Thinking of Avoiding the Boeing 737 Max Aircraft?

The Boeing 737 Max 8 has been hailed by Boeing as a game-changer for airlines in reliability, efficiency and passenger comfort.  However, two recent crashes of the new aircraft are causing passengers — and some flight attendants — to wonder about the safety of the new aircraft.  Chinese, Indonesian, Mongolian, Ethiopian and Cayman airlines have all grounded the 737 Max aircraft, while U.S. carriers have yet to follow suit. 

Update:  as of March 12, the 737 Max 8 has also been banned by Singapore, Australia, Argentina, Oman, Mexico and the United Kingdom

Update 2: The entire European Union has now suspended ALL operations of 737 Max 8's and 737 Max 9's

Lori Bassani, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents the cabin crews at American Airlines, said “this event has raised safety concerns” for her members. The union is currently in a contract dispute with the airline.

Airlines generally won’t let passengers change flights because of fears over what aircraft they are on without paying a hefty fee. However, you can avoid booking new flights on the 737 Max 8, if you are concerned.

Southwest currently operates 34 737 Max 8's on the following routes:

• Las Vegas (LAS) – Houston Hobby (HOU)
• Washington Dulles (IAD) – Denver (DEN)
• Milwaukee (MKE) – Phoenix (PHX)
• Nashville (BNA) – Phoenix (PHX)
• Dallas Love Field (DAL) – Denver (DEN)
• Denver (DEN) – Sacramento (SMF)

American Airlines is currently operating 24 of the dreaded aircraft, mostly on routes operating out of Miami:

• MIA-Antigua (ANU): 2x daily
• MIA-Barbados (BGI): 3x daily
• MIA-Boston (BOS): 3x daily increasing to 4x daily
• MIA-Washington Reagan (DCA): 1x daily increasing to 2x daily
• MIA-Denver (DEN): 2x daily
• MIA-Grand Cayman (GCM): 1x daily through Jan. 5
• MIA-Los Angeles (LAX): 1x daily
• MIA-New York LaGuardia (LGA): 5x daily increasing to 8x daily
• MIA-Orlando (MCO): 2x daily increasing to 3x daily
• MIA-Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP): 1x daily
• MIA-Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS): 3x daily
• MIA-Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ): 3x daily
• MIA-Quito, Ecuador (UIO): 2x daily
• Los Angeles (LAX)-Washington Reagan (DCA): 1x daily
• MIA-St. Croix, Virgin Islands (STX): 1x daily starting Jan. 6 increasing to 2x daily
• MIA-Tampa (TPA): daily from Jan. 6-Apr. 1
• MIA-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ): 1x weekly thru 4/1 and daily starting 4/2
• MIA-Cancun (CUN): 6x weekly starting Feb. 14
• MIA-San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU): 1x daily starting Feb. 14
• MIA-St. Thomas (STT): 1x daily starting Feb. 14
• MIA-San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO): 6x weekly 3/4 to 4/1 then 1x weekly Apr. 6-27
• MIA-Cali (CLO): 1x daily from Apr. 1 to May 2
• MIA-Las Vegas (LAS): 1x daily from Apr. 2 to May 2
• MIA-San Francisco (SFO): 2x daily from Apr. 2 to May 2
• MIA-Brasilia (BSB): 1x daily from May 3

Air Canada is currently operating 24 737 Max 8's, mostly on the following routes:

• Vancouver (YVR) – Calgary (YYC)
• Vancouver (YVR) – Honolulu (HNL)
• Montréal (YUL) – Los Angeles (LAX)
• Vancouver (YVR) – Kahului, Maui (OGG)
• Montréal (YUL) – San Francisco (SFO)
• Vancouver (YVR) – Montréal (YUL)

United is currently operating 14 737 Max 9's, mostly on the following routes:

• Houston Intercontinental (IAH) – Los Angeles (LAX)
• Houston Intercontinental (IAH) – Orlando (MCO)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Kahului, Maui (OGG)
• Houston Intercontinental (IAH) – San Francisco (SFO)
• Houston Intercontinental (IAH) – San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
• Houston Intercontinental (IAH) – Boston (BOS)

Canadian airline WestJet operates 13 737 Max's, mostly on the following routes:

• Calgary (YYC) – Vancouver (YVR)
• Vancouver (YVR) – Toronto (YYZ)
• Calgary (YYC) – Las Vegas (LAS)
• Calgary (YYC) – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR)
• Calgary (YYC) – Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD)
• Toronto (YYZ) – Cancun (CUN)

Good Luck!