Gilesdavies From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 2903 posts, RR: 1 Posted (6 years 10 months 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 8691 times:
I was just looking at NWA's website at a couple of things as I don't usually get to view it, as us European's usually get routed to KLM's crappy website to book NWA flights.
I noticed under their fleet they are still operating the 747-200 and was curious to know what routes they operate these on?
I noticed they had two versions the "International" and "Beach" version... I assume the Beach version it used for major holiday (vacation) routes, as this has a far higher payload. I think I would be right in assumming none of them fly to Europe as it seems to be dominated by the DC-10's and A330.
Whats the ride like on them - are they comfy and have they been upgraded over the years (eg. IFE)?
Its great to see a major western carrier still flying them and when Im in the US next year, I might try to take a ride if I can... Would I be right thinking the 742's will not be leaving the NWA fleet anytime soon?
Is there any other major carriers in the US or Europe still flying the 747-200 (other than Iran or Saudi Airlines!), as I have never had the opportunity to fly one?
747hogg From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 10 months 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 8643 times:
I used to take the 200 out of NRT to LAX all the time, as few as two years ago, the best deal in the sky for business class in the upper deck if you can get the first row. Some even had the old seats and not the new business class clam shell seats from hell. The old seats were the big first class seats that were taken out of the 400's back when they had three class service. Problem now is I would have a hell of a time getting up the very steep winding staircase/
American777 From United States of America, joined Nov 2009, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 10 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 8450 times:
NW currently has 3 Boeing 747-251 remaining in their fleet, but are gradually being phased out.
The last remaining 3 passenger 747-251's fly the routes Guam-Tokyo, Saipan-Tokyo, Tokyo-Hong Kong Long.
JL plus its subsidiaries Japan Asia & Jalways still operate plenty of -146B(SUD), -246 & -346s. Current numbers are around 20 but slowly dwindling.
Is there any news the remaining 742s at NW are going to retire off NRT runs? Not that it really matters because NW Cargo still flies a boat load ot 742Fs. Replacement of 742s with an equivalent 'beach' version of the A333 would mean cuts in pax capacity and cargo.
Jetjack74 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 7338 posts, RR: 52 Reply 7, posted (6 years 10 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 8079 times:
NW1/2, LAX-NRT-HKG-NRT-LAX has been a 744 since June
Quoting Gilesdavies (Thread starter): I noticed they had two versions the "International" and "Beach" version...Would I be right thinking the 742's will not be leaving the NWA fleet anytime soon?
You would be right. The Beach market is the Hawaii-Japan market which is our high-density configured 30/400. Our International 747-200, which at it high point, were on routes for the US-Mainland to Europe/Japan, was configured for 65/272. The -200 last flew the MSP-AMS-MSP flights were in 2002. We used to have a 3rd 747-200 layout. It was a charter configured and back-up to mainline-serving 747's. It was configured for 30/416. They were ship numbers 6601/08/11/12/13. Now, all were retired between 1998-2002.
Quoting Gilesdavies (Thread starter): Whats the ride like on them - are they comfy and have they been upgraded over the years (eg. IFE)?
The 742's, and DC10's were given newer high-resolution projectors in 2001-02
Quoting Gilesdavies (Thread starter): Would I be right thinking the 742's will not be leaving the NWA fleet anytime soon?
Well, just when we think they're about to leave, the company brings 2 or 3 back from storage. The thing that keeps them alive is the sizable freighter fleet, 14, and is quick resolution when we need a bump in capacity during the high season
Quoting Gilesdavies (Thread starter): I think I would be right in assumming none of them fly to Europe as it seems to be dominated by the DC-10's and A330.
Actually 2003. Last time I flew a 742 was MSP-AMS back in July 2003. Loved the upper deck on that aircraft even though I had more problems with the IFE than I care to remember on those planes. Still prefer it to the D10's running the BOM route at the moment!
Jetjack74 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 7338 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (6 years 10 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 7988 times:
Quoting SR 103 (Reply 9): Actually 2003. Last time I flew a 742 was MSP-AMS back in July 2003
Ok, that would sound right. I do remember doing an AMS in in April '02 and seeing a -200 there.
Crownvic From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1616 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (6 years 10 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 7814 times:
Jetjack74...Actually the inter-Asia portion of Flt. # 1/2 (NRT-HKG-NRT) is a 742...
Kaitak744 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 2210 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (6 years 10 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 7764 times:
Wow, so they actually have aircraft based in NRT? I never knew this. Does any one have exact numbers on how many NRT based aircraft NW has?
NorthstarBoy From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1716 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (6 years 10 months 2 days ago) and read 7695 times:
actually, NW1/2 is a 744 all the way through from LAX to Hong Kong. i'll be on that flight in about two weeks, i think a few months ago it was still operating with a 742, but as of currently, it's a 744, for those who care.
i didn't realize they only have 3 747-251s still in service, i think it's only a matter of time and we'll see the Guam flights operating with either A332s or 744s, then we can say farewell to venerable sky queen that is the 742, sad, it's a great airplane, i'll be sorry to see them go.
In the US Northwest is the lone holdout still flying the 742, United retired theirs. In europe, with the exception of Corsair, I don't think anyone operates them anymore. I know the national airlines have all converted to either Airbus or 744s.
I could have elite status if I wanted it, but flying the same airline all the time is boring.
United_fan From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 7176 posts, RR: 8 Reply 16, posted (6 years 10 months 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 7113 times:
What happened to the -200 in GUM that lost its nose-gear? Was it scrapped there or fixed & ferried to MZJ?
'Empathy was yesterday...Today, you're wasting my Mother-F'ing time' - Heat.
StarGoldLHR From Heard and McDonald Islands, joined Feb 2004, 1529 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (6 years 10 months 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 6525 times:
I recall NW operating a 747-200 from SFO-MSP not too long ago.
I flew on this once.. in business, I didnt even have a working PTV and the service / condition was absolutely dire !
I even changed seats as the one I had was ripped.
NW's 747-200s are ratty as hell.. I think the Iran 707 may be a better bet.
So far in 2008 45 flights and Gold already. JFK, IAD, LGA, SIN, HKG, NRT, AKL, PPT, LAX still to book ! Home Airport LCY
Lrgt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (6 years 10 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 5591 times:
Quoting Crownvic (Reply 11): Jetjack74...Actually the inter-Asia portion of Flt. # 1/2 (NRT-HKG-NRT) is a 742...
Change of Gauge?
Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 15):
i didn't realize they only have 3 747-251s still in service, i think it's only a matter of time and we'll see the Guam flights operating with either A332s or 744s, then we can say farewell to venerable sky queen that is the 742, sad, it's a great airplane, i'll be sorry to see them go.
Since they're not getting rid of the 742 freighters (maybe in 2050? lol), there is no benefit derived from retiring the type which serves a very small niche very well. Also, they are not too old... 80's machines I beleive.
QXRamperMEII From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 93 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (6 years 10 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 4903 times:
When I started throwing bags for QX at SEA in July 2003, NW was still running the SEA-NRT flights on 742s. I can't remember exactly when they switched the route to an A330, but it was at least a year or so. December 2004 is my rough estimate...maybe someone can nail that date down a bit?
United_Fan From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 7176 posts, RR: 8 Reply 23, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 4538 times:
Does anyone know the fate of N627US,the -200 that landed sans nose-gear in GUM ?
'Empathy was yesterday...Today, you're wasting my Mother-F'ing time' - Heat.
COSPN From Northern Mariana Islands, joined Oct 2001, 1480 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 4497 times:
It is still Sitting in GUM with engines removed and Titles painted out
25 United_Fan: Thanks,COSPN,what are they waiting for ?
26 N234NW: I flew this flight on the 742 in mid April of 2004, so it had to have switched sometime after that. IIRC, I don't remember seeing them at SEA since D
27 Jetjack74: It switcted to the A330 in June of 2005 originally with a A333 at first, but then switched to an 332 in September of that year after headwinds forced
28 CF188A: just a ponderin question for all of you. In Northwest, can a pilot who flys the 742 , fly the 744 as well? I heard that pending on the airline, this i
29 COSPN: UnitedFan, I Believe they are waiting for Final report on the incident, then will be scrapped or Left there forever...The Insurance company owns it no
30 Jetjack74: No, completely different type-rating. Pilot's tranferring form one fleet type to another have to checkout in the type with a certain number of hours
31 Safs: I flew from NRT to HKG and back on a NW 747-200 this past June. The plane had a bit of a rattle to it when it took off. The landings though were smoo
32 CF188A: I know for a fact that the 764 and the 777 share the same type rating as well. Go compare cockpits on a.net. Its almost impossible to decipher them f
33 United_Fan: New schedule still shows NRT-SPN & NRT-GUM as 742's.
34 Gigneil: They absolutely, positively, with no doubt are different type ratings. N
35 Jetjack74: Yes, I just flew the NRT-SPN turn today, NW76/75 today
36 Flysherwood: I just returned from a trip to GUM, SPN, MNL, ROP and NRT. I got to fly on the NWA 747-200 Beach market whale from NRT-GUM and GUM-NRT. That plane is
37 747400sp: Fellow 747 fans please forgive me, but isn't a A380 more comfy?
38 UK_Dispatcher: I flew NW NRT-LAX as part of my recent trip in the hope of getting a B742, but sadly this flight became a B744 flight this summer. Still, I got my DC
39 Bobnwa: Since a A380 has never flown a revenue flight, how would anyone know that?
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