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
Jan 8, 2019, 7:21 am
#274
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 29
I am flying on tomorrow on g-bnln which is due to be retired in July of this year. I booked WTP and wondering how old the seats are going to be... I've read they are still from the 90's? Also, wondering if it is worth trying to upgrade to club given the age of the seats and plane.... Can't find any pictures.
Jan 8, 2019, 10:54 am
#275
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 22
I am flying on tomorrow on g-bnln which is due to be retired in July of this year. I booked WTP and wondering how old the seats are going to be... I've read they are still from the 90's? Also, wondering if it is worth trying to upgrade to club given the age of the seats and plane.... Can't find any pictures.
WTP will look like this
Club will look like this
They're both pretty old. Slightly newer seats in club but both have the old entertainment system. If it was me I’d save my money and stay in WTP. If someone else was paying I’d upgrade 😁
Jan 8, 2019, 2:09 pm
#276
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 29
WTP will look like this https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kg3wwVrSOTo
Club will look like this https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eogIaNL0bF8
They're both pretty old. Slightly newer seats in club but both have the old entertainment system. If it was me I’d save my money and stay in WTP. If someone else was paying I’d upgrade 😁
Jan 9, 2019, 4:28 pm
#277
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA Exec Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 128
Saw on The BA Source that G-CIVJ went over to Cardiff yesterday so based on the Wiki this may well be for it's WT/WTP seat cover refresh.
G-CIVA was doing some ground runs at Cardiff earlier this week too so hopefully will return back to service this week following a full refurb including new IFE in all cabins
G-CIVA was doing some ground runs at Cardiff earlier this week too so hopefully will return back to service this week following a full refurb including new IFE in all cabins
Jan 9, 2019, 7:43 pm
#278
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,677
I was on a recent business class flight from Miami to London; a 747.
Compared with my prior trip on Qantas in business, these are light years a part.
BA's seats are super uncomfortable and small. Honestly, I don't know how some people lie on them, I barely fit in and I'm pretty small.
Compared with my prior trip on Qantas in business, these are light years a part.
BA's seats are super uncomfortable and small. Honestly, I don't know how some people lie on them, I barely fit in and I'm pretty small.
Jan 10, 2019, 4:47 am
#279
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Platinum; Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 788
I was on a recent business class flight from Miami to London; a 747.
Compared with my prior trip on Qantas in business, these are light years a part.
BA's seats are super uncomfortable and small. Honestly, I don't know how some people lie on them, I barely fit in and I'm pretty small.
Compared with my prior trip on Qantas in business, these are light years a part.
BA's seats are super uncomfortable and small. Honestly, I don't know how some people lie on them, I barely fit in and I'm pretty small.
Jan 13, 2019, 1:51 am
#280
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 22
Saw on The BA Source that G-CIVJ went over to Cardiff yesterday so based on the Wiki this may well be for it's WT/WTP seat cover refresh.
G-CIVA was doing some ground runs at Cardiff earlier this week too so hopefully will return back to service this week following a full refurb including new IFE in all cabins
G-CIVA was doing some ground runs at Cardiff earlier this week too so hopefully will return back to service this week following a full refurb including new IFE in all cabins
Looks like (on Flightradar24) G-CIVA preparing to reposition from Cardiff right now and back into service this evening scheduled to fly BA59 LHR-CPT.
The % chance of getting a non-refurbished bird reduces further, with a nice steady stream of refurbs due over the coming months, hooray! 🎉
Jan 13, 2019, 11:28 am
#281
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 22
Looks like (on Flightradar24) G-CIVA preparing to reposition from Cardiff right now and back into service this evening scheduled to fly BA59 LHR-CPT.
The % chance of getting a non-refurbished bird reduces further, with a nice steady stream of refurbs due over the coming months, hooray! 🎉
Jan 16, 2019, 2:58 pm
#282
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 9
I just discovered this great forum! I will be traveling in Nov. 2019 - LHR to PHX in Premium, Economy (I think you refer to it as WTP?) - After MUCH looking and asking--I have settled on seats 15 AB (I'd prefer 12 AB, but they won't assign bulkhead ahead) - anyway-- I am so excited--after reading thorough zillions of pages -- to have learned about the equipment names (G-CIVD, etc.) - it's fun! I have really heard bad things about the BA 747-400's - but I am encouraged to see that I have a shot at least of getting one with an updated cabin with better IFE-- although since we in Phoenix are low of the food chain for BA...I am not holding my breath. But I will hope... I was so paranoid about the old planes that I booked one leg (Going over PHX to LHR on AA- once of their 777-200s. That was not an option for me on the way home...so, I am on the 747-400 with BA. I used basoource.com to see the PHX equipment history using the tracker--that was fun--and I really enjoyed all the information shared here--you guys are MUCH nicer than the Cruise Critic forum I am on! :-)
So.... what I learned about the seats in the Premium Economy (WTP?) cabin on the 747-400 (52 WC seats) - I think all this research is PRE any refurbishing
Row 15 seats on an aisle seem to have movable armrests-- seem like no others do
Most of the foot rests seem to be broken.
IFE screens are suckey--small and 90's distorted - when working
Bathrooms are not an issue in row 15, although you are served food & drink last, but apparently there is an ability to recline well in this row (?) - oh and the Club seating Galley snacks could be easily obtained (LOL)
By all accounts the lack of movable armrests make seat feel narrower and if someone is reclined in front of you (except bulkhead of course) standing up is not happening and one must bend a great deal and awkwardly slide to get out of the seat
Generally all reports cited good legroom in all seats
Location of this cabin in apparently near to some exit stairs...so getting off first is usually talked about as a plus in what I read
Would love to hear any more you guys have on the planes used for Phoenix routes and the WTP class on the 747-400s on BA...
Cheers--Traci
So.... what I learned about the seats in the Premium Economy (WTP?) cabin on the 747-400 (52 WC seats) - I think all this research is PRE any refurbishing
Row 15 seats on an aisle seem to have movable armrests-- seem like no others do
Most of the foot rests seem to be broken.
IFE screens are suckey--small and 90's distorted - when working
Bathrooms are not an issue in row 15, although you are served food & drink last, but apparently there is an ability to recline well in this row (?) - oh and the Club seating Galley snacks could be easily obtained (LOL)
By all accounts the lack of movable armrests make seat feel narrower and if someone is reclined in front of you (except bulkhead of course) standing up is not happening and one must bend a great deal and awkwardly slide to get out of the seat
Generally all reports cited good legroom in all seats
Location of this cabin in apparently near to some exit stairs...so getting off first is usually talked about as a plus in what I read
Would love to hear any more you guys have on the planes used for Phoenix routes and the WTP class on the 747-400s on BA...
Cheers--Traci
Jan 16, 2019, 3:18 pm
#283
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,221
TraciBaker, with 7 posts, I’m not sure if you have had an official welcome to the BA forum, so far. Somebody may be along shortly to do this. If you are travelling in November this year, your chances of a fully refurbished 747 to Phoenix should improve further as the program progresses. Though, not all of the fleet are receiving the updated IFE.
Jan 16, 2019, 3:46 pm
#284
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 9
Yikes--I am quite the poster! LOL
Thanks for the warm welcome TedToToe. :-) I am hopeful for a nice journey...it'll be part of a "once -in-a-lifetime" 12 day Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona.
Thanks for the warm welcome TedToToe. :-) I am hopeful for a nice journey...it'll be part of a "once -in-a-lifetime" 12 day Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona.
Last edited by TraciBaker; Jan 16, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Jan 16, 2019, 4:32 pm
#285
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
For what it’s worth, we had a refurbed aircraft to PHX in November. The IFE was far more usable than in the past (not much else changed in F). Over the course of a year nearly every BA mid-J 747 aircraft flies to PHX.