topic Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight in Community Chat

Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

momtochloe — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 14:06:32 GMT

Please know it will still be in service overseas but this week was the last flight of the Boeing 747 in the US. I really haven't travelled very much but my very best flying experience was being upgraded to "the bubble" because of my ex's FF status. What a fun (and boozy) trip that was. Au revoir to a well designed and comfortable aircraft!

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/end-era-boeing-747-takes-last-us-commercial-034116864.html

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

TexasMom1 — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 14:10:17 GMT

I so agree! We had many flights on those 747's. Loved the "upstairs"! Many were transatlantic flights and they could not have been more comfortable. What a shame it has been retired.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

momtochloe — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 14:18:08 GMT

Oh @TexasMom1, I so agree! Like I said I don't travel often but for a while there I had to for work. I was used to the 747 but Boeing had just introduced the 777 and our company's preferred carrier was rapidly swapping them out and was not pleased when we were booked on a 777 as I want a few more engines besides just two while flying over the ocean. I lost that battle as everyone else wanted their own individual TV's and they immediately started pouring mimosas down me the minute I was in my seat which was probably a good idea all around. 777 are lovely planes but again I just want a couple more engines on an overseas flight.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

twinsister — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 15:20:11 GMT

@momtochloe - I didn't know the 747 was being retired. My first plane ride was on a National Airways 747. It was amazing and very comfortable. Most of my trips to Europe were on 747s.

I totally agree with you about having more engines on a transatlantic flight, due to a personal, scary experience. On my flight home from Rome to NY we were on a TWA 747. It was a ten hour flight and three hours away from NY, the captain came on and announced we had lost an engine. Not technically, but that engine was leaking fuel and had to be shut down. Not a very comforting thing to hear when you are flying over the Atlantic and can't turn back. I will never forget the captain's next words -"this baby can fly on just one engine if needed, so don't worry". The next three hours were very scary. We had to stay in our seats, they stopped the movie and took away our food, as everything had to be secured. He also told us that JFK airport had been alerted and emergency equipment was waiting for us on the runway - ambulances, fire engines, etc. As soon as we touched down the firemen hosed down the plane, before we even got off. We were later told they were afraid of an explosion when we landed, since the belly of the plane was covered in leaking fuel.

If I had to go through that, I am so glad it was on a 747 and after that I always felt safer when flying them. I rarely fly anymore, but I'm sad to see them go.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

BirdieGal — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 16:44:07 GMT

Sadly the old gals are being replaced by newer, and much larger models.

Many will sit in the bone yard for years until sold to foreign countries.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

Reever — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 16:48:46 GMT

I ônly fly domestic, usually on the 737 or an Airbus 319. I despise flying these days as it is not pleasant. Beside the ridiculousness at TSA they have cramped the seats even closer together, cut back on snacks and beverage etc.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

BirdieGal — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 16:59:12 GMT

@Reever

My DH has at least 28 type ratings for aircraft. Up until a year and a half ago the aircraft he was flying was the Airbus 320. I never cared for that one. Made me nervous. The untraditional way the aircraft is flown and other things. He loved it. But hey, he loves most of them.

I hate to fly. Sad isn’t it?

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

Reever — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 17:12:36 GMT

@BirdieGal wrote:
@Reever

My DH has at least 28 type ratings for aircraft. Up until a year and a half ago the aircraft he was flying was the Airbus 320. I never cared for that one. Made me nervous. The untraditional way the aircraft is flown and other things. He loved it. But hey, he loves most of them.

I hate to fly. Sad isn’t it?

I would be curious what makes the Airbus320 untraditional? Frontier airlines recently began servicing my local area. They only fly Airbuses. Should I be nervous using them? I had been a loyal customer to Southwest Airlines but hate that they don't assign seats. I was considering using Frontier to fly to Fort Myers this winter.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

BirdieGal — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 17:19:58 GMT

@Reever

Let me first say that DH loves the Airbus and NEVER had a safety issue with it.

He doesn’t fly for either of those airlines...he flies for AA.

In that aircraft there is no traditional yoke, stick, that the pilots use to fly. It is, and I mean this literally...a joystick. A thumb joystick. On the Captains (DH) left hand and First Officer, right hand.

DH said he had to get used to it but once he did he loved it. He only changed aircraft because he was flying international on the Bus and he kept getting sick and bringing the crud home to us and the flights were sooooo long. He needed to go back to domestic. He may change his mind again but okay...

Dont worry, the aircraft is safe. I

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

ROMARY — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 18:04:52 GMT

'Looking back', I chose to only fly Boeing 720's and 747's, etc. Four engines only, no matter what. As I recall, we could choose the type of plane that we wanted to fly in. The flights and type of planes were listed. Hoping that the newer versions are as good, safe, and comfortable as the oldies. .......... For whatever reason, (change of plans) in my last flying years (as a passenger), I had to fly on a one engine (large one in the back of the plane) from Mexico in the night, stormy, lightning, windy, whatever else scary. OMG, it was an experience. People on board were actually praying. My gosh, only one single engine. ............And in the pitch darkness of the night...........

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

Reever — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 18:41:54 GMT

I had also read that Allegiant Airlines is phasing out the old MD 80 aircraft. They don't burn fuel efficiently and are very loud. They also have had numerous issues with smoke in the cabin etc. many of these aircraft are from the late 70s and 80s. it seems they too are moving to Airbusses the model of choice these days.

cant stand that the seats hardly recline anymore. In the late 70s you could tilt back - no more. Never flown business class since my flights are normally no more than 3 hours.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

BirdieGal — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 19:12:12 GMT

DH flew the MD-80 wayyyy back in the day.

Very small, very cramped. I do not miss them at all.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

Kalli — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 19:57:53 GMT

Last week my son purposely booked a flight just so he could enjoy traveling on a 747 before the flights were discontinued. I'm not a big fan of flying but he loves it.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

FrostyBabe1 — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 22:47:51 GMT

@Reever wrote:
I had also read that Allegiant Airlines is phasing out the old MD 80 aircraft. They don't burn fuel efficiently and are very loud. They also have had numerous issues with smoke in the cabin etc. many of these aircraft are from the late 70s and 80s. it seems they too are moving to Airbusses the model of choice these days.

cant stand that the seats hardly recline anymore. In the late 70s you could tilt back - no more. Never flown business class since my flights are normally no more than 3 hours.

Smoke in the cabin has nothing to do with the age of the aircraft and everything to do with Allegiant's terrible maintenance. The Tampa Bay Times has done a whole series of articles about their poor maintenance practices.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/former-allegiant-air-mechanic-says-he-quit-over-obscene-maintenance/2260591

http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2016/investigations/allegiant-air/mechanical-breakdowns/

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/allegiant-air-changes-course-by-admitting-it-had-too-many-aircraft-mishaps/2301031

In one of the articles, its says that their MD80/88 series aircraft broke down FOUR TIMES more often than DL, AA and UA.

I shared these articles previously with friends who fly Allegiant all the time and their response was "so what, their tickets are cheaper". I couldn't believe it. I also can't believe that the FAA didn't yank their operating certificate.

Re: Boeing 747 Takes Last US Flight

FrostyBabe1 — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 12:44:21 GMT

I loved flying on the Queen of the Skies, particularly on the upper deck! I have lots of fond memories from my childhood.

I've flown on every aircraft type in Delta's fleet except the new A350. I have to say that my favorite long haul aircraft are the 767 and 777, even though the lie flat seats are kinda coffin like when the seat reclines. Short haul, I'd have to go with one of the revamped 757's.