4. Boeing 737 MAX 9 Fallout: How to Check Your Aircraft

The incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 in January 2024 triggered a wave of anxiety across the traveling public. Following the mid-air blowout of a door plug on a Boeing 737 MAX 9, many passengers are no longer content to simply book the cheapest or most convenient flight. They want to know exactly what machinery they are stepping into. In response, travel search engines and booking platforms have introduced or highlighted features that allow you to filter flights based on the aircraft model.

The Surge in Aircraft Filtering

Immediately following the Alaska Airlines incident and the subsequent temporary grounding of 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), traveler behavior shifted noticeably.

Kayak, one of the world’s leading travel search engines, reported a massive spike in usage of their aircraft filter tool. According to Kayak’s data, use of this filter increased by 15 times in the week following the accident compared to the previous week. While the filter has technically been available for years, it was previously a niche feature used mostly by aviation enthusiasts. Now, it has become a primary tool for nervous flyers.

To address this demand, Kayak modified the filter to be more granular. Previously, you might have only been able to filter out “Boeing.” Now, the platform allows users to distinguish specifically between the 737 MAX 8 and the 737 MAX 9. This level of specificity helps travelers distinguish between different variants of the aircraft family if they wish to avoid the specific model involved in the January incident.

How to Filter Aircraft Before You Book

If you are currently planning a trip and want to ensure you are not booking a seat on a Boeing 737 MAX series aircraft, here is how you can use current technology to filter your results.

Using Kayak’s Filter

  1. Enter Search Details: Input your origin, destination, and dates as usual.
  2. Locate Filters: On the left-hand sidebar of the search results page, scroll down until you see the “Aircraft” category.
  3. Deselect Models: You can uncheck “Boeing 737 MAX 9” or the entire “Boeing 737 MAX” family. The search results will instantly refresh to show only flights operating on Airbus, Embraer, or other Boeing models like the 777 or 787.

Alternative Airlines

A UK-based booking site called “Alternative Airlines” has gained traction by explicitly marketing a “Search flight by aircraft” feature. They have a dedicated section that helps users avoid the Boeing 737 MAX family entirely. When you search on their platform, the aircraft model is displayed prominently next to every flight option, and they offer a visual guide to ensure you know what you are booking.

Google Flights and Other OTAs

While Google Flights does not currently have a “exclude aircraft” button in their primary filter menu, they offer high visibility.

  • Visual Check: On the initial search result list, look to the right of the flight times. Google lists the aircraft type in small gray text (e.g., “Boeing 737-900” or “Airbus A321”).
  • Details Dropdown: If you click on the arrow to expand the flight details, the specific aircraft model is listed.

Checking a Flight You Have Already Booked

If you booked a ticket prior to the news or without checking the model, you can still verify your aircraft type. However, keep in mind that airlines do not always denote the difference between a “MAX” and a standard “Next Generation (NG)” 737 on their receipt.

Use Flight Tracking Websites

Sites like FlightAware or FlightRadar24 offer the most accurate historical and scheduled data.

  1. Enter your airline and flight number (e.g., UA 1234).
  2. Look for the specific aircraft code.
    • B39M: This code specifically denotes the Boeing 737 MAX 9.
    • B38M: This denotes the Boeing 737 MAX 8.
    • B739: This is usually the older generation 737-900ER, which was not involved in the door plug issue.

The “Am I Flying on a Boeing 737 MAX?” Tool

A website aptly named Is It A Boeing allows you to input your flight number and date. It will cross-reference schedule data to tell you if your assigned plane is a Boeing, and specifically if it is a MAX variant.

Key Operators of the Boeing 737 MAX 9

If you live in the United States, your exposure to this specific aircraft is largely concentrated within two major carriers. Knowing which airlines rely heavily on this fleet can help you make booking decisions.

  • United Airlines: They are the largest operator of the 737 MAX 9, with 79 of these aircraft in their fleet.
  • Alaska Airlines: They possess the second-largest fleet, with 65 MAX 9 aircraft.
  • Copa Airlines: Based in Panama, they are a significant operator of the jet for flights connecting the US to Central and South America.
  • Aeromexico: They utilize the aircraft for many transborder flights between Mexico and the US.

Carriers like American Airlines and Southwest Airlines do operate the 737 MAX 8, but they do not fly the MAX 9 version that was subject to the FAA grounding order regarding the door plugs.

The Reality of "Equipment Swaps"

There is one major caveat to using filters and checking flight numbers: Equipment Swaps.

Airlines reserve the right to change the aircraft used for a specific flight at any time due to maintenance, weather, or scheduling logistics. You might book a flight specifically because it is scheduled on an Airbus A320, only to arrive at the gate and see a Boeing 737 parked there.

If an airline swaps your plane to a 737 MAX 9, you generally do not have an automatic right to a refund or free change unless the airline has issued a specific travel waiver. Since the FAA cleared the MAX 9 to return to service in late January 2024, most airlines are operating under standard terms and conditions. This means if you refuse to board because of the aircraft model, you may lose the value of your ticket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which specific aircraft code should I look out for to avoid the MAX 9? You should look for the code B39M. This is the industry-standard ICAO code for the Boeing 737 MAX 9. You might also see it listed as “737-9 MAX.”

Are all Boeing 737s the same as the MAX? No. The Boeing 737 family has been flying since the 1960s. The “Next Generation” (NG) models, such as the 737-800 and 737-900ER, are the predecessors to the MAX. They have different fuselage designs and do not feature the door plug configuration that caused the issue on the MAX 9.

Can I trust the filters on Kayak 100%? Filters are accurate based on the schedule data provided by the airlines at the time of search. However, they cannot predict last-minute equipment changes. Always check the status of your flight on the day of travel using the airline’s official app.

Did the FAA say the planes are safe? Yes. On January 24, 2024, the FAA cleared the grounded 737 MAX 9 aircraft to return to service, provided they underwent a rigorous inspection process of the door plugs and associated components. Airlines like United and Alaska began returning them to service shortly after completing these inspections.

Is there a website that only shows non-Boeing flights? While no major search engine excludes them by default, the site Alternative Airlines has marketed itself heavily on its ability to filter out Boeing aircraft entirely for customers who prefer flying on Airbus or Embraer jets.