United 747 Farewell & Remembrances Master Thread
Sep 20, 2017, 10:47 am
#286
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Location: Honolulu Harbor
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Sep 20, 2017, 4:13 pm
#287
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
I have been reaching out to the United team on Facebook since mid March about the "last flight" and have always gotten non committal responses. With no other information to rely upon, I booked an SFO-ICN-SFO round trip with a return on 29 October. Keep in mind it was F on the way out and C on the return, and I paid more than I've ever spent on an airline ticket just for the nostalgia. Now, UA has pulled the rug out from under us and added this "really the last flight" in November. Unfortunately, I was tied down on some important family business yesterday and the flight was sold out before I could respond.
I'm now stuck with a very expensive flight that isn't really the last one and feeling like I've been had. Interestingly, the final flight would also have been my 2MM with United.
Today, I noticed the Buy on Board menu in the seatback advertising the end of the 747 routes, with a very specific mention that it would end in October. Seriously, they just figured out that SFO-HNL was the original 747 flight? Some marketing genius thought a Twitter announcement was the way to blow this out without considering the many loyal flyers who actually spent countless BIS miles in this airplane for decades?
Fortunately, there was a schedule change on the return connection that has given me the option to cancel the whole itinerary. UA would have gotten an extra 2.5K over the minimum 1K PQM this year for this flight. Now, I can cancel and just do the minimum to make it over the goal post.
Thoughts on sticking with the "also ran" flight or just cancelling?
I'm doing a one way on next Fri SFO-PVG in 1K. Figured I might as well get value out of my miles. That will be my final UA 747 flight. My return will be via NRT-LAX on JL/AA. I'll be in their 787. Fitting given that I'll be leaving on one of the older planes and coming back on one of the newer ones.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 20, 2017 at 4:46 pm Reason: repaired quote
Sep 20, 2017, 7:41 pm
#288
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,268
Well, I thought I took my final 747 flights but I managed to book one last flight, SFO-ICN in a month. The timing kinda sucks, have to take a 6am flight form the east coast. UD was pretty open, picked 15K.
Sep 20, 2017, 7:54 pm
#289
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 729
Booked SFO>NRT>ICN>SFO to try out the 773 for the first time, 5th freedom for first and last time, and 747 for the last time. R space open on all legs! Weekend before it retires. Only sad thing was the UD only had one seat left (I took the last one, friend is down below, hoping one more opens up between now and then)
Sep 20, 2017, 8:03 pm
#290
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: United Mileage Plus, American AAdvantage, Hilton Honors, SPG
Posts: 98
Well this sucks! I booked UA892 from ICN-SFO on October 29th months ago! Guessing I'm not alone given that First and Business have been sold out for a long time on this flight. That's what I get for staying away from FT for a couple of days I guess. Congrats to those who got seats, guess it wasn't meant to be :-( Now the question, cancel Seoul or go anyway?
Sep 20, 2017, 9:11 pm
#291
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
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some images from image.salescomm.united.com
These are United's images.
David
David
Sep 20, 2017, 9:35 pm
#292
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
Sep 20, 2017, 10:25 pm
#293
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
Very nice photos (assume courtesy of UA) ^
"battleship grey" has NEVER grown on me, ditto the last Tulip reincarnation.
That said, UACO COUA should have stuck with the Tulip.
IMHO, sCO tail is somewhat timeless; sUA Tulip is somewhat Iconic (last incarnation being somewhat lame).
But my vote goes to lame iconic over timeless.
That said, UACO COUA should have stuck with the Tulip.
IMHO, sCO tail is somewhat timeless; sUA Tulip is somewhat Iconic (last incarnation being somewhat lame).
But my vote goes to lame iconic over timeless.
Sep 20, 2017, 11:15 pm
#294
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: TOA
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Sep 21, 2017, 12:03 am
#295
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,166
Very nice photos (assume courtesy of UA) ^
"battleship grey" has NEVER grown on me, ditto the last Tulip reincarnation.
That said, UACO COUA should have stuck with the Tulip.
IMHO, sCO tail is somewhat timeless; sUA Tulip is somewhat Iconic (last incarnation being somewhat lame).
But my vote goes to lame iconic over timeless.
"battleship grey" has NEVER grown on me, ditto the last Tulip reincarnation.
That said, UACO COUA should have stuck with the Tulip.
IMHO, sCO tail is somewhat timeless; sUA Tulip is somewhat Iconic (last incarnation being somewhat lame).
But my vote goes to lame iconic over timeless.
i may risk the wrath of spouse and buy that towel! "Worldwide service" made that livery work for me.
Sep 21, 2017, 12:55 am
#296
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
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gosh I loved the final tail treatment on the PMUA livery. The prior 2 resemble a tulip sticker placed on the tail. The last one was sort of integrated. And the tiny bit of red on the tulip nest to the word United. and the winged letter T. So many little details working so well.
i may risk the wrath of spouse and buy that towel! "Worldwide service" made that livery work for me.
i may risk the wrath of spouse and buy that towel! "Worldwide service" made that livery work for me.
David
Sep 21, 2017, 2:12 am
#297
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: UA 1K 1MM / AA PP, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 949
Well this sucks! I booked UA892 from ICN-SFO on October 29th months ago! Guessing I'm not alone given that First and Business have been sold out for a long time on this flight. That's what I get for staying away from FT for a couple of days I guess. Congrats to those who got seats, guess it wasn't meant to be :-( Now the question, cancel Seoul or go anyway?
Right. Agents aren't allowed to waitlist a flight that is sold out. Although when there is a will there is a way...
Sep 21, 2017, 4:05 am
#299
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
Maybe I'm in the minority but I hated the last tulip livery. It looked so... dated especially compared to the current livery (ex-CO)
I will say though that I loved battleship grey, wish they had kept it but used a sans serif typeface. The serif is what dated the livery IMO.
I will say though that I loved battleship grey, wish they had kept it but used a sans serif typeface. The serif is what dated the livery IMO.