What's your favourite 747 memory?

[Mogul]

Flying Sydney to Amsterdam as an un accompanied minor when I as 9 years back in 1979. Sydney - Darwin - Singapore - Bahrain - Amsterdam. Spent heaps of time in the coughpit and other parts the plane you couldn't go to now.

 

[Port Power]

VH-OEJ (Longreach). I was in this aircraft for an around the world charter last October. I just love the 747 and will miss it. I was booked in J from Haneda to Sydney in March which I was really looking forward to, and which obviously did not happen. No other aircraft has such comfortable and roomy economy seats. I can see a trip to NSW in my future to visit the old girl and reminisce.

 

[Daver6]

I have many memories of flying on various 747s. Living in South Africa until about the age of 8 I experienced the SAA 747s a few times, always in Y. After moving to Australia the same on QF. Back in those days as a kid you got to visit the coughpit. I still recall somewhere between SYD and HNL the captain deliberately banking the aircraft to show myself and little brother how it all works. My first long haul upgrade to J came though for a SIN-FRA sector and I got to sit upstairs.

However, the most memorable was a LHR-SIN sector. I had been in LHR for work and flying home with my boss who was a WP at the time. We were travelling in Y but got to visit the BA F lounge for breakfast prior to the flight. What made this a the most memorable flight was my cousin was one of the operating pilots for this flight. We were upgrade to Y+. Mid-flight during his rest break he took my for a tour of the aircraft. I got to see the rest area (obviously not the one on the flight deck) all the galleys and a general great explanation of what was where and going on.

To cap it off, after we landed in Singapore I got to visit the flight deck. They told me about a bird strike on the approach to SIN and the rather amusing conversation they had with ATC. After reporting the strike, ATC asked "which part of it did you hit". The captain calmy responded with "All of it. The bird wasn't that big". The coughpit was in fit of laughter.

I landed up spending the night in Singapore with my cousin and got to see what they crew gets up to. Ie, dinner at Fatty's. Definitely my most memorably flight, even though the night in Singapore became a little hazy.

 

[OATEK]

My first encounter with a 747 was on the ground at the Sydney Jet Base circa 1972 - an inspection organised by a family friend for a group of us. I remember climbing the stairs to the upper-deck lounge and thinking about how unattainable it was.

My last encounter was VH-OEG HKG-SYD on 30/01/2019 up a similar staircase sitting in Seat 15B - attained at the last!

Edit: Last flight

 

[Humbaobao]

15 Feb 2020 QF439 SYD - MEL
One of the last flights for VH-OEH.
I was lucky to board this flight and managed to take a quick snapshot in the captain's seat.

 

[McTavish]

My first flight on a QF "Jumbo" was from Melbourne to LA when I was a about 10 years old. I spent most of the flight from Honolulu to LA in the flight deck and I think that this set up a life long obsession with aviation.

Many years, and flights later, I had my best experience in a QF 747. Was flying Melbourne to Honolulu with wife and 3 and 8 year old. We were sitting upstairs in a 747-SP I think. The Hostie took one look around and divided the cabin into those with and without kids. So three families had kids in first 4 rows playing and having a great time together for most of the flight whilst the childless, others were relatively undisturbed a couple of rows back

 

[JohnPhelan]

I have a few 747 memories:
* my first ever international flight (a QF 742 to HKG, 1986)
* my first flight to the US (a UA 742 to HNL, 1986)
* my first flight in First (a QF 742 to AKL, 1987)
* my first flight to mainland US (a QF 747SP to SFO, 1988)
* my first flight to LHR (a SQ 744, 1995)
* Antarctica day trip (QF 744, 2018)
* my final QF 747 flight (HNL-SYD, upper deck, 18 March 2020, as part of the PM's call for Australians to return ASAP - pictured)

 

[Ade]

My one & only B747 trip

SYD-HKG - QF127 last year- J - Upper Deck - 14B - emergency exit row

Enjoyed every bit of the flight. Still have the boarding pass. Have digitised it now for future memories. Remember asking the check-in agent if any seats were available in the Upper Deck, the answer was no. Tried twice when in the lounge for a seat change and at last, got the Upper Deck.

I always thought, if I'm doing the B747, I better do it right and travel in the Upper Deck. Some would say, the pointy tip in the Lower Deck is the way to go. I would have enjoyed the Lower Deck as well, but something about the Upper Deck kept calling my name

Right from boarding, to the service, wines, food, comfort and not to forget the company of a very friendly seat mate, who later went on to becoming a good friend

It was like time flew so quickly, the 8 hour hop to HKG was over before I realised and I had to bid goodbye to the B747 on that occasion. Little did I know that, that would be my first & last trip on the B747, the Queen of the skies

Had booked a seat on the domestic B747, but couldn't make it due to work commitments. Was going to do the trip with a few mates (actually air travel enthusiasts), but I never got to get on that plane ... Not sure if that service did happen even ... Something that I'll always considered missed.

 

[milehighclub]

Although the current circumstances mean the 747 won't get the send-off it deserves, that's quite an achievement

Watch this space

 

[harvyk]

Watch this space

I hope you're right...

I'd love one last flight on one (I'd love to continue having 747 flights into the future, but that's not going to be happening)

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Has to be our first ever F flight SYD-LAX (then onto JFK in same seat but back to J). There were only 4 of us travelling in the cabin and with 2 (very fun) attendants and the CSS almost exclusively in the cabin, service was unbelievable. Made sure I picked the degustation menu, Mrs Nick still embarrassed, at one stage I had nine glasses of wine on my table. For me, best flight ever

One other memorable flight was at the height of the 2010 Iceland volcano eruptions where most flights were being cancelled into Europe. Dreaded call cancelling our flights came night before we were due to leave as LHR was closed but we were flying into CDG. Appears they had missed that point, so after 2.5 hours on hold finally managed to explain that to them and we were redirected via MEL for our flight to SIN. Must have been some sort of repositioning flight as there were only 9 of us in Y on the MEL-SIN leg. Can't say what the F and J cabins were like, it was pre AFF for me and I had no concept those cabins even existed!!!

 

[Cognac]

Aside from all of the promo photos and stock footage of the 747 landing whenever an airport was involved on screen, I distinctly remember seeing a QF 747 sitting at Perth domestic, with a 737 sitting at the next gate. Having them almost side-by-side like that for easy comparison makes it so much more obvious how big she really was.

I think my favourite memories though are of seeing both Wanula Dreaming and Nalanji Dreaming in person. Spectacular.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'd love one last flight on one (I'd love to continue having 747 flights into the future, but that's not going to be happening)

Still operators flying them, and some nice new shiny ones too with CA/LH/KE

 

[RooFlyer]

One more not really about the 747, but as it was on one:

BA flight Jo'burg to London via a quick stop at Kinshasa, Congo in 2006. There was no air-bridge, so we sat-off remotely with stairs, and continuing pax remained on the aircraft. I was on the lower deck J, close to the door being used. I saw a few Congolese soldiers approach the plane through the window, with weapons slung over shoulders. One stayed at the bottom, the other, armed, came up the stairs and was met by a lady FA at the door. The soldier wanted to come on board. The FA was having none of that! He became a bit insistent and she was equally insistent that he could not board. I was a bit worried about what might happen, but the guy fortunately backed down.

The look of relief on the FAs face said it all ... she knew it was touch and go!

I also once went F on UA SYD-SFO-SYD in B747. This was nominated United's 'Royal Pacific Service' and on United, the most senior FAs used to / do get to choose their routes, so the F cabin was populated by a lady and gent who were definitely 'senior'. The thing I most remember s the lady FA doing her best plummy American accent and announcing the 'Royal Pacific Service' as if it was a welcome to Buckingham Palace.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

.... on United, the most senior FAs used to / do get to choose their routes,

Some of the best flights ever on US carriers TPAC. When you get good, experienced crews, it's hard to beat!

 

[RooFlyer]

Some of the best flights ever on US carriers TPAC. When you get good, experienced crews, it's hard to beat!

Hmmm .. this was part of my very first Trip Report on Aff . One post re the FAs ...

SYD to Alaska in UA First to see the bears

Part 1 SYD to ANC with UA I decided to cash out of the Air Canada Aeroplan FF scheme and chose a trip to Alaska to see the bears up close and personal at Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park (that’s the mainland start of the Aleutian island chain). Using the AC rewards engine, my miles very...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[craney]

my frst B747 flight was SYD - CNS on VH-OEB in 1998, just after the aircraft came to Qantas from Asiana Airlines. I used a Qantas Club Silver upgrade bonus (remember getting those?) to bump myself up to Business Class.

My boarding pass was for seat 3K - in the first class section of the nose. The seat was huge. I remember my feet didn't touch the floor and having to unbuckle my seatbelt to get the safety briefing card from the pocket in the back of the seat in front!

We took off on runway 25 (the east/west runway). Being so lightly loaded with fuel for just a three hour flight the jet threw itself at the sky and we were airborne well before crossing runway 16R/34L. The turn to the north was steep and sharp. It was such a thrill.

Soon after I overheard the guy next to me telling the CSM that his new bride was also on board, upstairs in business class. The answer was "sorry" but I caught the staff member's eye and said I was happy to move so they could be together.

Once upstairs I had a lovely fillet steak breakfast, and settled in to enjoy the view and being in the hump. After a couple of hours asked if could visit the flightdeck, and spent about 30 minutes in the jumpseat. That's how I found out the jet had just come from Asiana.

When I came down the stairs to get off in Cairns the CSM asked me to step aside - he said thanks for changing seats and handed me a bottle of chilled white wine. It was such a cool morning.

 

[zig]

My first F experience from SYD - JNB was a great experience.
I was in 1A. There were only 3 other passengers in F we had a great, friendly crew and CSM. We mingled, quaffed champagne and chatted enjoying a pyjama party in the air. Later we flew over the Antarctic and marvelled at the icebergs.
It was such a novel experience, not being confined to a seat, but to be able to wander around the cabin and swap seats at will.
On the return flight I was the only passenger in F, so had the cabin to myself. My bed was made up in one seat and I was relaxed in another. After a relaxing meal and movie I hopped into bed and was tucked in by the attentive crew.

I regret that I never got to fly in the upper deck. As a solo traveller I always opted to 5J rather than opting for the upper deck.

My last flight should have been last week to SCL - I had again selected 5J.

 

[Matt_01]

I have been on a few 747 over the years and both decks. I consider myself to be fortunate in that my first ever 747 was at the age of 10 on TWA in F LHR to LAX, I do not remember much other than the spiral staircase and a lounge upstairs. From the US back to AU we were again in F but this time with QF, I also do not remember much of that flight other than the seats were blue.

I cannot recall which flight it was but for years after my dad used to recall how he travelled with Alistair MacLean (the novelist/ author) as they sat next to each other. Apparently Alistair and my dad got on like a house on fire as my dad was then in the Navy and both had a love for the sea, also one was a novelist and the other an avid reader. As the story goes (according to dad) Alistair claims to have meet my Grandfather in WW II in the South West Pacific which maybe plausible and I also vaguely recall dad and some other chap being the center of attention on the flight, most likely the other chap. I also seem to recall mum and dad denying all knowledge or ownership of those 3 kids in F.

Fast forward around 30+ years we travelled with MissM HND-SYD and by now there was no official F on the QF 747 but we did not tell her that and she was quite chuffed with being in 1 of the old "F seats" also there were no novelist in sight just iPhones and iPads. The flight was standard old QF 747 F seating in J, the IEF was hardly working, the supper service was terrible but the seat/ bed was comfortable. What I remember most about the flight was that crew did not wake our daughter for landing, we woke her during the taxi to the gate. Edit - I should have been more specific, the crew didn’t wake our daughter and she ended up landing with the seat in bed mode.

What I suspect would have been my last flight on a 747 was scheduled in April this year, BA LHR-JFK and it was also to be in F but sadly the virus put a stop to that.

With the way things are travelling at the moment or lack of it, it may only be a few years rather than 50 when we start to recant stories of travel on the a380.

 

[ayebee]

Some great stories here.

According to my flight diary.
My first B747 flight was a BOAC B747-100, November 1971. From Sydney to Singapore via Darwin, then maybe an aircraft change but onwards to Beirut via Delhi and Teheran. Quite the “milk run”. That flight was memorable in that my folks meeting me in Beirut saw the plane hit by lightning on final approach, but I was unaware.
The last flight was September 2015 on a Qantas B747-400ER LAX – SYD.
In between another 181 flights on just about every variant, except (unfortunately) the SP.

The flights that stand out

The good
April 1991, having done a fair bit of travel for my employer, my wife was able to join at company expense for the trip. First leg Melbourne to London.
Checking in at Melbourne, the agent was initially concerned our business class seats were not available, then she said brightly, oh here you are … in first class.
It just got better from then.
As we approached the aircraft door I met my boss 2 levels up. Polite conversation ensued until he turned right, and we turned left…. The quizzical look on his face was priceless.
We got 1 A/B all the way to London.
From Melbourne to Singapore it was all champagne, caviar and chilled vodka. Those days the first class seats were before lie flat beds, and more like comfortable armchairs, but it was special.

The bad
December 1986, Qantas B747-200 from San Francisco to Sydney via Honolulu.
Reboarding after the HNL transit, came back to my allocated seat to find it occupied. Oh, said the stewardess, we relocated you to allow this mother to sit with her daughter, we thought you wouldn’t mind. The moral pressure was there.
This was economy. OK, where am I sitting … I am now in a middle seat between 2 chain smokers who smoked all the way from HNL to SYD. I nearly threw up and it took quite a while to rid myself of the reek.

The ugly
Oct 2008. A B747-300 from LAX to Melbourne via Auckland. I didn’t record the rego, but it was very “tired” and I understand was on one of its last flights.
Sitting down the back in the second last row (ie the 2 seats on the side). The usual late night departure from LAX, after the meal went to recline the seat and the large gentleman behind me leaned over and told me if I reclined my seat “he would kill me”. Seeing the FSD cruising the cabin I beckoned him over and had a quiet word. He suggested to said gentleman he might get a better seat further forward and off he went. In Auckland the next morning we were about the last off the plane for the transit, and I stopped to thank the FSD for the previous evening.
He sighed and told me he had put said passenger near the front of economy, but after he assaulted another passenger and broke another’s specs, said gentleman spent the rest of the flight in the FSD’s “office” under the stairs in handcuffs, and as a kiwi was turned over to the Auckland police. No idea what happened to him after that.

The brilliant
May 89. Qantas from Melbourne to London via Bangkok and Rome.
Was in the small upstairs first class cabin of the B747-200.
On the last sector from Rome to London I asked if I might sit in the jump seat for landing.
Yes !
About 45 minutes before arrival I was invited into the coughpit and after introductions was given a headset and asked to keep my mouth firmly shut.
It was just great watching how the crew managed our landing into LHR given how busy the airspace it there.
I had some other coughpit landings and take-offs, but that was the only 747 experience.

Those were gentler and more trusting days.