Can you tell the difference between the A320 and the B737 in this shot? (Angelo DeSantis / Flickr)
Pilots, planespotters and aviation buffs can quickly recognize nearly every aircraft type from the ground or in the air.
But it’s not so easy for the rest of us. To help TravelSkills readers confidently recognize what they see overhead or out on the runway, we offer up a series of posts dedicated to one of our favorite pastimes-Planespotting!
Today let’s look at two ubiquitous planes – the Boeing 737 family and the Airbus A320 family. How can you tell them apart?
The Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 are two of the most popular single-aisle planes flying. They are about the same size and look quite similar to the untrained eye.
See the pointy nose on the Boeing 737? The dorsal-like fin leading up to the tail? (Photo: Colin Brown / Flickr)
See the more bulbous nose on the Airbus? (Aero Icarus / Flickr)
The 737 is Boeing’s most widely produced aircraft and has nine variants flown by almost all major domestic airlines, especially Southwest, which operates only 737s and has 725 of ’em! Delta flies about 150.
The Airbus A320 (along with the similar A318, 319 and 321) is more popular overseas, but in the U.S., they comprise 100% of Virgin America’s fleet and much of JetBlue’s. American Airlines has the largest Airbus fleet in the world, including 384 in the A320 family. United has about 160. Delta has 141 A319s, A320s and A321s.
(This is a blast from the past- a previously popular post we want to share again. Enjoy!)
Note the Airbus nose and windows (PurplePoulpe / Flickr)
Note the pointy nose and angular window in the Boeing (PurplePoulpe / Flickr)
One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a 737 and an A320 is by looking at the nose of the plane. Boeing jets tend to have pointy noses compared to Airbus noses which are more rounded and bulbous.
You can also look at the outer edge of the cockpit windows. On a 737 (and most Boeing jets), the windows have a sharp diagonal corner while the A320s windows are more square.
Also, look at the tail of both jets. The 737 has tail has small dorsal- like fin that extends at a slight angle from the top of the fuselage to the tail. That’s absent on the A320’s smaller tail. See it? (scroll up)
The A320 also has a larger, more distinctive tail cone than the 737.
When flying the 737 or A320, do you notice much difference? Do you have a preference? Please leave your comments below.
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kid_you_not says
August 11, 2017 at 4:13 pmI thought the same thing.
BigWayne19 says
June 19, 2017 at 4:35 pm——– and, the a320 is quiet enough inside that i didn’t need sound-canceling headphones to be comfortable . . .
Mara says
May 17, 2017 at 12:14 pmGee, why so rude? His first paragraph did discuss an element of the article. And he said “on another note” for the last part. Lighten up.
JD says
May 17, 2017 at 7:08 amwhat. Blended wing tip on Airbuses. No. This is what I used to use to tell them apart. Going to have to use the nose, which I prefer the Boeing design (not that it matters once you are inside)
JD says
May 17, 2017 at 7:07 amdepends on the airline and the operator. A319 not comfortable. 737-800 comfortable. A-321 comfortable.
SWA comfortable on all configurations.
I’d like to know how to differentiate between the A-319-21 and the 737-700-800 series. (if that is even possible).
Michael says
May 17, 2017 at 6:35 amI’ve seen several Airbus lately with blended wing tips.
Michael says
May 17, 2017 at 6:34 amWhat does most of this post have to do with the article? Ok, so now we all know you know a lot about airlines. Feel better?
Kirk says
May 16, 2017 at 10:51 pmThat’s not gonna work. Both families are available with multiple wingtip options, or no wingtips at all.
BlackStratCat says
May 16, 2017 at 8:25 pmyup
John says
May 16, 2017 at 6:35 pmI love the traditional Boeing nose. Their aircraft have a graceful look as the 707 and 727 in particular were sleek. Notice the difference of the nose on the DC-8’s vs the 707 as well. I think the Douglas aircraft noses resembled the Airbus noses more.
That dual shot of a United A320 and Air Tran 737 was taken along the bayshore near SFO airport as one can see San Francisco’s skyline of the time in the distance. This, before Southwest gobbled up Air Tran. Air Tran was confusing because we have a Air Train at SFO. Kind of glad to see all the “West” names go away. The only two I am fond of are Hughes Airwest, and Western Airlines, and honorable mention to Northwest Orient. They should’ve kept the Orient in there. All the good stuff is now in the past. TWA, Pan American World Airways, PSA, Eastern, and now Virgin America will be dust in two years. They were barely around, good grief. It was a lot more fun in the 60s and early 70s before the oil crisis and empty 747s that grounded them. Now, SFO is bursting. Not certain how I feel about it as the grand old days are long past.
simplyfantabulous says
May 16, 2017 at 5:54 pmOne has monsters out on the wing during night flights.
jeff says
May 16, 2017 at 5:12 pm320 comfortable
737 not
jeff says
May 16, 2017 at 5:11 pmTail and nose.
Salvatore Johnson says
May 16, 2017 at 4:45 pmWIng Tip is always the way I determine between the two.
BlackStratCat says
May 16, 2017 at 2:55 pmOne is comfortable, one is not…