Queen of the Skies: How you should use factors and miles to fly the Boeing 747

Typically known as the Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747 took its first take a look at flight in 1969. Through the years, the plane reworked air journey and ushered within the jet age. The unique wide-body jet, the 747 may fly farther and quicker than any business passenger plane. The newest model, the 747-8, has a spread of 9,300 miles and carries round 400 passengers in a typical three-class configuration.

Sadly, the glory days of the 747 are quickly ending as airlines shift to more fuel-efficient jets like Boeing 787 Dreamliners and the Airbus A350 household.

Associated: Get a limited-edition Delta credit card made from an iconic retired 747

An American service hasn’t operated the 747 since United Airlines and Delta Air Lines each retired their 747s. A number of different airways had plans to section them out over the approaching years, however the coronavirus pandemic accelerated that timeline, with KLM, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways retiring their 747 fleets early.

Regardless of that, you possibly can nonetheless discover 747 flights on a number of main business airways — and use miles to expertise this lovely airplane. It will not be lengthy till the final 747-400s are retired, leaving the next-generation 747-8i because the final model of the Queen of the Skies nonetheless flying. Solely three airways — Lufthansa, Korean Air and Air China — have opted to buy the 747-8i, so you will need to concentrate on these three transferring ahead.

The routes, locations and flight numbers listed under are present as of publication, taken from airfleets.net, however are topic to alter since plane are consistently swapped out and in. For those who hope to fly a 747 your self, double-check your precise flights to substantiate that the plane is certainly flying your itinerary.

Associated: The final 747: Boeing delivers the last of its iconic jumbo jets

Air China

This mainland Chinese language service has 9 energetic Boeing 747s in its fleet: 4 of the 400 variant and 5 of the 8 variant. All have first, enterprise and economic system class.

Routes

Amongst different routes, yow will discover Air China’s 747-8s on the next flights from its hub at Beijing Capital Worldwide Airport (PEK):

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• Between Beijing and Shenzhen Baoan Worldwide Airport (SZX): CA 1313/1314, 1397/1398
• Between Beijing and Shanghai Hongqiao Worldwide Airport (SHA): CA 1517/1518, 1531/1532
• Between Beijing and Guangzhou Baiyun Worldwide Airport (CAN): CA 1315/1316, 1321/1322
• Between Beijing and John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK): CA 981/982

Utilizing miles

Air China is a member of Star Alliance, so there are a number of accomplice miles you should use to guide flights. Whereas we didn’t discover award availability on the New York route, in the event you do need to fly the 747 inside China, then availability is nice. You possibly can switch Chase Ultimate Rewards factors to United MileagePlus and redeem them at a charge of 8,000 miles every approach in economic system, 24,800 in enterprise class or 33,000 in top quality on home flights in China.

Associated: How to maximize your rewards-earning with the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Asiana Airways

This Korean service has 10 747-400s, although Asiana has transformed many into cargo planes to provide them a second life.

Routes

The airline presently makes use of its 747s on high-traffic, short-haul routes inside Asia:

• Between Seoul’s Incheon Worldwide Airport (ICN) and Tokyo’s Narita Worldwide Airport (NRT): OZ 102/103

Utilizing miles

That is yet one more Star Alliance service, so you possibly can refine your search to make use of Aeroplan, Avianca, United or All Nippon Airways miles, relying in your plan.

We suggest Aeroplan, which can cost you simply 8,000 factors every approach in economic system or 20,000 in enterprise class.

Associated: How to redeem Aeroplan points for maximum value

Korean Air

Korean Air is one in all simply three airways to have ordered the Boeing 747-8, with 9 passenger 747-8s in a three-class configuration (together with a few dozen cargo plane). The fleet consists of HL7644, the final passenger 747 plane ever constructed.

Routes

This summer season, the airline operates these routes utilizing 747s; nonetheless, examine schedules as some is not going to be operational all summer season:

• Between Seoul and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL): KE 35/36
• Between Seoul and Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL): KE 53/54
• Between Seoul and New York-JFK: KE 85/86
• Between Seoul and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): KE 901/902

Utilizing miles

Now that Korean Air’s SkyPass program is now not a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, your finest wager for awards is probably going Delta SkyMiles. Awards from the U.S. to Seoul are 64,000 miles every approach in economic system class, with no premium availability.

Alternatively, you might transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy to Korean Air at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for each 60,000 factors transferred. That is the quickest approach to high up your Korean Air SkyPass mileage steadiness and one of many solely occasions it actually makes sense to transfer Marriott points to an airline.

You possibly can guide one-way first-class awards between the U.S. and Seoul for less than 80,000 SkyPass miles off-peak, an absolute steal in the event you’re sitting within the spacious and personal six-seat cabin on Korean’s 747-8. Enterprise class prices 62,500 miles off-peak, and economic system prices 35,000 miles.

Associated: Ways to earn more Delta SkyMiles, from using credit cards to online shopping

Lufthansa

Like Air China and Korean Air, Lufthansa has 747-400s and 747-8s in its fleet. It is acquired eight of the previous and 19 of the latter for a complete of 27, so these birds can be flying for some time as Lufthansa has by far the world’s largest 747 passenger fleet. The 400s are in a three-class configuration with out top quality, whereas the newer 8s have a first-class cabin.

Associated: Is Lufthansa 747 premium economy worth it to Europe?

Routes

Lufthansa flies 747s on the next routes, amongst others. However, given the airline’s scale of operations, that is extremely more likely to change.

• Between Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Kempegowda Worldwide Airport Bengaluru (BLR): LH 754/755
• Between Frankfurt and Buenos Aires Ezeiza Worldwide Airport (EZE): LH 510/511
• Between Frankfurt and Aeroporto Internacional de Sao Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU): LH 506/507
• Between Frankfurt and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): LH 440/441
• Between Frankfurt and Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo Worldwide Airport (JNB): LH572/573
• Between Frankfurt and Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX): LH 450/451, 456/457
• Between Frankfurt and Mexico Metropolis Worldwide Airport (MEX): LH 498/499
• Between Frankfurt and Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA): LH 462/463
• Between Frankfurt and Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR): LH 402/403
• Between Frankfurt and Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD): LH 430/431 and 432/433
• Between Frankfurt and San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO): LH 454/455
• Between Frankfurt and Seoul: LH 712/713
• Between Frankfurt and Shanghai: LH 732/733
• Between Frankfurt and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): LH 778/779
• Between Frankfurt and Tokyo: LH 716/717
• Between Frankfurt and Vancouver Worldwide Airport (YVR): LH 492/493
• Between Frankfurt and Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ): LH 470/471

Utilizing miles

As with the opposite Star Alliance carriers above, you possibly can guide Lufthansa with Aeroplan, Avianca or United miles.

Right here is the price of reserving Lufthansa top quality one-way from the US to Germany:

* Although United normally priced Lufthansa flights at 121,000 miles, the airline seemingly devalued first-class partner flights, rising the mileage worth to 154,000 miles.

Associated: The ultimate guide to Lufthansa first class