Meet the E195-E2 'Profit Hunter,' Embraer's Largest Jet to Date
Ever flown into Omaha, Nebraska or Santa Barbara, California? There's a good chance you've been on an Embraer jet. The older models are unremarkable at their best — at their worst, you'll find low ceilings, cramped seating and limited storage. In other words, if you remember traveling on this company's planes, it's probably for all the wrong reasons.
Fortunately, that's begun to change. US regional carriers, including those operating service for American, Delta and United, have started flying the Embraer ERJ-175, which offers a far better experience than the regional jets of yesteryear. And if you're loyal to JetBlue, you're probably familiar with the E-190, which some even prefer to the Airbus A320 and A321.
Fortunately, the E-190/E-195 is about to get a big upgrade, in the form of the E195-E2. I had a chance to tour the first plane this week at the Paris Air Show.
Embraer E195-E2 Test Aircraft
This is Embraer's biggest plane to date — it's a hybrid of sorts between a regional jet and a mainline aircraft, though passengers should find the same comforts they'd get on a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, just with 2-2 economy seating rather than the 3-3 installed on those planes.
As you may have gathered from the photos above, the plane's interior isn't quite ready for primetime.
This particular aircraft is currently undergoing rigorous testing, and it's loaded up with test equipment at the moment — plus a few previous-generation seats.
Cabin Mock-Up
Embraer does have a cabin mock-up handy, though — it's an upgrade from the demo E190-E2 cabin that I saw at last year's Farnborough Air Show.
Just as with last year's model, business-class seats are arranged in a staggered 2-2 configuration.
It's very unlikely that we'll see these seats (or even a similar version) on any final jet — rather, they're meant to represent the aircraft's potential. Generally, Embraer's new jets do offer a first-class cabin when operated on behalf of major US carriers.
The economy seats are much more realistic. As I mentioned, seats are arranged in a 2-2 configuration, which I much prefer to the 3-3 on mainline narrow-body jets.
The finishes aren't final, of course, but I really liked the aesthetic of this mock-up.
You may have noticed that some seats have more legroom than others — just as with last year's mock-up, this one has seats arranged in various configurations.
With just 28 inches of pitch, the E195-E2 can accommodate 146 passengers in a one-class configuration. We're more likely to see 31 inches, which drops the capacity to 132, while a three-cabin configuration (first, extra legroom and regular economy) would offer 120 seats.
Bottom Line
Is this the "profit hunter" airlines have been hoping for? Perhaps. The E195-E2 is expected to be very economical, and with a range of roughly 3,000 miles, it's versatile, letting carriers operate both short hops and transcon service — perhaps to and from secondary markets, like Boston to Reno.
Assuming airlines don't opt for an extra-tight 28-inch pitch, the E195-E2 is bound to be a comfortable ride — especially for passengers fortunate enough to be flying up front.
See these posts for more from the Paris Air Show:
- Inside the First Airbus A321neo, the Plane JetBlue May Fly to Europe
- Airbus Plans to Refresh A320 Cabins in 2020
- Video Tour: Qatar Airways' Brand-New Qsuite Business Class
Head to this page for a complete list of our 2017 Paris Air Show coverage.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.