Two years ago I flew in the hump of a Lufthansa 747-8i, it was the first row in business class. A dream come true experience as an aviation enthusiast !!
I was in the hump on a KLM. I had previously been in the nose. I did not think the hump was all that great. We had to stow our luggage in the back so I could not get anything during the long flight. It was OK. I would rather the first floor.
@@Calebs_Aviation You should consider the nose. On he LH 747-400 at least there is 4H I think they call the Captain Kirk Chair. It is right in the middle in front of the bulkhead aisle on either side.
The last time I flew on a 747, I flew upstairs in the hump in the first row on AF. The view outside was awesome, and it felt pretty exclusive being upstairs - even though it was just economy class...
4 года назад+1
Didn't know there were airlines that had economy class seats on the upper deck.
@@rogerhargreaves2272 (stolen from Dictionary.com) Wednesday first came to be known as since at least the 1950s. The expression figures Wednesday, the middle of the workweek, as the people get over to coast into the weekend. Throughout the 20th century, Wednesday was especially referred to as in an effort to liven up the drudgery of the workweek.
@@chrislohphotography - Thank you Chris for that explanation and taking your time to explain it. I’m from the U.K. and it’s not a widely used expression. Keep safe. Rog. 👍😎
I was invited by the captain of a Virgin Atlantic 747-400 to come sit upstairs for landing into Johannesburg from London. When boarding, I had asked the flight pursar to visit the flight deck after we landed. She took my seat number. The next morning as we began our descent into JoBurg, a fliggt attendant came over and said the captain is inviting you upstairs & after landing I could then visit. That was the last time I flew in a 747 as well.
I flew on a 747 in 1978 from SFO to HNL to GUM to OKA to TPE. Because of a blizzard on the East Coast of the U.S. many passengers connecting in SFO missed the flight. My girlfriend and I were the only passengers in the Economy Class cabin located directly behind the First Class cabin(Business Class cabin nowadays). When we stopped at Naha, Okinawa the flight attendant asked us if we wanted to check out the First Class lounge on the upper deck. It was set up as a dining room for the FC passengers. They could reserve a table for meals up there if they didn't want to eat at their seats. It was rather small but felt quite intimate and exclusive. That flight was my first trans-Pacific flight and was undoubtedly the best flight of my life. Having an entire cabin to ourselves was incredible. We slept in the middle rows, 4 across seating. By putting up the armrests it was like a bed. There was only one couple in First Class and the lady came back to our cabin to stretch out. This was in the days before sleeper seats in FC. All they had were nice recliners. Reminiscing about that flight makes me realize how lucky we were to have had that experience. Of course back then PanAm had superb cabin service even in Economy Class and by being the only passengers in our cabin we had unbelievably attentive service. I miss PanAm, I miss the days of having an enjoyable flight with plenty of room, I miss having decent food and snacks on board, I miss not having the hassle of security, I miss flight attendants who loved their jobs and wanted to make each passenger have an enjoyable flight. Well, I guess it's back to the reality of 2020 but this was a fun trip down memory lane. R.I.P. 747. ❤🛫🙏🌎
My father was one of Pan Am's delivery acceptance team as a maintenance Supervisor and Zone Manager at JFK. I was born just after the delivery of the first aircraft to Pan Am, and as a Pan Am Brat, I flew in the hump several times.
I used to love sitting upstairs in the hump - once as a business class pax and often as a self-paying economy pax. For a greater part of the 1990s (particularly the first half) BA used to place a part of its economy class seats upstairs. This was truly a treat for several reasons. Although the space had relatively few passengers, it offered the perk of having had a dedicated cabin crew member for it. This gave passengers a sense of service exclusivity - not much different than in business class. I particularly liked the stowage bins. They were placed between the window seat and window - like a, sideboard. Not only was the bin a convenient repository, accessible while seated - [particularly if you were sitting at the window, which I always used to do - it also served as a perfect credenza and leg rest. Working was made easy because the top of the sideboard offered extra surface space. Also, I could make myself quite comfortable by stretching out my legs upon it - and NOT to the dismay of the pax in front of me who was undoubtedly [going to be] doing the same thing. Since access to the cockpit was through the upper deck, it was not unusual for pilots take their stretching-out breaks upstairs and, thus, engage with the passengers there. This close/more intimate contact with passengers made it quite usual for upper deck passengers, such as myself, to be invited into the cockpit - sometimes even to take part in landings and take-offs. This was before 9-11. I admit, I enjoyed flying business class - even on BA. But BA's upstairs economy seats ("premium economy" seating did NOT exist at the time) was a perk I enjoyed to take advantage of - which I did often. At some point, someone at BA Hq got wind of the comfortable upstairs environment. Upper deck economy was eventually replaced with business class. I was truly disappointed when this happened since I only flew business class for work - when others were paying. My personal frequent flying saw me paying and, eventually, I would be relegated into the lower deck cattle-bin. Needless to say I wasn't happy when this happened.
I’ve been in the hump of a BA 747 in Business Class. It’s one of my favorite layouts - the 747 just has so much space on the sides for storage and maintains a great balance between being cozy but also feeling relatively spacious. I don’t know they did it 😂😂
Great summary of the evolution of the 747 ‘hump’. As child my father worked Braniff International and gave me a model of a 747-100 in two liveries that they ordered at the time. We traveled in First Class in the original plan configuration on a flight from Dallas to Hawaii and I remember the upper stairs ‘lounge’ with swivel seats and a bar. Some other carriers even fitted the upper-deck with economy class seating. I recall flying on such a configured JAL 747-400 from New York to Tokyo.
I flew on a 747 while in the Army from Miami to LA in 1972. There was only about 20 passengers on the whole plane so I had free run of main deck and the hump deck. I sat toward the rear of the plane and the head stewardess came and sat a few rows behind me. We had a good conversation about the features of the plane.
@@jamesgleave5403 you just making me jealous 😂 i always wanted to fly on the 747, but im an Indian, theres no way for me to fly on the 747 rn as im just in high school And also bec air india retired the 747, also my family dont have much money to afford a ticket which one of the only 747 routes in India which is a Lufthansa 747 from Bangalore to Frankfurt (im from Chennai). And its my DREAM to be one of the last engineers for the 747 at Lufthansa
In 1977 I flew in the hump of a Qantas 747 from Sydney to Bahrain when there was a spiral staircase and the hump was a lounge. It was a marvellous experience… very luxurious indeed. In 2005 I again flew in the hump of a Qantas 747 as a Business Class passenger from Singapore to London, and in 2006 the same from New York to Los Angeles… very comfortable!
Thank you for this wonderful tour of the world of the 747. It's a world I lived in for many years as a person and then for flight service manager for Transworld airlines. In fact in my very first month as a person, I was assigned to first class and was delighted to see a piano bar in the hump, delighted to see that
Passengers could enjoy themselves and I as a piano player could bring them some enjoyments in a very intimate club in the sky atmosphere. It was 1979 and it was great while it lasted.. but it didn't last very long. And it's next incarnation it would just become a lounge for first class passengers and then first class seating and then business class seating. But for me, there was never a dream as meaningful as that connection point between passenger and crew where the crew and the passengers are singing to one single tune on their way home on their way away on their way to somewhere special.
What makes it all more ironic is that as an American who had gone to school in france, I felt very comfortable in this big American aircraft, but the year before I worked for Air France on the ground in New York and boarded people on the phone called New York Los
Il n'y a pas de comparaison entre le vol de New York à Paris dans la Concorde c'est vite fait mais c'est quand même dans une boîte de thunes. Pourtant faire le bal New York Paris en 747 c'est toujours un vol de luxe avec tous vos besoins qui sont nos préoccupations.
A comparison between the Concorde and the 747 in terms of quality of flight and experience was the difference between taking the bus to Walmart and taking the Queen Mary to England. And many thanks to Mr Hughes who had the foresight to build an Idlewild airport is most beautiful international terminal which today still stands as a monument tro vision. TWA continued for many years without his direction but it always continue with his imprint. The longer it straight from that imprint the further it moved from the leading cutting Edge character in brought until it was eaten out of bankruptcy lunch sale by the little piglets of American airlines. Not much more to say but piglets will be piglets
My business trips in the 90's were mostly on B747-400. as a C Class flyer, Sitting on the upper deck was my number one priority. If I can remember it correctly, the United business class on the upper deck had about 36 seats, more comfy, less people shared the toilets.
I was surprised that this video did not mention the shorter, 747-SP. I remember United flew it in the ‘90s. Also, I sat in the hump many times. It was much quieter.
I flew in 2016 on Lufthansa on the upper deck. Ticket was bought using rewards and taking a flight on the upper deck was a bucket list item. I didn't fly on 747's frequently enough to be able to detail on why it is special versus other locations on the plane. It definitely felt different being in a relatively small space. I don't want to say exclusive, but definitely more space and isolation from the rest of the plane. I love looking out the window and do remember feeling that the view was a bit less than what I would normally see. Just found a video I had made during the takeoff and the window slopes towards you.
Sat in the hump of a 747-100SP as a kid on Pan Am in 79. It was a bar lounge then and I sneaked up from the economy as only children could do. It was cool and had some nice couches.
I've been on the business class on the upper hump of the iranian airline "Mahan Air". Although being a domestic and short flight, it was probably one of the best days of my life;)
Yes. I worked on 747-400 freighter conventions for Kalitta, Atlas, and National from 2017-2020. Great experience. Some of then have a double bunk to accommodate crow rest, and a kitchen and the only bathroom as well. Every day was a great day working on that a/c.
Flew twice on Qantas in the hump (I called it in the bubble) once in the exit row. It was very strange looking out the window during takeoff and landing. I believe they were both 400's
Rode on the 747-400 with British Airways quite a few times SF to London and back. Never got to go upstairs, I wish I would have paid for it on one of those trips. Even being downstairs was always a pleasant ride.
I haven't been on a 747 (not in flight at least), but I've long thought it would be a more distinct experience to fly on the main level, in the nose, rather than on the upper deck. If you're in the front couple of rows, your windows are angled partially forward. That would make for a view that is rather uncommon in modern commercial aviation.
I've been on the -200s and -400s hump numerous times. Especially if the first class was installed, ut provided great comfort level as the noise level was low. In the -200s hump, the feeling was like in a private jet...
Those bins were incredibly useful! Flying the long haul between the US and South Africa (on now defunct SAA) in coach up in the hump meant having the handy side bins, only one seat partner, more flight attendant service and exclusive access to the lavs and snack bar area. It really made the trips more enjoyable.
There's one small mistake I believe. 747 was originally designed for US Air Force but lost competition for Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. It is actually cargo aircraft originally and when it was on design table, Juan T. Trippe saw an opportunity to use that huge aircraft for passenger service and making air travelling mass business when adding windows to hull.
01:25 Wait, does that mean that there is a size difference between the upper deck of the -100 and the -200 versions? I had always hear they there the same.
I flew in the Lufthansa B747-8 to EZE and I really liked it up there, especially the large store room between the seats and the windows. It was also great because there were so few rows up there so it was very cosy
I sat in the hump on Fiji airways a few years ago on my way to Australia. It’s more roomier than the bottom I felt. There was an extra side compartment for my carryon
Traveled on BA. Sao Paulo to London. 2016. Club World class. It was a memorable experience. It was a 747-4. Hope to fly lufthansa’s 747-8 before they retire them.
I flew several times on -400 and -8i with KLM and Lufthansa, including one Lufthansa flight on the upper deck. It was interesting, but a bit claustrophobic because of the leaning ceiling. The greatest advantage, however, was that it was much more quiet than the regular deck - not only in terms of engine noise, but also the small amount of passengers chatting and walking about.
When Boeing first put pencil on paper, it was as competition for an Air Force requirement for a long haul, high capacity transport. Lockheed won that competition with its C-5. But Juan Trippe, founder and Chairman of Pan Am, convinced Boeing that there was a coming market for a high capacity, long haul passenger liner. That second deck originally ran the entire length of the 747. (If you've been on a C-5, they have a full length second deck.) Most of the upper deck was shaved down and the space became a !st class lounge. (Later to become Business Class.) My first plane ride was on a TWA 747 from LAX to JFK. Upon my return my high school classmates were SO jealous I had ridden on the famous 747, which we saw taking off daily from our proximity from St. Bernard HS to LAX.
I used to travel often from JFK to European destinations for business and was a TWA loyal customer. I always chose to book a coach seat and use miles to upgrade to a business class seat. TWA used the upper deck for business class and it was wonderful. You felt as if you were traveling in a private plane and there was one dedicated flight attendant for the 16 passengers.
I flew only once in the hump of B-747, perhaps two decades ago (or three - movies were projected to an actual screen one had to duck under in order to reach the front lavatory). It held 30-40 business class seats, in 2-2 configuration (it was before lay-flat business class seats - they were merely comfy armchairs). Window seats (I always take those) had enormous storage space, due to sloped wall.
At least as recently as 1997 British Airways had the hump on the 747-400 configured for coach passengers. I last rode in the hump that year on a flight from VAN to LHR. As my father was a then-recently retired UAL pilot I often flew first class in the 1970s which meant that I had a chance to visit the hump when it was just a lounge. Back then you had to vacate the area on take offs and landings, you could not go up there except in flight. Later when the area was replaced with premium seating I think I rode up there just one time but I don't specially recall for sure.
Best part of business class in the hump was the small bin between the seat and the window that neatly held my suitcase. Never flew in the piano bar version :(
I once upgraded to business class on a United flight from Washington Dulles to Heathrow, and I flew in the hump!! It was a 747-222, and had the spiral staircase!!
I often flew in the upper deck of the Swissair 747, at that time a smoke-free business compartment. When you were allowed to smoke, it was quite uncomfortable because the smoke from the main deck could be clearly smelled.
Early 80's on a Pan Am SP HGK-SFO with only 5 pax upstairs on that flight. I remember the pilot's came out one at a time to check out the new electronic device one of the other pax had: an LCD laptop.
I was privileged to travel in the UD of the B747 on a few occasions. The very first experience was on board a KLM 747-300. The most recent was on board a Lufthansa B747-800. The memorable one was when Lufthansa had a full flat bed next to the assigned seat. On a Lufthansa flight operated ex FRA (Aircraft DABVL) I had the opprtunity to experience a comfortable sleep at 37,000Ft in the UD. Sadly the Queen Of The Sky is dwindling slowy.
Loved flying the DAL 747-400 upstairs - you felt like you were flying in a private jet with the lay flat seats and 2FAs taking care of a small number of passengers. Whenever flying to Asia, I would make sure to book flights so I could fly the 747, even if it meant a stopover at NRT or NGO. Goodbye 747, missing you.
My wife and flew with Air Pacific to Fiji on the upper deck. It was all economy with around 50 or so upstairs. Far more quiet. It felt as though you were in a much smaller, aircraft. I miss those days.
You neglected to mention the actual origin of the hump and swinging cargo door nose - the aircraft has its origin in the government-funded "Heavy Logistics System" (CX-HLS) strategic transport competition, ultimately won by Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. The concern of the launch customer perhaps prevented Boeing from designing it away from what they already had (they did move wings and horizontal stabilizer down to the configuration more typical of civilian transports.)
while travelling in the hump certainly gives a more exclusive feeling, i think i'd still prefer the main deck where the windows are not tilted upwards so i have a better view to the ground. :)
0:16 actually no, the 747 was initially boeing's response to the CX-HLS USAF Program, won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. Then Juan Trippe stepped in the 747 program.
According to the 747 chief engineer Joe Sutter is his book “747” the only thing that the 747 program took from the military heavy lift proposal was the engine technology. A lot of the people at Boeing tried to push a full double deck configuration based on the military contract proposal and two mock-ups were even built, one a single deck configuration and the other a double deck configuration. The mock-ups were used to convince PanAm to accept the single deck configuration that had a bulge in the front to allow a nose cargo bay door.
not really, the hump originated from the requirement that retired 747s could be converted into freighters. It was believed that supersonic jets would be the future and the 747 would be short lived, and once that happened the 747s would then be able to live a second life as a freighter. The first 747s didn't use the upper deck for passangers, but rather lounges. After it became apparent that passangers were willing to sit in the upper deck and that it would be more profitable to have seats in the hump, it then became important to the passanger variant of the 747, and it then started getting extensions to hold more passangers.
Flew in a BA Jumbo in the hump to Atlanta in 2018, to get married . Always wanted to fly on Concorde and missed out , so when I heard these were retiring , I made sure I flew in one .
What a coincidence! Yesterday I was thinking about it, whether the hump in the freighter versions is different than those in the passenger versions or is that an optical illusion (due to less windows). Now my doubt is cleared. Thanks.
I flew business class upstairs on the Lufthansa 747-8i. I also was lucky enough to be seated upstairs in the crew rest quarters on a Qantas 747-400 for landing.
Yup, been in the hump a couple of times, it was great. On the window seat you have some extra storage between the seat and the window, because the fuselage curves too much too stick the seat close to it.
The overhead bins in the upper deck were smaller due to the narrower profile of the fuselage in this area so Boeing utilised what otherwise would have been dead space outboard of the seats for this stowage to compensate.
I am trying to 3d scan a model boeing 747-200 and 3d print it out in a large scale size. Which commercial airline model is the most accurate between, hasegawa, revell, heller, and etc when it comes to the "hump" shape? I have looked at hundreds of pics and I think the revell boeing 747-8 cargo has the most accurate shape on the model. Has boeing kept the aerodynamic on the hump the exact same for the 747-200 since it's first original classic design until now or has it changed in it's shape in the 200 series? thanks
In 2009 from Tokyo to Manila, JAL, I was in the hump with a coach ticket. The plane was probably a high density configuration. I remember my seat was like row 75K and I was thinking, there’s 75 rows on this this 747? When I get to the entrance of the plane, the flight attendent pointed to the stairs. The upstairs was like a 737 3:3 seating and I had the window seat and there was room on the side that I couldn’t just lean on the wall to sleep. I regret not taking a photo when I was up there.
Yes I have been in the upper section. I flew on a 747 flight SFO to Honolulu 1972 when it had the cocktail lounge upstairs. I’ve forgotten the carrier.
Originally the 747-100 had a lounge on the upper deck because it wasn't certified to house passengers for takeoffs and landings. It was once it got certified for that they started putting seats up there.
4 года назад
As much as I love(d) flying on the A380 upper deck, from the outside the 747s look much more impressing!
Before Pan Am made their order for the 747; Boeing had submitted their 747 design in response to the US military requirements for a large troop and cargo aircraft. Douglas and Lockheed were also tendering for the contract. In the end Lockheed won with the C5 Galaxy. So Boeing then tailored the 747 to Pan Am’s requirements.
I loved the 2nd floor of the 747, my parents (specifically mom) hated it cause air sickness. It was always a convincing competition when I was a kid to get a 2nd floor seat vs a front 1st floor seat.
Flew in the hump 3 times. Round-trip from Seoul-Cheju in a -400(?) configured as a sardine can. It may have been an old JAL plane with the 600 seat capacity or something. All economy, reduced seat pitch, crying kids, and drunk adults all going on vacation. One-way upgrade on a -400 to business class from NRT-ORD. All business class upper deck, but JAL still allowed smoking on upper deck, but not in the lower deck seats. Obviously a long time ago.
It is interesting that you failed to mention that the concept for the 747 was essentially a freighter version for the Boeing SST program in which that aircraft would shuttle Parts back and forth much like they do today in the 787 Dreamliner program and in the Airbus setup
The 747’s hump was lengthened to make the plane more streamlined according to Whitcomb’s area rule. That’s why among other reasons, the upper deck ends right where the wings start.😃
@@ChrisZoomER hence why he said "of its time" not that it's the most fastest to date, especially compared to a 777 using the most powerful passenger jet engines money can buy lol
I believe that the area rule effect was a secondary benefit and not the reason for doing it in the first place, the primary reason was to increase passenger capacity. Stretching the upper deck further behind the wing also had serious structural implications and not just aerodynamic.
One of the most underrated aviation channels
Vach, indeed!
Who cares just enjoy his content man
@@itzfaroff456 still underated ...
Two years ago I flew in the hump of a Lufthansa 747-8i, it was the first row in business class. A dream come true experience as an aviation enthusiast !!
I was in the hump on a KLM. I had previously been in the nose. I did not think the hump was all that great. We had to stow our luggage in the back so I could not get anything during the long flight. It was OK. I would rather the first floor.
I relate to that! I am flying with LH on the 747-400 and -8i upstairs this winter ❄️
@@Calebs_Aviation You should consider the nose. On he LH 747-400 at least there is 4H I think they call the Captain Kirk Chair. It is right in the middle in front of the bulkhead aisle on either side.
The evolution of the queen’s crown
I like that
Evolution of the queens coochie
@@donaldjbiden Don't make that weird.
@@donaldjbiden dude don’t talk about her gear hold like that
@@EvanAviator good one 😂😂
The last time I flew on a 747, I flew upstairs in the hump in the first row on AF. The view outside was awesome, and it felt pretty exclusive being upstairs - even though it was just economy class...
Didn't know there were airlines that had economy class seats on the upper deck.
@ me too
I traveled in the hump of the 747-8 last fall on Lufthansa. Fantastic place to be, away from the crowd so to speak.
Video is two days early - needed to come out on a Wednesday - "hump day"
Ah, you got us! - TB
Hump day? I don’t understand?
@@rogerhargreaves2272 (stolen from Dictionary.com) Wednesday first came to be known as since at least the 1950s. The expression figures Wednesday, the middle of the workweek, as the people get over to coast into the weekend. Throughout the 20th century, Wednesday was especially referred to as in an effort to liven up the drudgery of the workweek.
@@chrislohphotography - Thank you Chris for that explanation and taking your time to explain it. I’m from the U.K. and it’s not a widely used expression. Keep safe. Rog. 👍😎
Lololololol it’s hump day now
I was invited by the captain of a Virgin Atlantic 747-400 to come sit upstairs for landing into Johannesburg from London. When boarding, I had asked the flight pursar to visit the flight deck after we landed. She took my seat number. The next morning as we began our descent into JoBurg, a fliggt attendant came over and said the captain is inviting you upstairs & after landing I could then visit. That was the last time I flew in a 747 as well.
I flew on a 747 in 1978 from SFO to HNL to GUM to OKA to TPE. Because of a blizzard on the East Coast of the U.S. many passengers connecting in SFO missed the flight. My girlfriend and I were the only passengers in the Economy Class cabin located directly behind the First Class cabin(Business Class cabin nowadays). When we stopped at Naha, Okinawa the flight attendant asked us if we wanted to check out the First Class lounge on the upper deck. It was set up as a dining room for the FC passengers. They could reserve a table for meals up there if they didn't want to eat at their seats. It was rather small but felt quite intimate and exclusive. That flight was my first trans-Pacific flight and was undoubtedly the best flight of my life. Having an entire cabin to ourselves was incredible. We slept in the middle rows, 4 across seating. By putting up the armrests it was like a bed. There was only one couple in First Class and the lady came back to our cabin to stretch out. This was in the days before sleeper seats in FC. All they had were nice recliners. Reminiscing about that flight makes me realize how lucky we were to have had that experience. Of course back then PanAm had superb cabin service even in Economy Class and by being the only passengers in our cabin we had unbelievably attentive service. I miss PanAm, I miss the days of having an enjoyable flight with plenty of room, I miss having decent food and snacks on board, I miss not having the hassle of security, I miss flight attendants who loved their jobs and wanted to make each passenger have an enjoyable flight. Well, I guess it's back to the reality of 2020 but this was a fun trip down memory lane. R.I.P. 747. ❤🛫🙏🌎
always excited for more boeing 747 related videos! keep them coming!
Simple flying never fails
"What hump?"- Igor, Young Frankenstein.
My father was one of Pan Am's delivery acceptance team as a maintenance Supervisor and Zone Manager at JFK. I was born just after the delivery of the first aircraft to Pan Am, and as a Pan Am Brat, I flew in the hump several times.
I used to love sitting upstairs in the hump - once as a business class pax and often as a self-paying economy pax.
For a greater part of the 1990s (particularly the first half) BA used to place a part of its economy class seats upstairs.
This was truly a treat for several reasons.
Although the space had relatively few passengers, it offered the perk of having had a dedicated cabin crew member for it. This gave passengers a sense of service exclusivity - not much different than in business class.
I particularly liked the stowage bins. They were placed between the window seat and window - like a, sideboard. Not only was the bin a convenient repository, accessible while seated - [particularly if you were sitting at the window, which I always used to do - it also served as a perfect credenza and leg rest.
Working was made easy because the top of the sideboard offered extra surface space. Also, I could make myself quite comfortable by stretching out my legs upon it - and NOT to the dismay of the pax in front of me who was undoubtedly [going to be] doing the same thing.
Since access to the cockpit was through the upper deck, it was not unusual for pilots take their stretching-out breaks upstairs and, thus, engage with the passengers there.
This close/more intimate contact with passengers made it quite usual for upper deck passengers, such as myself, to be invited into the cockpit - sometimes even to take part in landings and take-offs.
This was before 9-11.
I admit, I enjoyed flying business class - even on BA. But BA's upstairs economy seats ("premium economy" seating did NOT exist at the time) was a perk I enjoyed to take advantage of - which I did often.
At some point, someone at BA Hq got wind of the comfortable upstairs environment. Upper deck economy was eventually replaced with business class.
I was truly disappointed when this happened since I only flew business class for work - when others were paying. My personal frequent flying saw me paying and, eventually, I would be relegated into the lower deck cattle-bin.
Needless to say I wasn't happy when this happened.
My grandma has been travelled in the humb, she said it is very comfortable
I’ve been in the hump of a BA 747 in Business Class. It’s one of my favorite layouts - the 747 just has so much space on the sides for storage and maintains a great balance between being cozy but also feeling relatively spacious. I don’t know they did it 😂😂
Great summary of the evolution of the 747 ‘hump’. As child my father worked Braniff International and gave me a model of a 747-100 in two liveries that they ordered at the time. We traveled in First Class in the original plan configuration on a flight from Dallas to Hawaii and I remember the upper stairs ‘lounge’ with swivel seats and a bar. Some other carriers even fitted the upper-deck with economy class seating. I recall flying on such a configured JAL 747-400 from New York to Tokyo.
I flew on a 747 while in the Army from Miami to LA in 1972. There was only about 20 passengers on the whole plane so I had free run of main deck and the hump deck. I sat toward the rear of the plane and the head stewardess came and sat a few rows behind me. We had a good conversation about the features of the plane.
Going in the hump with Lufthansa next April, never been more excited for a flight!
Hope you have enjoyed the flight! How was it?
@@inniyan-ef4nhvery special being on the 747 upstairs!
@@jamesgleave5403 you just making me jealous 😂 i always wanted to fly on the 747, but im an Indian, theres no way for me to fly on the 747 rn as im just in high school And also bec air india retired the 747, also my family dont have much money to afford a ticket which one of the only 747 routes in India which is a Lufthansa 747 from Bangalore to Frankfurt (im from Chennai). And its my DREAM to be one of the last engineers for the 747 at Lufthansa
@@inniyan-ef4nh I wish you good luck in pursuing your dream! You can do it!
@@jamesgleave5403 😊
In 1977 I flew in the hump of a Qantas 747 from Sydney to Bahrain when there was a spiral staircase and the hump was a lounge. It was a marvellous experience… very luxurious indeed. In 2005 I again flew in the hump of a Qantas 747 as a Business Class passenger from Singapore to London, and in 2006 the same from New York to Los Angeles… very comfortable!
Thank you for this wonderful tour of the world of the 747. It's a world I lived in for many years as a person and then for flight service manager for Transworld airlines. In fact in my very first month as a person, I was assigned to first class and was delighted to see a piano bar in the hump, delighted to see that
Passengers could enjoy themselves and I as a piano player could bring them some enjoyments in a very intimate club in the sky atmosphere. It was 1979 and it was great while it lasted.. but it didn't last very long. And it's next incarnation it would just become a lounge for first class passengers and then first class seating and then business class seating. But for me, there was never a dream as meaningful as that connection point between passenger and crew where the crew and the passengers are singing to one single tune on their way home on their way away on their way to somewhere special.
What makes it all more ironic is that as an American who had gone to school in france, I felt very comfortable in this big American aircraft, but the year before I worked for Air France on the ground in New York and boarded people on the phone called New York Los
Il n'y a pas de comparaison entre le vol de New York à Paris dans la Concorde c'est vite fait mais c'est quand même dans une boîte de thunes. Pourtant faire le bal New York Paris en 747 c'est toujours un vol de luxe avec tous vos besoins qui sont nos préoccupations.
A comparison between the Concorde and the 747 in terms of quality of flight and experience was the difference between taking the bus to Walmart and taking the Queen Mary to England. And many thanks to Mr Hughes who had the foresight to build an Idlewild airport is most beautiful international terminal which today still stands as a monument tro vision. TWA continued for many years without his direction but it always continue with his imprint. The longer it straight from that imprint the further it moved from the leading cutting Edge character in brought until it was eaten out of bankruptcy lunch sale by the little piglets of American airlines. Not much more to say but piglets will be piglets
I flew business class in the hump from Sydney to LA in a 747-400. So quiet and comfortable. A great plane.
My business trips in the 90's were mostly on B747-400. as a C Class flyer, Sitting on the upper deck was my number one priority. If I can remember it correctly, the United business class on the upper deck had about 36 seats, more comfy, less people shared the toilets.
I was surprised that this video did not mention the shorter, 747-SP. I remember United flew it in the ‘90s. Also, I sat in the hump many times. It was much quieter.
the short hump looks better than the stretched ones change my mind
Which is why I always choose 747-8f over 747-8i in Infinite Flight.
One of the best channels, perfect video length 🙌🏻
Thanks for the feedback! - TB
I flew in 2016 on Lufthansa on the upper deck. Ticket was bought using rewards and taking a flight on the upper deck was a bucket list item. I didn't fly on 747's frequently enough to be able to detail on why it is special versus other locations on the plane. It definitely felt different being in a relatively small space. I don't want to say exclusive, but definitely more space and isolation from the rest of the plane.
I love looking out the window and do remember feeling that the view was a bit less than what I would normally see. Just found a video I had made during the takeoff and the window slopes towards you.
Who loves every plane ever built?!! I do! Especially the 747 and the A380! 😄😅
Sat in the hump of a 747-100SP as a kid on Pan Am in 79. It was a bar lounge then and I sneaked up from the economy as only children could do. It was cool and had some nice couches.
I've been on the business class on the upper hump of the iranian airline "Mahan Air". Although being a domestic and short flight, it was probably one of the best days of my life;)
Yes. I worked on 747-400 freighter conventions for Kalitta, Atlas, and National from 2017-2020. Great experience. Some of then have a double bunk to accommodate crow rest, and a kitchen and the only bathroom as well. Every day was a great day working on that a/c.
Excellent!!! You hot so many things I've wondered in just 3 1/2 mins!
Flew twice on Qantas in the hump (I called it in the bubble) once in the exit row. It was very strange looking out the window during takeoff and landing. I believe they were both 400's
Just returned from a flight IOD-FRA a few days ago and I made a little childhood dream come true: I sat at the hump 🥰
Flew back tp PHL on Lufthansa 747-400 in 2019. Walked around the hump a bit.
Rode on the 747-400 with British Airways quite a few times SF to London and back. Never got to go upstairs, I wish I would have paid for it on one of those trips. Even being downstairs was always a pleasant ride.
I haven't been on a 747 (not in flight at least), but I've long thought it would be a more distinct experience to fly on the main level, in the nose, rather than on the upper deck. If you're in the front couple of rows, your windows are angled partially forward. That would make for a view that is rather uncommon in modern commercial aviation.
I've been on the -200s and -400s hump numerous times. Especially if the first class was installed, ut provided great comfort level as the noise level was low. In the -200s hump, the feeling was like in a private jet...
I once flew coach on the hump of an Air France 747. It didn't feel like coach, as it had these big side bins between the seat and the window!
The Lufthansa A380 economy "bubble" on the upper deck featured the side bends next to the windows. Very convenient.
Those bins were incredibly useful! Flying the long haul between the US and South Africa (on now defunct SAA) in coach up in the hump meant having the handy side bins, only one seat partner, more flight attendant service and exclusive access to the lavs and snack bar area. It really made the trips more enjoyable.
Several times upstairs. Always cool and lots of space between seat and window. Always liked flying upstairs!
I’ve been up in many humps in my life.
There's one small mistake I believe. 747 was originally designed for US Air Force but lost competition for Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. It is actually cargo aircraft originally and when it was on design table, Juan T. Trippe saw an opportunity to use that huge aircraft for passenger service and making air travelling mass business when adding windows to hull.
01:25 Wait, does that mean that there is a size difference between the upper deck of the -100 and the -200 versions? I had always hear they there the same.
I flew in the Lufthansa B747-8 to EZE and I really liked it up there, especially the large store room between the seats and the windows. It was also great because there were so few rows up there so it was very cosy
I sat in the hump on Fiji airways a few years ago on my way to Australia. It’s more roomier than the bottom I felt. There was an extra side compartment for my carryon
Traveled on BA. Sao Paulo to London. 2016. Club World class. It was a memorable experience. It was a 747-4. Hope to fly lufthansa’s 747-8 before they retire them.
I flew in the hump for the first time in a JAL fight from Mexico City to Narita . My dream came true .
I flew several times on -400 and -8i with KLM and Lufthansa, including one Lufthansa flight on the upper deck. It was interesting, but a bit claustrophobic because of the leaning ceiling. The greatest advantage, however, was that it was much more quiet than the regular deck - not only in terms of engine noise, but also the small amount of passengers chatting and walking about.
When Boeing first put pencil on paper, it was as competition for an Air Force requirement for a long haul, high capacity transport. Lockheed won that competition with its C-5. But Juan Trippe, founder and Chairman of Pan Am, convinced Boeing that there was a coming market for a high capacity, long haul passenger liner. That second deck originally ran the entire length of the 747. (If you've been on a C-5, they have a full length second deck.) Most of the upper deck was shaved down and the space became a !st class lounge. (Later to become Business Class.) My first plane ride was on a TWA 747 from LAX to JFK. Upon my return my high school classmates were SO jealous I had ridden on the famous 747, which we saw taking off daily from our proximity from St. Bernard HS to LAX.
Yes have been in the Hump on various flights. I very much liked it. Quiet and very comfortable.
Thankyou Mr. Boeing ❤
I used to travel often from JFK to European destinations for business and was a TWA loyal customer. I always chose to book a coach seat and use miles to upgrade to a business class seat. TWA used the upper deck for business class and it was wonderful. You felt as if you were traveling in a private plane and there was one dedicated flight attendant for the 16 passengers.
Very interesting video.
Beautiful aircraft.
Wife & I were seated in the hump for Manchester to Orlando. Very pleasant flight with Virgin Atlantic.
I flew only once in the hump of B-747, perhaps two decades ago (or three - movies were projected to an actual screen one had to duck under in order to reach the front lavatory). It held 30-40 business class seats, in 2-2 configuration (it was before lay-flat business class seats - they were merely comfy armchairs). Window seats (I always take those) had enormous storage space, due to sloped wall.
My first flight (only had 2) on a 747 and I was lucky enough to travel in the hump. Favourite plane.
At least as recently as 1997 British Airways had the hump on the 747-400 configured for coach passengers. I last rode in the hump that year on a flight from VAN to LHR.
As my father was a then-recently retired UAL pilot I often flew first class in the 1970s which meant that I had a chance to visit the hump when it was just a lounge. Back then you had to vacate the area on take offs and landings, you could not go up there except in flight. Later when the area was replaced with premium seating I think I rode up there just one time but I don't specially recall for sure.
Best part of business class in the hump was the small bin between the seat and the window that neatly held my suitcase. Never flew in the piano bar version :(
I once upgraded to business class on a United flight from Washington Dulles to Heathrow, and I flew in the hump!! It was a 747-222, and had the spiral staircase!!
Always wanted to fly on the upper deck of the 747 ... and been on Cathay Pacific, British Airways and Qantas’s 747-400 upper deck! 🙂👍
I often flew in the upper deck of the Swissair 747, at that time a smoke-free business compartment. When you were allowed to smoke, it was quite uncomfortable because the smoke from the main deck could be clearly smelled.
2003 year, KLM night flight in hump of 747-400, flight from Mexico City to Amsterdam. I’ll remember that great moments to the end of my life.
Early 80's on a Pan Am SP HGK-SFO with only 5 pax upstairs on that flight. I remember the pilot's came out one at a time to check out the new electronic device one of the other pax had: an LCD laptop.
Beautiful video! Sure I flew couple of times in the "hump"! An awesome and more exclusive feeling up there :)
No mention of the 747SP.
Virgin Atlantic had economy seats in hump of at least some of their 747-400s. The window seats were so spacious.
I was privileged to travel in the UD of the B747 on a few occasions.
The very first experience was on board a KLM 747-300.
The most recent was on board a Lufthansa B747-800.
The memorable one was when Lufthansa had a full flat bed next to the assigned seat.
On a Lufthansa flight operated ex FRA (Aircraft DABVL) I had the opprtunity to experience a comfortable sleep at 37,000Ft in the UD.
Sadly the Queen Of The Sky is dwindling slowy.
Loved flying the DAL 747-400 upstairs - you felt like you were flying in a private jet with the lay flat seats and 2FAs taking care of a small number of passengers. Whenever flying to Asia, I would make sure to book flights so I could fly the 747, even if it meant a stopover at NRT or NGO. Goodbye 747, missing you.
My wife and flew with Air Pacific to Fiji on the upper deck. It was all economy with around 50 or so upstairs. Far more quiet. It felt as though you were in a much smaller, aircraft. I miss those days.
Many hours piloting the 747-400BCF. Maybe my favorite plane.
You neglected to mention the actual origin of the hump and swinging cargo door nose - the aircraft has its origin in the government-funded "Heavy Logistics System" (CX-HLS) strategic transport competition, ultimately won by Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. The concern of the launch customer perhaps prevented Boeing from designing it away from what they already had (they did move wings and horizontal stabilizer down to the configuration more typical of civilian transports.)
while travelling in the hump certainly gives a more exclusive feeling, i think i'd still prefer the main deck where the windows are not tilted upwards so i have a better view to the ground. :)
0:16 actually no, the 747 was initially boeing's response to the CX-HLS USAF Program, won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. Then Juan Trippe stepped in the 747 program.
According to the 747 chief engineer Joe Sutter is his book “747” the only thing that the 747 program took from the military heavy lift proposal was the engine technology. A lot of the people at Boeing tried to push a full double deck configuration based on the military contract proposal and two mock-ups were even built, one a single deck configuration and the other a double deck configuration. The mock-ups were used to convince PanAm to accept the single deck configuration that had a bulge in the front to allow a nose cargo bay door.
not really, the hump originated from the requirement that retired 747s could be converted into freighters. It was believed that supersonic jets would be the future and the 747 would be short lived, and once that happened the 747s would then be able to live a second life as a freighter. The first 747s didn't use the upper deck for passangers, but rather lounges. After it became apparent that passangers were willing to sit in the upper deck and that it would be more profitable to have seats in the hump, it then became important to the passanger variant of the 747, and it then started getting extensions to hold more passangers.
Flew in a BA Jumbo in the hump to Atlanta in 2018, to get married . Always wanted to fly on Concorde and missed out , so when I heard these were retiring , I made sure I flew in one .
Ive been in 747-400 hump and its so comfy for a long 10 hours flight from mecca to surabaya!
What a coincidence! Yesterday I was thinking about it, whether the hump in the freighter versions is different than those in the passenger versions or is that an optical illusion (due to less windows). Now my doubt is cleared. Thanks.
It will be quite a sight seeing a 747-8BCF one day
Will you make a video about the D328eco?
I flew business class upstairs on the Lufthansa 747-8i. I also was lucky enough to be seated upstairs in the crew rest quarters on a Qantas 747-400 for landing.
Also, in the 1980s, Boeing offered modification of existing 747-100 and -200 with standard upper deck to have a stretched upper deck
Yup, been in the hump a couple of times, it was great. On the window seat you have some extra storage between the seat and the window, because the fuselage curves too much too stick the seat close to it.
The overhead bins in the upper deck were smaller due to the narrower profile of the fuselage in this area so Boeing utilised what otherwise would have been dead space outboard of the seats for this stowage to compensate.
Yes I've been up in the "hump," of a UPS. Cargo aircraft. I worked in the airfreight industry. Very cool! I'm an aviator geek. 🤓
I am trying to 3d scan a model boeing 747-200 and 3d print it out in a large scale size. Which commercial airline model is the most accurate between, hasegawa, revell, heller, and etc when it comes to the "hump" shape? I have looked at hundreds of pics and I think the revell boeing 747-8 cargo has the most accurate shape on the model. Has boeing kept the aerodynamic on the hump the exact same for the 747-200 since it's first original classic design until now or has it changed in it's shape in the 200 series? thanks
In 2009 from Tokyo to Manila, JAL, I was in the hump with a coach ticket. The plane was probably a high density configuration. I remember my seat was like row 75K and I was thinking, there’s 75 rows on this this 747? When I get to the entrance of the plane, the flight attendent pointed to the stairs. The upstairs was like a 737 3:3 seating and I had the window seat and there was room on the side that I couldn’t just lean on the wall to sleep. I regret not taking a photo when I was up there.
My favorite jet since 2010
A year ago I flew from YVR-LHR in the hump of British Airways G-CIVE. That will probably be my last ever flight in a Boeing 747.
Yes I have been in the upper section. I flew on a 747 flight SFO to Honolulu 1972 when it had the cocktail lounge upstairs. I’ve forgotten the carrier.
Originally the 747-100 had a lounge on the upper deck because it wasn't certified to house passengers for takeoffs and landings. It was once it got certified for that they started putting seats up there.
As much as I love(d) flying on the A380 upper deck, from the outside the 747s look much more impressing!
Can you do a video of the Douglas DC-3 on December 17? In the type's 85th anniversary of its first flight? Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback! - TB
Before Pan Am made their order for the 747; Boeing had submitted their 747 design in response to the US military requirements for a large troop and cargo aircraft. Douglas and Lockheed were also tendering for the contract. In the end Lockheed won with the C5 Galaxy. So Boeing then tailored the 747 to Pan Am’s requirements.
good wideo:)
I loved the 2nd floor of the 747, my parents (specifically mom) hated it cause air sickness. It was always a convincing competition when I was a kid to get a 2nd floor seat vs a front 1st floor seat.
I just wait one day to be on the classic 747.
So you were indecisive, be like that is so funny at the same time annoying
Was in the hump of KLM’s 747-400 in 2012 and Air China’s 747-8 earlier this year.
Love this channel always teaches me something new about aviation keep up the good work
are u sure
Thanks for the feedback! - TB
I was in the Hump with the Black Eyed Peas.
Flew in the hump 3 times.
Round-trip from Seoul-Cheju in a -400(?) configured as a sardine can. It may have been an old JAL plane with the 600 seat capacity or something. All economy, reduced seat pitch, crying kids, and drunk adults all going on vacation.
One-way upgrade on a -400 to business class from NRT-ORD. All business class upper deck, but JAL still allowed smoking on upper deck, but not in the lower deck seats. Obviously a long time ago.
It is interesting that you failed to mention that the concept for the 747 was essentially a freighter version for the Boeing SST program in which that aircraft would shuttle Parts back and forth much like they do today in the 787 Dreamliner program and in the Airbus setup
Actually, the 747 was designed to compete against the C5 galaxy. The Air Force said the 747 is by far the better aircraft but the C5 was cheaper.
The 747’s hump was lengthened to make the plane more streamlined according to Whitcomb’s area rule. That’s why among other reasons, the upper deck ends right where the wings start.😃
That's why they never made it a full length upper deck. And why it was the fastest jetliner of it's time, outside of Condorde
@@johng3592 I’ve been told by numerous flight crew that the 777 and A380 fly faster than the 747.
@@ChrisZoomER hence why he said "of its time" not that it's the most fastest to date, especially compared to a 777 using the most powerful passenger jet engines money can buy lol
@@Quintessenza I know, it's crazy!
I believe that the area rule effect was a secondary benefit and not the reason for doing it in the first place, the primary reason was to increase passenger capacity. Stretching the upper deck further behind the wing also had serious structural implications and not just aerodynamic.
You forgot the Boeing 737-SP btw :P