Here is an expanded view -
Link

The CRJ550 is just a re-shuffle of existing mods w/ a new model on the type certificate to appease the Pilot's unions -
Link

No "higher faster farther"?
There's some kind of perverse effect from some kind of strange rule at play here.

No one believes the theory except the one who developed it. Everyone believes the experiment except the one who ran it.
STF

I guess you're replacing something like 40 economy seats with 20 business class ... so that could be the economics.

Mind you, on the routes an RJ flies (<2hrs) I'm surprised you Need business class ... sounds like a First World problem ?

I'm wondering how they'll get rid of gate checking bags ... maybe an internal baggage compartment (like the Q400 fwd baggage) with cabin access so you can drop a bag (so instead of waiting at the sky bridge for your bag, you wait in the aisle). Can't see how they'd make the overhead bins bigger. ... would've helped if I'd opened SAIT's links .

Don't get the self-serve snack bar for first class ?

Economy is getting so bad that Business class becomes more attractive. On a recent flight I measured 17" between the armrests of the seat.

I first saw the story on Fliegerfaust - hardly the most reputable publication, but the floor plan they have of the CRJ550 seems to work. The cabin crew will be dragging a lot of baggage around and stacking it up high. Tall wardrobes needing special reinforcements to hold it all inside.
It would be a tidy little STC for some eager and capable interiors shop, but I guess the bidding process for that is long over and one of the usual suspects will be busy with it soon. And if BA already has all the little pieces, just needs to put them together, then hardly any scope for certification at all.
Still can't grasp all the reasoning behind a type certificate change. This barely registers a blip on the changed product rules.

No one believes the theory except the one who developed it. Everyone believes the experiment except the one who ran it.
STF

Maybe some influence by Airbus for a niche acft?

Regards, Wil Taylor

o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

I just flew on one of the CRJ500 this week ,
The first surprise was that as we walked down the jetway, the crew snatched our carry on bags ( Standard for other airliners.) , and told us they were too big to put in the overhead bins. They would let us have them back at our destination ( Gate checking bags.) . This of course caused a mad scramble to get stuff out that we had to have on the flight. This is a very strong incentive to avoid Bombardier jets in the future.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

That would likely be a CRJ 200 or a 700 you're referring to. Delta? The CRJ550 idea is still a pipe-dream.
But you do see the point - transferring from a full-size airliner allowing a large carry-on (or 2 sometimes!) to a regional with no place to put them does make boarding awkward.

No one believes the theory except the one who developed it. Everyone believes the experiment except the one who ran it.
STF

At least it doesn't have a roof-rack.

3D Dave,
It needed one
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

Sparweb,
American.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

I've quite liked "gate checking" bags; in preference to checking your bag (particularly with a short lay-over). But, it should have come as no surprise as the terminal staff send many messages about overhead bins on RJs being small, and they "usually" insist on putting a "gate check" tag on your bag. Yes, retrieving your bag can be a bit of a "magical mystery tour" ... particularly if you have a short lay-over.

This is an RJ thing ... do they do the same for Embraer jets (E170, E190) ?

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?