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Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes and it says "First-class meal service on a Pan Am 747 in the mid-70s" :)
True, but airlines have absolutely made coach seats smaller and closer together over the years. And we're fatter on average than back then.
Summary: Old, inefficient, less need for jumbo jets. Everyone's either buying smaller or migrating to the modern Airbus A380.
Would you just look at the padding and space between those seats. I miss that far more than the plane model.
How much was the airfare (in inflation adjusted dollars) back then?
Then at some point they moved to 777's, and even though it was a nice plane and far more modern the 747 almost never had a turbulent ride whereas the 777 trips were far less comfortable, especially the red-eye return flight rarely was smooth enough that I could get some sleep.
Retiring the 747 was one (small) factor in the decision to move to Canada. I flew that flight so often that I knew most of the flight crew by name after a year or so, and quite a few of them would recognize me.
It's a magnificent aircraft and the most impressive bit to me is that it was designed mostly with slide rules and other old-fashioned gear.
Also, this is the only time I've ever gone faster than 1,250 Km/h groundspeed in a regular jet (and that probably wasn't even close to the record). Trade winds really helped there but still, it was incredible to see how fast we moved over ground (or rather, sea).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747-8#747-8_Intercontin...
But the death of 4 engine plane trend continues even for A380. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Airbus_A380_orders_and...
I used to fly these every two weeks, KL691 and KL692 the flights between Schiphol, Netherhands and Toronto, Canada. Then at some point they moved to 777's, and even though it was a nice plane and far more modern the 747 almost never had a turbulent ride whereas the 777 trips were far less comfortable, especially the red-eye return flight rarely was smooth enough that I could get some sleep. Retiring the 747 was one (…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
True, but airlines have absolutely made coach seats smaller and closer together over the years. And we're fatter on average than back then.
Airfare has also dropped by over 90% in the past 50-60 years.
In some ways we as the customers are making our own problem. People put an unorthodoxly large weighting on paying as little as possible to fly, so airlines have the incentive to cut prices any way possible. People will search 5 different websites for hours just to save $20.
Hyvee, a grocery store in the Midwest, partnered up with Casey's (a convenience store chain) to give Fuel Saver credits on gasoline for buying specific products in the store. E.g. Save 1 cent per gallon for buying your canned corn. It's quite popular because people hate paying for gasoline despite the convenience it provides. I simply make my purchases at Aldi and other much cheaper alternatives and come out way ahead.
For anyone wondering why airlines are retiring the 747 this Wikipedia section summarizes it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747-400#Retirement_and_... Summary: Old, inefficient, less need for jumbo jets. Everyone's either buying smaller or migrating to the modern Airbus A380.
This is why the 747's cockpit is on top, it provided a continuous open tube for cargo underneath.
http://www.nycaviation.com/newspage/wp-content/uploads/2015/...
Something about that second floor, with a spiral staircase, is magical. Recently, I found out that 777's manage to fit a crew rest area on top of the overhead luggage compartments. I haven't been fortunate enough to check out one of those.
