What routes were Western's 707-320s originally operated on? What configuration were they in?
Someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong... but I am assuming that Western's 707-347s were their 707-320 aircraft.
From the great "Western Air Lines" book by George Cearley, Jr:
"Western purchased five Boeing 707-347C's which were delivered during summer 1968. They initially served on routes between Los Angeles-Mexico City, along the Pacific Coast, and on nonstop flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco and Minneapolis. In 1969 they were placed on the routes serving Hawaii."
My opinions are my own. They are not representative of my employer, my union or my co-workers. They are all mine.
milesrich From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1855 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2941 times:
They were also used on LAX-SEA flights in 1976 era. Only time I ever flew on them.
AY104 From Canada, joined Nov 2005, 503 posts, RR: 7 Reply 6, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2915 times:
I remember just after I started working for Western in 1975, and took a flight from LAX - SFO, which was operated by the 707. It was all Economy configuration. I don't think the 707's ever had F-Class.
If I remember correctly, around the same time, the 707 and 720B was used on the HNL route, especially from SAN. And I believe all Economy class as well. The 720B used on the mainland and to Mexico had F and Y classes, though.
I think the only aircraft on the LAX-MIA was the DC10.
I know this is off topic, but for quite a few years the 737s were all Economy as well.
Wish I could find a timetable from those years. My memory is getting pretty bad.
Cheers,
Carl
The only thing a customer should expect for his/her loyalty is good service
n901wa From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 384 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2912 times:
WAL Flew the 707-347C on the HNL-LAX, and HNL-SEA route. I think one went HNL-LAX-MSP and back. I did fly it a few times as a kid, and remember boarding from the back door. HTH
bohica From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2411 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2685 times:
WA also flew the 707 in a mixed configuration before it was retired. I believe the routing was ANC-SEA-SFO-LAX. I flew the SFO-LAX leg on that flight one time. I still remember having to go down a set of stairs to the ramp and then around the plane to board via stairs in the back. The passenger cabin was all Y and there was approximately 70 seats IIRC.
The all pax versions had approximately 20 F seats. Rows 1-2 had 2 seats each on the left side and row 1 faced backwards creating club seating. Rows 3-6 had 4 seats each. The Hawaii equipped 720's were reconfigured in all Y.
type-rated From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 4352 posts, RR: 20 Reply 11, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
Quoting n471wn (Reply 3): They used them extensively on the MSP-LAX routes
Whenever we passed through MSP in the early 70s there always seemed to be a WA 707 around.
Fly North Central Airlines..The route of the Northliners!
B707-300 with Fan Jet engines, (B707-300B or B707-300C)
Just to nitpick, the correct generic codes for 707 variants are 120/220/320/420 (not 100/200/300/400). You won't find a single reference to "707-100" or "707-300" etc. in the Boeing website.
longhauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 4281 posts, RR: 36 Reply 14, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1961 times:
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 13): Just to nitpick, the correct generic codes for 707 variants are 120/220/320/420 (not 100/200/300/400).
Interesting, I didn't know that ... but always wondered why Boeing never used 20 as a Customer Code. (As I always say, its a bad day you don't learn something).
Never gonna grow up, never gonna slow down .... Barefoot Blue Jean Night
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21491 posts, RR: 24 Reply 15, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1918 times:
Quoting longhauler (Reply 14): Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 13):
Just to nitpick, the correct generic codes for 707 variants are 120/220/320/420 (not 100/200/300/400).
Interesting, I didn't know that ... but always wondered why Boeing never used 20 as a Customer Code. (As I always say, its a bad day you don't learn something).
"20" was reserved for Boeing. I should also have added that the generic 720 code was 720-020.
Aeri28 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 595 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1878 times:
I have ab solutely no idea what I flew, whether it was 707 or 720. Have no idea, but, since one of my parents worked for WAL from late 60s well up past the merger with Delta, we always (98% of the time) flew first class being non revs. This included SFO or OAK to HNL, LAX to MEX, SFO to Juneau and Anchorage (all in the late 60s to early 70s) among other routes. I never remembered an aircraft without First (just from a childs recollection, at least to key Hawaii and Mexico routes. - I may be wrong). The last 707 flight I took was from SFO-LAX-SFO in 1976 as we were moving from the Bay area to Los Angeles and went for the day to scope out LA with my parents.
I m pretty sure those aircraft were on their way out by the late 70s. I don't think they were ever used on the LAX to MIA-FLL flights. I took that one in 1979 pretty much when it first started and I took it as to be my first DC 10 fight.
RWA380 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2160 posts, RR: 4 Reply 17, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 1873 times:
Quoting Aeri28 (Reply 16): I don't think they were ever used on the LAX to MIA-FLL flights. I took that one in 1979 pretty much when it first started and I took it as to be my first DC 10 fight.
WA operated some odd tag routes when flying back east, LAX-MIA-FLL/NAS, SLC-IAD-DCA, SLC-BOS-LGA. I thought the MIA flight was always a DC-10, but there is a picture of a 707 posted earlier in this thread, don't know if that was a regular thing for a while, or just a substitution.
Next Flights: AS PDX-SEA-KOA on DH4/738 in F, HA KOA-OGG on 717 in Y, AS OGG-PDX on 738 in F
timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6468 posts, RR: 8 Reply 18, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 1740 times:
In Airport Activity Stats the WA 707s (and 720Bs) aren't rare at MIA, but the 707s appeared 50+ times in the late 1970s, which suggests they were subs. Anybody found a timetable showing WA 707/720Bs to MIA?
JFKPurser From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 471 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 1730 times:
I flew SAN-LAX on a WA707-347C in 1980. It was inbound from HNL. I recall that it did have a FC section as I was seated just one or two rows aft of the FC divider. I recall the seats being bright purple and fuchsia, and the cabin was fitted with the first-generation Boeing widebody look interior with enclosed overhead bins.
bobloblaw From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 1364 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1690 times:
It looks from departed flights that WA 720s and 707s to Hawaii only served meals in F class with nothing in Y. Is that true?
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21491 posts, RR: 24 Reply 21, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1585 times:
Quoting bobloblaw (Reply 20): It looks from departed flights that WA 720s and 707s to Hawaii only served meals in F class with nothing in Y. Is that true?
If memory correct, carriers to Hawaii then had 2 categories of Y class service, standard Y (with meal service) and what most carriers referred to as "Thrift Class" (usually with code K) at a lower fare with no meal service.
n901wa From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 384 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1542 times:
When my pops worked at Western, we flew back home to HNL at least 3 times a year ( 707-347C, 720B, and the DC-10 ), and we always sat in back, usally the smoking section, back of the airplane. Where people use to sit on the armrest and smoke after the meal service. ( Just lucky to get a seat back then, with first come first serviced was the non rev way. ) We always had a meal service in Coach. I remember a Coconut crust Chk, Steak, and I think a Breaded Mahi Mahi was the choices. Never got to drink the Champagne punch from the Volcano did win a Captains halfway sweepstakes once or twice ( still got the plates and Champagne bottle ).
Aeri28 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 595 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1427 times:
Do you think these 707 sightings in MIA and HNL in the late 70s had anything to do with the DC10 groundings after the AA crash in 1979?
When did Western get the MIA route? It ust seems odd, as I thought the advertised DC10 nonstop coast to coast service , but at the end of the 70s, the 707s would seem to be a downgrade of sorts. I mean, at that period, if you did coast to coast, you weren't flying a single aisle plane and a 707 to Hawaii in the late 70s would have been strange vis a vvis the competition.
Anybody know when WAL retired the 707s/720s? By the late 70s, I was flying regularly from LAX where we lived to grandparents in Sacramento and it seems to me WA fleet consisted mostly of 727s, 737s and the DC10. As I said earlier, I remember my last 707 flight being in 1976 and definitely remember what a treat it was to be on it, but also remembering it seems that they were on their way out.. Maybe I'm wrong??
PacificF27 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 65 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1294 times:
The 4 engine jets with all coach were 720Bs-- called "Fan Jet Commuters". They were in service between LAX and SFO, LAX and LAS and SFO and LAS. June 1966 schedule.
timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6468 posts, RR: 8 Reply 25, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 1316 times:
In 1978-79 WA had two nonstops a day LAX-MIA; looks like the redeye was always a DC-10 but the morning flight was a 707 or 720B one or two days a week.
kparke777 From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 39 posts, RR: 0 Reply 28, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 1151 times:
Worked at WAL for 7+ years during late 70's-mid 80's. Flew 707 #N403WA LAX>SAN>DEN during June 79. Also LAX> MIA>Nassau in March of 81 on DC10 #N904WA with return on #N906WA. Also 720 #N365WA MIA>LAX during Feb 79. It seemed like I was always on #363 or #365 when I was on the 720. That bird was quite a plane and a rocket for it's time especially on the short LAX to SFO, LAS and SAN routes from LAX. Even had 1 abort on a 720 HNL>LAX. Went back to the gate, changed the tire and away we went. Great memories!
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21491 posts, RR: 24 Reply 29, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1148 times:
Quoting kparke777 (Reply 28): Worked at WAL for 7 years during late 70's-mid 80's. Flew 707 #N403WA LAX>SAN>DEN during June 79.
Four of Western's 5 707s at SAN below. They were registered N1501W through N1505W. Western's internal fleet numbers were 401 through 405. N1503W was #403. N403WA wasn't the registration.
WesternA318 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 5395 posts, RR: 25 Reply 30, posted (4 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 825 times:
I wonder if SLC ever saw these on a semi-regular basis?
Woohoo! Back to Beirut in Oct '13! (Along with a stop in DOH for 4 days)
Wingtips56 From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 216 posts, RR: 0 Reply 31, posted (4 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 765 times:
I remember WA did briefly operate a 720 from SMF via SJC to HNL in 1979 or 1980. I don't know how it did, but suspect the run ended when the aircraft were retired, as the market then probably wouldn't have supported replacement with a DC-10. (Now HA runs a daily 763 SMF-HNL, and AH ran daily 73G and later 73H [leased] SMF-OGG, which is now run with AS 738.) The 707/720 were gone by the time I worked for WA in 1983 (during my furlough from AirCal).
I do have a question for WA alumni during the 707/720 years:
In 1977 or '78, I flew WA SFO-SEA with my college band (UC Davis, Go Ags!) on a combi aircraft. I didn't realize it right away, and thought it was odd that we Coach passengers had to go down the jet bridge stairs, across the ramp an up air stairs to the back door, while it appeared First Class got the Jetway. Further class segregation was noted by a solid wall separating the rear cabin, and then the emergency card didn't even show us a forward exit path. How rude! OK, I felt really dumb when I finally realized it was a combi aircraft, but I didn't know such things existed then. I was much more astute with the return flight on the same type.
So here is the question: could it have been a 720/72M? The window shade on board had "Boeing 720" embossed in the pull tab. I think the emergency card said 720, but I can't swear to it. Airliners shows only a 707-combi in pictures, and I couldn't find any reference anywhere else to the fleet including 72Ms. Was that a cross-type replacement part, and we really were on the 707-combi or was it indeed a 720-combi?
Worked for WestAir, Apollo Airways, Desert Pacific, Western, AirCal and American Airlines
I do not believe it was a 720. It would have been equipment that was actually referred to as a B70M (707). The window shades did seem to cross fleet as I recall (been almost 30 years).
n901wa From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 384 posts, RR: 0 Reply 33, posted (4 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 699 times:
The Window Shade Handle fit the 707/720/727 window shades. I still have 1 of each in my rollaway ( they were in my Dads Rollaway ) After a while the newer handles came without a airplane type on a smooth handle.
One of my Old Leads in HNL started in SMF, and he use to tell me about the HNL flight and how they would ship Lichi to SMF and the mainland guys would sweep them up and throw them away, because they didn't know they were fruit. He explained to them it was good, and they thought he was full of it.
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did win a Captains halfway sweepstakes once or twice ( still got the plates and Champagne bottle ).
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