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
May 15, 2019, 3:43 pm
#451
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2
We’re flying OSL-LHR-LAS and SFO-LHR-OSL on the way back. Prices are currently £1600 for the two of us
Happy to hear your ideas on other options!
May 17, 2019, 3:39 pm
#454
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,911
Hi,
If you get one of the enhanced aircraft then it will have the improved IFE. Apart from that ( and a cleaner cabin) there will be little change in F ( but the soft products and food changes are across the fleet)
Regards
TBS
If you get one of the enhanced aircraft then it will have the improved IFE. Apart from that ( and a cleaner cabin) there will be little change in F ( but the soft products and food changes are across the fleet)
Regards
TBS
May 18, 2019, 2:08 am
#455
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
A random dip sample in January suggests it's all mid-Js, ie aircraft to which this thread applies. I expect it to be pretty random whether any particular flight will get an aircraft with the enhanced refresh (incl the new IFE).
May 18, 2019, 2:48 am
#456
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 624
However, within the “refurbished” category, it seems to be purely potluck on whether the route is operated by one of the aircraft that had the “standard” refurbishment (i.e. seat covers, lighting etc) or had the enhanced refurb including new IFE. So taking a device with some books, movies etc downloaded would be a wise precaution.
May 31, 2019, 7:44 pm
#457
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
I’m beginning to think I’m a mid-J magnet.
I fly BA twice a year on a round trip from the West coast back to the UK for Christmas and the New Year. I started doing this about 3 years ago when AA and US Airways initiated their merger. I lived in Phoenix for several years, so tended to stick with *A flights back then as I credited to US Airways.
My first round trip trip was booked out of SAN and I was scheduled on a Mid-J both ways, but the outbound eventually switch to a Hi-J. The inbound remained a Mid-J, so I got to see what all the fuss was about. Year 2 saw me get lucky and I had a Hi-J both ways. Last year was year 3 and I flew in and out of LAX as the timings were better and I wanted to come back on the 787 and it didn’t hurt that it was $1K cheaper to do LHR-LAX-SAN in F vs. the direct LHR-SAN route. The outbound on the 747 also had better timing that the SAN service as it gets into LHR much earlier , but the LAX flight ended up switching to a Mid-J config and not one of the refurbished one either.
I have my flights booked back to the UK for next Christmas. 747 from LAX and 747 to SAN. Both were originally Hi-J, but the return to SAN has now been switched to a Mid-J. OK it will be refurbished, but who knows what IFE will be available and free WiFi looks to be a non starter too.
Fingers crossed for another switch and no, not to the LAX flight!
I fly BA twice a year on a round trip from the West coast back to the UK for Christmas and the New Year. I started doing this about 3 years ago when AA and US Airways initiated their merger. I lived in Phoenix for several years, so tended to stick with *A flights back then as I credited to US Airways.
My first round trip trip was booked out of SAN and I was scheduled on a Mid-J both ways, but the outbound eventually switch to a Hi-J. The inbound remained a Mid-J, so I got to see what all the fuss was about. Year 2 saw me get lucky and I had a Hi-J both ways. Last year was year 3 and I flew in and out of LAX as the timings were better and I wanted to come back on the 787 and it didn’t hurt that it was $1K cheaper to do LHR-LAX-SAN in F vs. the direct LHR-SAN route. The outbound on the 747 also had better timing that the SAN service as it gets into LHR much earlier , but the LAX flight ended up switching to a Mid-J config and not one of the refurbished one either.
I have my flights booked back to the UK for next Christmas. 747 from LAX and 747 to SAN. Both were originally Hi-J, but the return to SAN has now been switched to a Mid-J. OK it will be refurbished, but who knows what IFE will be available and free WiFi looks to be a non starter too.
Fingers crossed for another switch and no, not to the LAX flight!
Jun 1, 2019, 12:32 am
#458
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,770
I’m beginning to think I’m a mid-J magnet.
I fly BA twice a year on a round trip from the West coast back to the UK for Christmas and the New Year. I started doing this about 3 years ago when AA and US Airways initiated their merger. I lived in Phoenix for several years, so tended to stick with *A flights back then as I credited to US Airways.
My first round trip trip was booked out of SAN and I was scheduled on a Mid-J both ways, but the outbound eventually switch to a Hi-J. The inbound remained a Mid-J, so I got to see what all the fuss was about. Year 2 saw me get lucky and I had a Hi-J both ways. Last year was year 3 and I flew in and out of LAX as the timings were better and I wanted to come back on the 787 and it didn’t hurt that it was $1K cheaper to do LHR-LAX-SAN in F vs. the direct LHR-SAN route. The outbound on the 747 also had better timing that the SAN service as it gets into LHR much earlier , but the LAX flight ended up switching to a Mid-J config and not one of the refurbished one either.
I have my flights booked back to the UK for next Christmas. 747 from LAX and 747 to SAN. Both were originally Hi-J, but the return to SAN has now been switched to a Mid-J. OK it will be refurbished, but who knows what IFE will be available and free WiFi looks to be a non starter too.
Fingers crossed for another switch and no, not to the LAX flight!
I fly BA twice a year on a round trip from the West coast back to the UK for Christmas and the New Year. I started doing this about 3 years ago when AA and US Airways initiated their merger. I lived in Phoenix for several years, so tended to stick with *A flights back then as I credited to US Airways.
My first round trip trip was booked out of SAN and I was scheduled on a Mid-J both ways, but the outbound eventually switch to a Hi-J. The inbound remained a Mid-J, so I got to see what all the fuss was about. Year 2 saw me get lucky and I had a Hi-J both ways. Last year was year 3 and I flew in and out of LAX as the timings were better and I wanted to come back on the 787 and it didn’t hurt that it was $1K cheaper to do LHR-LAX-SAN in F vs. the direct LHR-SAN route. The outbound on the 747 also had better timing that the SAN service as it gets into LHR much earlier , but the LAX flight ended up switching to a Mid-J config and not one of the refurbished one either.
I have my flights booked back to the UK for next Christmas. 747 from LAX and 747 to SAN. Both were originally Hi-J, but the return to SAN has now been switched to a Mid-J. OK it will be refurbished, but who knows what IFE will be available and free WiFi looks to be a non starter too.
Fingers crossed for another switch and no, not to the LAX flight!
Jun 1, 2019, 12:40 am
#459
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 71
However, within the “refurbished” category, it seems to be purely potluck on whether the route is operated by one of the aircraft that had the “standard” refurbishment (i.e. seat covers, lighting etc) or had the enhanced refurb including new IFE. So taking a device with some books, movies etc downloaded would be a wise precaution.
Also, should BA warn people about the embarrassment of the quality of these TV screens at booking? I.e. tell them to bring iPads and their own entertainment as they are still stuck in the late 90s?
Jun 1, 2019, 2:50 am
#460
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
Also, should BA warn people about the embarrassment of the quality of these TV screens at booking? I.e. tell them to bring iPads and their own entertainment as they are still stuck in the late 90s?
Jun 1, 2019, 3:22 am
#461
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 71
Who ever made the decision to keep those screens should be shot anyway. Better to manage expectations before the flight than the disappointment when you get on the plane. Until my dying day I will never comprehend how in First and Business in 2019 somebody actually is still in a job that thinks that IFE is acceptable. You could use this as a customer expectations case study for years to come.
Jun 1, 2019, 3:16 pm
#463
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
Jun 1, 2019, 3:34 pm
#465
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife
Programs: BAEC Blue, United MP member, Marriott Reward Silver member, IHG, KimptonKarma
Posts: 107
We are flying to SAN early November and it is T3, mid J which is very disappointing as I was looking forward to T5 high J for my first CW