United 747 Farewell Flight Seats on Sale

"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired) 09/18/2017 at 15:50 • Filed to: Fly the Friendly Skies of United

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United Airlines is doing a special “Friend Ship” sendoff for its last 747 flight. The last flight will be from San Francisco to Honolulu, and will be a retro themed throwback to United’s original 1970 747 service.

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Party starts a few hours before departure and continues in the air. Upper deck is unsold so you can tour during the flight, and only aisle and window seats are being sold in Economy. $551 in Economy, and there seems to be Mileage Plus availability (45K miles). Hopefully some Oppo can make it on board (won’t be me sadly...).

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 15:57

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retro..... dat mean i get to smoke right?

TheHondaBro > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 15:58

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At least they’ll look fashionable when they forcibly remove you from your seat.

someassemblyrequired > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 09/18/2017 at 16:02

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ttyymmnn > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 16:07

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And I’ve still never flown on a 747......

someassemblyrequired > ttyymmnn 09/18/2017 at 16:11

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If there was ever a time to fix that problem, it is now.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 16:13

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Nice! I can smoke, not worry about security and make sexual comments about the flight attendants.

*(I’d never)

Steve in Manhattan > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 16:13

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I hate pretty much all airlines except ANA (the BEST) but this is undoubtedly cool.

arl > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 09/18/2017 at 16:14

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I am old. I have smoked on an airplane; in my seat, not hidden away in the bathroom. Camel lights probably. Back when they were less than one dollar a pack.

Thank God I quit that nonsense years ago.

boredalways > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 16:14

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does that mean we can call them stewardesses again and join the mile high club while no one bats an eye?

ttyymmnn > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 16:16

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The problem now is money and time.

someassemblyrequired > arl 09/18/2017 at 16:17

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Yeah, can’t say I miss that part about the Golden Age of flying.

someassemblyrequired > boredalways 09/18/2017 at 16:21

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Not sure they’re going to go that retro.

someassemblyrequired > ttyymmnn 09/18/2017 at 16:22

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Yep, I have the same problem unfortunately. The flight’s not so much the issue, but getting to SFO, plus at least a night in HNL and the return is the killer.

ttyymmnn > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 16:23

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What is the R/T cost?

someassemblyrequired > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 09/18/2017 at 16:26

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Ha yeah, smoking is overrated but security does suck. Important point though: have you ever met someone who worked as a flight attendant in the 1970s? They can mop the floor with you using only words.

someassemblyrequired > ttyymmnn 09/18/2017 at 16:28

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There’s a same day return that evening for $193 to SFO - so $750 or so SFO-HNL, plus the other leg. If you have a bunch of Mileage Plus miles I’d probably try that and see whether it would give you availability.

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 09/18/2017 at 16:30

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Fly to Europe or Asia through Chicago! A number of foreign carriers operate them in and out of ORD, including BA, Lufthansa, Air India, and others I’m forgetting right now.

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW 09/18/2017 at 16:32

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Oh, they’re not going away immediately. But I just don’t have the time or the money to cavalierly hop on a plane and go somewhere. If I did, I would! And my plans in the next 5-10 years don’t include international travel—they include college for three kids.

ttyymmnn > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 16:33

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I got no miles. I’m just going to have to chalk this one up as another missed opportunity. It’s not the first, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Alex B > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 16:36

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So United is doing away with the 747 completely? What are they replacing it with?

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 09/18/2017 at 16:38

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The funny thing is that I have the miles, but not the time...

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW 09/18/2017 at 16:47

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This is Lefty Frizzell, but do you remember Porter Wagoner? They still air his show on RFD TV.

someassemblyrequired > ttyymmnn 09/18/2017 at 16:55

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Yep I hear ya. I stupidly saved my money in grad school instead of blowing it on one of the last Concorde flights. Should have had the ramen.

victor > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2017 at 17:37

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I get sad thinking about the last 747 flights that I always watch some tribute videos. Here’s the latest retirement tribute:

EVA

Air NZ

Air France

someassemblyrequired > Alex B 09/18/2017 at 18:04

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Yep. They’re retiring the 747-400, they did not order any of the new 747-8i’s. Effectively the 777 is a twin engine 747. Delta is in the process of retiring theirs over the next few weeks as well.

Boaty > Alex B 09/18/2017 at 18:09

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Replacing with the 777-300ER. United got a firesale deal on them from Boeing (Boeing’s trying to bridge the gap between the current 777 and the 777x which won’t start production until 2019-2021ish).

The 777-300ER was also the debut plane for United Polaris first class. Seats seem awesome but you’ll unfortunately have to deal with their awful flight attendants...

Source: Avgeek and United premier flier (290k butt in seat miles since 2013).