequently reporting that many MAX models suffered from poor construction and contained loose bolts.
United then announced that they had found similar issues with their 737 models. Late last month, a passenger caught horrifying video of one of the airline's Boeing jets which showed the wing disintegrating in mid-air.
For those just finding out about Alternative Airlines’ prestige feature, the news couldn’t have come any sooner. Kayak also employs a similar tool, which can be found on the flight options page after you’ve entered your prospective itinerary. Using the “Ask Kayak” feature, enter a phrase along the lines of, “Flights not utilizing Boeing 737 MAX jets,” and the applicable options will be presented.