Farewell to the BA Jumbo 747

[rossyl]

Have they got 30 or so people down the isles all frying woks over an open flame?

Jet A1 fuel is surprisingly not very flammable. It will not evaporate when left in open atmosphere either. In that regard, its quite different to petrol, and actually more similar to diesel.

 

[rossyl]

Jet A1 fuel is surprisingly not very flammable. It will not evaporate when left in open atmosphere either. In that regard, its quite different to petrol, and actually more similar to diesel.

Here you go...

 

[PaulCambio]

Some of the cabins were pretty dated, I agree. The BA 380s are much better. I dunno about Emirates. Business was nice, food much better than BA, but always rammed. At least with BA Club the cabins were smaller so if the staff weren't in a filthy mood (no guarantee!) the service was always pretty good. Emirates First, however...

The new Club suite on the BA A350 is pretty good. That said, due to the current situation I haven't flown since Oct 2019.

 

[PaulCambio]

Gone from travelling all the time to nothing since 10th March..... Bloody love it!!!

747’s had their day years ago... had not been on a 747 for a few years and about a couple of years ago, walked down the ramp at Toronto Airport and........ onto a 747 and not the usual weekly 787 Dreamliner.... it was the noisiest and most uncomfortable flight I had taken in a long time as have got so used to newer and quieter planes....

No rose-tinted glasses for me.....

Always thought I’d be able use my current 2.3million’odd BA miles....

not sure now but to be honest, I’m over flying!!

Totally agree! Best thing is you can spend the Avios on booze!!!!

 

[midlifecrisis]

Hardship is flying Aeroflot, on an Ilyushin IL-62, the communist VC-10. Probably good up front for party members but not for capitalist pig-dogs at the back.

 

[Hawk13]

Totally agree! Best thing is you can spend the Avios on booze!!!!

I save mine up and using a BA Amex get a companion voucher every year. The BA sale has just allowed me to bag 2 return flights in 1st class to the US west coast for 100,000 Avios and £1300 in taxes ..... 'kin bargain

 

[bigbob]

Jet A1 fuel is surprisingly not very flammable. It will not evaporate when left in open atmosphere either. In that regard, its quite different to petrol, and actually more similar to diesel.

What about the seats and the linen shirts all the tourists are wearing?

 

[CatmanV2]

I save mine up and using a BA Amex get a companion voucher every year. The BA sale has just allowed me to bag 2 return flights in 1st class to the US west coast for 100,000 Avios and £1300 in taxes ..... 'kin bargain

But you have to buy with Avios to get the free one, innit?

C

 

[PaulCambio]

I save mine up and using a BA Amex get a companion voucher every year. The BA sale has just allowed me to bag 2 return flights in 1st class to the US west coast for 100,000 Avios and £1300 in taxes ..... 'kin bargain

I never use mine for flights - total rip off. Last time I tried to book myself and two daughters for a trip to Florida I was quoted more in taxes that the full cost with Virgin. Also, the Gold upgrade vouchers are a pointless thing. Hmm, maybe I should be on the Rant thread!!

 

[Felonious Crud]

I save mine up and using a BA Amex get a companion voucher every year. The BA sale has just allowed me to bag 2 return flights in 1st class to the US west coast for 100,000 Avios and £1300 in taxes ..... 'kin bargain

Well done! It's on my list to look at that this weekend. I've got a companion voucher to use. Either South America or Asia again. See if Mrs Crud fancies getting something in the diary.

 

[CatmanV2]

I never use mine for flights - total rip off. Last time I tried to book myself and two daughters for a trip to Florida I was quoted more in taxes that the full cost with Virgin. Also, the Gold upgrade vouchers are a pointless thing. Hmm, maybe I should be on the Rant thread!!

I'll support you! I had one of the people 'in charge' of the Virgin program talk to me in the LHR Clubhouse. Her day probably got better after that. Apart from anything else, there's never the bloody availability. The only times I've managed to get Upper on points has been by booking economy, then booking Premium then booking Upper with each upgrade meaning checking the website repeated. Total PITA.

Easier to get the Eurostar vouchers and sod off to Brussels to stay in the Hotel Metropole, frankly

C

 

[Hawk13]

As with any freebie you, they are limited and you have to plan ahead.

I have always managed to get BA Club flights around the dates I want if booking 6 plus months ahead and almost every time if booking 11 months ahead. And that is using the companion vouchers.

This time, I landed on 1st class which was a bonus.

In a few months I will be looking for South America for early 2022.

On the other hand, my Virgin points will probably expire before I ever use them!

 

[Ebenezer]

Got loads of Virgin airmiles after 9/11 when no-one was flying so they upped the amount. Used them on Virgin wines!
Eb

 

[Strad]

Obviously these airlines cleverly hook you in with airmiles and tier points. More tier points = more chance of upgrades, comfy lounges and generally better treatment all round so you stick with the same airline for the next flight in the hope that your upstairs 747 seat gets changed to seat 1A at the gate - and it does occasionally, normally just about when you are thinking it’s time...... they get it.
I was about to ask what people think would happen to the memberships bearing in mind we are not travelling this year so have technically dropped out of our current status but I just opened my BA App for the first time since March and see they have given me Gold until mid 2022.
As I said, they get it!

 

[Strad]

Yes to all that. My last junket was HK, Malaysia and Singapore in Jan, then Turin, then lockdown. I’ve almost stopped missing it.

As FC, Stu and Catman said, I’m not missing the biz travel at all....

 

[Doctor Houx]

As FC, Stu and Catman said, I’m not missing the biz travel at all....

I agree. Anybody that says global business travel looks fun should try it. I did it for 20 years and missed out on countless social events and my kids childhood Inc all the school plays, parents evenings etc. In hindsight I was an absent parent, often travelling long haul over weekends to be at a destination for a Monday meeting or conference and back overnight Friday into Saturday so both weekends either end written off.

It was my choice to have such a career and nobody forced me to do it, but having semi retired at 50 I don’t miss it at all 7 years later and see far more of my adult kids now than when they were growing up.

 

[CatmanV2]

It can be pleasant, if you're flying business, and getting treated like a human being, but take that away and it gets old even faster. I mean it gets old anyway, but flying cattle gets old real fast.

But yes. My choice. Seen some fantastic places. Miss one of them particularly. Doubt I'll ever go back as there are others on the list that I need to take Mrs C to but it's all good

C