Travel question: Should I set myself on a jet or fly turboprop?

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

Flybe’s Embraer 175 jets are a comfortable way to travel (Getty)

Q Just wondered what your view on Flybe’s planes are? I haven’t travelled with them in ages and I’m not a particular fan of the turboprop. I’m taking a short hop from Belfast City to Leeds Bradford this week.

Eamon

A Thank you for getting in touch. I am in a good position to compare turboprop versus jet, because five weeks ago I flew back-to-back on two of Flybe’s plane types: the Embraer 195 jet and the Bombardier Q400 turboprop.

My outbound journey from Gatwick to Newquay by jet was fast and comfortable; I am a real fan of the Embraer jets, which have two-by-two seating and yet a sense of space. The Bombardier was slower and less impressive. The Bombardier cabin interior is eight inches narrower than the Embraer (and four inches thinner than Concorde, incidentally). The overhead storage bin space seems significantly smaller, which is one reason why Flybe is zealously enforcing its unusually small cabin baggage dimensions.

It also has a rather utilitarian feel. But it is comfortable enough (I am 6ft 2in) and, for the flight you are taking, I suggest will be just fine: the 178-mile trip should take just 45 minutes. And with a window seat on the left-hand side, and a fine day, you will enjoy the scenery of the Solway Firth, the fells of Cumbria and the Pennines before touching down.

Incidentally, as you may have heard, Flybe is to end flying with the Embraer 195s at the end of October. It will, however, continue to use Embraer 175 aircraft.

Every day our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder