Embraer E175 vs Bombardier CRJ900

The Embraer E175 and Bombardier CRJ900 are the two dominant regional jets in this size class, especially in North America, where they fly under major-airline brands operated by regional carriers. Both are used to connect smaller cities to hubs and to add frequency on routes too thin for mainline narrowbodies. In recent years the E175 has won the larger share of new regional orders, while the CRJ900 built up a very large installed base during its production run and remains widespread across many regional fleets.

The two aircraft carry similar passenger numbers, often around the mid-seventies of seats in United States scope-clause configurations, though the CRJ900 can be laid out with more seats in some markets. The CRJ900 is the lighter airframe and can offer lower trip costs and fuel burn, which appeals on cost-sensitive regional flying. The E175 is heavier and generally burns somewhat more fuel, but airlines have frequently favored it for its passenger appeal and cabin, judging the comfort advantage worth the cost.

Passenger experience

The clearest differences show up inside the cabin. The E175 has a wider, taller cabin with a comfortable four-abreast layout and larger windows, so it feels much like a small mainline jet; the CRJ900's cabin is narrower and lower, and passengers frequently describe it as cramped, particularly in the window seats beside the sloping sidewall where tall travellers run out of headroom. Both avoid a middle seat thanks to their two-by-two seating, a genuine plus over larger jets. On either, the quietest seats are well forward, away from the rear-mounted engines; the back rows near the aft galley are the ones to avoid.

Carry-on bags and overhead bins

For anyone travelling carry-on only, this is the difference that matters most. The E175's overhead bins are large enough to take a standard roll-aboard, so you can usually keep your bag with you all the way to your seat. The CRJ900's bins are noticeably smaller, and on most flights a standard roll-aboard will not fit, so it is gate-checked at the jet bridge — tagged, left at the aircraft door, and returned there or at the baggage carousel on arrival. It is a minor ritual, but a familiar frustration of CRJ flying and a real, repeatable reason passengers prefer the E175 when they have the choice. If keeping your carry-on with you matters, the E175 is the one to hope for.

The choice tends to balance cost against comfort. The CRJ900 rewards operators focused on the lowest possible regional operating cost, while the E175 wins where passenger experience and cabin space carry more weight in the decision. For travelers, the E175 is usually the more comfortable ride, but the CRJ900 remains a capable and economical tool for the regional missions it was built to fly.