Flying on a Boeing 747

[nikaiyo2]

Vegas from LHR is usually 747

[GT03ROB]

GOATever said:

GT03ROB said:

Actually I'd disagree based on the BA config. As long as you go upstairs when boarding they are great. The 1st cabins actually feel more cramped than than 1st on other planes & even business upstairs. Service upstairs in invariably excellent based on having 2 crew up there. The galley made a nice impromptu bar too!

That’s true enough for BA. save some cash and go business, get a better experience too. Other carriers can be different.

[Orchid1]

First time I flew a 747 was in 2004 from JFK to AMS. I was a teenager with my parents and sister and we took our seats in what I thought was roughly the middle of the plane only when I got up to go to the toilet during the flight I noticed we were somehow at the very back of the place which was confusing.

It wasn't until later that I realised we had flown on one of KLM's half passenger half freighter planes with fake windows all along the back of the plane.

https://www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/prepare_for_trave...

It was an alright flight, we hit turbulence though which threw mother off the toilet at one point but apart from that not bad.

[thatsprettyshady]

Heathrow to Denver is always a 747, flown in one many times since they started flying direct.

Denver is also great this time of year, headline temps are cold but the (lack of) humidity makes it tee shirt weather at -3!

[cologne2792]

My kids are on a 747 at this moment. About halfway across the Atlantic.
They've never flown that far before so I look forward to hearing their thoughts.

[Deerfoot]

BA Heathrow to Dallas ran a 747 a few weekends ago, 10 hours of smooth flying.

The 777 I returned on was quite lumpy..

[75Black]

My return to Heathrow from JFK in a month's time will be in a BA 747, to say I'm slightly excited to finally experience the queen of the skies as it's known (even if it is economy), is an understatement.

[GT03ROB]

blueg33 said:

A few years ago I visited Lisbon on hols. Flew out on a 737 but the flight back to LHR was a 747. It was returning after delivering many football supporters to a match in Lisbon.

Can I claim the shortest flight on a 747?

Gatwick to Heathrow. Fully loaded.

[CAPP0]

I also want to make sure I fly on a 747 before they depart. 12 months? I thought they had another 5 years in service?

Anyway, according to seatguru, the upper deck on both BA 747 layouts is Club World. Presumably a fairly pricy option, as its flat beds?

[djc206]

CAPP0 said:

I also want to make sure I fly on a 747 before they depart. 12 months? I thought they had another 5 years in service?

Anyway, according to seatguru, the upper deck on both BA 747 layouts is Club World. Presumably a fairly pricy option, as its flat beds?

Depends. We did club world Amsterdam to Cape Town via heathrow return with BA late last year for less €1400 each including car hire for 2 weeks. Might even have been cheaper than that thinking about it. I slept like a log both ways.

I’ve got a couple of US flights booked from Heathrow this year both around £1400 return in club. Sometimes you can pick an AA flight as part of the itinerary as their seats are better for no extra cost.

[silverfoxcc]

Be sorry to see them go
Came back from JFK two years ago and it was the best landing EVER
Floated down like a feather

Captain said it was the best he had done

Edited by silverfoxcc on Sunday 16th February 11:38

[Ayahuasca]

First flew in a 747 in 1973 when they were still pretty new. Have grown up with them and flown economy, business and first in 747s, and with BA, Pan Am, Virgin, TWA and Aerolíneas Argentinas. Will be a bit sad when they are finally retired.

[jimmyjimjim]

thatsprettyshady said:

Heathrow to Denver is always a 747, flown in one many times since they started flying direct.

Denver is also great this time of year, headline temps are cold but the (lack of) humidity makes it tee shirt weather at -3!

Do you mean BA? Because, living in Denver, and having flow BA direct to and from Denver since 2004...I've never flown on a 747.

Not gone home in the last 5 years though(kids). Couldn't tell you what it was when I have flown, except not a 747!

[djc206]

jimmyjimjim said:

Do you mean BA? Because, living in Denver, and having flow BA direct to and from Denver since 2004...I've never flown on a 747.

Not gone home in the last 5 years though(kids). Couldn't tell you what it was when I have flown, except not a 747!

It’s been a 747 every day for the last 3 months at least according to FR24

[jimmyjimjim]

I wonder when they upgraded the capacity. It was never full when I first started flying on the route.

[dhutch]

So, flight options to get into the bubble? Costs?

[peter tdci]

CAPP0 said:

I also want to make sure I fly on a 747 before they depart. 12 months? I thought they had another 5 years in service?

Anyway, according to seatguru, the upper deck on both BA 747 layouts is Club World. Presumably a fairly pricy option, as its flat beds?

I think BA are planning to retire all 32 of the 747-400s left in their fleet by Feb 2024. Not sure about Virgins plans or other carriers.

However, there are some 747-8s that will/should be around for a while, although I think that Lufthansa and Korean Air are the only operators of the passenger version.

[AAGR]

I have booked a trip to San Francisco in April, using BA. Outbound during the day in an A380, return overnight in a 747 (flying in the bubble....)..

For your OP, that would kill both birds with one stone - and San Francisco is a great city to visit too.


Oh, and changing the subject - what is (a) the oldest and (b) the newest 747 in BA's fleet ?

Edited by AAGR on Sunday 16th February 13:19

[djc206]

dhutch said:

So, flight options to get into the bubble? Costs?

BA- club world ~£1400 advance fare (at least 6 months before departure) to US destinations.

Virgin- increasingly difficult because of rapid retirement schedule but considerably cheaper because of the economy and premium seats upstairs

Lufthansa- do some good sales from time to time, sometimes from the UK connecting, other times from Frankfurt. Lots of research needed and probably about £1100+ as they’re business class only upstairs.

Obviously you need to factor in the cost of booking your seats as well.

[anonymous-user]

jimmyjimjim said:

thatsprettyshady said:

Heathrow to Denver is always a 747, flown in one many times since they started flying direct.

Denver is also great this time of year, headline temps are cold but the (lack of) humidity makes it tee shirt weather at -3!

Do you mean BA? Because, living in Denver, and having flow BA direct to and from Denver since 2004...I've never flown on a 747.

Not gone home in the last 5 years though(kids). Couldn't tell you what it was when I have flown, except not a 747!

It certainly always used to be a B777, BA direct from Heathrow to Denver, not sure when it changed to a 747.