UPPER IN THE 747-400

Hi,

Just a few thoughts from the experts please
Do you find upper in the 744 to be a diferent experience to the 333 or 789? I've flown in both the latter and love the feeling of space and the use of the bar.

Just wonering if being "in the nose" gives a different feel to the experience. Just about to pull the trigger on a trip to BGI

The "nose" for me is the best experience, it's a private cabin-feel with the space of the central area not cluttered by seats.

I'm sure I wrote a TR after a 744 flight (with pics), I will try and dig it out.

Get on the 747 before its too late
6 a and 6k our favourites but there are no bad seats in this exclusive cabin

I love this cabin, it feels so exclusive.

Have done Upper Class on the B747, A346 & A333 and my favourite is definitely the 747. The small cabin in the A-zone (nose section) with 14 seats has a real feel of a private cabin. As the galley is at the rear there are no crew passing through the cabin, other then to serve you. The bar is small and only has two seats and in my experiences does not get used much in-flight by passengers.

If you're travelling as a couple then 6A/K right at the front are probably the best two seats as your ottoman footrests touch each other. My personal favourite seats are 9A/K, as the cabin is quite wide here so you get a real feeling of space and you're not right next to the bar (in case it gets used). I actively avoid seats 12A/K (right at the back & next to the bar + galley) and 11A/K (right next to the bar) if at all possible.

The overhead bins only start at row 8 too - it's quite amusing to see first-time UC pax in rows 6 and 7 trying to pull off (often with quite a bit of force) fixed panelling that they think is a locker. There are two wardrobes at the back of the cabin behind 12A/K seats so there is no shortage of storage space.

Finally, the cabin is very quiet IMO as you're right at the front and well away from the engines. Admittedly I am partially deaf, but with the Bose QC20i's on I don't need to increase the volume at all to compensate for background noise. I'll be sorry to see the 747's go as whatever UC cabin we get on the replacement aircraft won't have the same private & spacious feel to it.

[buns]

Have done Upper Class on the B747, A346 & A333 and my favourite is definitely the 747. The small cabin in the A-zone (nose section) with 14 seats has a real feel of a private cabin. As the galley is at the rear there are no crew passing through the cabin, other then to serve you. The bar is small and only has two seats and in my experiences does not get used much in-flight by passengers.

If you're travelling as a couple then 6A/K right at the front are probably the best two seats as your ottoman footrests touch each other. My personal favourite seats are 9A/K, as the cabin is quite wide here so you get a real feeling of space and you're not right next to the bar (in case it gets used). I actively avoid seats 12A/K (right at the back & next to the bar + galley) and 11A/K (right next to the bar) if at all possible.

The overhead bins only start at row 8 too - it's quite amusing to see first-time UC pax in rows 6 and 7 trying to pull off (often with quite a bit of force) fixed panelling that they think is a locker. There are two wardrobes at the back of the cabin behind 12A/K seats so there is no shortage of storage space.

Finally, the cabin is very quiet IMO as you're right at the front and well away from the engines. Admittedly I am partially deaf, but with the Bose QC20i's on I don't need to increase the volume at all to compensate for background noise. I'll be sorry to see the 747's go as whatever UC cabin we get on the replacement aircraft won't have the same private & spacious feel to it.

Agree 100% with you Kraken

I too will be sorry to see the VS Queen of the Skies retire next year - will be watching closely to see if there is any farewell trips as was the case with Delta

buns

A "plus one" to all the other comments.

Just wonering if being "in the nose" gives a different feel to the experience.

Yes. It's better!

Another big fan of the 747 UC cabin here...

[mitchja]

The version of the Upper Class Suite installed on the 744’s is also the biggest in the entire fleet. It’s wider and slightly longer in bed mode than all other versions of the Upper Class suite used on the A333’s, A346’s and the B789’s.

I think I echo everyone else's comments to be honest. Our first time in upper was on the 747 and we loved it. Since then we've done the A333 and 346 and 789 (which was shiny new and nice), however the last time was on a 747 out of MAN and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. The small number of suites and the wide floor space across the cabin made the whole thing feel so much more special.

Silence seems to be all the rage these days, but I also just love the sound you get in the nose of the 747.

Fully agree with all the previous comments and just love the 747 cabin it always seems spacious. Off to LAS in September for probably our last ride on a Queen of the Skies.

Fabulous... thanks all....

Thanks for thèse posts. We are flying Man to JFK in the summer. Not flown the 747 UC before so reading these comments were really looking forward to it

I too will be sorry to see the VS Queen of the Skies retire next year - will be watching closely to see if there is any farewell trips as was the case with Delta

buns[/quote]

Any ideas when this is likely to happen as hoping to book for May 2019?

I too will be sorry to see the VS Queen of the Skies retire next year - will be watching closely to see if there is any farewell trips as was the case with Delta

buns

Any ideas when this is likely to happen as hoping to book for May 2019?[/quote]
5 of the B744's are leased (the ex-Alitalia 5). These were originally leased in 2001 for 10yrs, then extended for a further 10yrs I believe. The remaining 3 B744's are owned by VS & must be fully depreciated on the balance sheets by now.

I'd expect the B744's to be retired depending on the arrival of the A350-1000's which will replace them. Bear in mind that the first A350-1000's will almost certainly join the LHR fleet - the later deliveries will join the leisure fleet.

The exact retirement schedule will boil down to delivery dates of the A350-1000's & also when heavy maintenance falls due on the B744's. Retiring an aircraft and returning it to a lessor is not cheap - you have to repaint it in white & either have a heavy maintenance check done / pay a pro-rata amount for one that is becoming due in the near future. Retiring owned aircraft is cheaper as you can choose to send it to a scrapper / be parted out to avoid maintenance & repainting costs.

I'll be sorry to the the B744 go though, as that UC cabin in the A-zone is probably one of the best business class cabins in the sky in terms of passenger space / experience (as long as you don't mind the herringbone UC seats, which I know do not appeal to all).