The only downside was they ran out of lobster (first world problems!). Factually, Cook's Endeavour reached Australia in April 1770 and landed at Botany Bay. Economy return ticket to London was about the same as today in dollar terms yet a huge amount of money back then when taking inflation into account. That would give her her golden jubilee and the grandest hurrah. I’ll be curious to see how this plays out, but it sure would be sad if Thai Airways eliminates first class. Of an age when flying on a 747 was just short of a miracle. The 747-100 was the original variant launched in 1966. So we are looking towards the back of the plane here. Isn't she just beautiful? The first three row of seats are configured in a 1 X 1 layout but rows 4 and 5 are configured in a 1 X 2 X 1 layout. It really was fabulous and the main photo above looks most like it with the ambience of a happy carefree crowd of the seventies ever present. Pan Am really went downhill and turned into a terrible airline! Lufthansa 747-8 First Class Seating. I flew the QF 747-SP to Honolulu... back in the day, and they had a small economy section up there, was a pretty cool experience being seated up there. From here, Qantas would also order the Boeing 747-300 in 1985 and the famous Boeing 747-400 in 1989. It is available in passenger, freighter and other versions. If you’ve forgotten your password, simply enter your email address A narrower staircase, like that on the B747, offset to one side could see that space used for a descent bar/lounge (though itd be better to have the lounge situated bewteen Business and Premium Economy. The Lounge. Dad's already taken the furs...... cheeky bugger. Boozy places when returning from up north. Read more: Creating Virgin Australia's swanky new Boeing 777 bar. Perched atop the first Qantas Boeing 747s, the Captain Cook lounge is a colourful blast from the shagadelic past. We’ll send you an email to re-activate your account and enter a new password. Several versions of each variant have been produced, and many of the early variants were in production simultaneously. So an inflight lounge in those days make sense. third The British Airways First Class Lounge at Chicago has some great views across the apron where we were able to view the aircraft movements. I remember struggling up that spiral staircase, but when you got to the top - it was so comfortable and elegant. I have the vaguest of vague memories of the Continental bar (as a child, through the haze of obligatory tobacco smoke) - it seemed to be quite the party in the sky, not that I imbibed (or inhaled), of course. Remember Qantas flew them to SFO and Panam had them also out of Sydney to LA. Continental Airlines also opened a large main deck lounge, open to all passengers. It can carry people, cargo and many other things. American also had a small (4 person) First Class lounge in their B707-323C which served SYD during their initial Australian foray in the early 1970's. I flew an SP out of Cairns to NZ (I think Wellington) when Qantas introduced the 747SP to FNQ in the 70s. We’re still around to report on any breaking news during this time, otherwise our regular publishing schedule will resume on Monday January 8, 2018. Log in below. That Continental photo looks like a set from an Austin Powers movie. However, presented by the difficulties involved with tuning pianos and how easily a little turbulence or a bumpy landing could make a traditional piano change key in an instant, AA opted for electric Wurlitzer organs: Appreciated by passengers and cabin crew alike, the organs provided live inflight entertainment that was always in tune. Convert your points to Virgin Australia Velocity, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and more. The choice was as varied in Asia with Japan Airlines opting for something simple yet social... ... Air India for something eye-catching and with uniforms to match... ... and Singapore Airlines with a lounge and dining area where the seats could also be converted into 'sleeperettes' once airborne: But whichever airline you chose to travel with, your ticket would buy more than just a seat between one city and another: it bought a truly memorable journey, which today's generation of travellers are beginning to slowly and once again catch a glimpse of. It was not just Qantas which provided a great lounge space on the early 747. Virgin Atlantic no longer flies to Australia, but the cosy cocktail bars on its Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s sport an undeniably 'cool Britannia' vibe. Log in below. For the first class Trippe actually got some of his double-decker vision in the final 747, with its famous upper deck. T&Cs apply. My flight kangaroo-hopped via a "shocked at the humidity" Bangkok and Bahrain where the Petroleum Flare stacks lit up the night sky and where the tarmac walks of these cities made embarking and disembarking by Tullamarine's new aero-bridges look like 1st world luxury. Lots of amazing stories shared. My wife, 3 young chioldren and I were the only FC passengers so had the run of the upper deck lounge to ourselves - the perfect way to travel with young children. My memory is that it was meant to be a regular return flight. It's a silly one. In consultation during development with Pan Am chairman Juan Trippe, it became the first-class passenger lounge that the aircraft was known for. But the stairs in the 747-200 were spiral, and at the FRONT of the upper deck. Forget that pre-flight visit to the Qantas First Lounge – after take-off, you could instead enjoy an exclusive atmosphere in what was the Captain Cook Lounge on the Boeing 747's upper deck: The EK bar is the best current equivalent, in my experience - designed to promote socialising, with a superb array of drinks (especially the Dom if you're in F). Instead, we're reflecting on the Captain Cook lounge of the original Qantas Boeing 747, as the era of the Qantas jumbo jet – which began in 1971, lasting just shy of 50 years – draws to a close with this year's retirement of the last Boeing 747s in the fleet. Facebook 0 Tweet 0 LinkedIn 0 Pin 0 Email 0. American Airlines offered a lounge with a bar and piano, on the main deck. All of these photos are taken from the top of the spiral staircase (near the cockpit door), looking back towards the aft of the aircraft. Enjoy 150,000 bonus Altitude Points when you apply, are approved and spend $4k on eligible purchases within 90 days of approval - Westpac Altitude Black Mastercard with Altitude Rewards. Login now. How times have changed! Boeing designed the 747's upper deck to be a first class lounge or just extra seats. Do remember the spiral staircase and lounge upstairs. I just want to avoid raising wrong expectations. As borders come down, where can you travel across Australia? The comfort of our individual seats is so much better in today's biz class seats compared to the "first class" of the 1970-s.Come to think of it, maybe Etihad use the front space as part of their Residence suite? Could produce excellent results bar '' and have all that space given over to spacious. It well, apparently I had a grin on my face to be a first Class Trippe actually got of. Normal companies would never pay for this even for their CEOs on Business trips 'bar wars.... 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