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With Singapore Airlines set to retire the B747 jumbo from its fleet next month, after nearly 40 years of service, Business Traveller would love to hear readers' thoughts and experiences of the iconic aircraft.
Is the upper deck "bubble" still the best cabin to fly in? What has been your most memorable B747 experience? Which carrier has offered the best B747 layout over the years?
http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/sia-to-commemorate-b747-retirement
My boss still prefers the first on SIA 747's to the suites on the a380. BA's jumbo are really old and tatty when not in the NF cabin xx
In my humble opinion..........
The 747 is the Queen of the skies, whilst the Airbus family are still the ladies in waiting..............
There is a strong case for the 747 being the most iconic aircraft ever and takes a place beside Concorde as the most elegant in flight.
Wonderful plane, truly iconic like concorde. I hope airlines gradually do buy the 8i. Already thinking where I can fly on LH or KE, I really enjoy the view forward from row 1, the cosy front cabin and quietness.
It was amazing that making a plane so much bigger they came up with something so stylish. I think the A380 is a wonderful technical achievement and will probably be very successful commercially but it looks like a flying whale.
It is still going as they launched a new one that LH are now using so dont talk like it is dead xx
Becky, that is why I posted "I hope airlines gradually do buy the 8i.:.
Does anyone have any news on more airlines signing up to buy the 8i apart from LH? I hope so. Keep the Jumbo flying for many years to come.
Have to agree with you all. Whether you turn left or do a quick right and up the stairs it gives the very best flight, compared with the 777 200 which is normally the alternative offering I get. Not a fan of Airbus, nothing personal, but there's that "feeling" I get going on board. Can't put it into words either, but I get it every time. It's a sort of "I wish this was a Jumbo" feeling.
Lloydah I agree 100% there is something about a Jumbo that insoire confidence. Airbus fittings just don't feel as solid. And I love the Bathroom with a window in it.
FrankFlyer, only Korean so far...
RichHI1 - Arik Air has also ordered the B747-8:
http://www.businesstraveller.com/middle-east/news/arik-air-orders-two-b747-8-intercontinental-planes
Rich, That bathroom window's the best. It's the only time I can think of that you can be confident that no one is going to peep in while you are p****g.
Unless you do it whilst still at the gate.... I remember being on JAL 744 when Lady refused to use the bathroom with the window (I guess Japanese people have telescopes or something.)
Arik Air is based in Nigeria RichHI1 - the carrier flies to London from Lagos and Abuja:
http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/arik-air-to-recommence-abuja-london-route
Well, good for them. My personal hope is that some other carriers will adopt them after the a380 hype and the 787 hullaballoo have subsided. AS Becky says, it lives on and is such a beautiful design. To me it epitomises Transcontinental flying.
The SIA 744 used to be state of the art and travelling in First and as it was designated Raffles Class was always an experience to savour. I watched both products develop over the years to the latest version of the first class suite (nothing like the A380 offering) and the space bed, still I think the best angled seat of all and I slept for many solid hours on it. Their F & C products were in their day the best in the sky.
Of course things change and move on and while the 744 was great in it's day, the experience doesn't compare to the A380. The 744s are noisy and the pressurisation difference is noticeable particularly on a long flight. The F suites are a whole world different too though I would still swap the spacebed for the current SQ C offering.
So, no I don't miss the 744, things have moved on and although it was always a great experience I now much prefer the A380.
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