London out of practice with UA747 - first UA747 there in many years
Mar 27, 2011, 6:55 pm
#1
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Location: Gatwick, UK
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London out of practice with UA747 - first UA747 there in many years
This morning I was on the first UA747 out of LHR in a long time (upstairs in C with just 8 other people - very quiet and spacious) and i have to say it was great to see one there again.
But we were delayed by about 40 minutes because the ground crew were unfamiliar with loading cargo onto a 747 and took longer than expected. The explanation was that this was the first Jumbo in Heathrow for many years.
Does anyone know when the last one was there? What route did it fly (SFO I imagine?)
But we were delayed by about 40 minutes because the ground crew were unfamiliar with loading cargo onto a 747 and took longer than expected. The explanation was that this was the first Jumbo in Heathrow for many years.
Does anyone know when the last one was there? What route did it fly (SFO I imagine?)
Mar 27, 2011, 7:04 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: RIC
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This morning I was on the first UA747 out of LHR in a long time (upstairs in C with just 8 other people - very quiet and spacious) and i have to say it was great to see one there again. But we were delayed by about 40 minutes because the ground crew were unfamiliar with loading cargo onto a 747 and took longer than expected.
Mar 27, 2011, 7:07 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
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is that what was said over the intercom while waiting to depart?? pretty poor excuse really. But nonetheless, hoping to jump on one of them this summer out of LHR.
Mar 27, 2011, 7:18 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Maybe for UA and/or T1, but quite a few 747's fly in and out of LHR on a daily basis. BA has 57 in their fleet that use LHR as their home base, not to mention flights in and out from other carriers.
Mar 27, 2011, 7:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
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I take it this was LHR-ORD? Both the SFO flights are showing 777, wonder why they don't use a 747 on this route.
Mar 27, 2011, 8:26 pm
#6
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Certainly it's true that we haven't had a UA 744 for several years. Of course they used to be regular visitors back in the day, but it is still nice to see one back for a while.
I still have fond memories of being upgraded to F on Christmas Day and finding that the pilots wife and I were the only two F passengers that day!^
I still have fond memories of being upgraded to F on Christmas Day and finding that the pilots wife and I were the only two F passengers that day!^
Mar 27, 2011, 8:46 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I have no actual knowledge of this but...
Aside from IRROPS, maybe UA is working on getting some higher capacity ACs on this route pre-London 2012 Olympics/Paralympics. I know there is a lot of traffic headed to and from LHR these days with test events taking place around London in prep for the Games and UA has partnered with the IOC and USOC in previous years.
Always love flying upstairs in C. Just wish they'd make the storage boxes on the window seat bigger so that you could actually put something bigger than a small briefcase in there.
Aside from IRROPS, maybe UA is working on getting some higher capacity ACs on this route pre-London 2012 Olympics/Paralympics. I know there is a lot of traffic headed to and from LHR these days with test events taking place around London in prep for the Games and UA has partnered with the IOC and USOC in previous years.
Always love flying upstairs in C. Just wish they'd make the storage boxes on the window seat bigger so that you could actually put something bigger than a small briefcase in there.
Mar 27, 2011, 9:13 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2009
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I believe that from Oct 2011 SFO-LHR will be a 747. Unfortunately this downgrades the IFE in E/E+.
Mar 27, 2011, 9:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD
Posts: 177
I just booked travel for next week and was quite surprised to see the early LHR-ORD flight being served by a 744. Evidently they're onto something, because I booked full fare C (already exhausted this year's SWUs) and there were only 4-5 empty seats. I was able to snag the last seat upstairs.
I often try to upgrade this route, so I'm quite happy to see the big birds as I imagine it will help upgrade chances.
I often try to upgrade this route, so I'm quite happy to see the big birds as I imagine it will help upgrade chances.
Mar 27, 2011, 9:51 pm
#10
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Regular 747 service ended November 25, 2008 (KSFO-EGLL), but there was a one-off on April 23, 2010 (KORD-EGLL).
Mar 27, 2011, 11:36 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2011
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I flew in a 747 into LHR from ORD in Dec 2010, it was an equipment change the day after Heathrow reopened after the snow closure
Mar 28, 2011, 12:24 am
#12
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Last UA 747 into Heathrow for me was SFO-LHR in Sept. 2006
Mar 28, 2011, 2:56 am
#13
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Air New Zealand and El Al fly at least one daily 747 each into T1 - same gates as UA uses.
Mar 28, 2011, 3:12 am
#14
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Air New Zealand and El Al fly at least one daily 747 each into T1 - same gates as UA uses.
Mar 28, 2011, 3:14 am
#15
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I flew on a 747 from LHR to IAD after the Buncefield explosion in 2005:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...a-flights.html
They were using 747's to carry fuel to LHR because there was a shortage of jet fuel at LHR.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...a-flights.html
They were using 747's to carry fuel to LHR because there was a shortage of jet fuel at LHR.