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If you missed it this morning, it’s well worth spending a few minutes watching BBC Breakfast’s excellent coverage of the last two British Airways Boeing 747 aircraft completing their final take offs from London Heathrow Airport.
BBC Transport Correspondent, Tom Burridge, does a really good job of capturing the excitement and affection so many people have for the ‘Queen of the Skies’.
Big kudos to the @British_Airways ops team here at @HeathrowAirport for the #747farewell – they make it all look seamless live on @BBCBreakfast but there is an inordinate amount of planning – the weather is the only thing they can’t control 🤞🏻 pic.twitter.com/JIsNo7PXD9
— Tom Burridge (@TomBurridgebbc) October 8, 2020
You can find the programme here.
The relevant bits are from 49 minutes in (06:48 am at the time); then 1hr 45min in (07:45 am at the time); and finally, take off begins at 2hrs 35mins in (08:35 am at the time).
Bottom line
I’m sure that, just like the crew members featured in the programme, many readers will share memories of BA’s 747s and be sad to see them go.
Sitting in the nose of a BA 747 was my very first ‘First’ experience – flying back from Brazil using Avios… how will you remember the BA 747?
Joe,
Thanks for the link. Sad to see the 747 depart; the end of an era. I have flown in all cabins but always preferred upstairs in Club, 62 A or K. A flight from LHR to Sao Paulo and on to Buenos Aires was one to enjoy – most passengers left the aircraft at Sao Paulo and I was the only person left in Club when we disembarked at Buenos Aires. Not quite so much fun in economy when sat near the back of the aircraft on a long flight to Seattle.
I would comment that there have been many criticisms of BA in recent times. I have a voucher for a flight not taken in March as I could not get through to the company via telephone. However, a flight to Chicago scheduled for next week was recently cancelled by BA – I managed to contact a very helpful agent within 5 rings. The refund cash was in my account the following day.
Very nice! – I actually boarded that first First at Sao Paulo. I started the day eating chips with a tooth pick off a tin plate and drinking beer at a bus station in Santos. Ended it, sipping LPGS in the nose of a 747. Certainly a day of contrasts!
My general sense is that BA seem to be getting on top of the customer service situation now. As they should really I suppose, given the relatively small amount of business they must have to deal with.
I flew on 747 B from aust in 86,then flew many times thru the years.just like the A 380 all going.sad to see those planes going.when all this virus is over we all will be flying again on planes