Originally Posted by NickB

Presumably, this is a typo and you mean WT. For the rest, and apart from the comments on GUF2s and GGL line which have no application to me as a bottom-feeding GCH, I agree 100%.

Originally Posted by NickB

PS: I had not realised that there were still BA employees at NCE. I thought that they had all been TUPE'd (or rather the French equivalent) to the handling contractor.

Originally Posted by V10

You certainly have a valid standpoint, however I do think it's probably one that's in the minority and most travellers would pick getting from A to B in comfort as opposed to whatever provides a more subjective notion of nostalgia. It's telling to me that the biggest cheerleaders for the 747 (on this forum at least) are the lucky minority who get to experience it from the upper deck. People also talk about the takeoff experience on the 757, but aviation has now progressed beyond these previous generation aircraft. So it is with the 747, it's an old design and perhaps one now that only makes sense in a decreasing set of circumstances as newer aircraft take over. It's no accident that few airlines bought into the 747-8.

I daresay that every now and again it's nice to ride in a horse and carriage. I wouldn't choose to use one every day though - times have moved on. Mourn the eventual demise of the 747 if you must and be grateful for the opportunities for air travel that it opened up, but we must also look forward to the possibilities enabled by the next generations of aircraft rather than cling inexorably to the past.

Originally Posted by BLONDIEandDAGWOOD

Yes sir. Many times, including onboard the Qantas Longreach 747 flight that used to fly on the SYD to Dallas route. Quite frankly, I find myself more comfortable on an older 747-400 versus onboard a newer 777-300 with 10 seats across. My worst was San Fran to Frankfurt on the UA 747 in the rear of the plane. If that was the last remaining 747 option available, I would still pick that over flying in any of the so called newer model planes. Any sacrifice in comfort is well worth the nostalgia experienced when you 1) stare out at the magnificent beast from the terminal building knowing that you are about to board that plane, 2) once aboard, starting out of the window at all the smaller planes that you tower over (just not the same in an A380), and 3) the sensation when the thrust levers are pushed forward, you hear the four turbofans spool-up, ever so slowly picking-up speed. You sense a slight vibration followed by what is really a very big vibration. Seconds later, you have VR, the speed when you are committed, and then nearly 400 tons of metal, glass, rubber, people and duty free are being hauled into the air. Suddenly, the shuddering and rattling stop, the engine note rises, wings take the load and somehow, someway we are flying. You won't get a better yee-hah experience. Any true airplane connoisseur understands this, even if flying in economy. I actually have not yet even had the luxury yet of flying in the bubble. I did fly in the nose below the bubble once. It really really is a true travesty that one day in the near future, one will look out of the windows at Heathrow T5 and not see a single BA 747. That's why I applaud Lufthansa for carrying on the 747s by purchasing 747-8s, and will ALWAYS try route myself through Frankfurt when costs allow, even if it results in an inconvenience.

Originally Posted by LCSinTexas

Lot's of nostalgia, having grown up with this plane. I will also miss it when it is gone.

Originally Posted by BLONDIEandDAGWOOD

my fondest memories growing up before I hit my teens, was always when driving to the old Jan Smuts (now O.R. TAMBO International) airport in the backseat of the family car, as we would pass the Simba chips factory and approach the airport terminal, my dad would slow down the car and call my attention - then as we closed in on the International Terminal, you could see the bubble of 747s peeking over the Terminal building. I will always remember and cherish that first wave of excitement that pumps through the body at the first sighting. Even as an adult I still get goosebumps when approaching the same airport (although sadly the renovated terminal buildings block out the planes these days). Then he would drop my mom and me off at the drop-off section, and while he would go find parking, I would run off with my mom to the viewing deck on-top of the International Departures terminal and stare romantically at the many 747s. Although a BA 747 was always amongst them, my favorite one was always the KLM one. It really breaks my heart that the 747 is a dying breed and will one day be extinct. Hopefully the 747-8 can last for many more decades. What a truly magnificent magnificent marvel. I wish more travelers cared like we do, but sadly we are in the minority - sigh....