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.

Hi Jim,

Here is an excerpt from airodyssey.net - "Women in the left seat" (http://www.airodyssey.net/articles/women.html )

PEOPLExpress has interesting anectodes about its female crew. For example, did you know one of their pilots used to be a TWA flight attendant? It's Lynn Rippelmeyer, who became afterwards the first female Captain to fly the 747 trans-Atlantic (EWR-LGW). Beverly Burns, the first female pilot hired by the airline, shared the honors with Lynn, but on a trans-Continental flight (EWR-LAX), on a 747, too. Before joining PEOPLE, Lynn was part of the first all-female crew on a scheduled US airline, as she flew as a First Officer on an Air Illinois DHC-6 Twin Otter with Captain Emily Jones in 1978.

The most I remember about the 747's was reading the CO mag, and seeing the airframe mentioned. This was the with then new livery and IIRC the mag was in the same format as it is today.

If someone could date that time period I would appreciate it.

As I recall, the new livery was introduced in 1991.

EDIT:

And apparently my recollection was correct:

https://www.continental.com/web/en-U...1991-2000.aspx

I rode jumpseat in a PE 747 going into Newark once, and they were "forced" to land on runway 29 by ATC. The crew was scared to death. It was an unpleasant experience to say the least.

Sounds like the type of rewards available to OnePass members in 2007. ;)

I flew the CO 747's several times from EWR to LGW. Nothing special about the interior - other than of course being a big bird. FC was in the nose part with white cloth seats and BC was brown leather with a pitch similar to today's domestic FC. They were unreliable - as on some occassions the pilot had to shut down one of the 4 engines on the way to LGW - that just slowed down the aircraft so the flight took longer, but 3 engines still worked fine.

The older DC10-10s were the best with the lounge between FC and coach for flights from LAX to HNL. When BF came around - the DC10-10 were being retired and the DC10-30's were upgrade to BF. I believe the 747's were upgrade to BF - but I do not recall flying a 747 with BF.

Back 15 years ago in 1992, I can recall flying the 747 in BC to LGW - in the small upstairs deck (before BF). The price was $3700 back then and the seat was the same as domestic first. I guess BF is a bargain today.

EWR to LGA - that's quite a short flight. ;)

Do you mean LGW? You wrote LGA a few times in your post but clearly CO never flew any a/c EWR-LGA, let alone the 747, which is not allowed at LGA.

BusinessFirst was introduced onto CO's 747s and DC-10. CO's other widebody aircraft at the time--the A300--did not get the BF upgrades because they weren't TATL workhorses and were removed from the fleet not long after the BF rollout.

Yes LGW - corrected. I was buying tickets on DL to LGA - LGA was in my mind.

The 777s were intended to replace the 747s - on the EWR-LGW and EWR-FRA runs, etc. CO also flew the 747 from HNL to NRT. The 767s were purchased to replace the DC10s. Problem is that CO did not buy enough of them as it expanded. With the quick retirement of the DC10s and MD80s - CO lost a lot of seats.

But just think back when CO had a major hub in HNL - with a big fleet of jumbo jets - 747s and DC10s all connecting at the same time in HNL - with flights to all the major Australia destinations - (nonstop from HNL) and to Auckland. CO even flew two flights a day from HNL to MEL - one at night and one was a daytime flight. Three classes and bar lounges (for coach) on the DC10-10s. I am just not looking forward to the 787s. Maybe the A380 - I think QF plans a bar in BC.

For a while in the mid-1990s the 747s also flew out of IAH to LGW.

747 Down Under
 

I flew CO 747 from LAX to HNL and HNL to Aukland New Zealand for the International Boy Scout Jamboree in 1987/1988. It was a LONG flight. As I recall, the HNL to Aukland was on the order of 13 hrs.....of course, we were in coach and only 2 movies were shown.....The food (then) was terrible.....CO has done major improvement over the years!!

Also remember when CO had fresh flower bouquets in the forward cabin. On the DC10-30 - there was a buffet in the rear of the front cabin - with a big fresh flower arrangement with snack baskets. Also CO had fresh flowers in the FC restroom. I guess the fresh flowers was a carry over from the HNL flights.

But CO used to have fresh flowers in the front cabin on the DC10 flights to Europe - and even out of EWR. The FA would put the bouquet in the restroom on take off and landing so it would not fly around if there was a bump. Image what it was like with the aroma of orchids in the rest room in FC.

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Yes I Remember Very Fondly
 

I had many opportunities to fly the 74's in their

various different colors & configurations

My favorites were the 100's & 200's from PE

after the reconfigs to BF

My favorite heavy of the same period of time

was the 10 as MD (formerly Douglas Aircraft)

built the best metal in my estimation

I also had several "Bonus" awards that were

non milage deduct for FC travel w/ hotel in

at least London & Paris given for a unique

combination of travel within a given period

They were fantastic days of the program

I also received a great many international

UG's due only to status & kindness

What great memories

From my understanding (please correct me if I am wrong) but Gordon Bethune, former CEO of Continental, retired the 747 from the fleet. The reason was that they did not have the numbers in Pax and Cargo to make it profitable. And it looks like CO does not have any markets currently that would make the 747 viable. The current business model for CO is to have a high market share on domestic routes and offer a wide range of international destinations. Their current cargo and pax numbers are not high enough yet, to merit the high cost of operation of the 747 for any of their current markets.

But personally I would love to see that a/c back in the fleet.

I flew a CO 747 from either LAX or SFO to EWR in the 80's I remember it because I had fairly low expectations even though I was in FC. It was in CO's dark days. But I was very pleasantly surprised by great food and service and a particularly strong audio program.

I was just thinking of these planes the other night
 

Boy, do I have to get a life as I'm spending too much time on FT and on planes. In all seriousness one of the best flts I ever had in Y was on a 747 EWR-SFO. I remember the trip very well as I came home the day the stock market crashed 20 years ago. I had been upgraded to F coming home and all anybody was talkin about was how much less money was now in their portfolio.

On the way out from EWR we were really suprised as there was a complete BAR with sofas in the middle of the plane. This was right near where the stairs were to the upper deck. I think, but am not positive, that upper deck was also Y seating.

I sat on one of the sofas for the entire flight. That was a great flight. That was when flying was fun. Yes, I know for some of our younger FTers they may not believe it but 20 years ago it was fun and a lot less work then it is now and I actually looked forward to my flights.

Cheers

these airplanes were ex People Express. I flew one LAX-HNL enroute to SYD when CO flew that route - they used a DC10 between HNL and Sydney. But CO also had 747-100s when the airplanes were first introduced and flew them between LAX and HNL for about two years, before they replaced them with DC10's.

To the South Pacific, they had, as you say, true international First Class (i.e., Sleeper Seats), and Business Class was in a 2-3-2 configuration on the main deck with 8 seats upstairs in the lounge on the 747-100's and -200's.

The 4 engine jets are just too expensive "real estate" for CO to operate. CO just not have the international hub to international hub to justify large jets.

Perhaps, although it is interesting that many of the biggest 4-engine heavies are operated simply hub to point, or point to point, such as VS, BA, QF, or SQ.