Last 747 Flight
Oct 1, 2016, 6:17 am
#76
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Beijing, Paris, Edinburgh
Programs: Marco Polo Diamond, Flying Blue Platinum for Life, GHA Black, IHG Platinum
Posts: 450
Oct 1, 2016, 10:37 am
#78
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Homeless
Programs: CX MPC
Posts: 110
Nothing at HKIA. Just loud greeting from 8-10 staff standing in a line at the gate saying "Welcome to Hong Kong!!!".
Sorry I'm not much of a photographer so other than some personal pics I didn't take anything worth sharing. There were plenty of other FlyerTalkers on the flight who spend a lot of time taking photos and I'm sure eventually those will make their way here.
Flight was good, upper deck J pax who were near the cockpit could also go inside in and take photos with the crew while the preflight checks were going on. Tours of crew quarters available during the flight. There was a special menu printed for today's flight (at least in J, don't know about F/W/Y) specifying that it was for today's flight only. Numbered certificates were given out while boarding.
Flight was basically a party atmosphere, on upper J, most of the time the seats were empty as people were milling around. Galleys and aisles full of people.
Some people in F/J actually booked this flight without realising it was a "last 747 flight" and were really annoyed with all the extra fanfare and "annoyances", just wanted to get from point A to B with minimal fuss. At one point they had to close off the F cabin as there was too much foot traffic of "tourists".
45 DM and 20 OWE on the flight.
Sorry I'm not much of a photographer so other than some personal pics I didn't take anything worth sharing. There were plenty of other FlyerTalkers on the flight who spend a lot of time taking photos and I'm sure eventually those will make their way here.
Flight was good, upper deck J pax who were near the cockpit could also go inside in and take photos with the crew while the preflight checks were going on. Tours of crew quarters available during the flight. There was a special menu printed for today's flight (at least in J, don't know about F/W/Y) specifying that it was for today's flight only. Numbered certificates were given out while boarding.
Flight was basically a party atmosphere, on upper J, most of the time the seats were empty as people were milling around. Galleys and aisles full of people.
Some people in F/J actually booked this flight without realising it was a "last 747 flight" and were really annoyed with all the extra fanfare and "annoyances", just wanted to get from point A to B with minimal fuss. At one point they had to close off the F cabin as there was too much foot traffic of "tourists".
45 DM and 20 OWE on the flight.
Oct 1, 2016, 12:57 pm
#79
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Reading all of the posts here, especially from those who were on the last 747 flight, it is rather disappointing to see how "mismanaged" the experience was.
Either CX execs really had no clue about the passion many have for the Queen of the Skies and the sadness, perhaps, at the retirement of the pax fleet, or they just didn't care. The airline sold seats on the flight and that was all that mattered.
It would have been an excellent marketing opportunity to make it an event. Have a few of the birds set up for "last flights" on some routes and sell the tickets almost like a SMD - have a speaker or two, maybe a chief pilot, throw in some eats. Maybe some souvenirs of the trip.
Looking at how CX and a few others handle these things, I see them as huge missed opportunities to engage with their most passionate flyers and customers.
At least AF put out this awesome video (needs full screen to really feel the visuals). 3 min.
Either CX execs really had no clue about the passion many have for the Queen of the Skies and the sadness, perhaps, at the retirement of the pax fleet, or they just didn't care. The airline sold seats on the flight and that was all that mattered.
It would have been an excellent marketing opportunity to make it an event. Have a few of the birds set up for "last flights" on some routes and sell the tickets almost like a SMD - have a speaker or two, maybe a chief pilot, throw in some eats. Maybe some souvenirs of the trip.
Looking at how CX and a few others handle these things, I see them as huge missed opportunities to engage with their most passionate flyers and customers.
At least AF put out this awesome video (needs full screen to really feel the visuals). 3 min.
Oct 1, 2016, 3:40 pm
#80
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marco Polo
Posts: 546
CX has always been conservative when it comes to special events. They essentially did nothing for the first A350 flight and if I recall also nothing for the first 77W flight (mind you they had 777s already so they get a pass for that). Would've liked to see something else other than a staff only flight for the 747 retirement.
Oct 1, 2016, 6:25 pm
#81
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: PNW
Programs: FreeAgent; DL Silver; IHG Diamond/ Ambassador
Posts: 706
CX has always been conservative when it comes to special events. They essentially did nothing for the first A350 flight and if I recall also nothing for the first 77W flight (mind you they had 777s already so they get a pass for that). Would've liked to see something else other than a staff only flight for the 747 retirement.
And with the recent financial situation, I think they will only get cheaper.
Oct 1, 2016, 7:11 pm
#83
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: TPE
Programs: CX Silver
Posts: 146
Even the heavens opened up
Now that we've seen how people react when a 747 retires, I wonder what will happen when the 777 goes into retirement. I think for a lot of us she carries a lot of memories as well.
Oct 1, 2016, 7:16 pm
#84
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,212
I was disappointed there were no water cannon salute as well. But to be fair, it was pouring rain to the point that my window was a complete blur. It was a very sad flight for me too. The B747 was a regular back in my student days, to the point that seeing the aircraft is like seeing home.
Now that we've seen how people react when a 747 retires, I wonder what will happen when the 777 goes into retirement. I think for a lot of us she carries a lot of memories as well.
Now that we've seen how people react when a 747 retires, I wonder what will happen when the 777 goes into retirement. I think for a lot of us she carries a lot of memories as well.
I'm sure when the 777 goes into retirement, there will be a similar sentiment, although I assume much of the nostalgia over the 747 revolves around the glamorous early days of flying with Pan Am.... as well as its size
Oct 1, 2016, 7:49 pm
#85
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: CX - DM; Hilton - Diamond, Marriott - Titanium
Posts: 542
I am glad I didn't even bother booking on this last flight. CX regular service has already been very disappointing enough...
Oct 1, 2016, 10:53 pm
#86
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,506
Nothing at HKIA. Just loud greeting from 8-10 staff standing in a line at the gate saying "Welcome to Hong Kong!!!".
Sorry I'm not much of a photographer so other than some personal pics I didn't take anything worth sharing. There were plenty of other FlyerTalkers on the flight who spend a lot of time taking photos and I'm sure eventually those will make their way here.
Flight was good, upper deck J pax who were near the cockpit could also go inside in and take photos with the crew while the preflight checks were going on. Tours of crew quarters available during the flight. There was a special menu printed for today's flight (at least in J, don't know about F/W/Y) specifying that it was for today's flight only. Numbered certificates were given out while boarding.
Flight was basically a party atmosphere, on upper J, most of the time the seats were empty as people were milling around. Galleys and aisles full of people.
Some people in F/J actually booked this flight without realising it was a "last 747 flight" and were really annoyed with all the extra fanfare and "annoyances", just wanted to get from point A to B with minimal fuss. At one point they had to close off the F cabin as there was too much foot traffic of "tourists".
45 DM and 20 OWE on the flight.
Sorry I'm not much of a photographer so other than some personal pics I didn't take anything worth sharing. There were plenty of other FlyerTalkers on the flight who spend a lot of time taking photos and I'm sure eventually those will make their way here.
Flight was good, upper deck J pax who were near the cockpit could also go inside in and take photos with the crew while the preflight checks were going on. Tours of crew quarters available during the flight. There was a special menu printed for today's flight (at least in J, don't know about F/W/Y) specifying that it was for today's flight only. Numbered certificates were given out while boarding.
Flight was basically a party atmosphere, on upper J, most of the time the seats were empty as people were milling around. Galleys and aisles full of people.
Some people in F/J actually booked this flight without realising it was a "last 747 flight" and were really annoyed with all the extra fanfare and "annoyances", just wanted to get from point A to B with minimal fuss. At one point they had to close off the F cabin as there was too much foot traffic of "tourists".
45 DM and 20 OWE on the flight.
Oct 2, 2016, 9:59 pm
#87
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, Watsons Wine Burgundy
Posts: 415
Oct 3, 2016, 1:49 am
#88
Join Date: May 2016
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SQ Gold
Posts: 81
I flew Philippine a couple of years back from MNL-SFO and didnt know it was a 747 retirement flight and saw this video recently documenting it... They really made a proper send-off with water cannons and special lighting. I wont forget it.. CX could have done better with the impact the aircraft had on its brand.
Oct 3, 2016, 3:20 am
#89
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Tokyo, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Dublin
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 880
Oct 3, 2016, 5:47 am
#90
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,171
fast03- thanks for the link! Classy and not over the top- heck, that's what CX is supposed to be!
Almost any aviation fan in this age, would have a special corner for the 747.
Pity that CX came up so short in giving a right proper farewell to the plane that played such an important role in its history. As posted by others- representative of the airline these days.
1A just won't be the same ever again. (That was my first CX F experience, 5 years and a bit back- a crosswind made for a delightful approach to SFO with the fuselage curve making for awesome neck-crane peeks at the runway- the grainy old Blackberry clicked pic of my windows just before boarding that day..everything in front of the 4th blocked window was 'mine'- think that's when my love for CX started).
Almost any aviation fan in this age, would have a special corner for the 747.
Pity that CX came up so short in giving a right proper farewell to the plane that played such an important role in its history. As posted by others- representative of the airline these days.
1A just won't be the same ever again. (That was my first CX F experience, 5 years and a bit back- a crosswind made for a delightful approach to SFO with the fuselage curve making for awesome neck-crane peeks at the runway- the grainy old Blackberry clicked pic of my windows just before boarding that day..everything in front of the 4th blocked window was 'mine'- think that's when my love for CX started).