Apr 5, 2018, 3:58 am
Last edit by: Globaliser
In April 2018 BA announced that they had started a programme to refurbish the cabins on the Mid-J 747-400 fleet. In January 2020, this programme was completed.
As part of the refurbishment all of the aircraft involved have undergone a basic refresh which consisted of:
* Full aircraft deep clean
* Seats in WT/WTP refurbished with new seat foams and cushions as on Super Hi-J aircraft
9 of the aircraft received an ENHANCED refurbishment to bring the cabin up to the same standard as the Super Hi-J 747-400 fleet. This consisted of what is listed above plus:
* New carpets fitted throughout
* All curtains replaced
* New Panasonic IFE fitted in all classes
Note: It was initially believed that the enhanced refurbishment included LED mood lighting throughout, but this is not the case. All retained standard lighting. There were no plans to install WiFi to any Mid-J configured 747-400 aircraft.
Note: Aircraft that have undergone an ENHANCED refurbishment are shown in red
Aircraft are listed below in the order that they were refurbished and show return to service date, along with retirement date where applicable.
G-CIVU - 11 October 2019
G-BNLY - 24 November 2019
Mid-J 747 Cabin Refresh
Nov 15, 2018, 7:36 am
#241
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 587
Nov 15, 2018, 2:06 pm
#242
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: BA (Gold), GF (Gold), EY (Silver), EK; Hilton (Diamond)
Posts: 83
Nov 15, 2018, 3:06 pm
#243
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: BAEC Blue, Flying Blue Silver, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold
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Nov 15, 2018, 6:39 pm
#245
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
yup, when I booked this in March, it was a Hi J bird. I got an EF aircraft change alert around July and noticed that it was still a 747 and I still had my UD seat, so I figured that they had swapped it for a mid J and sure enough they had. I guess they could always swap it out with a Hi J at the last minute, but I’m not holding my breath. Probably more chance of that happening vs getting one of the two refurbed mid J birds.
Nov 17, 2018, 10:54 am
#246
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist, Marriot LT Titanium, UA 2.4MM, HH Gold, AS MVPG
Posts: 3,400
yup, when I booked this in March, it was a Hi J bird. I got an EF aircraft change alert around July and noticed that it was still a 747 and I still had my UD seat, so I figured that they had swapped it for a mid J and sure enough they had. I guess they could always swap it out with a Hi J at the last minute, but I’m not holding my breath. Probably more chance of that happening vs getting one of the two refurbed mid J birds.
Nov 18, 2018, 11:05 am
#247
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
I have set up another aircraft change alert on EF which so far hasn’t triggered. The seat map on EF also still shows mid J. The UD is absolutely rammed (so is F) with only 62K and the blocked 64A showing as unassigned (only 1E avail in F) The LD is showing half the J seats have been assigned. Right now I will take the mid J and crappy IFE and have my UD seat selection stick, rather than chance a seating reshuffle if a Hi J gets switched in.
Nov 20, 2018, 2:16 am
#249
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 22
Nov 20, 2018, 5:26 am
#250
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
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Nov 20, 2018, 5:49 am
#251
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Yes, this programme was completed some time ago:-
Nov 26, 2018, 10:28 am
#253
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Welcome to FT, NoodlerUSA11!
There is no website you can go to at this stage for the registrations of the aircraft actually operating your flights.
At some point up to a couple of days before your flight, you may see an actual aircraft allocated to your flight if you go to a site like fr24.com - but you are not guaranteed to see a specific aircraft allocated to your flight before your flight actually takes off; and even if you do, that is liable to change at any time up to boarding; or the website may simply be wrong (as it sometimes is).
If you want to see which aircraft have historically been operating your flights, you can try the trackers on thebasource.com.
At some point up to a couple of days before your flight, you may see an actual aircraft allocated to your flight if you go to a site like fr24.com - but you are not guaranteed to see a specific aircraft allocated to your flight before your flight actually takes off; and even if you do, that is liable to change at any time up to boarding; or the website may simply be wrong (as it sometimes is).
If you want to see which aircraft have historically been operating your flights, you can try the trackers on thebasource.com.
Nov 26, 2018, 10:39 am
#254
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,776
And I will add my greeting and welcome to you too, NoodlerUSA11, please make yourself at home here.
I think it's probably worth leaving it until nearer the time, but as a general point, BA have a near monopoly on that route and so tend not to be put their best aircraft on it. So today's service is being done by G-CIVB and that's a mid J aircraft with 52 seats in Club World.
I think it's probably worth leaving it until nearer the time, but as a general point, BA have a near monopoly on that route and so tend not to be put their best aircraft on it. So today's service is being done by G-CIVB and that's a mid J aircraft with 52 seats in Club World.
