STEEP APPROACH! Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air) Dash 8 Q400 trip report, San Jose to Salt Lake City 

In case anybody was wondering, N422QX (the aircraft in this video) was NOT the one that was hijacked and intentionally crashed near Seattle on August 10, 2018. That was sister aircraft N449QX, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

Screaming kid flight...oh what joy!

Alaskan airlines is the best in my opinion

Great video, thanks for sharing. You showed SJC, your planes arrival in SJC, the take-off, the scenery along the way (you even described it), the landing, the people getting off, and even a different Alaska Airlines flight leaving at the end. Great job.

Great video. Some steep touchdown. The views are amazing.

I love Alaska airlines and Q400 great video

Very nicely done, music at both ends was fine. The spiraling climb out of SJC was a new one, never seen that before

I always enjoy your trip reports. In March I am flying on Alaska for my first time, and I can't wait. You have to love those biscoff cookies.

Wow, that approach was definitely something 😋

A free beer is always a good thing! Nice report Mate

Loved that! Thanks!

I have been on a 14 hour international flight with 2 screaming children. When I thought how the flight was a disorienting nightmare to them, I felt sorry for them instead of feeling selfishly angry at them.

very nice views salt lake city beauty Nice aircraft QC 400 nice takeoff

awesome flight that must have been

Very nice video! That approach had me on the edge of my seat. Looks quite interesting.

I have flown Alaska / Horizon in the Q 400's many times. It's a bit cramped, but quite alright for an hour or two. And hey, cannot beat free beer. And good stuff, too.

Wow :O That is a really steep approach! Nice trip report :)

Great video....thanks!

The spiral climb is always implemented for San Jose, due to traffic into sfo, planes from San Jose need to climb higher up before proceeding on course.

I love to travel also. Thanks for the armchair experience. I think the ponds you refer to are salt drying structures. I know that is what is near San Jose using bay water. Seems logical they do the same at Great Salt Lake.

amazing!

I just flew in a Q400 for the first time, this past weekend. It was on Alaska/Horizon from Medford OR to Seattle. The seats are a little narrow but leg room is great! The plane is amazingly quiet, smooth and agile. The only issue I had was uneven cabin temperatures. Either way too hot or quite cold. I think this is a good plane for short haul flights. Much more comfortable than the smaller regional jets (like CR-700).

I've had a steep approach like this before into Auckland, NZ on a Q300 (the baby sister) and these things can handle all kinds of weird angles. Our one was from a steeper altitude over the countryside some way away from the airport so it really had us wondering.

Q400 great aircrafts

If you live in the Northwest or West Coast, I think we are very spoiled to have the best of the best in commercial airline service. Alaskan Air is by far the best over other carriers serving this region in my opinion, and it is why I only travel aboard Alaskan Air. Safety for one, hospitality, and affordability.

Was that the beginning of Apple Park construction during climb?

Wow,look at the smog hanging over San Jose !!

At 6:05, the ponds below are actually salt evaporation ponds. I used to live there as a kid.

Screaming kids are the reason why I invested in noise-cancelling headphones......

Is it possible to go around the world using only a dash 8?

I like flying the Q400, we take the Westjet Encore ones when going to see the in laws in Canada... always a big change from BA CW/WTP though

Hmmmmm.....Salt lake I would love to float on their waters.

Welcome to my city. 9:16 that is the light rail to the airport. Next time, I would recommend the seat on the other side of the aircraft. You would have seen beautiful views of the Wasatch mountains on your approach.

The spiral over SJC is the LOOP Departure to get above traffic going into SFO and OAK.

Have you done a review about aeroMexico?

Horizon is known for their free craft beer. I can recall a few years back where no one else wanted the rest of the large beer bottle that they traditionally pour from. The flight attendant made me finish that large bottle before we landed telling me that if I didn't I would be disobeying crewmember instruction! 😁

Nice

Nice report. When taking off, you can see just some of the "Silicon Valley" Billionaires flight line. :)

Paul I hope you make a report abouth this again the way you do your latest videos . Great video though . Cheers

Happy Friday Paul ! San Jose is definitely the more interesting airport compared to SFO,OAK. How did you find the Dash 8 ? Cramped or fine ? Another fine video, thank you.

Enjoyed the vid, especially ur commentary along the route. I agree that was an incredibly steep approach, ha. Just outta curiosity, why is the Dash-8 one of ur least fav aircraft? I've had a few experiences w/it flying short 20-40min hops from Scranton/Allentown, PA - Philadelphia, PA. I was neither impressed nor did I dislike the aircraft so again, just curious why u dislike it so much. Thx for posting ;-)

That's Alpine County Airport (M45) 7:14 mark

I flew in and out of San Jose about 15 years ago. I don't remember the terminal being that new looking. Have they replaced it recently or remodeled it?

when the plane went on a steep approach, did you feel it?

Listen Parents it is called Benadryl 10 min before boarding. It helps keep the fluid in their ears down and prevents pain. It also makes them sleepy. For the benefit of the other passengers, Really this poor kid id suffering . Damn parents.

whats the range on the q400?

Can u put the Registration in the description ?? (N422QX)

All I mostly see at Portland are Alaska q-400s 😂 (PDX is a hub for Alaska) they offer great services from PDX to San Jose, Boise, and Seattle!

was that housing trim on the rear of the engine suppose to be flappin around like that?

The mighty Q400 is one of your least favorite aircraft?! But she's the best!

Didn't realize MLS team San Jose Earthquakes' stadium was that close to the runway.

I think your pilot requested a short final as opposed to joining the traffic flow from the Point of the Mountain northward. I don’t think anyone is going to try it in a 757or 767.

SAY PAUL, WHAT A "FABULOUS FLIGHT TO SALT LAKE CITY ON A HORIZON Q400," AND TO Y'ALL, "REGIONAL JETPROP FLYERS, WELCOME TO UTAH"!!

hehe $60 fare from SJC to SLC is pretty cheap, but the fare I got on Southwest from Las Vegas to Chicago on Oct 31 beats that fare hands-down.... Their "Getaway" fare on the last flight of the day between LAS-MDW?? THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS!!! Can't beat that with a stick.....

The Q400 looks like a nice ride also seemed to live up to its name the cabin seems quiet.

I live the q400s there great for short flights

The only time I cried on a flight was when I slept through the whole thing and woke up at the arrival gate. I was so upset that I missed the flight. Anyone else hear weird Asian music at 9:10?

Topaz Lake?

Alaskan Amber ale. I like Alaska airlines, they don't try to put on a bunch of overpriced false pomp but they do add a few extra touches like beer and coffee, from what I have heard they also pay better wages than most airlines, the service tends to be reliably pleasant. Most of their sourcing has a regional or local focus, Alaska air group is based in Seattle, the coffee is from a Seattle company, the beer is brewed in Alaska, their jet fleet is all Boeing 737(Seattle)... They also carry significant freight on the northern routes, the 737 was designed with low landing gear for the purpose of manual cargo loading without a lift.

It's a cramped plane but it works for flights like BLI to SEA or SEA to Yakima things like that. I'm from Vancouver and from YVR to SEA they fly the 737-900 which does trips like SEA to ATL or YVR to ORD these planes will be gone soon because of high demand

Paul, could you maybe do a Southwest Airlines trip Report???? I'd like to see your opinion on SWA

Indian Creek Reservoir - Markleeville, CA

the q400s of Alaska have been trained to takeoff really early

I just flew in one last week portland to seatac great plane but horrible seats

Hey, its got nowt to do w the moon landing! But i did what i always wanted to do: Night Cornish Reviera Express arrived Penzence. Great trip! Stayed up until cross Brunel Bridge Hired car. Went Lizards. Go cafe. THE BEST CRAB SANDWICH ANYWHERE.Eat and die happy! BA should hire her for her sandwiches (High Tea) on BIZ Long Hual.Thanks for all your vids. Reason I use this portal is I have no means communicate. I dont do FB etc. But its OK. Sure to see your incisive, no-bull reports.

Air stairs**?

1:58, levitating piece of luggage

what program for editing

I think that that airport at 7:12 is the air port from GTA5

it seems the pilot was trying to make the landing as soft as possible

I feel bad for you You had to listen to that kid playing ABCs and stuff

Well, the pilots that fly the MD-80's will be damm glad when they're gone!

The approach into salt lake city was completely in ATC hands the crew had no say in it

1:33 N422QX

STILL WHACKED THAT GEAR DOWN VERY EARLY

7:12 SeaTac

great trip why did you bored by the back

The larrge lake is Lake Taho

Didn't realize both San Jose and SLC were in Alaska. Just kidding

Great flight except for the kid that is not being controlled by their parents. We would not tolerate that at all from our daughter when she was little.

Holy shit, landing rate must be 0fpm

They should charge extra for a non-screaming kid seat. I'd pay.

I guess the "in-flight" entertainment was the Chinese toddler screaming and crying the whole trip. I, myself, would have poured a little of the "free craft beer" in his milk bottle. "Old Ancient Chinese secret of child rearing." Nice video though. Q400 one great plane ! Even a civilian could fly it I think. Cheers !

I am sure that it was very scary for the little one. Bless his little heart.

Why do the British add a u to color? Seems ridiculous

That kid did my head in at the beginning but I'm glad he stopped screaming and crying' very annoying

I always hate the kids that scream on planes. But that was me. Now I’m 14 and I love planes more than girls

That's not a steep approach. @PAUL you want to try flying into Tivat ( LYTV/ TIV) in Montenegro. The airport is located near Kotor and is surrounded by high mountains. There are two approaches. One requires the pilots to quite literally fly at a bloody mountain head on then a hard port* turn and sort of twisting dive to hit the approach the other requires some needle threading through a pass and over a nearby town whose name escapes me right now then again dropping like nobodies business to get a, sort of, glide path. All this in full size ( non wide body) A320's and the likes which are a lot less forgiving with such things than the Q400 appears to be. Lovely place when you get there and a UNESCO World Heritage City which doesn't allow any traffic (deliveries are hand carted around the place). Great video though and some lovely footage of the lakes and such. * I think it's to port but this is going from memory and I'm no pilot so it's from observation on a few flights in and out of there. I think there's a wiki article that details the unusual approach paths somewhere.

oh ok

Area 51

Your music is ridiculously too loud.

Alaska doesn't own this anymore

That kid hates flying and I hate him/her. STF up!

The spiral climbing is weird. Flying is unnatural. Bavies and little kids in general don't like it. But there are completely legal products available in any store to make them feel a little more comfortable...But 60 dollars for a flight? That's even less then what I pay for a trainticket from the nearest trainstation (15 kms/10 miles from home) to Amsterdam!!!!

As bad as screaming children are, nothing quite compares to being stuffed in between two... heavy set sweaty dudes on a 737 with crappy air conditioning.

I think your a horrible person if you bring a child under the age of around 7 onto a plane

i absolutely HATE these planes. i really wish airlines would stop flying them.

The MD-80 a proper aircraft 😂 that aircraft is garbage.

Have you done a review about aeroMexico?