HOONS90 From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 2670 posts, RR: 54 Posted (4 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1611 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Just bought my tickets on AA's first ever flight to Korea, DFW-ICN on May 9th. Has anyone ever been on an inaugural flight for a route, aircraft type or airline? Did you get to enjoy the hors d'oeuvres at the gate?
The biggest mistake made by most human beings: Listening to only half, understanding just a quarter and telling double.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21488 posts, RR: 24 Reply 6, posted (4 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 1532 times:
QF operated a few of their 744 delivery flights as revenue extra sections YVR-SYD nonstop at special low fares.
CP worked fairly closely with QF then and I managed to arrange a nonrev ticket on the first of those flights in August 1990, luckily in F class which was empty except for myself, another CP colleague, and 2 or 3 QF staff who had been involved in the delivery formalities. The rest of the flight was well under half full (they didn't sell the entire capacity).
So it was both the first revenue flight of that 744 as well as the first-ever nonstop flight from Canada to Australia. Passengers were given a certificate signed by the captain and purser commemorating the latter event. It was a daytime flight, departed YVR around 10 AM.
dstc47 From Ireland, joined Sep 1999, 1351 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (4 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1473 times:
Been on two inaugural flights.
Absolutely nothing on the first, in terms of gifts or service, except a check in delay as new handling agents tried to cope with an unfamiliar carriers procedures. On the second, just a water fountain welcome from the airport fire service.
I did get a free slice of cake from CO, almost 30 years ago, as an inaugural flight left from the nearby gate, as I waited to board another service.
reifel From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1135 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (4 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1457 times:
I was on the inaugural flight with Niki from Vienna to Frankfurt.
That was a big thing since they were basically first entering OS/LH territory (although I believe JP did it at smaller extend already).
Most passengers on board didn't even know it was an inaugural. At the gate in Vienna there was nothing special. Niki Lauda flown the jet and on board there was sparkling wine for free and a present. In Frankfurt for the flight the other way round there was a gate ceremony with Media and cake.
L1011 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1583 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (4 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1433 times:
I was on the last PanAm Shuttle flight from DCA to LGA, and the next morning I flew on the first Delta Shuttle flight from LGA-DCA. Cake was served in the gate area for the first Delta Shuttle flight. The PanAm flight was on 8/31/91, Boeing 727-200 N877UM, and the Delta flight was on 9/1/91, Boeing 727-200 N555PE.
airportugal310 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 3065 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (4 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1371 times:
I havent ever been on an inaugural flight, however, I've gone to the respective gates of 2 of our recent route launches (CTS and BNE). Quite a sight to see!
Hula dancers, live band playing traditional Hawaiian music, food, leis, the whole nine yards.
I'm told our AKL inaugural is going to be a doozie so I plan on attending
VC10er From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 2428 posts, RR: 9 Reply 17, posted (4 months 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 1272 times:
On October 28 2007 I was on the inaugural flight on United from Washington Dulles to Rio de Janeiro. UA 873. I have a cool certificate signed by Glenn Tilton and the Pilot. It has a big illustration of a Tucan in a rain forest. (from the days of illustration advertising)
The world is missing love, let's use our flights to spread it!
RJLover From Canada, joined Dec 2006, 567 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (4 months 1 week 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1248 times:
I was on the AC/QK inaugural flight to/from YFB, a couple of years ago. It was a thru flight, operating YUL-YOW-YFB and there was no mention in YUL of it being the inaugural flight. I think there was in YOW, but I wasn't in the terminal to hear it (stayed on board for the turn).
Last Flight(s): YHZ-EWR-FLL // MIA-YYZ-YOW-YHZ.....Next Flight(s):
aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 8357 posts, RR: 47 Reply 19, posted (4 months 1 week 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 1244 times:
I don't know if this counts, but I was on LOT's first 787 flight to HAJ, 23 December 2012. We got a fifty-minute delay (during which I feared they were going to put us on e.g. a 737), a certificate and special announcements were made by a very cheerful crew. On top of that, just about everyone with any sort of status in Miles & More got an upgrade - I ended up in business class... nice to see an airline actually giving a damn about FFs.
There were no special celebrations at the departure and arrival gates and no water cannon either, but that would have been pointless - HAJ was wet enough as it was. Annoingly, some complete miscast from HAJ ground staff started trying to usher everyone out of the aircraft as soon as she had got on it. What a dork.
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
mdavies06 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2009, 330 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (4 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 1121 times:
inaugural for an airport terminal for me. A very modern one and one of the largest terminal in the world - LHR T5 in 2008. i was onboard the first departure flight BA 302 to CDG on the opening day.
seansasLCY From Hong Kong, joined Mar 2007, 719 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (4 months 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 1111 times:
I went on the first A380 from London to Singapore. SQ had food in the gate area, some speeches and then onboard we had a laptop bag filled with items including pens, model aircraft and travel items.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11129 posts, RR: 63 Reply 23, posted (4 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1044 times:
I did a few inaugural routes with Air Southwest; PLH-LCY, ORK-PLH, PLH-NQY-DUB, have some nice certificates and memories from those. Conversely I was the last passenger to disembark one of their flights at Plymouth and was the last one to leave the plane on their final service into Newquay.
In 2008 I did the first flight (KBP-SIP) of WizzAir Ukraine, which was also the inaugural commercial flight of the carrier's first A320. Ended up on Ukrainian National TV and enjoyed the complementary service.
In 2010 I was on the launch flight of Varsity Express from OXF to EDI... also making it the 11th last flight that carrier made!
I've done quite a few first flights of a summer/winter season, best one being a MAH-CWL flight on a 733 where I was the only passenger.
UK_Dispatcher From United Arab Emirates, joined Dec 2001, 2550 posts, RR: 32 Reply 24, posted (3 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 914 times:
I've been on numerous 'second flights' because of the job I was doing a few years ago, but the only times I flew on the actual inaugurals were the following:
Etihad Airways, B767-341/ER, A6-EYZ
EY706, 18 June 2006, DOH-AUH
Etihad Airways, B777-3FX/ER, A6-ETA
EY731, 03 December 2006, AUH-IKA
EY732, 03 December 2006, IKA-AUH
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, RR: 40 Reply 25, posted (3 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 893 times:
All depends on what you call inaugural flights.
For me the only inaugurals are the very first commercial flights of a totally new / revolutionary aircraft type.
My first inaugural flight was the first commercial flight of a Concorde with Air France from CDG to Rio de Janeiro on board F-BVFA Jan. 21, 1976. It's been 37 years already. I was not on any forums as there was no Internet back then.
My second inaugural came way much later with the very first A380 commercial flight with Singapore Airlines Singapore Sydney Singapore 25/26 October 2007 with my birthday on board. Aircraft was 9V-SKA.
My third inaugral flight was the first commercial flight of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with ANA from Haneda to Frankfurt, 21 January 2012. Aircraft was JA-805A
My fourth inaugural flight was the first commercial flight of the Boeing 747-8i (well let's say a/c one is not really a new type rather an extended version of the 400 series) from FRA-IAD-FRA, June 1 2012. Aircraft was D-ABYA
So that makes 4 true first inaugurals to which I can add other Singapore Airlines A380 first flights to Oceania/Asia/Europe
London Heathrow LHR
Tokyo Narita NRT
Hong Kong HKG
Paris CDG
Zurich ZHR
Also the first A380 commercial flight CDG-LHR-CDG crew training flight / short haul with Air France 12 June 2010. Can't remember the aircraft name. There is a trip report I did on this forum. You can look for it. It has all the pictures and information.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21488 posts, RR: 24 Reply 26, posted (3 months 4 weeks ago) and read 860 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 25): My first inaugural flight was the first commercial flight of a Concorde with Air France from CDG to Rio de Janeiro on board F-BVFA Jan. 21, 1976.
How many Concorde flights did you make in total, and who did you think offered the best service, AF or BA?
mhkansan From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 377 posts, RR: 1 Reply 27, posted (3 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 845 times:
I did the inaugural DCA-LAX flight on AA, which was a wonderful experience. They brought musicians and celebrities to the gate and had a water-cannon salute for the 757. The plane was flying veterans to visit Washington DC in the first class cabin.
Next week, and I am absolutely super excited about this, I am riding on AA's inaugural 77W flight DFW-GRU. I just got my visa for the occasion! Yes, there will be a report!
I'm thinking of doing one of the new nonstops too.. Perhaps DFW-ICN with you, if there are open seats, or perhaps ORD-DUS. Maybe I'll see you at the gate!!
copter808 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 752 posts, RR: 0 Reply 28, posted (3 months 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 839 times:
I've done about 7,often both ways. Get to the gate a few hours early if possible because, depending on the carrier, they may have some interesting entertainment. Also minor souvenir freebies.
Sponsor Message: 
From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 2670 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2872 posts, 
From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6288 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8264 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21488 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Sep 1999, 1351 posts, 
From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1135 posts, 
From Norway, joined Nov 2006, 1155 posts, 
Annoingly, some complete miscast from HAJ ground staff started trying to usher everyone out of the aircraft as soon as she had got on it. What a dork.
From Philippines, joined May 2009, 606 posts, 
From Hong Kong, joined Mar 2007, 719 posts, 
From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11129 posts, 
From United Arab Emirates, joined Dec 2001, 2550 posts, 
From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, 
From Venezuela, joined Jan 2005, 5857 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
