United has just one 747 left?

Jay Honeck

Jay Honeck

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Jay Honeck
At a party the other night we met a United Air Lines flight attendant who had 49 years of service under her belt. This was astounding enough, but I was amazed when we asked her what her favorite airliner was, and she said the 747 -- not because we were surprised by her choice of aircraft, but because she told us that United Air Lines has just one 747 left, and that's only used for charter work nowadays.

Apparently, they simply aren't economical to operate anymore.

Can anyone confirm this? I had no idea that 747s -- the grandest of all airliners -- were being put out to pasture.
 
If true, that's 1 too many. United 747 LA to sydney is the most miserable ride on the planet. It's right out of the 1980's with the whole coach cabin watching the same show on a screen in the front of the cabin. And the crappy plane is only topped by the miserable airport customer service and geriatric flight attendants.
 
Jay Honeck said:
At a party the other night we met a United Air Lines flight attendant who had 49 years of service under her belt...
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JHW said:
And the crappy plane is only topped by the miserable airport customer service and geriatric flight attendants.
Click to expand...

:rofl:

My first few airline flights were on foreign airlines and the transition to domestic was jarring. MUCH older flight attendants wearing prophylactic gloves and you had to pay for the alcohol. Go USA!
 
I doubt it. Non revved with a United FA two days ago who was on the 747-400. She just came back from Bejing.
 
At Honolulu we watched the brand new 747 roll in to the gate on it's maiden flight. I remarked that it will become obsolete before I get to ride on one.

I've ridden on every air frame in airline service since the DC-7 except the A-380. And still not the 747 in any config.
 
United has 24 747-400s in service with a couple scheduled to got out of service this year. One is in a charter seating arraignment and looks like it stays busy on DOD flights. Google is useful on this question.
 
When I was a much younger I worked as a security guard. One of my assignments was at a hotel across from the airport at night. Some crazy stuff goes on at hotels at night. :eek:

After 11:00 the driver left so if someone needed a ride to the hotel it fell on me. Back then some of you will remember People's Express a highly discounted no frills airline.

Anyway, I found it interesting when I would pick up the PE flight crews they were all young and most of the ladies were very attractive. I would help with the bags and everyone on the crew would tip me a buck.

When I would pick up the majors most of the FAs were my mothers age I would help with the bags and one person on the crew would tip me a buck.:rolleyes:
 
Certainly not the way they used to run them. When I was going back and forth between the bay area and DC regularly it was either DC-8's on the usual nonstop or 747 thru Chicago. The 777 supplanted most of the domestic 747 runs.
 
DFH65 said:
Anyway, I found it interesting when I would pick up the PE flight crews they were all young and most of the ladies were very attractive. I would help with the bags and everyone on the crew would tip me a buck.

When I would pick up the majors most of the FAs were my mothers age I would help with the bags and one person on the crew would tip me a buck.:rolleyes:
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Did you perhaps give the attractive young ladies a little better service, and an extra smile while helping them? (I probably would have when I was younger).
 
Jay Honeck said:
At a party the other night we met a United Air Lines flight attendant who had 49 years of service under her belt. This was astounding enough, but I was amazed when we asked her what her favorite airliner was, and she said the 747 -- not because we were surprised by her choice of aircraft, but because she told us that United Air Lines has just one 747 left, and that's only used for charter work nowadays.

Apparently, they simply aren't economical to operate anymore.

Can anyone confirm this? I had no idea that 747s -- the grandest of all airliners -- were being put out to pasture.
Click to expand...

No. I saw more than that at KSFO yesterday.
 
They want to put them out to pasture but no, they have 24 airframes. The plan is to eventually replace them with 777-300s. Under the purchase agreement for their 787s they may substitute a 777-300 if the need suits them. The economics of four engine airplanes are not good for non-subsidized airlines.
 
747s are as common as 737s at Anchorage International. They do crew swaps and fuel stops here on the North America-Asia routes. Mostly cargo but some passenger models, too. Not United, mind you. It doesn't appear that the type will be obsolete anytime soon.
 
Stewartb said:
747s are as common as 737s at Anchorage International. They do crew swaps and fuel stops here on the North America-Asia routes. Mostly cargo but some passenger models, too. Not United, mind you. It doesn't appear that the type will be obsolete anytime soon.
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Yeah, and how many of them are from US carreriers???
 
UPS and USPS stand out. Kalitta. Atlas. NCA, China Air, Korean, Cathay, and EVA are more common.
 
Art VanDelay said:
They want to put them out to pasture but no, they have 24 airframes. The plan is to eventually replace them with 777-300s. Under the purchase agreement for their 787s they may substitute a 777-300 if the need suits them. The economics of four engine airplanes are not good for non-subsidized airlines.
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Yeah, I just looked through my JP Airline Fleets and in 2014 (last year for JP Fleets) there were 25 registered B747-4XX for UAL.

o N104UA Boeing 747-422
o N105UA Boeing 747-451
o N107UA Boeing 747-422
o N116UA Boeing 747-422
o N117UA Boeing 747-422
o N118UA Boeing 747-422
o N119UA Boeing 747-422
o N120UA Boeing 747-422
o N121UA Boeing 747-422
o N122UA Boeing 747-422
o N127UA Boeing 747-422
o N128UA Boeing 747-422
o N171UA Boeing 747-422
o N174UA Boeing 747-422
o N175UA Boeing 747-422
o N177UA Boeing 747-422
o N178UA Boeing 747-422
o N179UA Boeing 747-422
o N180UA Boeing 747-422
o N181UA Boeing 747-422
o N182UA Boeing 747-422
o N194UA Boeing 747-422
o N195UA Boeing 747-422 (Stored)
o N197UA Boeing 747-422
o N199UA Boeing 747-422
 
ollopa said:
:rofl:

My first few airline flights were on foreign airlines and the transition to domestic was jarring. MUCH older flight attendants wearing prophylactic gloves and you had to pay for the alcohol. Go USA!
Click to expand...
Okay, so we've proven that flight attendants aren't privy to aircraft inventory numbers. lol

As for geriatric FAs, I was astounded when she told me that she was going to celebrate her 50th anniversary as a UAL stewardess. (She was very clear, and proud, to be a "stewardess", NOT a flight attendant.)

Apparently there were some major age discrimination lawsuits against United Air Lines, back a few decades. She was one of many who were summarily fired at age 31 (?), but were rehired as a result of the lawsuit.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Okay, so we've proven that flight attendants aren't privy to aircraft inventory numbers. lol

As for geriatric FAs, I was astounded when she told me that she was going to celebrate her 50th anniversary as a UAL stewardess. (She was very clear, and proud, to be a "stewardess", NOT a flight attendant.)

Apparently there were some major age discrimination lawsuits against United Air Lines, back a few decades. She was one of many who were summarily fired at age 31 (?), but were rehired as a result of the lawsuit.
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Most likely in your neck of the woods she's legacy Continetal.
 
JHW said:
If true, that's 1 too many. United 747 LA to sydney is the most miserable ride on the planet. It's right out of the 1980's with the whole coach cabin watching the same show on a screen in the front of the cabin. And the crappy plane is only topped by the miserable airport customer service and geriatric flight attendants.
Click to expand...

I will say this has been known since the dawn of time and when you select a flight to Oz you do have a choice of Qantas or Virgin Australia . . . .choose wisely.
 
Art VanDelay said:
Most likely in your neck of the woods she's legacy Continetal.
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Naw, she regaled us with tales of being hired by United back in the swinging 60s.

It was interesting to hear how special Pan Am really was. She didn't even apply with them, because they required a 4 year college degree. To be a FA!
 
Jay Honeck said:
Naw, she regaled us with tales of being hired by United back in the swinging 60s.

It was interesting to hear how special Pan Am really was. She didn't even apply with them, because they required a 4 year college degree. To be a FA!
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Plus you needed to speak at least one language other than English if I recall.
 
United's pax configuration on the 747 is why I won't fly them transpac, most miserable flight on the planet. Either you chew your kneecaps in coach, or you get a lay down seat that lays down at a 20° Angle so you slide into the footwell. Plus they have all the latest amenities from 1989.
 
If you're willing to add 10 hours to the transpac time to Oz you can usually find a business class seat on China Southern or China Eastern for $1500 more than a nonstop LAX/SYD coach seat . . .
 
Henning said:
United's pax configuration on the 747 is why I won't fly them transpac, most miserable flight on the planet. Either you chew your kneecaps in coach, or you get a lay down seat that lays down at a 20° Angle so you slide into the footwell. Plus they have all the latest amenities from 1989.
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those are pretty miserable - never chose UAL for that very reason. . .
 
I've gotten a few rides on 747s over the years. Mostly -200 models, but once on a -400 which was pretty nice (Lufthansa).

I generally prefer Boeing airplanes, but I've gotten a few rides up top on an Emirates A380, and that was a FAR superior service to anything I've gotten from a domestic carrier.

About the only big jets I haven't ridden in yet are the 787 and the new A350X. Looking forward to both, when I get the chance.
 
Delta is getting rid of theirs as well. I got to ride on an empty Delta 747 about 2 years ago when my dad was ferrying it with the Captain from Manila to Narita. It was just me and all the flight attendents and was a pretty memorable experience
 
So, this begs the question...if there are all of these 747s being retired, why is the DOD talking about ordering two brand new versions for the presidential fleet?

It seems like they could get their hands on a nice used one for far less. They're gonna modify the crap out of them, anyway...
 
Jay Honeck said:
So, this begs the question...if there are all of these 747s being retired, why is the DOD talking about ordering two brand new versions for the presidential fleet?

It seems like they could get their hands on a nice used one for far less. They're gonna modify the crap out of them, anyway...
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Extremely proven airframe. 4 engine reliability. Generating power to drive whatever special electronics are on-board. Ramp presence.

Personally, I think a G650 with in-flight refueling would be plenty, but hey, we're swimming in budget surplus, so why not. ;-)
 
Jay Honeck said:
So, this begs the question...if there are all of these 747s being retired, why is the DOD talking about ordering two brand new versions for the presidential fleet?

It seems like they could get their hands on a nice used one for far less. They're gonna modify the crap out of them, anyway...
Click to expand...

Obama needs to have at least one lasting legacy from his tenure.
 
Jay Honeck said:
So, this begs the question...if there are all of these 747s being retired, why is the DOD talking about ordering two brand new versions for the presidential fleet?

It seems like they could get their hands on a nice used one for far less. They're gonna modify the crap out of them, anyway...
Click to expand...

False economy. Our experience getting a "bargain" 747 and modifying he crap out of it was that it required a number of retrofits and a D-check, resulting in a nearly equivalent cost to a new aircraft, with a much older airframe.

DOD will also be interested in the pedigree. When doing secret work, it's problematic if the airplane has ever been in the control of a foreign government.
 
Jay Honeck said:
So, this begs the question...if there are all of these 747s being retired, why is the DOD talking about ordering two brand new versions for the presidential fleet?

It seems like they could get their hands on a nice used one for far less. They're gonna modify the crap out of them, anyway...
Click to expand...
They *have* a couple of nice used ones...the current AF1s. The problem is, parts are getting harder to find. "Going Used" doesn't solve that issue....

Ron Wanttaja
 
Jay, I love your sense of humor!! The government SAVING money!!:rofl::rofl:
I bet the modifications are 2 or 3 times the cost of the airframe! And since we are talking about hauling the leaders of the United States (press corps) and the president, new is probably better. ;)

Jay Honeck said:
So, this begs the question...if there are all of these 747s being retired, why is the DOD talking about ordering two brand new versions for the presidential fleet?

It seems like they could get their hands on a nice used one for far less. They're gonna modify the crap out of them, anyway...
Click to expand...
 
Jay Honeck said:
So, this begs the question...if there are all of these 747s being retired, why is the DOD talking about ordering two brand new versions for the presidential fleet?

It seems like they could get their hands on a nice used one for far less. They're gonna modify the crap out of them, anyway...
Click to expand...

Used aircraft come with life limits (cycles and total flight hours).

Anyone want to wager a guess about Boeing's interest in service life extensions for the 747 airframe vs the possibility of selling a new airframe?
 
wanttaja said:
They *have* a couple of nice used ones...the current AF1s. The problem is, parts are getting harder to find. "Going Used" doesn't solve that issue....

Ron Wanttaja
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've read that story, too. Ain't buying it.

If there are a bazillion 747s going to the bone yard, spare parts will be a dime a dozen. The whole Air Force One thing is just...embarassing.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Yeah, I've read that story, too. Ain't buying it.

If there are a bazillion 747s going to the bone yard, spare parts will be a dime a dozen. The whole Air Force One thing is just...embarassing.
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Most of those planes go to the neared because all their life limited components have timed out, and it's cheaper for the airlines to replace them with modern planes. What makes you think the economics are different for the Air Force than Air Carriers?:dunno:

The thing that's the joke is the duplicate decoy fleet that flies every international trip, as well as the other 747 command post, what is it, Kneecap?
 
Henning said:
The thing that's the joke is the duplicate decoy fleet that flies every international trip.
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Actually, the joke is that the world's largest debtor nation still feels compelled to borrow money in order to fly its president around in a regal fleet, surrounded by hundreds of minions.

Every time I see it, it feels like I'm looking at Manuel Noriega, with that too-big hat and giant chest-full of fake medals. Who do we think we are fooling?
 
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