End of an era - last Qantas Boeing 747 services for Brisbane this week

16 replies

nige00160

Member since 07 Jan 2016

Total posts 64

According to the Qantas schedule Wednesday marks the last time that a 747 departs Brisbane for Los Angeles, with future QF55/56 round-trips being converted to the 787 Dreamliner. This will likely mark the end of roughly 40 years of regularly scheduled 747 passenger services from the QLD capital (in the unlikely event the airline returns the Jumbo to BNE services before the fleet retirement)

I'm sure there will still be the odd 747 charter-flight or freight service making an occasional 'appearance' at BNE. But in terms of a regular passenger service - the 747 will be no more. An end of an era.

When the final QF56 747 service returns from Los Angeles on Saturday morning it will have a few hours on the ground before being ferried back to Sydney. For those folks in QLD wanting to join the final leg between BNE and SYD you can grab a seat on the Qantas website (QF56 BNE>SYD Dec 1). Note the flight departs from the International terminal.

(sidenote: the replacement 787 Dreamliner aircraft will be ferried up from Melbourne the same day as QF630)


Red Cee

Member since 15 Feb 2018

Total posts 151

Good information. Long term, the 787 makes economic sense, as they are cheaper to operate than the 747. This means more planes can be in the sky, and services be offered and operated to more locations.

rob01

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 10 Nov 2011

Total posts 110

Sad to see them dissapearing. I still think they are the most beautiful looking planes out there.

sanj747

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 01 Nov 2016

Total posts 148

Sad to see them dissapearing. I still think they are the most beautiful looking planes out there.

Absolutely agree. An iconic pioneering aircraft that will always be looked at forever.

Luke Hines

Member since 27 Nov 2018

Total posts 10

This is great news, I am booked on QF 55 and 56 in Feb/ March and was anxious as to whether the change was going to on schedule. So is it pretty much locked in its happening this week? Very cool to have multiple options out of BNE and a great landing time of midday in LA! Luke

Packetman21

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 28 Jul 2016

Total posts 68

I am actually going to be onboard the last flight from Brisbane to Sydney QF56 in Business. I’ll be sure to let you guys know how it went :)

markpk

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 29 Nov 2013

Total posts 459

I am actually going to be onboard the last flight from Brisbane to Sydney QF56 in Business. I’ll be sure to let you guys know how it went :)

In the main cabin we'll be serving up one last dish of that wonderful 747 engine noise followed by a desert of nostalgia!


Have fun - #jealous...

gj

Member since 11 Nov 2012

Total posts 6

Thank you for this, I changed my flight for Saturday to Sydney to be on this QF 56 flight too.

Nothing beats being upstairs in the bubble row 14 exit row
What an iconic plan

wdeguara

Etihad - Etihad Guest

Member since 06 Apr 2012

Total posts 94

Thank you for this, I changed my flight for Saturday to Sydney to be on this QF 56 flight too.
Nothing beats being upstairs in the bubble row 14 exit row
What an iconic plan

@PacketMan21, @gj - I believe Ch7 are planning to be at the check-in counter around 6am interviewing passengers going onto the flight. See you there !

gj

Member since 11 Nov 2012

Total posts 6

Great flight

Lots of photos and champagne
Great crew
And stairs on arrival so lots of selfies as we walked down the stairs in sydb

Johnny9

Member since 05 Aug 2017

Total posts 55

What happens to VH-OJS now? Is she retiring for good or used ex-SYD?

GregXL

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 26 May 2014

Total posts 322

What happens to VH-OJS now? Is she retiring for good or used ex-SYD?

Has flown BNE-SYD today.  I guess they will retire OJS or OJU next, but with the peak travel period starting it might not be immediately.

wdeguara

Etihad - Etihad Guest

Member since 06 Apr 2012

Total posts 94

What happens to VH-OJS now? Is she retiring for good or used ex-SYD?

Pilot told us it’s next service was to be Honolulu...

Madhatter49

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 11 Dec 2016

Total posts 86

Yep. It went to Honolulu last night. I expect they're holding onto the rest of the 747s to fill in for A380s while they're having their overhaul over the next 2 years. Which explains why the 747 fleet retirement date is set for 2020 after the A380 fleet refurbs have been completed.

Furn88

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 06 Dec 2018

Total posts 1

I wonder if the fact the 747 service has stopped is the reason that if you want to fly Bne to JFK you can no longer book a reward business class seat for 256k points.. its now 292k points.

Also BNE to London has gone up from 256k to 296k as we now fly through Perth.
Suprisingly Sydney remains unchanged to either JFK or London at 256k, even though both Bne and Sydney flights transit through LAX.
Maybe Qantas can advise why the hefty increase.

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