Flying Lufthansa's ICONIC 747-400: Palma to Frankfurt in 2023!

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Enjoy the beauty of the 747-400 Jumbo Jet as I fly it on a rare opportunity from Palma Mallorca to Frankfurt in Germany. I'm on the top deck of the Jumbo and I hope you enjoy me sharing this unusual privilege with you!
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0:00 Intro, flight explainer
1:48 PMI Airport
3:19 some face time
4:13 747 landing and arriving
5:25 Surfshark
6:56 Boarding our 747 in business class
9:00 Taxi and takeoff
11:56 inflight incidentals
14:12 Lufthansa business class meal
14:49 scenery over Europe
16:21 landing, and conclusions!
My website: www.winginit.me
Date of Travel: 16 APRIL 2023
Airline: Lufthansa
Livery: Lufthansa "old" standard
Route: PMI-FRA
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400
Flight Number: LH 1159
Miles: 778
Airborne time: 1h49m
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[@Paul_Lucas]

Get Surfshark VPN at surfshark.deals/winginit - Enter promo code WINGINIT to get 83% off + THREE EXTRA MONTHS for free! Enjoy the beauty of the 747-400 Jumbo Jet as I fly it on a rare opportunity from Palma Mallorca to Frankfurt in Germany. I'm on the top deck of the Jumbo and I hope you enjoy me sharing this unusual privilege with you! Follow me on Twitter: @paul_winginit ¦ twitter.com/paul_winginit Follow me on Instagram: paul_winginit ¦ instagram.com/paul_winginit Merch store: wingin-it.teemill.com/collection/all-products/

[@johncollier608]

I have flown 747's many times. There's nothing like climbing those stairs. Altough downstairs in 1A is also unique, as you get a slightly forward view. That said, what I wouldn't give to fly on one again, now they're so rare as passenger variants. Thanks for sharing, Paul.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

As a life-long steerage passenger, even the dated Business/First seats look fabulous! Thank you for the video!

[@iainjones5002]

I've only flown on a 747 once, returning from Turkey back to the UK, but that was an experience I'll not forget albeit in a great way. That aircraft had been used to fly in a full load of holidaymakers booked by 3 Holiday companies, who combined everyone onto one plane rather than use 3 separate planes. The return flight was a Night flight, on which I was one of only 24 passengers, yes, 24 passengers, returning to the UK! We'd all the space we wanted and were well looked after.

[@sainnt]

I sat in that very seat in a Lufthansa 747-8, and that was my first experience on the upper deck of an aircraft. It's something I'll never forget.

[@Calebs_Aviation]

Excellent video Paul! Wow! That’s an exceptionally rare occurrence to find the 747-400 especially on such a short route! Also I have a flight booked in this beautiful plane in Business Class from O’Hare to Frankfurt and honestly I’d probably have to say I’d sit upstairs because it is just so rare! Especially in 2023-24 when I fly it! I cannot wait to experience it and the 747-8 on the way back to ORD from FRA. Cheers 🥂 what a great video! Certainly a precious memory that’s for sure! 😊

[@Jim.Hummel]

Thanks for filming the complete takeoff...there's something magical for me about the transition from the Earthly bonds to an airplane's natural habitat...You can feel how the airframe relaxes into its intended environment.

[@Falcon-Aviation]

I remember flying on Air France's old 747 to Punta Cana a decade back. They had the upper deck configured in Economy so my family and I were lucky enough to to sit on the up there, it felt like a small private Jet all the way over the Atlantic. Such a great experience! 😍

[@brian402]

My mother and i were lucky enough to have the honor of being seated upstairs on the 747-400 flying from Singapore to the UK back in 1986 & 1987,on Singapore Airlines business class.,service/food/drink was absolute 10/10 flight took around 14 flying hours.Was my first BIG OE trip,do miss the UK alot though.

[@oliverbrookes27]

Can't beat seeing old aircraft abandoned at airports. Was in Faro a couple of weeks ago and the 727 is still there, rotting away,

[@MsSmartmonkeee]

My grandpa was a senior captain flying the polar route from san fransisco to london or paris for TWA. He loved the 747's for their great handling.

[@roddddy]

SFO Is the best airport!

[@paulchamberlain2067]

Love your enthusiasm Paul, am flying a Lufthansa 747 from Seoul to Frankfurt in a few weeks. Have gone for the "hump" experience. travelling with my daughter who has never been on a Jumbo before....making the most of the opportunity!

[@jackyyuen1939]

I flew 747-400 many times on BA, BR and SQ. The Queen of the skies is always my favorite airplane. The first time I flew was a Singapore Airline 747-300 from HKG to SIN in the 90's. Still remember the amazing flight and the smiles of the Singapore Girls.

[@MrGreatplum]

The 747 still gives me goosebumps when I see one of them. I’ve been lucky enough to fly on them twice - on a cricket tour to South Africa in 1997 and then to china when I worked at Kuoni in about 2004. I also went on a “school trip” to Gatwick in about 1990 with my class as one of my friend’s dads flew jumbos with Cathay Pacific and we were allowed to explore the whole of his plane!

[@elevat1on]

Nice! I flew a Lufthansa 744 from Miami to Frankfurt back in 2013. Was an A380 the other way. Both are great planes to fly :)

[@SlavaUkraini85]

Awesome video! Just spent almost 13 hours on LH’s 747-8 Upperdeck, from Buenos Aires to Frankfurt. Longest 747 flight you can take these days. The queen of the skies is still amazing!

[@Paul_Lucas]

Wow! I’d love to do that.

[@NicolaW72]

Indeed.

[@neilrmartin1984]

Hopefully the lounge at Ezeiza has had a bit of a makeover by now. It used to be very drab

[@SlavaUkraini85]

@@neilrmartin1984 you can go into the Star Alliance Lounge, was pretty decent actually

[@peterfinn6098]

Ive done that EZE flight a few times and also the one that stopped in Sao Paulo in 2007.

[@peterrisbergs7156]

I demand bratwurst sauerkraut and a stein of beer!

[@RatFink-nr5td]

Such great memories flying many times on the 747, mostly upstairs. I'm now retired, but traveled many years from the US to Asia for biz. I loved going up those stairs as well, but mostly because I flew biz on upgrades using my United miles. So, it was not always a guarantee to get the upgrade. United was not enjoyable after 9/11, which I'm sure was the case for all int'l airlines. Very strict about alcohol, silverware, etc. But, upstairs was still very special. No fav seat because I was just so happy to get the upgrade. Love the 747!!

[@fredericrmerchant1355]

I flew on UA’s 747’s 6 times, 3 times in 1st in the nose on the main deck, and 3 times in business upstairs. While I loved the seat and the service in 1st it was that upstairs experience. You actually got to see the pilots and on one flight they lets a few of us come up to look in the cockpit. Something about being so high up and in a ‘private’ space.

[@GermanNutty]

Flew the 8 from Frankfurt to Newark, upstairs! It was half empty, really felt exclusive and iconic. Walking up those stairs was a truly special moment.

[@smiddy329]

Your excitement for this is exactly how I was when I was planning my trip to England in 2020. Was scheduled on a Virgin 744. Some of my friends were a tad bit concerned for my sanity when I told them that flying the queen was what I was most excited about. Covid ruined that. Glad to see that someone shares the same excitement. Hopeful to get one last ride on the 400 at some point.

[@jenniferlim2250]

SQ/SIA had a special name for these wondrous Queens of the Skies ~ Mega-Tops. I rmb flying from SG to London in the 1999s in them. It was a real treat - all that legroom, onboard bars, a second storey to explore. This was also when travel was less common place. Was heartbroken when SQ decided to stop using them. TQ Paul, for bringing back those lovely memories! 👍

[@grgr3074]

747 definitively my favorite aircraft...I flew on it last time in 2016 on Corsair from Mauritius Island backto Paris

[@theglobalpeasant]

Great look at the upper deck of the 747-400! Asiana has one remaining in their fleet, and I'm lucky enough to fly it from icn - nrt in a week's time in their business class!

[@eliaslaradi5154]

I've had the honour, privilege, and pleasure of flying this aircraft at least 10 times on Air France and Corsair Fly back in the day, I always went upstairs, I agree so private and its an amazing view

[@maggieWeir]

Its fantastic seeing a 747-400 tnats not a cargo plane but a commercial plane instead and what a fantastic flight amd loved tbr sound of tbr iconic engines taking off thnaks Paul

[@blossomct]

How beautiful I'm so jelly of you!! Glad you got to enjoy it!!

[@danalamborn4464]

My one and only 744 flight was from FRA to SEA about 5 years ago. I flew in the Upper Deck, right behind the emergency exit door. I love flying in the upper deck!

[@matthewgordon-banks7553]

Really special Paul to see you enforced, keeping it in controlled excitement pre-boarding that Lufthansa. Great for us viewers and so glad you enjoyed it!

[@BobbyTanDowd]

Your videos are always so enjoyable. Flying 747 memories flooded back into my brain. Miss it so much.

[@RB-dv5lg]

I flew into PMI on this aircraft on the same day. It was an awesome flight, the crew upstairs were amazing. Very very interactive with all of us. It was a shame I didn’t see you in the terminal or else I’d have stopped and said hello! 😅

[@egpx]

Loved seeing the Convair CV-990 Coronado at 10:00. That airframe is looked after by a preservation group but unfortunately they suffer from lack of funds and it is in a poor state of repair. Great little trip on the 747-400 by the way. I doubt I’ll ever fly in one again.

[@jeffreyamernick9810]

What a wonderfully shot video Paul. Your videography skills have improved 1000 fold over the years. Safe travels and Cheers!

[@miss.travellingbug]

Great content as always Paul! Not more beautiful in skies than a 747

[@davidnielson9139]

I think it was because you put me in a "retro mood" but, when you were taxing and showed the Air Nostrum flight, I momentarily thought I was seeing a Braniff airplane -- though they went out of business 40 years ago. The B and the color scheme seemed so similar to what I remember from the last Braniff flight I took, just a few months before them declaring bankruptcy. Looking back, that is two defunct airlines I flew that day, as I was coming off a Sabena 747 in JFK from Brussels. The Sabena flight arrived a couple of hours late, which would have been an issue, but the Braniff flight was also running about an hour late.

[@Calcouk]

Thank you for a professionally produced video. I particularly enjoyed watching (and listening to) the engines spool up and the normal speed video of the plane leaving the runway and into the air. Brillyint!

[@coolema83]

I flew on the Lufthansa 747-400 from Hong Kong to Frankfurt in 2012, when First Class was placed in the upper deck. They even had the new layout, with a bed next to a recliner chair. It was epic, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

[@RustyManisduckman]

I always wanted to fly on a 747 upstairs. I'm 58 so I remember the golden age but sadly never got that chance. Wanted to walk up the spiral staircase

[@Dnbray]

Last month I flew business class for the very first time with emrites it was amazing

[@LynneFarr]

Great video! Brought back memories. Husband and I were fortunate to fly US to England and Europe on TWA 747-100 & 200 pretty often many years ago. We loved business class upstairs. Much quieter since fewer seats up there.

[@lawrenceortega8541]

Great story about you traveling with your mum. Many of our first flights were with our parents and this just made you more relatable. Thanks for your story.

[@JohnDoe-hb2ge]

“One of the flights of my life” so true

[@TheRareVideosXL]

Great content as always.

[@TopFunAviation]

I flew onboard this very aircraft but LH1158 from Frankfurt to Mallorca after flying LH949 from Manchester on D-AINY. Both brilliant flights, I flew in economy and shared stories with other enthusiasts, a truly special experience onboard the Queen of the Skies! 😊

[@dobiefankw]

I worked for Air Canada as a Purser and spent many hours on the 400. I flew LH FRA-YYZ last October in the Upper Deck. It brought back a lot of memories. We had a mechanical out of Frankfurt which required recrewing. I must say that the two F/A crews were excellent. Very senior and actually engaged with the passengers. This engagement seems to be lacking with many junior crews. Perhaps it’s a symptom of lack of practice in one on one social engagement due to social media? I must also say that the LH hard product on that bird was very dated!

[@fredx1541]

I have so much love and respect for Lufthansa keeping the Queen in the sky. Both the 747-8 and the classic 747-400!

[@Tidybitz]

Snap, Paul ... My first ever holiday abroad was to Majorca and Palma circa 1978 though, but also with Brittania Airways. Enjoyed the video.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Beautiful flight Paul. Classic B747- 400!! Like you I would prefer upper deck seat. Thank you for your review😀💚

[@NicolaW72]

Thank you very much for sharing this indeed amazing Flight with us!😃💛👍

[@kessas.489]

14:07 Well of course it is! We flew a few weeks to Teneriffe and back and we had this on board!

[@andrewmorton3177]

It’s so sad that these wonderful planes are disappearing, my favourite seat on a plane was BA upper deck club world that I’ve done a few times to LAX with the family. It was an event, it had an X factor somehow. At the end of June we’ll be doing it again on the 777 in the new club suite, which I’m sure will be fantastic but I’ll miss the 747.

[@herenow6953]

Wow! Fab! What a treat - the 747 is iconic. BTW I worked for Britiannia and we were very proud of our 767s! We were the first airline in Europe to get one, and we were also the first airline anywhere to hit 1 million flying hours on the 737 - we had an all Boeing fleet of 737s until the 767 arrived. Very happy memories of working at Luton Airport and hence my continued love of all things avgeek!

[@ScottishT]

Very special flight, so lucky mate.

[@MrTavers]

Sit in the hump for sure. I flew on Air New Zealand's 747 up stairs many years ago. Like you said, it reminds me of a smaller aircraft.

[@JBFlytography]

Been a while since I’ve seen one of these! Miss BA’s 747s.

[@ryanfrisby7389]

Excellent video Paul!😸😸

[@stevemacmac75]

Loved the 747 shadow on the cloud :)

[@user-em5xk9sw2g]

Wonderful, yes, of course, always upstairs. AirFrance used to have Economy on the upper deck from Paris to Miami. Exit row upstairs... Best value. Loved it.

[@tripstracka1643]

Great video Paul

[@pauld2037]

Wow. I flew into Palma on 23/4 on Ryanair FR6187 from Dublin landing at 3.15pm. I have a 10 min video of approach, landing and taxi to gate. Your 747-400 is sitting there as we approached the gate. I remember at the time thinking why is there a Lufthansa 747 at Palma. That mystery is now solved!! Thanks!!!

[@zitzong]

Great takeoff section of the video, nice to see an unedited full takeoff.

[@persjofors2586]

We have something in common then, Paul. My very first flight was also to Palma. A package tour flight from Stockholm to Palma with a DC-8 operated by Scanair (I think they were called.) It must have been around 1980.

[@laurenhw1988]

Sitting in the bubble is something that can't be beaten.

[@simonmajura]

I've flown up front on these many times. My preference was always the nose, then up top. More toilets and I always found the space more relaxing.

[@Liam-js6di]

“Lit up like an operating theatre” 😂

[@rezaalan3991]

Great flight, especially on this classic 747-400.

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Up in the hump for me. Good review. P.S. I think that those airlines serving the Med resorts this year will be making a ton of profit.

[@aarongordon5527]

I would sit in the hump. Love the vid Paul.

[@luisstransport]

Great trip report Paul

[@NicolaW72]

Indeed.👍

[@markusp1788]

That dead leg booking is a fiend for airlines 🙂. Lots of airliens are switching to one way short haul ticketing, its a bit more work but makes things easier to compare.

[@david57238]

Nice video have wonderful trip

[@jenixtravelvlog]

I wish I had the opportunity to fly the 747. I enjoy the video, thanks for sharing

[@EileenMurphy]

Hi Paul! That sounds like it was a fun trip! I would be up in the hump for sure, but at the front.... if it still has a window.

[@peterfinn6098]

The last time I landed in Palma was with a Dan Air 727 from Manchester mid 80s and can recall having your photograph taken when walking down the back steps, which you could buy on your way back home. I was too young to remember much but I did recall that. You were so lucky flying on one of those Britannia 767s at the time, which I dreamed of as a kid. Instead Dan Air was the typical carrier used by Airtours holidays before they started their own airline. Then I recall in 1988 got to fly the new Air 2000 757 with bucks fizz and small menu cards, hot towels and lovely food. We never did fly with Dan Air ever again lol. Did manage to fly the Tristar in 1992 which was ex British Airtours to Caledonian, it was named Loch Rannoch. Nov Air 737 to Paphos in 1990 and Air Atlantis 707 to Faro in 1986. Interesting charters to the sun back then.

[@hughporter5234]

In the 90's I was a United Global Services Member. When I booked on a flight to South Africa a Business Class tix was automatically upgraded to First Class which was on the Upper Deck. You had a single seat with a bed next to it. It was quite a deal.

[@gunvaldsandhaland7757]

I Have Not Experience Lufthansa B747-400,But Have Alot KLM And Qantas.Great Trip Report

[@stuyoull4333]

Flown on 2 of Thai's old 744's before they got retired on the BKK-HKT_BKK route.Good times

[@charlesjay8818]

I first flew the 747 back in 1982 with Garuda when we went to live in Australia for 1 year, and then again in 1999 with Lufthansa Frankfurt to LAX and back again, I really want to flay on one again.... and as lufthansa has got the 747-8 i guess they will be around for a while

[@ricardosam8050]

Awesome I flew Lufthansa in 2020 from Chicago to Frankfurt, didn’t enjoy the flight , I flew with BA 2019 from Chicago to Heathrow great flight . I would site in nose on first go then other journey upstairs if I can offered it. Thanks for sharing

[@avgeekinfotainment7776]

Aaaaah yesss, the queen of the skies😎😎😎😎. I was also in the urgent need of using this occasion to fly a 747 - you'll never know if it is the last time😢. Did it the week before on easter sunday and in the opposite direction (to be precise I flew ZRH-FRA-PMI-ZRH) and veeery far in the back. Same frame btw. Such a great day of spending a sunday😊. Even the gate agent at Frankfurt was excited as hell, during the boarding call he mentioned like half a dozen time that we "will be flying the most beautiful aircraft of all time, the queen if the skies..." I assume he has purposely choosen a sunday shift just to service a 747 on a short haul😁

[@danielheathcote5625]

I’ve sat in the hump on a virgin Atlantic -400, half the hump was premium economy and half the hub was economy. I was in premium at front of cabin and absolutely loved it. F;ight from gatwick to Miami and back passed so fast!

[@Paul_Lucas]

I was supposed to be on the Virgin 747 upstairs in PE back in 2020 but covid hit! Sad I missed out

[@dantegiacomin2388]

My favourite seats in the B747-400 were the ones in the exit row in the upper deck.

[@metrovic]

My wife and I were lucky enough to travel many times on VAA 747's to New York City in "Upper Class" and we always tried to pick the two seats at the front of the main deck as they were cosy and perfect for couples travelling together. Happy days !!

[@michaelpeacock6360]

I was on this flight....down stairs was still pretty special... can't beat 4 engines.

[@johnburke5384]

Brilliant !

[@r0bs1904]

Haha love how the stewardess greets in german :D Flying with Lufthansa from Mallorca to Frankfurt? Must be german!

[@irisjones6636]

Ha! I have never flown on the 747-400 but on the 800. Most of the time I am lucky to get seat 87A Chicago to Frankfurt. I love it so much

[@aoifekiernanl2]

I've only flown a -400 twice. G-BYGD & G-BNLP, LHR - HKG - LHR :)

[@ianinvancouverbc]

flying in 747's was so common place. I remember taking Wardair across from Manchester to Vancouver and or Calgary in the 80's all the time

[@dobiefankw]

The 400 was much better than the Wardair 747’s.

[@andreacoombs1288]

I see you spotted the Spantax Convair on your departure from PMI. I was lucky enough to fly on this to PMI as a child! Would love to do a last flight on the Queen! My last flight was LGW to Toronto BA business class for our honeymoon. Thanks for the vlog. Loved it!

[@markh767]

I prefer upstairs. I was a mechanic in YVR and we had to change a lot of seat covers because of the melted free chocolate on LH!

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Paul, I always preferred flying in the upper deck on a B747.

[@tylerk24]

I would fly on the upper deck like you! I’ve never been in a double decker plane before!

[@aviationphan1847]

Great experience, and fab video. Which editing software you use for this?

[@nebulaman76]

I haven’t flown for many years but I’ve flown 747-400 with Air NZ and Air China. I have even flown on the 747-200 Combi with Air Gabon several times. I was one of 15 passengers on one journey. Still didn’t get upgraded but I did drink the equivalent of a full plane on my own.

[@philiphalanen1025]

What fun! Will you do the LX 340 on the same route during the summer? Lovely review as always!

[@JayROwen]

Snap! My very first flight was asa child with Britannia too, but that was to Gran Canaria.

[@texleeger8973]

The one and only queen. Long live the Queen!

[@ianinvancouverbc]

Just had a Lufthansa 747-400 land in Vancouver from Frankfurt as I just picked up my g/f - got video on my dashcam

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always! I like to be up top. Yes, or you could sell your tickets on line. I have not been to PMI since 1981! On LH the oldest aircraft I have flown was the 737NG. I have flown the A300-600 from FRA-STR. Today replaced by train I guess, like all train trips under 5h. Keep up the good work. Be safe!