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United’s final 747 flight sells out in hours

This bird’s about to go extinct in the US (Image: United)

United is running its final 747 flight between San Francisco and Honolulu on Tuesday, November 7 to commemorate the retirement of its 747 fleet. Only economy tickets were intially available on the flight– business class seats in the upper deck or “bubble” were not sold so everyone can climb up the stairs for a final look-see.

United says this journey will serve as “the ultimate throwback for customers, employees and invited guests as it recreates the first 747 flight operated by United in 1970. From a 1970s-inspired menu to retro uniforms for flight attendants to inflight entertainment befitting of that first flight, passengers will help send the Queen of the Skies off in true style. The original United 747 aircraft that first made this journey from San Francisco to Honolulu was named the “Friend Ship,” the same name bestowed on this farewell flight.”

Seats on this special, one-way trip, United flight 747, were available for purchase now at united.com — roundtrip fares (returning four days later) were going for $521 today (not bad!). Award seats were going for 45,ooo miles one way. You could have gone for 62,500 round trip (returning on a different plane). UPDATE: In the course of writing this post, fares soared to over $1,000 round trip for the final 747 flight, so keep checking– and let us know what you are finding in the comments below…) UPDATE #2: Within an hour of this posting, the United 747 flight was sold out and no longer appearing on United.com. 

The Nov 7 flight (aptly numbered UA 747) departs SFO at 11:00 am and arrives Honolulu at 2:45 pm

Seat chart from United’s final 747 flight on Nov 7– still somewhat open!

Those lucky enough to sit in first or business class will be selected by a drawing that will take place at the gate prior to boarding for an opportunity to occupy one of a select number of seats in the upper deck during the flight.

From United: “The journey will begin with a gate celebration at 9 a.m. local time at San Francisco International Airport, featuring a Boeing 747 gallery, remarks from United employees and executives, as well as refreshments. The flight will depart San Francisco International Airport at 11 a.m. local time, landing at Honolulu International Airport at 2:45 p.m. local time. Upon landing in Honolulu, local employees will welcome the aircraft with final festivities to close out the historic day. Customers and fans of the Queen of the Skies are encouraged to use the #UA747Farewell hashtag in social media posts.”

United’s final international 747 roundtrip will take place a week earlier between San Francisco and Seoul. It departs SFO on Saturday, October 28 and returns from Seoul on October 29. United’s 747s are still flying between SFO and Shanghai, London and Frankfurt until the end of October.

United’s final international 747 roundtrip.

Will you go? Please leave your comments below.

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Comments

  1. It IS simple GREED.

    The newer planes are designed & certified for cramming more people into smaller seats. The 747 was certified when comfort mattered to these sadistic airline execs, so they have passenger limits that work out to more square feet per person, hence more comfort.

    The newer planes have exits designed to handle more people, so they cram more in.

  2. Very funny United was called yesterday and asked if I booked 892 Seoul to SFO as the last flight and I said yes – she then said sorry the c;ebration will be Nov. 7th SFO-HNL
    think they coudlve called before it sold out …. 1K means little to nothing these days except extra miles. But because I always book a back up, I’m on the last London 47 to SFO – on the upper deck sitting backwards so I can watch that beautiful wing with 2 engines on it for the last time.

  3. Boeing built the 747-800 which was as fuel efficient as the Airbus 380 or even the 777, but no American carrier bought either plane.
    They are afraid of planes that can fit 400 plus souls aboard, if something happens to the economy and less people fly, they don’t want to be stuck with an airplane that they have to fill up.
    They also love those 737s and the new airbus 321 that gets even more mileage.
    But you are wrong on one part, they are still very, very greedy these airlines and they don’t give a damn over our comfort, unless we pay a lot of money for a business or first class ticket.
    Flying these days is very inhumane and it’s going to take congress to step in and say that the airlines are going to far.
    Wish it was the market place that would dictate things on seat size, but with all of the mergers and limited seats, we are stuck with what we have.

  5. I wouldn’t say that they dont care about about comfort and so they are sticking it to you by retiring their 747s. The 747 is almost 40 years old now. A lot of technology has improved over the last 40 years. The A380s and 787s are on the market now and this has pushed planes like the 777 to secondary markets making them more available. All of these planes have technological improvements over the 747. The A380 and 787 in particular are far more comfortable than the 747 is, and most notably they can travel farther, faster, and with better fuel economy. All of this has allowed airlines (contrary to popular belief) to lower prices and offer improved comfort. Also newer airliners have lower carbon emissions and are more fuel efficient.

    Now add the fact that repairing a 747 is expensive because of limited parts (compared to newer planes) and limited mechanics experienced or licensed to repair a 747. In addition fewer pilots are certified on 747s compared to newer widebody jets.

    United isn’t retiring the 747 because they hate you, they are retiring it because there are better planes out there and it isn’t affordable to maintain an older jet now.

  6. Great plane. Our last flight on a United 747 was Global First – seats 1A and 1K at the nose. Great last memory to have.

  7. It’s a shame that United and Delta had to end 747 service. It just points out the continuing era in which airlines don’t care about passenger comfort anymore and since the cost of the 747 is more than other planes like the 737, the airlines will sacrifice the comfort of passenger for their bottom line. For me in Washington D.C. the only airlines to fly the 747s are British Airways to London and Lufthansa to Frankfurt. Since United is lying to us all with Polars and still nine months later not flying a plane with Polaris seating out of Dulles, I have booked the British 747 going to London and a 380 coming home. Looking forward to flying both of these planes.

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