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United Airlines Says Goodbye To The 747-400

I had the great pleasure of being included in United Airlines 12th Annual Family Day at their SFO Maintenance Hangars. And this was the day that Untied and it’s employees say goodbye to one a great old centerpiece of the United fleet, the 747. Two of the soon to be retiring 747-400s were on hand for a Tour and with a host of volunteers & flight crew who worked inside on so many flights to show us all around.

Many thanks again to ThePointsGuy for the invitation AND getting us into the tour before United’s Family Day opened for nearly 20,000 people.

Before the event, we were taken through to the office section and got a bit of swag and a Question & Answer session with head of Engineering. Me, I am a bit cold hearted, and figured these old birds were ready for an update or retire a decade ago, but there are many who have a great deal of nostalgia for the 747, and the thing is, the 747-8I is a magnificent plane, superior I may add, but most Americans will most likely never even see one much less fly in one, pity.

But it was grand being lead out to where the planes were parked, waiting to be boarded and toured. I do love being on the tarmac next to huge aircraft, makes you feel so small. And touring through the two 747-400s was a treat. And chatting with some of the original flight attendants who worked on the very plane you were in was fascinating. Having the time to roam a plane with only a few people was worth the trip to SFO.

After the gates were opened the hordes of Family and Friends flooded in and the lines began. Time for some food & fun, and since it was a hot day in San Francisco, find the shade. But with all the Antique Cars, Food Stands and BarBQ and “That 80’s Band” Re-Wind (yikes), I think United put on a grand show for the employees.

Sadly the 787 was not able to open for tours while I was there, and I really wanted to sample all the seats for my upcoming LAX – SIN nonstop next month. Wanted to see if I was able to endure a 17-hour flight in coach on a United “Squeezeliner”, I should probably start a diet now so I can fit in the seat more easily.

Oh, United is retiring their entire remaining fleet of 14 747-400s by the end of October 2017. And yes, they are to be ferried over most likely to Victorville to see what can be done with them. Guess my eulogy wasn’t that far off base.