Mr Toad
SOP is, prior to departure, to preset IAS to VNE-10 and ALT acquire to 1000ft offshore or cleared cruising altitude onshore/outbound. Once the aircraft has reached 500ft agl/amsl and Vy, ALTA is selected which terminates GA mode and engages 1000 ft per min ROC and arms the selected altitude for subsequent capture. Heading is then normally slaved to the nav system to follow the planned FMS route to destination. Upper modes of the AP are therefore normally engaged from TDP till short finals/LDP at destination, and basic AP is in from just before first taxi till shutdown.
I flew a 747-400 Captain in the jumpseat recently and he confirmed that all procedures are identical to fixed wing SOPs. He was pretty gobsmacked by the whole trip, especially when ATC told us to slow down on the ILS because we were catching the 737 ahead and encroaching on the recommeded vortex wake spacing. (He had expressed surprise at the start of the day when he found out we could actually do an ILS). The only thing missing at the moment is TCAS 2 which will be getting fitted over the next year or so.