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UA to pilots: We're considering retiring all 747s by end of 2018 (Phaseout EOY 2017).

Old Nov 20, 2016, 11:21 am
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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.
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UA to pilots: We're considering retiring all 747s by end of 2018 (Phaseout EOY 2017).

Old Jun 21, 2017, 5:29 pm
  #631  
 
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Originally Posted by uastarflyer
I read somewhere yesterday the very last flight turn is SFO-ICN-SFO on 10/28-10/29

they promised a memorable sendoff. A 3rd tier one-off isn't memorable. Even the UAUA 737 got better treatment.
Prices in business are insane leading up to the 28th. I booked a few weeks ago ICN-AUS via SFO for 10/19 and 10/23 return, I had been tracking the flight via google flights and snagged it for ~$2,650, in P. Now the same trip is $5,900. Granted, the SFO-AUS leg is now only available in A and F so that's jacking up the price but still. ICN-SFO RT is $4,500 now. The reverse, SFO-ICN with the return to SFO on the 29th is $5,340. What!!

Originally Posted by ClipperDelta
Already booked myself on the UA892 ICN-SFO on 10/29 - window upper deck

Now working on getting on the last scheduled DL 744 flight as well (which will be DL158 ICN-DTW on 12/17)...

Sad...these will be the two last scheduled 747 flights by US carriers
Nice! I'll be on the same just a week prior!
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Old Jun 21, 2017, 8:33 pm
  #632  
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Originally Posted by uastarflyer
I read somewhere yesterday the very last flight turn is SFO-ICN-SFO on 10/28-10/29

they promised a memorable sendoff. A 3rd tier one-off isn't memorable. Even the UAUA 737 got better treatment.
A memorable send off would be a last lap SFO-ORD-LAX-SFO mileage run - the remaining three pmUA hubs that routinely saw 747s every day.
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Old Jun 21, 2017, 9:49 pm
  #633  
 
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Originally Posted by halls120
A memorable send off would be a last lap SFO-ORD-LAX-SFO mileage run - the remaining three pmUA hubs that routinely saw 747s every day.
I was on the last 737 trip, and given the fan fare then, im very surprised they don't have a domestic run planned for the 744. They would obviously sell the seats at higher then normal rates, and get some free press.
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Old Jun 21, 2017, 9:54 pm
  #634  
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Originally Posted by asphaltman
I was on the last 737 trip, and given the fan fare then, im very surprised they don't have a domestic run planned for the 744. They would obviously sell the seats at higher then normal rates, and get some free press.
Fortunately or unfortunately, United Continental has more than its share of free press right now...

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Old Jun 22, 2017, 1:07 am
  #635  
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Originally Posted by asphaltman
I was on the last 737 trip, and given the fan fare then, im very surprised they don't have a domestic run planned for the 744. They would obviously sell the seats at higher then normal rates, and get some free press.
keep in mind that sendoff was put together by UA-United. As is the 747 generally.

not surprised the new regime doesn't want to properly acknowledge the most recent 20-30 years of United's pre merger history

But very disappointed all the same.

There is nothing iconic about United anymore, other than the 747. And nothing memorable about sending the plane to Korea and back. Sheesh.

As halls120 said, domestic hubs (+ Hawaii) would have been a good touch. A pseudo RTW last run (augmenting existing service for one day) would have been way cool.
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Old Jun 22, 2017, 6:00 am
  #636  
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Originally Posted by warrenw
I got this from planespotters - this is the retirement schedule as of now.
Anyone know why they would be holding on to two until well into 2018 (107 & 178)?
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Old Jun 22, 2017, 6:08 am
  #637  
 
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Originally Posted by Bear96
Anyone know why they would be holding on to two until well into 2018 (107 & 178)?
I would guess military charters.
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Old Jun 22, 2017, 8:56 am
  #638  
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Originally Posted by Bear96
Anyone know why they would be holding on to two until well into 2018 (107 & 178)?
Contractual lease commitments?
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Old Jun 22, 2017, 9:22 pm
  #639  
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Originally Posted by Bear96
Anyone know why they would be holding on to two until well into 2018 (107 & 178)?
If you pay attention to the top of the page those are the dates of the leased expire, the actual date of fleet exit is actually Nov 1 and Nov 20 respectively
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Old Jun 22, 2017, 11:16 pm
  #640  
 
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Noticed something about my Oct 19 flight. Upgrades to first are blocked. Buying first outright, while technically doable, doesn't show a seat map. I'm starting to think that maybe they are accelerating the schedule of retirement and maybe the last flights will be moved forward.
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Old Jun 22, 2017, 11:37 pm
  #641  
 
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Originally Posted by warrenw
Noticed something about my Oct 19 flight. Upgrades to first are blocked. Buying first outright, while technically doable, doesn't show a seat map. I'm starting to think that maybe they are accelerating the schedule of retirement and maybe the last flights will be moved forward.
It certainly would not surprise me. Honestly think they probably would get rid of them even faster if they could.

A bunch of lip service is given, but sadly I doubt they would actually be giving the Queen of the Skies the worthy farewell she deserves.
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Old Jun 22, 2017, 11:39 pm
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Originally Posted by luv2ctheworld
It certainly would not surprise me. Honestly think they probably would get rid of them even faster if they could.

A bunch of lip service is given, but sadly I doubt they would actually be giving the Queen of the Skies the worthy farewell she deserves.
It really, really sucks for people who are booking flights to be "on the last one" and similar.
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Old Jun 23, 2017, 12:58 am
  #643  
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Originally Posted by warrenw
It really, really sucks for people who are booking flights to be "on the last one" and similar.
A change from a 744 to a 773 would seem to qualify as IRROPS under the Contract of Carriage, 24(b) 7(c): "Substitution of aircraft type that provides different classes of service or different seat configurations."

Now, that obviously won't help with vacation scheduling, hotels, or anything else, but if you're able to manage those details, you should be able to switch to the new "last flight" at no charge, inventory permitting. (You might convince a sympathetic agent to open space in W or P or R or ON or whatever fare class you were booked into originally, but the CoC doesn't require that).

Last edited by jsloan; Jun 23, 2017 at 1:00 am Reason: clarification
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Old Jun 24, 2017, 11:28 am
  #644  
 
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Low-Low Fare Alert

I was browsing SFO-LHR and return in August, and saw some super-low F (and J) space on the 747, with upper-deck availability.

F = ~$4800 RT and J = ~$3800 RT.
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Old Jun 24, 2017, 12:52 pm
  #645  
 
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Originally Posted by 747FC
I was browsing SFO-LHR and return in August, and saw some super-low F (and J) space on the 747, with upper-deck availability.

F = ~$4800 RT and J = ~$3800 RT.
There's also saver F for SFO-LHR on some dates in the next 2 weeks.
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