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).
#631
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
Nice! I'll be on the same just a week prior!
#632
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,252
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.
#633
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz PC, Avis PC, Hilton Diamond, BW Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 210
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.
#634
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: TOA
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David
#635
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,123
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.
#636
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
Posts: 13,639
#638
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,577
#639
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,241
#640
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
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.
#641
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,081
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.
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.
#642
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
It really, really sucks for people who are booking flights to be "on the last one" and similar.
#643
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,182
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
#644
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,096
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.
F = ~$4800 RT and J = ~$3800 RT.
#645
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058