It turns out that I have been on 26 Boeing 747 flights in my life. Boeing’s jumbo jet carried me on my very first international flight, all the way back in 1991. Between then and now I have been on the -100, -300, -400 and -400ER, which is pretty decent.
Interestingly, it also introduced me to premium economy (on British Airways), business class (on Qantas) and first class (again on BA). With the majority of planes now retired, here’s a look back at my 26 Boeing 747 flights and what I can remember of them.
1. 04/01/1991 – United Airlines – Boeing 747-400
My first trip outside of Australia was to the United States. United took a school group and I from Sydney to Los Angeles on the Boeing 747-400. Throughout the flight, I read the book Dragon by Clive Cussler.
The meal was lasagne, which I remember well because it was burnt on the bottom. Other than that, I recall the moonlight reflecting off the wing as we flew over the Pacific and thought it was quite beautiful.
2. 22/01/1991 – United Airlines – Boeing 747-100
This flight from Honolulu to Auckland is memorable for two reasons. First, I had a whole three block of seats to myself. Secondly, I was so tired after three weeks of traipsing around the USA that I was fighting to keep my eyelids open during climb out.
Once in the air, I laid down on the three seats, put seatbelts around me and slept soundly all the way to New Zealand! The departure time of around midnight really helped. It’s the only time I have ever slept well in economy.
3. 23/01/1991 – United Airlines – Boeing 747-100
The next leg from Auckland to Sydney, and all I remember is being mildly annoyed that the two free seats next to me were both taken by passengers joining in New Zealand.
4. 28/01/2005 – Qantas – Boeing 747-300
Qantas occasionally flew their Boeing 747s domestically as the start of an international service. This flight from Sydney to Brisbane is the only one I had on a Boeing 747-300.
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- Nalanji Dreaming, the blue aboriginal design at Qantas
When I rocked up to the gate in Sydney, I was very pleasantly surprised it was Nalanji Dreaming operating the service. What a score! The aircraft was retired only a short while later, so I was very lucky indeed.
5. 28/03/2005 – Qantas – Boeing 747-400
The first time I ever took a flight in business class. This was on the upper deck in an exit row and I was so green as a flyer. Getting the entertainment screen out of the arm rest was challenging for example! Luckily I reviewed the flight and you can read that here.
6. 08/04/2005 – Qantas – Boeing 747-400ER
Another upper deck business class experience this time from Hong Kong to London Heathrow. This time I lucked out and got Wunala Dreaming, the other Qantas 747 painted in aboriginal designs. The flight review for that one is here.
Qantas is the only airline that ordered the passenger version of Boeing 747-400ER. The extra range was required so they could carry a full load out of Melbourne to Los Angeles, no matter what the wind situation. This flight is the first of two I took on the ER.
7. 28/01/2006 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
The first of quite a few flights in British Airways Club World. This one was from London Heathrow to Los Angeles and found me sitting backwards for the first time. I didn’t find it all that different and still don’t. According to my review, I ate all the food all the time!
8. 18/02/2006 – Qantas – Boeing 747-400ER
Back to Australia again, this time from Los Angeles to Sydney in business class and once again I got Wunala Dreaming. I certainly lucked out getting this plane twice.
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- It’s Wunala Dreaming, a popular plane thanks to its design!
I have no memories whatsoever of this flight and no review to remind me, sadly.
9. 26/02/2006 – Qantas – Boeing 747-400
To head back to Dublin, I used my frequent flyer points. This meant I was in economy class, all the way down in 70K. I was supposed to get an earlier service but didn’t feel well so they put me on this one instead. Going to Ireland the long way via Los Angeles is really not recommended.
10. 02/04/2007 – Thai Airways – Boeing 747-400
Susanna, my Finnish housemate, came on a trip with me to Jordan and Thailand. Thai Airways ran Boeing 747s on some flights from Bangkok to Phuket, so of course that’s what I did. Sitting upstairs in 16K was plenty of fun, especially as the business class tickets were only about €30 more than economy!
11. 08/04/2007 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
First class on British Airways from Bangkok to Sydney cost me 90,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points. In the lounge before the flight, I was asked if I would move from seat 2A, which I had selected especially months before, to 3A. I refused, politely enough.
That refusal was passed on and the cabin crew were bitchy to me on boarding, greeting me with, “Oh, Mr. 2A is here! Oh hello Mr. 2A!” and then mainly ignored me throughout the entire flight, which marred the experience somewhat. That being said, I still enjoyed it and looking forward out the windows due to the curvature of the fuselage is a unique and memorable experience.
12. 22/04/2007 – Qantas – Boeing 747-400
This must have been on points again as I was in 11A on the upper deck for this flight from Sydney to Singapore. Not much else I can tell you about it though!
13. 12/04/2008 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
World Traveller Plus, or Premium Economy, on British Airways in 29K. This trip was to New York to join Cunard’s ocean liner the Queen Elizabeth 2, to cross the Atlantic to Southampton. That was a bucket list item I ticked off, right before the ship was retired, so I was glad to do it.
14. 12/07/2008 – Qantas – Boeing 747-400
Booked in economy, my frequent flyer points upgrade to business class cleared the day before the trip. Luckily there was one seat left on the upper deck and so it was 11A again for me. This trip report has a bunch of photos from around the cabin.
15. 09/08/2008 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
Sydney to Bangkok in 35C in economy class. Memorable as I was sat beside two guys heading off on a working holiday. We proceeded to drink their duty free rum throughout the flight, and I was runner to the galley for Coca-Cola. Good times indeed!
16. 26/05/2009 – Qantas – Boeing 747-400
Qantas premium economy is exceptionally good as I found out on this trip. For the first sector I had no-one sitting beside me, so I moved from 35B to 35A for the duration.
17. 27/05/2009 – Qantas – Boeing 747-400
For the second sector, someone had 35A, so I was back in my proper seat. Both sectors are documented in this trip report I wrote at the time.
18. 20/09/2009 – Thai Airways – Boeing 747-400
Off to Phuket again and once again the Boeing 747 service. This time, business class passengers could also select a first class seat, so no guesses what I did. It was great to be up in the nose again, in 3K this time.
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- Sitting pretty in Thai first class seats with my business class meal – on a one hour flight!
There are two toilets on board for first class, and these faced forward, rather than side on to the aisle like on most aircraft. I was travelling with an ex, so we dined together at my seat. Quite fun!
19. 01/10/2009 – Thai Airways – Boeing 747-400
For the return journey, we sat upstairs to get the full experience (plus the first class cabin was not available on this one!). Not much else I remember about this one really.
20. 02/10/2009 – Qantas – Boeing 747-400
My final Qantas Boeing 747 flight from Bangkok to London Heathrow in 60H. I remember nothing whatsoever about this flight, even though I was travelling with an ex. Must have been very unremarkable.
21. 30/05/2012 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
Staff travel time! The aforementioned ex eventually joined British Airways as cabin crew, so I used staff travel once to get to Sydney. At BA you can choose to pay for standby or pay extra for premium standby, where you get a business class seat if it’s available.
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- British Airways flew my last Boeing 747 flights
Travelling standby is stressful. First, will you get on the flight at all? Second, if you do, will you get put in business class? Happily I lucked out on this trip and three of the four sectors were in Club World, with just one down the back.
22. 31/05/2012 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
Both legs were in 64B and I remember how nice it was to be able to fly business class again after a bunch of premium economy flights back and forth. Being able to lay down really makes a difference on a 24 hour flight!
23. 12/06/2012 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
On the return, it was 61K, so I had a window for the 7 hour trip from Sydney to Singapore. That was appreciated as I am not really a fan of aisle seats unless I’m flying long-haul economy.
24. 13/06/2012 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
In Singapore, my boarding pass beeped when going back through security. Turns out Club World was full, so I’d be in economy for the last flight of the four. 46G was my home and it wasn’t nearly as nice a flight, but since it was staff travel, I was not complaining.
25. 04/10/2012 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
This trip was to Washington DC to see friends and it was in World Traveller Plus. Again, I remember nothing about the flight, though I do remember the visit. I like Washington DC!
26. 09/10/2012 – British Airways – Boeing 747-400
It has been a long, long time since I’ve been on a jumbo jet, it seems! Miami to London Heathrow all the way back in 2012 in World Traveller Plus 13K.
The sound of the Rolls-Royce engines on take-off is always a good memory of the 747. As is the rattling, bumping and squeaking in the cabin as you roll down the runway for what seems like ages. Good times!
Overall Thoughts
With the retirement of the Boeing 747 from the oneworld airlines, options to get back on board are limited. Lufthansa, Korean Air and Air China all operate the newer Boeing 747-8I, so it looks like I am going to have to get on board one of those soon.
I daresay that if I do, it will be my final flight on the iconic queen of the skies. Even so, I’ve had a very good run over the years, so I’m hardly complaining. I’ve even walked on a wing and sat in the pilots seats in the cockpit, so it’s been good.
What do you remember most about flying on the Boeing 747? Do you know how many Boeing 747 flights you have taken? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Peach Air via Flickr.
Nalanji Dreaming by Konstantin von Wedelstaedt on Airliners.net via Wikimedia Commons.
Wunala Dreaming by Kambui via Wikimedia Commons.
British Airways by Nick Morrish via British Airways.
AC 741, 742 and 74E combi. UA 74L MEL AKL. TG 743 ZRH BKK. PA 742 MIA LAX. QF 744 LAX SYD. NZ 744 and 742 LAX AKL. SQ 744 SIN FRA. NW 744 DTW TPE. CP 744 BKK HKG YVR (featuring cockpit approach into Kai Tak), BR 74E TPE SEA, KL 744 AMS YYZ, AF 744 YYZ CDG, BA 742 LHR BKK, LH 744 YYZ FRA, VS 744 JFK LHR, EI 741 DUB JFK and WD 742 YYZ LGW. She will be missed.
An awesome selection of airlines and aircraft there. You really have flown a lot… wish I had been to Kai Tak, but I didn’t really start international flying regularly until quite some time after it closed. What an aircraft! 🙂
Such a nice report. I have been a passenger aboard the 747-100, SP, -200, -200SUD, -200Combi, -300, -400 but not the -400Combi, -400ER, or -8i. These flights have been on Pan Am (-100), TWA (-100, -200, SP), United (-200, SP), Northwest (-200, -400), Qantas (-400), Air New Zealand (-400), Singapore (-400), Japan Air Lines (-200, -300), Lufthansa (-200Combi), Virgin Atlantic (-400) and KLM (-200, -200SUD).
You’ve done pretty well there and not really missed too many. I’ll never get a chance to get the SP, -200, 200SUD, -200Combi or -400Combi anymore. Also you’ve managed some great airlines there that are no longer with us. Thanks for sharing that and glad you enjoyed the article!