A United 747-400. (Image: United)
For those United loyalists who want to book a seat on the airline’s last 747 flights, the carrier has set the schedule for the plane’s retirement later this year.
All the affected routes are out of San Francisco. According to Routesonline.com, the last 747-400 departure from SFO will be a flight to Seoul on October 28, returning October 29.
The schedule for other 747 retirement flights includes San Francisco-Beijing, SFO-Frankfurt, SFO-Taipei and SFO-Tokyo Narita, all set for October 28; a seasonal SFO-London flight through October 27; and SFO-Shanghai service through October 5.
Except for a 787-9 going onto the Shanghai route, the United 747s will be replaced by 777-200ERs. Routesonline notes that the schedule is subject to change.
Delta is also due to phase out its 747s this year. (Photo: Delta)
For nostalgia buffs, the website also posted a “flashback” to United’s January 1979 timetable, showing that the big plane was used on a number of domestic routes at the time. It flew from San Francisco to Honolulu, Newark (via Chicago), and New York JFK; from LAX to JFK, Honolulu and Denver; and from Chicago O’Hare to LAX, JFK, Toronto, Honolulu, Detroit and Denver.
Delta Air Lines is also due to take its remaining 747s out of service later this year, but has not yet issued a schedule, other than saying it will happen in the fourth quarter. For a final ride on a Delta 747, you can fly from Detroit to Tokyo or Seoul. And from Honolulu, Delta is still running the big bird nonstop to Kansai (KIX) near Osaka, Japan.
Korean Air 747-8 (Photo: Korean Air)
United and Delta are the last U.S. airlines to fly 747s. But the iconic wide-body will still be available from other carriers. British Airways, for instance, recently overhauled the interiors of its 747-400 fleet, and Lufthansa and Korean Air are flying the newer version of the aircraft, the 747-8. Air China flies a 747-8 between SFO and Beijing.
Chris flew on a Qantas 747-400 last year between SFO and Sydney- check out his Trip Report here.
How do you feel about the retirement of this grand old bird? Please leave your comments below.
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Unfortunately, all aircraft are becoming to look the same. I UNDERSTAND WHY, SO PLEASE DON’T REPLY!
But the sky’s are full of Honda’s and Toyota’s, unless you know you’re aircraft, you really can’t tell them apart. An A-320 pretty much looks like a Boeing 737 series etc;
The 747 is unique, as was the 727, L-1011. DC-10/MD-11 and how can I not mention the Concorde… ALL SEXY!!
With today’s technology two engine planes are the future, except for the A-380.
I still remember my first plane ride, a United DC-8 to Hawaii!
Anyone else ever fly the PeoplExpress 747 between Newark and London?
Great points, I’m convinced.
Airlines should invest in the Boeing 747-8. I flew the 747-400 several times (Boston-Paris), and also Detroit-Tokyo-Manila on Delta. Truly a great plane. Having a 747 in an airlines’ fleet lends a bit of class to that airline. When people see it at an airport, they take note of it. I became a faithful customer of Delta because, years ago, I was impressed with the Northwest Airlines 747. So, Northwest got my business, and hence Delta. I think it’s a big mistake to dump the 747 from the fleet!
I think your problem there was the airline and not the airplane.
Try a Lufthansa A380 and report back.
777 are garbage, especially the 200 series.
the 380 is the most uncomfortable plane I ever been on. Keep in mind that I am making this comment for a flight from LAX to PEK. Zero leg room and the seats were comparable to sitting on a wooden bleacher at a high school football game. Also, the plane was China Southern and probably specified them. My ass hurt for 3 days afterwards. If I travel to Asia now, I route through a city that doesn’t use it on their routes. Gong to miss that big ol 747!
Blame it on UAL for not staying current with newer interiors and more efficient engines. Love the 747!
Ahh your wrong
I disagree
Ah the passing of an era, my best flights were on a 747. 1989 flew 747 from SFO to Heathrow for my honeymoon. The plane was cool abut even better was the BA service. Fast forward to 2009 and repeated with same wife, but this time took a Air France 747 from SFO to Paris.
Yup flying the 747 was an experience, about the only that I think is comparable is flying the Emirates A380. On the down side was taking a United 777 to/from SFO to New Zealand, what a dull and uninspiring trip. Made all the worse because I bought my ticket on Air Newland…uggg
Back at the end of the 60’s, I remember well, think 1969, before the US had an anti-air piracy agreement with Cuba (and people hijacked planes like it was no biggie), someone hijacked the first 747 to Havana… and the crew needed to keep the turbines running all the while in Cuba, because the equipment in Havana could not re-start them.. Fidel Castro himself came aboard that craft and remarked at its size.
The Queen of the skies made flying feel Special. will be much missed for its smoothest ride in the sky thanks to the long flexible wing and lack of annoying big twin-drone due to perpetually out of sync. engines. Also for the marvellous sense of space for all passengers and the “almost-like-flying-private” spaces in the nose and bubble top. International airlines get that the A380 and 747 make passenges feel Special regardless of class. That’s a rare experience today and UA should consider the 747-8 as a differentiating trademark. They already have the maintenance infrastructure and the engines are the same as the B787.
I’ve never flown international, just domestic. I’m 70 years old and have never set foot on a 747 to my deep dismay. My flights were midwest to west coast and back in the 70’s there were chances to catch one on a leg from asia or Hawaii enroute to east coast, but alas I never snagged one. Oh well, they were (and still are) a joy to plane spot.
‘Bout time. I recently flew UAL old rickety 747 from SFO to HK and seat was very uncomfortable. Had backache for 3 days. Plus wifi and entertainment didn’t work half the time. Just not feeling nostalgic. I fly Cathay Pacific to HK on 777 and will until UAL dumps 747. Long overdue.
You’d think United would do this. But it makes too much sense. So United likely won’t. 😉
Won’t be Air Force One if the Donald gets his way.
i am saddened my the fact that I probably will never fly on a 747 ever again. Will chalk it up with never flying concord again which is a shame.
I still prefer a 747 to any other plane, with the possible exception of the A380, which is the only really worthy successor.
Most other planes just look the same these days. And it’s significant that Bowing is still making them, and that the new Air Force One will be a 747.
While those may be the last regularly scheduled flights, I think that UA will do a 747 domestic farewell tour after those flights, crossing the country and stopping in a few key hubs. They could charge almost any price for those historic flights and they will sell