That would give her her golden jubilee and the grandest hurrah. Factually, Cook's Endeavour reached Australia in April 1770 and landed at Botany Bay. The four-engine 747 uses a double deck configuration for part of its length. Ultimately, the 747-8 was announced in 2005. Not merely a recording of somebody playing an instrument on the ground, but a live piano bar in the air. Forget that pre-flight visit to the Qantas First Lounge – after take-off, you could instead enjoy an exclusive atmosphere in what was the Captain Cook Lounge on the Boeing 747's upper deck: Guests could simply grab a newspaper or magazine and make themselves comfortable... ... or ditch the reading material in favour of fine wines and a little conversation: While Qantas again provides a small inflight lounge and meeting area on today's Airbus A380s, it's not quite the upper deck of the '70s. Except perhaps just to stretch out during a long flight. The jumbo's 'hump' was the exclusive domain of Qantas' first class passengers, who otherwise spent their journey cocooned in the nose of the jumbo's downstairs lower deck. A short but memorable flight but nothing like it looked back in the 60s! Didn’t receive an activation email? The extremely wide staircase between the decks could be narrowed, with perhaps a relocation of the CSMs office on the other side, could result in a very usable space for a decent J/F lounge or bar. Offer ends 31st March 2021. Just happen to have Stevie Wonder on board who sat at the piano for the flight & played all his hits to a very exclusive audience. Sometimes, Brisbane also has First Class. Boeing designed the 747's hump-like upper deck to serve as a first class lounge or (as is the general rule today) extra seating, and to allow the aircraft to be easily converted to a cargo carrier by removing seats and installing a front cargo door. The 747’s upper-deck lounge was initially conceived of by Boeing as a rest area for flight crews. It consists of a bench that seats about 6 people in a row, the bench seating being low and uncomfortable, with not even a cushion available. The Sydney to Seoul leg was on an Airbus A380, which was temporarily put on the route; normally, it’s an older Airbus A330 flying the daily morning service departing Sydney at 9am and arriving in Seoul at 5:30pm. Go on! That Continental photo looks like a set from an Austin Powers movie. Lufthansa First Class Boeing 747-8 Frankfurt to Newark. I had recently flown United on their Boeing 767 in first class but was excited to fly the ‘Queen of the Skies’ before her retirement from United back in November. A buggy service is provided to bring passengers to the Thai Airways First Lounge … A few posts refer to the QF A380 lounge as a waste of space - I think it is more a case of a left over space that was difficult to use and they have not used it well. Thanks David for a fantastic article that brought back many wonderful memories some of which I wrote above. The old First Class seat onboard Thai Airways’ Boeing 747 has a width of 23 inch (58 cm) and a pitch of 203 cm (80 inch). But of course, we're not. Great article! The 747 could carry more people than any other aircraft for 37 years, until the Airbus A380 was made. There is a huge LUFTHANSA FIRST CLASS sign on the wall … As a kid in the '70's I had the privilege of 1st class travel on QF B747 - this has brought back some great memories. It was born on that flight and Captain Cook's Lounge forever etched itself into my memory. The 747 is a double deck plane. I have great memories of the Continental DC10 Pub Flight between MEL-LAX via Nadi in the mid 1980's. I've been trying to figure out for hours where I'd seen that before, quite disturbing. Economy return ticket to London was about the same as today in dollar terms yet a huge amount of money back then when taking inflation into account. I just want to avoid raising wrong expectations. third Thai Airways Royal First Lounge Bangkok. 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The only downside was they ran out of lobster (first world problems!). Agree that Qantas A380 'Lounge' is a complete waste of space. ... On the Boeing 747-400s, British Airways First Class crams in 14 open seats into the nose of the plane. At no time were we ever questioned nor asked to leave. I have used it when wanting to talk to a collegue, but the seating is not very suitable for that purpose. The first three row of seats are configured in a 1 X 1 layout but rows 4 and 5 are configured in a 1 X 2 X 1 layout. Convert your points to Virgin Australia Velocity, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and more. But then again, that is really too expensive and only the hyper-rich sheikh tycoons can afford this indulgence. Qantas: the Boeing 747 Captain Cook Lounge. No wonder that some of us 'old-timers' fondly recall this as the 'golden age' of air travel ! We could be talking about the bar of the Emirates Airbus A380, or the lounge of Qatar Airways' own superjumbo. A vlog of our BA First Class experience flying from London Heathrow to Las Vegas McCarran airport. 15 passengers could settle themselves on the curved bright-orange sofa, the blue island settee or the hip swivel chairs. Like David and many readers here at E.t., my love affair for air travel was born. As borders come down, where can you travel across Australia? Thank God the things that really matter (e.g. Totally agree! I dare you! We don't really need a lounge in today's biz class seats with music, movies and even a minibar at arm length in the comfort of our seat whether upright during a meal, relaxing recline position or flat out sleeping. American also had a small (4 person) First Class lounge in their B707-323C which served SYD during their initial Australian foray in the early 1970's. In particular, I’ve always found Thai’s first class in the nose of the 747 to be an especially charming experience (though at this point that’s a thing of the past). Thank you. Virgin Atlantic no longer flies to Australia, but the cosy cocktail bars on its Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s sport an undeniably 'cool Britannia' vibe. While the Boeing 747 is often said to have democratised travel by enabling airlines to carry many more passengers at much lower prices, the Captain Cook lounge made the upper deck unapologetically upper class. American Airlines also included the 'Piano Bar' on their LuxuryLiner DC10-30's and this was, similar to Continental's Pub zone, also open to all classes .. being located in the rear economy zone. Just nonchalantly drape one of her big furs over your shoulders ;-), Not possible. First Class passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport have access to a special first class check-in. Aircraft: Boeing B 747-400 Cabin: First Class Seat: 2K. Can anyone read the name on that Queen of the Sky at the top of the article? Paul. I recall 4 flight crew on my flight ( 2 pilots in the seat, 1 to rotate and a navigator/flight engineer sitting directly behind the first officer's seat in the cockpit with many dials and switches along the wall. interact with our community. There'll never be another Qantas plane that lasts so long. However, presented by the difficulties involved with tuning pianos and how easily a little turbulence or a bumpy landing could make a traditional piano change key in an instant, AA opted for electric Wurlitzer organs: Appreciated by passengers and cabin crew alike, the organs provided live inflight entertainment that was always in tune. American Airlines offered a lounge with a bar and piano, on the main deck. 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Lufthansa business class 747-400. Hear! August 17, 2020 Sam Chui. Now.... Just makes me want to dig up mum's short dresses, and get a beehive hairdo done for my SIN-MEL next week. How times have changed! parties. If you have not received the activation email, simply enter your email address below, then click 'Submit'. August 17, 2020 Sam Chui. Would have loved to have flown the 747SP. A narrower staircase, like that on the B747, offset to one side could see that space used for a descent bar/lounge (though itd be better to have the lounge situated bewteen Business and Premium Economy. Many friendships & laisons were developed! Boeing designed the 747's hump-like upper deck to serve as a first class lounge or (as is the general rule today) extra seating, and to allow the aircraft to be easily converted to a cargo carrier by removing seats and installing a front cargo door. If you’ve forgotten your password, simply enter your email address I feel sorry for the extroverts out there who can't contain themselves and feel the need to engage in what would be a blissful, disconnected, "me" time in the air. 1970 was the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Captain James Cook, who claimed Australian for the English empire, so the Captain Cook lounge drew on his name as well as his Naval heritage. below, then click 'Submit'. Sadly, I was still learning to walk when the Captain Cook Lounge made its splash on 'the scene, baby'. In 1963, the US Air Force started a series of study projects on a very large "strategic" transport aircraft. The Captain Cook lounge, on the upper deck of the first Qantas Boeing 747s. How things have changed. The 747-200 soon followed, with its launch in 1968. Re the comment about Public servants and First class travel, we know that their Junkets cost the taxpayers a lot of money and should be controlled. Obviously this year isn’t the best time, but if I wanted to fly a Boeing 747 the future, which airline(s) cargo/passenger would be my best bet. The International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) classifies variants using a shortened code formed by combining the model number and the variant designator (e.g… For the first class Trippe actually got some of his double-decker vision in the final 747, with its famous upper deck. Step back in time to the early 1970s when the Boeing 747 first took to the skies, heralding a short-lived era of luxury air travel on board the Queen of the Skies. Ignorance can be bliss. I’ll be curious to see how this plays out, but it sure would be sad if Thai Airways eliminates first class. New cards only. The Boeing 747 made its first flight for an airline in 1970. It truly was the golden era of international travel. It is intended to serve F and J, but is really not a very appealing space. I was one of three young Aussies heading to the USA as an exchange student. I think I very much miss the Qantas of old. (For what it's worth, I still get dressed up, high heels and all, when flying). Korean Air 747-8 First Class. I remember struggling up that spiral staircase, but when you got to the top - it was so comfortable and elegant. If you’ve forgotten your password, simply enter your email address Airbus A380. 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