Sports fans, this one’s for you, as it’s your annual post about anything related to professional sports. 😉
In this post:
New England Patriots players don’t like their Boeing 767
The logistics of transporting sports teams can be complicated, since historically, most teams charter commercial aircraft to get to and from their games. Back in 2017, the New England Patriots did something that was innovative at the time, when they picked up their own team aircraft.
This decision was made for a couple of reasons. For one, leasing planes from airlines for charters became increasingly complicated and expensive at the time, as airlines just didn’t have the spare capacity. On top of that, the idea was that this was supposed to be a genuine positive for the team, and another way to attract talent. After all, flying around on your own “private” team jet sounds nicer than flying on another chartered aircraft. However, as it turns out, the team isn’t actually too happy with this.
The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) publishes an annual report card, whereby team members can rank their team in 11 categories, ranging from facilities, to ownership, to nutrition.
The New England Patriots don’t seem to be doing too well when it comes to that. Last year, the team ranked 29th out of 32 teams, and this year, the team ranked 31st out of 32 teams.
Interestingly, team travel is one of the two areas where the New England Patriots got the lowest score, and received an “F” grade (with the weight room being the only other area where the team scored an “F”). The NFLPA report card said the following:
“Players want an upgraded team plane. The current plane is too small, there is no Wi-Fi available, and there are seats with ashtrays in the armrests. Players specifically responded that ‘our plane is the worst thing – size, space, safety.’ and ‘it is not conducive to preparedness for athletic performance.'”
Is the Boeing 767 “AirKraft” really that bad?!?
I’ve written in the past about the New England Patriots’ Boeing 767, commonly referred to as the “AirKraft.” The plane is 33 years old, and has the registration code N36NE. Below you can see a video about it from several years back.
This particular plane has 203 seats, with 80 business class seats (2-2-2 configuration) and 123 economy seats (2-3-2 configuration). Here are a few thoughts that I have about the team’s complaints:
- Yeah, lack of Wi-Fi seems like something that’s frustrating for obvious reasons, especially in 2025
- Complaining about ashtrays in the armrests seems a bit petty
- It’s interesting that safety is mentioned as one of the issues with the plane, as I’m curious what the background is for that concern
In terms of comfort, how does this compare to other NFL teams? Well, honestly, the industry is all over the place.
For example, in the past, the Miami Dolphins have chartered an Atlas Air Boeing 747, which is certainly more comfortable, and a super snazzy charter jet. I don’t think team transport gets much more comfortable than that.
The most common situation, though, is that teams just charter airliners. The quality there can vary greatly, and depends on what kind of a plane is being chartered, and what cabin someone is seated in.
Yeah, of course a flat bed would be better than what’s available on the Patriots jet, but the Patriots business class seats are more comfortable than economy, and there are also a lot more premium seats.
I can’t help but wonder if the team would have a different impression of the jet if it simply had Wi-Fi, because otherwise, I just don’t see how this setup is super uncompetitive. But of course that’s just my take, and I’ve never flown on the jet…
Bottom line
The New England Patriots are one of the only NFL teams to have their own “private jet.” While that might sound nice, it also seems to be one of the greatest points of dissatisfaction among team members, who consider the plane to be insufficient in terms of size, space, and safety.
I’m curious to see if the team owners do anything to address these concerns, and whether that just involves installing Wi-Fi, or getting a new plane altogether.
What do you make of the failing grade that the Patriots give their AirKraft?
Does this explain why the Pats have been one of the worst teems in the NFL since Tom Brady left?
I'll tell you what when you start winning Robert Kraft will purchase a Boeing 787. Until then stop complaining.
Patriots are too shit of a team right now to demand anything. They got washed after Brady left
Could be worst, be a NY Jet flying home a loser.
The problem might be players from 33 years are WAY smaller than players today ... lineups are up about 100 pounds from even 20 years ago ... that's 12-18 guys who weigh about 330 pounds+ (one lineman in the league is like 390) and who are all about 6' 1" to 6'8" (no one wants 'short' lineman anymore) ... most TE's are 6'5 and 250 ... and most teams have a couple receivers who are...
The problem might be players from 33 years are WAY smaller than players today ... lineups are up about 100 pounds from even 20 years ago ... that's 12-18 guys who weigh about 330 pounds+ (one lineman in the league is like 390) and who are all about 6' 1" to 6'8" (no one wants 'short' lineman anymore) ... most TE's are 6'5 and 250 ... and most teams have a couple receivers who are 6'3" and 240 pounds ... they really want to sit in an 'economy' seat from years ago (I'm presuming they've upgraded the seats in 33 years)
Awww, the poor little babies. My heart bleeds.
If the team aircraft is so terrible, the rich b*stards should charter one that more befits their self-perceived social status.
The owner has a reputation for being cheap. They are always at the bottom for team payroll.
Looks more like premium economy than business.
Lol @ how US sports owners always have to make it about themselves too, as if they are the reason for the team being anything.
Spoiled children.
Poor babies not happy with their private jet.
Of all the images I have in my head of a private jet, a 2-2-2 business class configurated 767 is not one of them. Many of these guys can be well over 6 feet tall at over 250, 300 pounds.
The Philadelphia Eagles also were given an F for Team Travel. They typically charter AA 772s. The grade makes perfect sense
It does indeed seem like a shitty configuration for a private team plane where they can clearly choose their own configuration. American footballers are often quite large. A 2-2-2 business class on a 767 sounds ridiculous. And ashtrays in the seats are surely not the actual complaint, but rather that these are quite outdated seats...
They had a dispute with the operator (Eastern) which resulted in the 767s getting grounded. I would bet they had chartered a plane from another charter company to cover this period, which would explain the reviews. The Patriots planes were quite nice inside.
For the AFC Championship Game, the Buffalo Bills caught a ride in an A350. A reddit poster caught it at MCI. I was a little shocked that they traveled with such a large plane (even with support staff, I imagine the total group is under 200 people). But I bet it was plenty comfortable.
Airplane was certified with the in arm ashtrays
Yeah, the ashtrays is just a constant reminder that you're on a jet whose prime was before 9/11. Can't imagine those seats are actually in good shape, and they're probably pretty tight for football-sized guys. Assuming the rest of the plane is fine, just replacing all the seats and adding WIFI would likely turn around team opinion on the plane.
Been reading so long that the first line made me laugh way harder than it should have... April fool's post idea for you - redeeming an ungodly amount of points towards a Marriott/Amex/Citi etc sporting experience.
I suggest the new Finnair Business Class seats if you want to fit large humans flying Transcon. Cheaper and lighter than any other new seat too.
The Arizona Cardinals are flying ex-DL 777s. Check out Gridiron Air.
Patriots suck and don’t eat the chowda. J E T S JETS! JETS! JETS!
How many Super Bowls has the Jets won?
And how did the Jets do last year?
The Jets have always suck fireman ed! lol
Those seats must be at least two decades old if they have ashtrays (I think that's what the reference to ashtrays is all about.
And they have premium economy seatings upfront, which isn't that great for people of size.
Ashtrays? Huh?
is it that hard to install wifi? seems like a no brainer to do in an off season over the past few years.
Heck even normal sized people avoided the tiny 767 seats when First class was 2-2-2.
Not surprised if those 6' 300+ lbs players can't fit. Those seats are a little bigger than economy on 2-4-2 787s.
Nope. a 2-2-2 PE seat on a DL 767 is 19". That is quite adequate.
The safety concerns are legitimate. The Patriots' plane frequently lands with deflated tires.
Not when Brady isn't around.
That's likely pilot error. Coming down too hard is a "hotshot pilot" trick to make it to the gate faster, but is hard on the hardware of the entire plane. Good luck with that pilot patriots, hope were not soon reading about the team being one of the next aircrash disasters.
Why not install a Polaris seat or similar? It could definitely fit 90 seats + 22 economy. More than enough for the players and coaches /execs in biz and medical/physio/nutrition in economy.
Kraft doesn't like it when his employees fly nicer than his G650.
What's interesting is that there's actually a radome on the aircraft that presumably has an satellite antenna underneath. Perhaps they just haven't come to terms with a wi-fi provider.
Thoughts and Prayers for these poor deprived lads. Flying private is not easy.