What's your favourite 747 memory?

[tgh]

I have had many 747 flights over the years, however the most memorable 747 flight was JNB/SYD in 69a.
I had completely trashed my body in Kenya with a combination of illness, exertion and alcohol and was slip sliding away homeward bound.
I had a massive layover in JNB and walked the terminal from end to end hour after hour to kill the time.
The Menzies lounge offered 2 hours for $50us (iiirc) and so I set out to load myself with food and alcohol for the coming long haul home.
I remember pouring myself into the seat expecting the aisle seat would be empty alla same as outbound .. but noooo dear reader , it became occupied much to my disappointment.
The occupant was a really lovely lady who was a christian doctor and I recall saying that we should find a lot to talk about to while away the time.
Sadly time just er stopped…., I don't remember take off and the next moment we were on descent into Syd.
I suspect that I snored loudly for the whole 13 hrs...
The lovely doctor was still lovely as we approached au.. God knows what she thought of my demeanour ...
Swmbo still remarks over dinner chats that it took me many months to recover...

 

[Mr_Orange]

4 spring to mind for me:

1. The sight of the BA 747s at LGW when I spent a summer holiday labouring on the airport whilst at university;
2. Getting an op-up from Y+ to J and scoring seat 1K on a flight from SYD to SIN;
3. Flying J on the top deck on a points upgrade with Mrs_O from SIN to BNE. The coughpit door was open and Mrs_O said, "Oh god, is that where the pilots sit?" followed by, a few minutes later, "There's too much space up here, you're too far away from me." It was her first time in Int J and she was quite a nervous flyer back then; and
4. Flying J in the old F cabin from SYD-NRT.

 

[D747]

Most memorable of many, BKK > MEL around 1987. It was New Year's Eve when we departed and even though I was in Y I was asked what I would like to drink before we took off! Champagne was my reply. I was handed a full bottle while we were taxiing to the runway! Once airborne I gave the bottle a good run as we kept crossing timezones that gave us midnights, as announced on the PA to much celebration. About 3 hours into the flight I was asked if I'd like a bit of a tour. I was taken from front to back and bottom, which was a tour of the lower deck galley on a -200, via a lift, to the flight deck, where I spent at least 2 hours talking to the tech crew and enjoying the best view I had ever seen. I had a row of seats to myself back down in the Y cabin and managed a few hours sleep. I was woken by the rising sun and asked if I wanted anything from the amazing crew. My request was relayed to the flight deck and I was allowed to reenter and take a lot of photos of the sun rising. The entire flight was pure magic and lots of fun because of the crew, the aircraft and the era. Thank you QF, and thank you B747!

 

[pauleg]

A terrific airplane. One time in the '80s on a (short) Sydney to Nadi flight I was the only passenger in the small upper deck section. A very abbreviated safety demo and truly excellent personal service!!!

 

[Rangalad]

Hearing the undercarriage retract when seated in zone A.

 

[trooper]

Not QF... Was travelling on the (now) hugely missed MNL-YVR Biz fare (AUD$1320) of fond memory with a leg to HKG on CX... I had selected a nice Upper Deck seat and was looking forward to it. As I went to board the gate agent looked at my BP... and asked "Are you travelling alone, Sir?" I replied in the affirmative, and he said "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to change your seating assignment.." I jokingly replied "Well. you can move me all the way forward if you like" ..He looked up, no hint of a smile and said "Thats exactly what Ive done Sir" and handed me back my BP with 15K crossed out and 1K written in by hand.....lol What a nice flight that was....

 

[ramboflyer]

I almost forgot to mention flying on QF63 a few years ago when we flew right over Antarctica. We flew far enough south, and the weather was good enough, that we could see icebergs out the window for around 5 hours mid-cruise.

Mattg, I think this is the same time (2015) we shared the return flight back to Sydney from Johannesburg. I think you are referring to your outbound trip.
This was my one and only 747 flight.
It was thanks to you that +1 and I were upstairs and it was most enjoyable. You assisted me to get into premium cabins back from the UK and +1 and I had a good time in Johannesburg.
You met with us in the Shongolo lounge and had a few drinks and laughs. +1 and I continued with the bubbly onboard and and it was most enjoyable. For whatever reason there were only 8 passengers upstairs and I still feel a little guilty I didn't approach the cabin crew to try to get you up there.
And yes, we also were fascinated by the view over Antarctic on the flight.

 

[calmelb]

My last 747 trip was in 2016, travelling back from Europe with Finnair then onto QF in HKG to Australia on the 747. Was a memorable trip with the APU being INOP so the cabin was dark from pushback until we were in the air. Was in the exit row in the bubble.

Have probably travelled many times on a 747 before this, but only remember/ being told 3. Once in 2012 on SQ, once in ~2012-2015 on CX, and then once in 2004 when my parents moved us overseas. Memorable because we were in First and the Tape IFE was broken in my seat. Was born just a little too late to fully enjoy the 747

 

[eagleflyer]

My first ever flight was when I was 5 years old on a british airways 747-400 in 1989 from Sydney to London - brand new, the -400 had only just entered service. Every overseas trip to Europe / USA from then until 2010 involved a 747 at some stage, and until last year the 747 was the plane I had spent the most hours on.

Other than the nostalgia, The best flight I had on a 747 was on the upper deck from Brisbane to Los Angeles. A unique experience that I feel lucky I got to experience. Unfortunately I never got to sit near the nose, and being based in Singapore now will miss out on the Qantas joy flights planned.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Too many to select just one:

- first non-baby flight as a kid was to Europe and back on a QF 747... set the benchmark for everything to follow... I still have the Qantas children's puzzle book they handed me, I would pull it out for years after as a way of recapturing the magic of those first flights
- redeeming QFF points before the value had been enhanced out of them to fly SYD-MEL for the weekend in 747 First when they still flew SYD-MEL-SIN-LHR
- Seats 62A or 62K in Business on the Upper Deck of the British Airways 747 - rear facing looking into the exit row gap, when you had the divider up you saw no other people other than when the crew appeared to serve you food or wine. It was like a 747 private jet experience
- flying almost empty Lufthansa 747s on the tag flights to Jakarta from Singapore which were always the cheapest option on that sector
- upper deck in Business was always special, but just as unique was the feeling in upper deck economy which was what the seating was on the Air France 747s

 

[bPeteb]

I have two. Flying to the UK as a 15yo with my mum and brother in 1979. Just being on any aeroplane was exciting but a jumbo doubly so. My second was last year going up those steps for the first time when we flew to San Francisco, and did the same on the way back.

 

[Mattg]

Mattg, I think this is the same time (2015) we shared the return flight back to Sydney from Johannesburg. I think you are referring to your outbound trip.
This was my one and only 747 flight.
It was thanks to you that +1 and I were upstairs and it was most enjoyable. You assisted me to get into premium cabins back from the UK and +1 and I had a good time in Johannesburg.
You met with us in the Shongolo lounge and had a few drinks and laughs. +1 and I continued with the bubbly onboard and and it was most enjoyable. For whatever reason there were only 8 passengers upstairs and I still feel a little guilty I didn't approach the cabin crew to try to get you up there.
And yes, we also were fascinated by the view over Antarctic on the flight.

Yes, this was the same trip! I flew back on QF64 a few weeks later, which is the same flight that you were on.

I remember meeting you and your +1 in the lounge at JNB well. It was really great to hear that you'd enjoyed your first overseas trip and short stay in South Africa, and it was a pleasure helping you to get those flights home in business class

Please don't feel bad about not asking the cabin crew - I'm sure it wouldn't have been allowed anyway and could have caused embarrassment for all involved. Economy class was full that day, from memory, but I was comfortable enough watching a marathon of Last Week Tonight episodes in 72A. And I did get to finally fly on the upper deck myself around 4 years later.

 

[maroonone]

First ever Int’l flight QF2 in 1977 from LHR to Bahrain Singapore Sydney. Economy about 1/4 full with more beverages than could possibly be consumed. we picked up a broken 5th engine in Bahrain and brought it back to Australia.

 

[StevoQFtraveller]

One frustrating 747 flight was with AI in 1983. I had been travelling around India and Nepal for a couple of months and wanted to get back to PER to see family for Christmas. The agents at the AI office in Bombay (pre-Mumbai days...) were indignant that I wanted to take up my final leg of an open ticket (LHR-FCO-BOM-PER). They wanted me to wait 6 months, or maybe even 8-12 months, as all were fully booked! I created a tantrum in the AI office, saying they were not going to get any back-hand money from me and I was not going to leave the office till I had a ticket to PER. With all my embarrassing noise, they said, "OK sir, would you like to fly tomorrow?" Hell, yes!. Was on that flight to PER. And how many people on board? I would say a maximum of 5!!!

 

[UP4014]

What about this memory, some panels from a Captain Cook Lounge on a 747. This is at the Mascot Jet Base.

https://flic.kr/p/2c6Y29V

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Row 43 in Y with shadows leading to a few restful SFO flights

J on a MEL-SYD service during summer storm weather disruptions

Sadly never got to fly upper deck as tended to choose alternative aircraft on work trips to Asia in J...now lamenting that decision.

 

[Stewey]

My best memory was flying home from HKG early last year and getting an upgrade for my Mum and I. it was her first time ever in J and we were put on the Upper Deck and there was only 3 other passengers up there and we had the most amazing time on the flight and my Mum was simply amazed at the service, seats, meals, drinks and the amenities pack. What a great memory for both of us.

 

[defurax]

I've been lucky to sit in seat 1A in the old QF First cabin at least 3 times and the views while lining up on the runway for takeoff were amazing. Due to the curvature of the fuselage the first window gave almost a straight view on the runway.
Sad to see the big jets going to be replaced by "nightmareliner" sardine cans.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sad to see the big jets going to be replaced by "nightmareliner" sardine cans.

Easy solved. Fly with an airline that puts passenger comfort first! (ANA suites, QR suites, etc).

 

[RichardMEL]

Many many 747 flights on many carriers all over the place. Such a great aircraft, iconic and served some of the best airlines so well.

Picking out a few notables:

- SQ F MEL-SIN-LHR v/v around 2004. In the nose, early evening arrival into LHR guy fawkes night... literally flying into LHR as fireworks covered the sky.. and I was still allowed a glass of bubbles as we descended into this gorgeous view. Amazing.
- AN 747-300 SYD-HKG. Sitting in Y up in the bubble (one of the rare carriers to have Y up there) and spent time in the coughpit as the sun set across the cntinent after leaving SYD. Crew were fantastic
- CX 744 in F HKG-SFO. just indulgent in the quiet of Zone A.
- UA 747-400 in F on one of the first LAX-MEL nonstop flights around 2000. Bonus I had picked the flight number via a friend of mine in UA planning. Yeah it was UA but they were much better back then, and I kinda felt like UA 877/878 were "my" flights
- CO 747-200 BOS-LGW in Y. 1993 or so. Yes it was Y. Yes it was CO.. but sure there something so special about "The Queen" still made it fun.


but I think my most fun or fund memory was none of these.

QF 744 VH-OEJ doing a charity flight out of MEL for the Royal Children's Hospital. I am going to guess early 90's or so. Good Friday QF used to do these for many years and I hopped on for one with all the wide eyed kids and happy parents for an hour or so of low level joyrides acound MEL. It was a free for all you'd never see today with kids (and nerds alike) able to walk over the aircraft from row 1 back and up to the coughpit as we were only a few thousand feet up. So much fun. Raised some money for a good cause and had a blast. Crews were all so wonderful (donated time) and showed everyone a great time. Just a special memory to me.