Does anyone remember the 747s?
 

I read the other day that Continental used to have 747s in their fleet. I believe there was a press release saying that after 1998 CO was dumping the remaining 3. I never flew one of the CO 747s, but I was wondering what they were like and if anyone has any pictures of them. Also why did CO take them out of service?

Yes..I flew BF EWR to FRA in `93 on a 747-100 and returned on a 747-200..Also in 97 I took the 747-200 BF Upper Deck on CO (Air Mike) HNL to NRT..I think they were just too big for the markets and they were gas guzzlers..It was a super smooth ride and I will always remember how impressed I was at the size of the AC and how it got off the ground..I remember the BF crew wearing the white dress jacket during the service (as opposed to the blue one)..It was an experience il never forget..:)

EWR-LGW. 1987. In coach with my family. I was 13 years old. Don't remember much else. Had never even flown First/Business before at that point. My how things have changed. ;)

I remember the B747's well. I was surprised how few Continental operated as they seemed to be everywhere! I didn't really like the DC-10's, but grew to love them and now miss them.

I believe that the B747's were put into service for Micronesia for a while before being retired.

In 1988 I flew MIA to Gatwick round trip in coach. In 1988 I flew it in coach CDG-EWR. In 1990 I flew it in first from IAH to HNL, then from SYD-AKL, and then AKL-HNL. It had a three class cabin. It was the real international first class with far more room than BusinessFirst. (HNL-CNS on that trip was on a three class cabin DC-10).

I think CO also used the 747 for the HNL-SYD route, and possibly HNL-NRT.

The first class seats and service were great. I think business class was a brown leather seat, and not sure if there was a leg rest since I never flew in business on it.

I never saw it with the BF cabin.

By the way, the First Class trip to Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand was 170,000 for 2 tickets, plus they gave a free car certificate and a hote discount certificate.

The 1988 trips to London and Paris were on award vouchers for which there was no mileage deduction. Each no mileage deduction award included a free week at a Marriot Hotel, I used the Prince DeGaulle in Paris, which is now a Starwood, and one of the London Marriot's near the US Embassy. Also included was a free week's car rental with National Car.

A number of them came from People Express.

I remember them well. I was the gate agent that work them every day out of HNL. We got them from People's Express and I believe Pan Am. I have been a passenger in all three classes of service and First Class was great.

My first flight ever on a 747 was with CO from LAX to HNL, I believe this was back in 1970, when Y class was 9 abreast instead of the 10 seats presently on the 747.

I flew the PeoplExpress 747 from SFO to BRU in 1986. When PE expanded to SFO the only gates available were in the International Terminal which required them to have at least one international flight. For some reason, they selected SFO-BRU, which worked perfectly for me.

When I called to book the ticket, the one-way was $150 or $450 in FC. That was still cheaper than Y on any other airline, so I bought FC.

When we boarded it turned out I was the only passenger in FC, both in the main cabin and the one upstairs. It was quite an experience. It was actually very cold with no body heat to warm the cabin. I moved around, and sat upstairs for a while. The Y cabin appeared to be packed to the gills.

The FC meal was a cold lobster dinner which set me back an additional $17. During the movie, I had to go to the lav so the f/a's stopped the movie for me (a precursor to AVOD?). I also remember the captain was a woman (I think she is is still flying for CO).

That's the "last time" I flew a CO 747 although, of course, it wasn't a CO 747 yet.

Also, regarding the CO DC-10's, I remember the lounge which was a wonderful, sybaritic luxury which was a trademark of Bob Six's old Continental Airlines.

I flew F LAX-HNL-SYD around 1988 - typical F seats of the day - I think about 18 in the nose of the aircraft - overall, a nice experience ^ and always nice arriving Sydney at sunrise and approaching over the harbour with views of the bridge :D

If this is the one you are talking about, then yes I think she still works for CO.
http://www.calmemories.com/fd%2037.jpg

I never saw her, I just heard the voice.

All Female 747 Crew
 

I worked for PE from Day 1 till the end. We had the first all female 747 crew (Captain, FO, FE). Quite a day -- all over national news.

Jim

I flew CO 747s and DC-10 across the pond numerous times. I recall that the DC-10's were in a bit shabbier shape that the 747's. Boeing's Biggest Bird is still my favorite airliner (though I haven't yet been in an A380).

But the real difference is not in the aircraft, it was the flying experience. Airplanes weren't always jammed to the gills; airports weren't sclerotic obstacle courses; and U.S. immigration control was manned by courteous people, not the surly goons found today.

I remember flying CO 747s EWR-FRA-EWR back in 1994 (shortly before they switched to DC-10s on the route).

I think CO mainly dumped their 747s because they became too expensive to operate. CO ended up having a very small fleet of 747s (just 5 airframes in 1995) and as other aircraft became available (most notably 777s) that provided a similar amount of lift at better economics, the 747s were inescapably headed for storage. Some plowed on for CO Micronesia for a while, but by the late '90s, their time had come as well.

It didn't help that all CO 747s were either ancient -100s (built in 1970) or -200s, which weren't all that much younger.