Nov 20, 2016, 11:21 am
Last edit by: Juventini
United to retire 747 by end of 2017
Current scheduled 747 routes
Currently 14 left, retirement plan as follows(updated Aug 2017):
N127UA Owned - Exit 15-Aug-17 Age 18.0
N181UA Lease -01-Nov-17 -Exit 15-Oct-17 Lease return Age 26.0
N117UA Owned - Exit 30-Oct-17 Age 18.8
N174UA Lease- 09-Dec-17 Exit 30-Oct-17 Lease return Age 27.8
N105UA Lease- 09-Dec-17 Exit 01-Nov-17 Lease return Age 23.4
N107UA Lease- 01-Jun-18 Exit 01-Nov-17 Lease return Age 19.2
N175UA Owned - Exit 01-Nov-17 Age 27.2
N116UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 18.9
N118UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 18.7
N128UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 17.5
N119UA Owned - Exit 20-Nov-17 Age 18.7
N121UA Owned - Exit 20-Nov-17 Age 18.6
N178UA Lease - 01-May-18 Exit 20-Nov-17 Lease return Age 27.1
N180UA Owned - 20-Nov-17 Age 26.3
See details at United Fleet Site.
Current scheduled 747 routes
Currently 14 left, retirement plan as follows(updated Aug 2017):
N127UA Owned - Exit 15-Aug-17 Age 18.0
N181UA Lease -01-Nov-17 -Exit 15-Oct-17 Lease return Age 26.0
N117UA Owned - Exit 30-Oct-17 Age 18.8
N174UA Lease- 09-Dec-17 Exit 30-Oct-17 Lease return Age 27.8
N105UA Lease- 09-Dec-17 Exit 01-Nov-17 Lease return Age 23.4
N107UA Lease- 01-Jun-18 Exit 01-Nov-17 Lease return Age 19.2
N175UA Owned - Exit 01-Nov-17 Age 27.2
N116UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 18.9
N118UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 18.7
N128UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 17.5
N119UA Owned - Exit 20-Nov-17 Age 18.7
N121UA Owned - Exit 20-Nov-17 Age 18.6
N178UA Lease - 01-May-18 Exit 20-Nov-17 Lease return Age 27.1
N180UA Owned - 20-Nov-17 Age 26.3
See details at United Fleet Site.
UA to pilots: We're considering retiring all 747s by end of 2018 (Phaseout EOY 2017).
Mar 16, 2017, 12:58 pm
#556
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,432
HA, I've been reading your mind. I've been trying google as well but it still wont give me SFO unless I force the intl flights to Y which ups the price to >$5K.
Who knew it would be so hard to get my last 747 flight from the east coast. Unfortunately I currently don't have any TPAC plans
Who knew it would be so hard to get my last 747 flight from the east coast. Unfortunately I currently don't have any TPAC plans
st at combining things in unusual ways to get a lower fare. If the TATL portion from SFO doesn't allow end-on-end or the EWR-SFO portion has some similar restriction you may need to alter your intended routing to accomplish this inexpensively.
Mar 16, 2017, 1:45 pm
#557
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I tried expedia too (and a few others) and run into the same result. I'll have to take a closer look at the fare rules. However I'm somewhat limited since part of my routing is fixed since I want to fly on the 747. I suppose worst case, I could book the TCON flights on a separate PNR and leave my self a very long layover in case of issues and hope for CPUs (or burn some RPUs)
Mar 19, 2017, 5:19 am
#558
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,338
Just had my final TPAC ride on upper deck of the 747. I had booked a return flight, also, but watched the Business seats disappear completely. Finally, switched to a 777 so I wouldn't have to sit in Economy.
The hotel emailed me in advance to ask if I was celebrating anything special. "A final ride on United's 747," I replied. The hotel surprised me with a die cast model of the plane.
The hotel emailed me in advance to ask if I was celebrating anything special. "A final ride on United's 747," I replied. The hotel surprised me with a die cast model of the plane.
Mar 19, 2017, 11:55 am
#559
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,147
Just had my final TPAC ride on upper deck of the 747. I had booked a return flight, also, but watched the Business seats disappear completely. Finally, switched to a 777 so I wouldn't have to sit in Economy.
The hotel emailed me in advance to ask if I was celebrating anything special. "A final ride on United's 747," I replied. The hotel surprised me with a die cast model of the plane.
The hotel emailed me in advance to ask if I was celebrating anything special. "A final ride on United's 747," I replied. The hotel surprised me with a die cast model of the plane.
Mar 19, 2017, 5:25 pm
#561
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,147
Conrad Asia goes the extra mile.
We stayed at the Conrad Tokyo in March 2011 and left the rubber duckies because we were to return in a few weeks and figured we could pick them up as we left. Well, the Tohoku Tsunami took place and we evacuated due to the radiation and continuing aftershocks. After waiting (a hopefully appropriate) few months, I contacted the concierges we met there and asked if they could ship a duckie to us. A week or so later, it arrived to Mrs747FC's delight. Just remarkable customer service!
We stayed at the Conrad Tokyo in March 2011 and left the rubber duckies because we were to return in a few weeks and figured we could pick them up as we left. Well, the Tohoku Tsunami took place and we evacuated due to the radiation and continuing aftershocks. After waiting (a hopefully appropriate) few months, I contacted the concierges we met there and asked if they could ship a duckie to us. A week or so later, it arrived to Mrs747FC's delight. Just remarkable customer service!
Mar 19, 2017, 5:58 pm
#562
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
I am finding myself more and more torn with United's 747's....
I moved overseas to Korea 3 years ago and the ICN-SFO-ICN route is what I build my 1K on every year. I have such a love-hate relationship because since the plane is old it's reliability isn't that great meaning lots of delays, and also the cabin pressure and air quality isn't the best so I feel crappy every time I get off. But there is something truly special about all 4 engines spooling up on takeoff while you're sitting on the upper deck. UD is so awesome because it's so private and frankly the service is better up there.
While I'm really excited for the 77W and new Polaris seats, and I'm really hopeful it ends up on the ICN route... A small part of me will be sad it's not on the 747.
Side note, it seems fare price for the 747 has been going up for P fares. I did a round trip last week and I flew via Osaka (777) on the way out and via LAX-NRT on the way back (787) because it saved me $1,800 vs flying direct to SFO on the 747.
I moved overseas to Korea 3 years ago and the ICN-SFO-ICN route is what I build my 1K on every year. I have such a love-hate relationship because since the plane is old it's reliability isn't that great meaning lots of delays, and also the cabin pressure and air quality isn't the best so I feel crappy every time I get off. But there is something truly special about all 4 engines spooling up on takeoff while you're sitting on the upper deck. UD is so awesome because it's so private and frankly the service is better up there.
While I'm really excited for the 77W and new Polaris seats, and I'm really hopeful it ends up on the ICN route... A small part of me will be sad it's not on the 747.
Side note, it seems fare price for the 747 has been going up for P fares. I did a round trip last week and I flew via Osaka (777) on the way out and via LAX-NRT on the way back (787) because it saved me $1,800 vs flying direct to SFO on the 747.
Mar 19, 2017, 6:49 pm
#563
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,338
Wow! What a coincidence. We checked into the Conrad Tokyo a few hours before the earthquake hit. The staff took every good care of us until we were able to fly home two days later. We returned eight months later to continue our trip, and the usually reserved Japanese staff welcomed us back with hugs.
Conrad Asia goes the extra mile.
We stayed at the Conrad Tokyo in March 2011 and left the rubber duckies because we were to return in a few weeks and figured we could pick them up as we left. Well, the Tohoku Tsunami took place and we evacuated due to the radiation and continuing aftershocks. After waiting (a hopefully appropriate) few months, I contacted the concierges we met there and asked if they could ship a duckie to us. A week or so later, it arrived to Mrs747FC's delight. Just remarkable customer service!
We stayed at the Conrad Tokyo in March 2011 and left the rubber duckies because we were to return in a few weeks and figured we could pick them up as we left. Well, the Tohoku Tsunami took place and we evacuated due to the radiation and continuing aftershocks. After waiting (a hopefully appropriate) few months, I contacted the concierges we met there and asked if they could ship a duckie to us. A week or so later, it arrived to Mrs747FC's delight. Just remarkable customer service!
Mar 19, 2017, 7:08 pm
#564
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,147
Wow! What a coincidence. We checked into the Conrad Tokyo a few hours before the earthquake hit. The staff took every good care of us until we were able to fly home two days later. We returned eight months later to continue our trip, and the usually reserved Japanese staff welcomed us back with hugs.
To keep this on-topic, we are eagerly awaiting our next 747 F trips in August!
Mar 20, 2017, 6:23 am
#565
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I tried expedia too (and a few others) and run into the same result. I'll have to take a closer look at the fare rules. However I'm somewhat limited since part of my routing is fixed since I want to fly on the 747. I suppose worst case, I could book the TCON flights on a separate PNR and leave my self a very long layover in case of issues and hope for CPUs (or burn some RPUs)
Mar 21, 2017, 1:01 pm
#566
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Glenview, IL USA
Programs: UA 2MM 1K, HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 232
When they retired the 737 from sUA, there was a hub tour before the retirement. Are they going to do that for the 747?
It would be a circus of people (me included) trying for one last ride.
Barratt
It would be a circus of people (me included) trying for one last ride.
Barratt
Mar 21, 2017, 1:09 pm
#567
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SLC
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Silver, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 768
Mar 21, 2017, 1:37 pm
#568
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA 1.6MM EXP; UA GS; SPG LTG,Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,477
(Width issues make me prefer the 320 fleet)
Mar 21, 2017, 1:41 pm
#569
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: All the programs!
Posts: 1,006
Mar 26, 2017, 10:44 am
#570
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between SFO & SJC
Programs: UA 1MM (and no longer flying much)
Posts: 777
Last week I took my final UA 747 flight. UD on 857 SFO-PVG 3/20/2017.
I'm bummed to see them go. In my experience, UD on 747 is comparable to First on the 747 or 777 and much better than BF on any other UA plane.
I'm bummed to see them go. In my experience, UD on 747 is comparable to First on the 747 or 777 and much better than BF on any other UA plane.