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
Mar 19, 2019, 5:03 pm
#362
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 10
I saw a posting earlier that indicated CIVK was going to get a new IFE, but the other listings I’ve seen have it only getting a Basic refresh last November. Can anyone confirm whether it has new IFE or just new seat cushions? Also, I understand that CIVB will get the Enhanced refresh, but anybody know when?
Mar 19, 2019, 6:29 pm
#363
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Silver; SPG Gold; UA; DL; AA
Posts: 207
Mar 20, 2019, 3:25 am
#364
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
CIVB is in Dublin for repaint to retro Negus paint. Should be out soon ish. [/left]
Mar 20, 2019, 4:48 am
#365
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 129
G-CIVO arrived even earlier at 9:05am this morning from Denver- I guess that for the long layovers like that the plane is towed to engineering (I fear minimal hoovering based on the images on here) but for only just over 3 hours planes like G-CIVC will simply remain at the gate between flights.
Mar 26, 2019, 9:29 am
#368
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 211
Mar 26, 2019, 2:35 pm
#370
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 553
2 of the lavs I used on G-CIVJ the other day smelled like public toilets, they were absolutely vile. Surely it wouldn’t cost a lot to re-lino the lav floors when they do the recovering?
People claimed that the 767s were falling apart but CIVJ AND CIVM, which have both had attention in the last 12 months, are in far worse condition. I’ll be sad to see the 744s go but some of these mid-J birds should already be in South Wales.
People claimed that the 767s were falling apart but CIVJ AND CIVM, which have both had attention in the last 12 months, are in far worse condition. I’ll be sad to see the 744s go but some of these mid-J birds should already be in South Wales.
Mar 26, 2019, 5:01 pm
#371
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 22
2 of the lavs I used on G-CIVJ the other day smelled like public toilets, they were absolutely vile. Surely it wouldn’t cost a lot to re-lino the lav floors when they do the recovering?
People claimed that the 767s were falling apart but CIVJ AND CIVM, which have both had attention in the last 12 months, are in far worse condition. I’ll be sad to see the 744s go but some of these mid-J birds should already be in South Wales.
People claimed that the 767s were falling apart but CIVJ AND CIVM, which have both had attention in the last 12 months, are in far worse condition. I’ll be sad to see the 744s go but some of these mid-J birds should already be in South Wales.
ooh 'eck. Fear for my BA275 trip to Vegas next month..... The kids are so excited for their first trip on a plane with 'their own TV'........ no doubt the blooming things won't even be working.
You get what you pay for I guess, the flights were ridiculously cheap.
Mar 27, 2019, 2:31 am
#372
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,262
ooh 'eck. Fear for my BA275 trip to Vegas next month..... The kids are so excited for their first trip on a plane with 'their own TV'........ no doubt the blooming things won't even be working.
You get what you pay for I guess, the flights were ridiculously cheap.
You get what you pay for I guess, the flights were ridiculously cheap.
Mar 27, 2019, 3:50 am
#373
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver (temp demotion), *A Silver, HH Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 493
For what it's worth, I ended up flying on a fully refurbished frame outbound (CIVO) and an un-refurbished frame inbound (CIVU).
To anyone reading this thread with gnawed fingernails, trying to work out whether they'll get a refurbished frame or not, I wouldn't worry too much (at least not in J). While obviously CIVO was great - just like flying on a Super-Hi J, with excellent IFE quality - both planes were equally clean and comfortable with equally good Mixed Fleet service (as usual). Lovely cool cabin temperature on both flights, too. The only thing I would say on an un-refurbished frame is to take your own entertainment -- it wasn't working on CIVU, and required multiple re-sets.
I'm guessing that the differences will be more pronounced in Y and W.
To anyone reading this thread with gnawed fingernails, trying to work out whether they'll get a refurbished frame or not, I wouldn't worry too much (at least not in J). While obviously CIVO was great - just like flying on a Super-Hi J, with excellent IFE quality - both planes were equally clean and comfortable with equally good Mixed Fleet service (as usual). Lovely cool cabin temperature on both flights, too. The only thing I would say on an un-refurbished frame is to take your own entertainment -- it wasn't working on CIVU, and required multiple re-sets.
I'm guessing that the differences will be more pronounced in Y and W.
So in addition to loading up films, take a power source. I was lucky, one FA loaned me a two pin phone charger as super-organised me removed his Euro adapter from his travel bag as I was going to South Africa and replaced it with a SA plug.
But everything else was absolutely fine - in the context of flying in 20 year old planes! Don’t over think and enjoy the trip.
Apr 3, 2019, 11:15 am
#374
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 10
Just noticed on BA Source that -BNLN was in Cardiff the last week of March. Any idea why? I'm hoping that it at least got a cleaning. I'm flying 288 from PHX-LHR next week and don't want -BNLN, BNLY, CIVB or CIVU. Keeping my fingers crossed...