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[FrankCanada97]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2017/09/19/uniteds-farewell-flight-boeing-747-sells-out-less-than-2-hours/680982001/

United says seats on its just-announced farewell flight on “Queen of the Skies” sold out quickly, disappearing in less than two hours. United’s 747s seat 374 passengers, though the carrier did not sell seats on the plane’s upper deck so that fliers would be able to amble through the space on what will be its last-ever passenger flight for United.

The Nov. 7 flight will fly from San Francisco to Honolulu. After the flight, United will retire the 747 from its fleet.
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There will be a “throwback” theme for the flight, with United’s crews donning 1970s-era “retro” uniforms and serving “1970s-inspired” menu options. In-flight entertainment options also will hail from the 1970s. It’s all part of an effort by the airline to recreate the atmosphere passengers would have been experienced on United’s first-ever 747 flight in 1970, which also flew from San Francisco to Honolulu.

As expected, there was huge demand to be on one of the last flights of a 747.

A storied chapter in the history of aviation draws closer to the end as United joins a long list of airlines retiring the 747.

Last month EVA Air retired their 747s and Delta will also retire their 747s this year. The era of jumbo jets is over, sales of the new passenger version of the 747-8 have ground to a halt. It's a little ironic Boeing killed off this aircraft segment with their 777.

 

[Jezbollah]

The days of 4 engine jets is coming to a close. Only the A380 left and even then they've not been selling as much as had been hoped.

If anyone is keen into aviation, then catch your 747s and A340s before they're gone.. the widebody market will pretty much be swamped by 777s, A350s and 787s :/

 

[Stinkles]

I was in a 747 on Monday (BA). Upstairs is the best because you have a huge lidded bin at knee height so all your stuff is at hand no matter what stage the flight is. Also way quieter and more cabin crew per passenger.

A lot of the 747s have really bad Entertaiment but this one was updated with 12 inch capacitive screen and WiFi the whole flight.


I’ve always been fond of the 747 but the Dreamliner crushes it in terms of quiet comfort. Yet to fly on the double decker airbus but I hear it’s nice.


777 is just the worst. I try to avoid at all costs.

 

[SuperBanana]

I’ve always been fond of the 747 but the Dreamliner crushes it in terms of quiet comfort. Yet to fly on the double decker airbus but I hear it’s nice.

Yep. The 747 is iconic but the newer planes are far better for long hauls now.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Fuck Boeing.

 

[Stinkles]

Fuck Boeing.

Gracious! What happened?

 

[FrankCanada97]

Gracious! What happened?

They dealt a blow to Bombardier when the US government agreed with Boeing's assertion of dumping planes into the US market.

 

[John Rabbit]

I was in a 747 on Monday (BA). Upstairs is the best because you have a huge lidded bin at knee height so all your stuff is at hand no matter what stage the flight is. Also way quieter and more cabin crew per passenger.

A lot of the 747s have really bad Entertaiment but this one was updated with 12 inch capacitive screen and WiFi the whole flight.


I’ve always been fond of the 747 but the Dreamliner crushes it in terms of quiet comfort. Yet to fly on the double decker airbus but I hear it’s nice.


777 is just the worst. I try to avoid at all costs.

Recently flew on a 777 to and from Tokyo.

Fuck that plane.

 

[DeadlyParasite]

Pardon my ignorance but what advantage is there to ditching these massive 4-engine planes? Isn't the increased redundancy ideal? What happens when one of two engines blows out midflight on these newer planes, does the airliner not start spinning/tilting out of control?

 

[FrankCanada97]

Pardon my ignorance but what advantage is there to ditching these massive 4-engine planes? Isn't the increased redundancy ideal? What happens when one of two engines blows out midflight on these newer planes, does the airliner not start spinning/tilting out of control?

Airliners are designed to fly with one engine. With newer 2 engined planes being able to fulfill the same role as early 747s, the cost benefits became clear.

 

[Corky]

Recently flew on a 777 to and from Tokyo.

Fuck that plane.

What about it is bad?

Am not really a frequent flyer, ~2 cross atlantic + 4-6 international flights per year, but I was about to lose my mind in the 777 I was in; for the first time ever, as a small person, I felt like a god damn sardine given the cramped space.

 

[xkramz]

What's wrong eith 777? I've only flown on A321 and A320

 

[clav]

777 is just the worst. I try to avoid at all costs.

Recently flew on a 777 to and from Tokyo.

Fuck that plane.

Reasons?

 

[BladeoftheImmortal]

What's wrong with 777?

 

[BraXzy]

I don't know planes enough or go on them enough to even know if I've been on one and would miss it.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

All the 747s I've flown on have been old and crappy, so this seems long overdue.

Have mostly flown 777s internationally in recent years, which are ok I guess. This summer I took a 787 to Tokyo and back, and my god, that thing is so much better.

 

[The Bookerman]

They dealt a blow to Bombardier when the US government agreed with Boeing's assertion of dumping planes into the US market.

And Boeing is not even a player in that type of planes.

 

[bwahhhhh]

makes me kinda sad, what a beast of a plane. i just flew on 747 (Lufthansa) on Sunday that had modern inflight entertainment (I'm assuming the interior was renovated)

 

[Chichikov]

It is my favorite airplane ever.
But yeah, the existing planes are getting old and I understand why they are being retired.
I kinda wish I could have one more flight on one, but not enough to overpay to fly to a place I don't plan on going.

Goodnight sweet prince, I'll always remember you doing it doggy style with the space shuttle while having your :| face. Like a boss.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

As expected, there was huge demand to be on one of the last flights of a 747.
. It's a little ironic Boeing killed off this aircraft segment with their 777.

it's not ironic so much as intentional, the 777-300 seats more people than a 747 and the 747 is veeeeery old.

Iconic aircraft though. Curious about the 747-800 refresh they rolled out last year.

The money isn't in the big aircraft it's the widebody middle distance and 737/a320 classes. Those sell like hotcakes.

A350 and 787 will be the new way we long distance travel

Pardon my ignorance but what advantage is there to ditching these massive 4-engine planes? Isn't the increased redundancy ideal? What happens when one of two engines blows out midflight on these newer planes, does the airliner not start spinning/tilting out of control?

'modern and fuel efficient ' are what the market wants. This is not a thing that 747s are. Also 4 engines, that's 4x maintenance

 

[FrankCanada97]

makes me kinda sad, what a beast of a plane. i just flew on 747 (Lufthansa) on Sunday that had modern inflight entertainment (I'm assuming the interior was renovated)

You might have flown on the 747-8. It's the newest 747 model, I think Lufthansa and Korean Air are the only airlines that bought those.

 

[mollipen]

I've always been fond of the 747 but the Dreamliner crushes it in terms of quiet comfort. Yet to fly on the double decker airbus but I hear it's nice.

The Dreamliner is garbage so long as it has those stupid polarized (or whatever they are) "shades" for the windows. As a window seat person + someone who loves sleeping on flights, being on them for a few international flights has been torture.

 

[John Rabbit]

What about it is bad?

Am not really a frequent flyer, ~2 cross atlantic + 4-6 international flights per year, but I was about to lose my mind in the 777 I was in; for the first time ever, as a small person, I felt like a god damn sardine given the cramped space.

Reasons?

Keep in mind I spent 20 hours on this aircraft and I'm 6'2". While the amenities (in-seat entertainment, air, lights, etc) were all basically good to "fine", the seat was noticeably more cramped than the A320 which I flew to/from on my last trip to Tokyo. Just very uncomfortable.

 

[bwahhhhh]

You might have flown on the 747-8. It's the newest 747 model, I think Lufthansa and Korean Air are the only airlines that bought those.

I did not know that, and I think you're right, everything looked new and pretty. I knew I was going to be on a 747 when i booked it, and was happy to be on it because so many airlines are/were retiring it, and was pleasantly surprised by the amenities.

EDIT: i checked my itinerary, it was a -400. apparently Lufthansa renovated theirs recently, i just read. https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2015/10/16/lufthansa-compromises-on-boeing-747-400-nose-to-tail-refurb/

 

[moist]

You might have flown on the 747-8. It's the newest 747 model, I think Lufthansa and Korean Air are the only airlines that bought those.

Air China got a few as well

 

[Sho Nuff]

I got to sit upstairs on a 747 on a business class flight from Seattle to Tokyo. It was a dream come true. Always wanted to be up there as a kid. It was worth the wait.

By the way, the Museum of Flight in Seattle has the original prototype 747 in their Pavilion, you can go in there and check it out, it's fucking insane with all the wires exposed.

 

[MistakenMobius]

You might have flown on the 747-8. It's the newest 747 model, I think Lufthansa and Korean Air are the only airlines that bought those.

Well CargoLux bought a shitload of them but they are not passenger airplanes.

 

[Ennosuke]

You might have flown on the 747-8. It's the newest 747 model, I think Lufthansa and Korean Air are the only airlines that bought those.

I was in a LH 747-8 to Tokyo this year. Great airplane!

 

[MistakenMobius]

Keep in mind I spent 20 hours on this aircraft and I'm 6'2". While the amenities (in-seat entertainment, air, lights, etc) were all basically good to "fine", the seat was noticeably more cramped than the A320 which I flew to/from on my last trip to Tokyo. Just very uncomfortable.

Most company are moving to 10 economy seat in cattle class while before it was 8-9.

Gotta sell this Premium economy.

 

[Jezbollah]

Pardon my ignorance but what advantage is there to ditching these massive 4-engine planes? Isn't the increased redundancy ideal? What happens when one of two engines blows out midflight on these newer planes, does the airliner not start spinning/tilting out of control?

Two engine airliners are more economical and efficient. The 777 is superior in all but passenger number.

All aircraft are designed to run on half it's amount of engines. The 747 cannot sustain fly on one engine. But engine failures beyond external reasons (such as bird strikes) are so rare that having a newer, widebody aircraft on two larger efficent engines mean bye bye to the Jumbo.

777s are also replacing 747s and the three engine MD11 in the cargo market for the same efficiency reasons.

 

[dankir]

Oh man retro flight stewardess outfits? YES PLEASE!

 

[Duane Cunningham]

Also, they're going to allow smoking to complete the retro experience.

 

[edbrat]

I was in a 747 on Monday (BA). Upstairs is the best because you have a huge lidded bin at knee height so all your stuff is at hand no matter what stage the flight is. Also way quieter and more cabin crew per passenger.

A lot of the 747s have really bad Entertaiment but this one was updated with 12 inch capacitive screen and WiFi the whole flight.


I’ve always been fond of the 747 but the Dreamliner crushes it in terms of quiet comfort. Yet to fly on the double decker airbus but I hear it’s nice.


777 is just the worst. I try to avoid at all costs.

Upstairs on a BA 747, Stinkles flies business class nice I like BAs biz class their lie flat seats get some stick but I can sleep in them quite happily and the layout gives you some major privacy esp by the windows.

I've flown on dreamliners and they're quieter and the cabin is pressurised to a lower altitude so you're meant to feel less shit at the end of the flight.

A380s are great in the same way and bc they're so freaking heavy its a smoother ride. On the upper deck away from the wings it's just stupid quiet. But they're just so big, I know physics and shit but I still sit there on the takeoff roll thinking "it's not going to get off the ground, it's just too freaking big" and then it starts slowly rising, and then I think "it's ascending too slowly, we're all going to die etc" but it just keeps tanking upwards weirdly slowly.

I like 777s as well, they've updated them for the last few decades so the newest models are much quieter and generally more pleasant than the old ones. Hell I just like flying to be honest as long as it's got car sized jet engines all over it, fucking prop planes freak me out.

 

[Nevasleep]

Hopefully they didn't overbook this flight ha.

 

[bachikarn]

This stuff is a little confusing to me because the 747-8 came out not too long ago which means they will be flying for 25-30 more years. I guess airliners like United might not be flying them anymore but you still will be able to fly 747's for a while if you really want to.

 

[eot]

Legendary plane

 

[FrankCanada97]

This stuff is a little confusing to me because the 747-8 came out not too long ago which means they will be flying for 25-30 more years. I guess airliners like United might not be flying them anymore but you still will be able to fly 747's for a while if you really want to.

True, but there are only 3 airlines flying them and the last order for a passenger 747-8 was placed in 2012. Sales aren't taking off (pun intended). The number of 747-8s flying in the air is a fraction of the number in the heyday of jumbo jets.

 

[Chittagong]

Man, love the 747. Grew up with it, first flew it in 1983, recent years had the joy of flying upper deck.

Absolutely magical plane, roars like a truck, and then just calmly lifts off. The upper deck is like a small private jet, totally different from the A380 where you basically see back half a mile.

*snakesalute*

 

[GSG Flash]

Flew on a United 747 from Tokyo to Chicago... Never again(even if the 747 wasn't being retired). It was one of the worst flight experiences of my life.

 

[Piggus]

The days of 4 engine jets is coming to a close. Only the A380 left and even then they've not been selling as much as had been hoped.

If anyone is keen into aviation, then catch your 747s and A340s before they're gone.. the widebody market will pretty much be swamped by 777s, A350s and 787s :/

Fine with me... The 787 is a fantastic plane.

 

[Sho Nuff]

Here's a 360 I took from inside the prototype 747. It's hard to express just how fucking HIGH that ceiling is.

https://theta360.com/s/k0CIl2z4BmP15ANm9JGklWKZ6

 

[Syriel]

I was in a 747 on Monday (BA). Upstairs is the best because you have a huge lidded bin at knee height so all your stuff is at hand no matter what stage the flight is. Also way quieter and more cabin crew per passenger.

A lot of the 747s have really bad Entertaiment but this one was updated with 12 inch capacitive screen and WiFi the whole flight.


I’ve always been fond of the 747 but the Dreamliner crushes it in terms of quiet comfort. Yet to fly on the double decker airbus but I hear it’s nice.


777 is just the worst. I try to avoid at all costs.

Agree on the bolded, but it's note always possible to expense a biz class ticket, and if you can't do that, you're at the mercy of the upgrade gods.

At least on BA, the new Prem Eco on the 777 is better than the older Prem Eco seats on the 747.

So if you can get biz for sure, go 747. If upgrade is not guaranteed, better to book the triple seven, IMHO.

 

[Thorgal]

i'm still sad no one is bothering to find a successor to the Concord ( a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger jet airliner ).

it could go 2 times as fast as the speed of sound and could fly from London to New York in just 3.5 hours .

seems everyone is more into capacity then speed these days sadly .

 

[Jezbollah]

Fine with me... The 787 is a fantastic plane.

The A350 is something amazing too. And the 777x to follow.

 

[GiantBombGamer]

All I know is 737's are uncomfortable as fuck.

 

[Jezbollah]

i'm still sad no one is bothering to find a successor to the Concord ( a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger jet airliner ).

it could go 2 times as fast as the speed of sound and could fly from London to New York in just 3.5 hours .

seems everyone is more into capacity then speed these days sadly .

Unfortunately Concorde was just not commercially viable, even before the Paris disaster.

Still, if you ever saw it take off, you experienced something pretty special. The thing had fucking afterburners.

All I know is 737's are uncomfortable as fuck.

737s are not designed for long haul flights..

 

[SoulUnison]

Traveled internationally a lot as a kid and teenager.

The 747 is a huge nostalgia vehicle, for me.

That and the MD-11. I always liked the aesthetics of the tail-engine, though those planes always seemed to be plagued by mechanical issues.

 

[FrankCanada97]

Traveled internationally a lot as a kid and teenager.

The 747 is a huge nostalgia vehicle, for me.

That and the MD-11. I always liked the aesthetics of the tail-engine, though those planes always seemed to be plagued by mechanical issues.

MD-11 was a nice plane, don't recall any mechanical faults with it unlike it's predecessor DC-10. I heard the MD-11 needed a faster than normal landing speed for stable approaches though.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

One of the safest planes ever made, I think there was only three recorded incidents and two of those were human error (wrongly cleared to take off).

Just checked, it has a record of 17,000,000 flight hours per accident.

That is 1,940 years of constant flight. Incredible.

 

[Rival]

Flew to Honolulu on a 747 as a kid and sat in the top part. Amazing experience as it felt like we were on our own little private plane.that was 25 years ago though.