SultanOfSwing

The first time I saw one on the ground was back in the 80s at Aldergrove airport, when observers were allowed up to the gates to watch the planes coming and going. I think it was an Air France -100 series (could have been a -200, it was the one with only 3 windows in the upper deck), but that would have been a rare sight at Belfast even then so I can only imagine it was a refueling stop before it headed off for North America. I'll always remember seeing it stand out against the tiny by comparison BAC 1-11s and turboprops that were normally found operating out of there. Was pretty exciting at the time, since I'd only ever seen them in books up to then, or in flight.

That really makes it not just the physical replacement for the 767, but the spiritual one as well.

That really does sound like a good trip, Buenos Aires is supposed to be a really good city to visit from what I've heard.

I've only flown BA twice (two round trips on the 777, with a hop to Belfast on the A321 attached to the second trip), but I think they are still the best as far as the in-flight experience goes (though Aer Lingus and Air Canada are right up there). AA really lags behind in that respect, though their 777 is marginally better than the 767.

Expatrick

Best 747 ever, saw this combo close up at Stansted in the 1980s -

SultanOfSwing

I had a die-cast model of that carrier, complete with space shuttle and fold-away wheels

materialcontroller

I have really enjoyed flying BA within Europe, so it will be interesting to see how their 747 long haul economy product compares.

Agree with you about Aer Lingus. I flew their A330 DUB-ORD and return from SFO for the 2017 solar eclipse and was very impressed by the standards of service. US Preclearance in DUB and some really quick connections to/from LHR also made that trip stand out for all the right reasons.

SultanOfSwing

We flew the DUB-ORD route too. Had an older plane on the way out, it was still decent, but the A330-300 on the return leg was so much nicer. IFE available from the moment you sat down, I was able to watch 4 whole movies during the flight

Preclearance is handy but you get spoiled going through Irish/EU security first, then you have to go strip off and pull out your internal organs to get through to the US Immigration section. Also, we had to wolf down our sandwiches because I forgot you can't take meat through the line. Mmmm, preflight indigestion.

materialcontroller

There's one on display at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Well worth a visit (take the Level 9 VIP Tour for the best experience) if you're ever in TX.

SultanOfSwing

Johnson, and Kennedy are both on my list. I want to see the Saturn V they have down in Johnson as well.

BenK91

I flew Denver > LHR on a BA 747 last week.

Interior had been upgraded since I last went on one about 18 months ago (yes I'm aware it may not have been the exact plane!).

Definitely a much more comfortable ride but, I do prefer the 787's Norwegian operate on the same route although their departure time makes the flight a red-eye compared to BA's departure time.

scrubbedexpat091

This was posted on Reddit, BA 747 landing in San Diego recently.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sandiego/co...itish_airways/

DaveLovesDee

We flew YYZ-AMS on a KLM 747-400 Combi in October last year.

Very happy with KLM, and the 747 was a decent enough plane. I'd fly one again.

johnwoo

The 747 is the reason I'm in the USA. Came in 1967 to work on the 747. First flight in 1969. First delivery R0001 to Pan-Am. Happy days in Seattle.
Green Cards were easier to get back then, the whole family, wife and two infant children. handed our green Cards at immigration on arrival.

Dorothy

We watched a really interesting documentary the other night about the 747. The original idea behind it, the engineers who designed it, getting it to actually fly and how it's being replaced by other planes now.

jam25mack

Flew on one as a toddler from Manchester to Toronto return. Apparently I made my old man walk the whole way with me over his shoulder otherwise I would cry. #WINNING

As for the comments on BA...... I initially thought you were all taking the piss. Although I don't 'hate' them as they're not terrible and they often have cheap from here in Dubai back to Blighty...... but they are far from what I would consider good. Even though IMO Emirates quality has dipped pretty drastically in recent years they're still way ahead of BA. If I had the choice then Etihad, Virgin, KLM and Emirates would all be ahead of BA. That said, If you're comparing BA with any of the American carriers then I suppose they can be considered 5* as they are all awful.

scrubbedexpat091

Not BA related but 747 related. 50 years ago today the 747 took its first flight.

February 9, 1969.

Expatrick

A380 production to cease.