Where to fly on a 747-400?

[ilesmark]

Hi all

A friend has asked me to post this for him as I already have a Pprune ID.

He wants to know where would be the cheapest and closest place he could fly to from the UK (probably one of the London airports, unless 747s fly from Bristol or Exeter!) on a 747-400. Have been meaning to post this for some time, but sounds like he'd better hurry up - Why time may be up for the jumbo jet - BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32400130)

Any ideas, please let me know.

Thanks

Mark

[wiggy]

Have been meaning to post this for some time, but sounds like he'd better hurry up

Well whilst the 747 production run might be about to end I wouldn't panic about the aircraft disappearing quite yet.....for example this London based airline is planning on operating the 744 for a few more years..

What are British Airways? plans for the refurbishment and retirement of its Boeing 747 fleet? | London Air Travel (http://londonairtravel.com/2015/03/01/what-are-british-airways-plans-for-the-refurbishment-and-retirement-of-its-boeing-747-fleet/)

BTW just be careful about buying tickets on a route for the sake of flying on a particular aircraft type, especially if the airline has a variety of types in it's inventory that can service the route ..sod's law says that on the day he hopes to fly on a BA 744 the flight is subbed to say, a 777.

[Gsxr600]

Gatwick to Orlando with Virgin Atlantic is pretty much guaranteed to be a 747-400 and very good deals can be had. Not saying this is the cheapest or closest but its not too expensive and he can have a decent holiday when he gets there!!

[DaveReidUK]

Shortest BA flight that's usually operated by a B744 is the BA233/232 rotation from LHR to Moscow/Domodedovo on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays (around 3:45 block time).

Normally a B772 on the other days of the week, usual caveats apply.

[west lakes]

You friend could always look into flying on one of the KLM 747-400Ms for something a bit more different