How things have changed

A Qantas 707 first class section circa 1960
http://www.707.adastron.com/gallery/vh-eba-20.htm

It all looks very anti-social in there… Do business class passengers at the sharp end typically spend 11 hours ignoring each other ?

Yes!! That’s why you pay a premium ..for the solitude away from the hoi polloi

747

The first photo took me back went on honeymoon in G-AWNF to newyork in 1982 nice aircraft

😮 i know which one i like better

I would try out both off them two see what one I like and that goes to the VS one aswel 😀 But Classic 747 😉

James

Ah yes… having worked with the occasional Spice Girl from time to time, I can now see the advantage in having those privacy screens between the seats ! 😉 😀

Yeah, without them you could wake up and find Sporty’s bottom in your face and that would spoil the entire experience. Mind you, even that would be better than Baroness Jay’s thick and heavy end…

It depends. Captains of industry have work to do and can’t be spending valuable time socialising with ghastly footballers and pop singers.

Ah yes… having worked with the occasional Spice Girl from time to time, I can now see the advantage in having those privacy screens between the seats ! 😉 😀

And look how much Virgins upper deck has changed in only 4 years.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0167019&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20747-238O&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf&QtODMg=Beynaqb%20-%20Vagreangvbany%20%28ZpPbl%29%20%28ZPB%20%2F%20XZPB%29&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Sybevqn&ktODMp=Znl%2018%2C%202001&BP=0&WNEb25u=Whfgva%20Prqreubyz&xsIERvdWdsY=T-IYNK&MgTUQtODMgKE=Hccre%20Pynff%20frngvat.%20Gurl%20ner%20irel%20pbzsbegnoyr%20gbb%21&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=16416&NEb25uZWxs=2001-06-01&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=20921%2F241&static=yes&width=950&height=625&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20YVXR%20%27Obrvat%20747%25%27%29%20NAQ%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ivetva%20Avtrevn%20Nvejnlf%20%28Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Znegvanve%20Ubyynaq%20%28Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20nfp&photo_nr=6&prev_id=0167017&next_id=0178833&tbl=CABIN

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0886829&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20747-4D8&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf&QtODMg=Va%20Syvtug&ERDLTkt=Vagreangvbany%20Nvefcnpr&ktODMp=Sroehnel%2011%2C%202005&BP=1&WNEb25u=P.F.%20Cubgbtencul&xsIERvdWdsY=T-IGBC&MgTUQtODMgKE=Urer%20jr%20unir%20n%20fubg%20bs%20gur%20hccre%20pynff%20frpgvba%20ba%20n%20Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20747-400.%20Guvf%20vf%20gur%20cneg%20gung%20vf%20ng%20gur%20sebag%20bs%20gur%20hccre%20qrpx%20ba%20gur%20747.%20Zlfrys%20naq%20Xriva%20Pnqq%20jrer%20fng%20ba%20gur%20hccre%20qrpx%20va%20rkvg%20ebj%20cerz%20rpbabzl%20sbe%20guvf%20syvtug.%20Gur%20frng%20ba%20gur%20yrsg%20unaq%20ebj%20ng%20gur%20sebag%20zbfg%20cneg%20bs%20gur%20pnova%20unf%20gur%20uhtr%20zhfvp%20fgne%20Wnzvebdhnv%20ylvat%20nfyrrc%20va%20vg.%20Nyfb%20ba%20guvf%20syvtug%20gbqnl%20jnf%20Terraqnl%2C%20Vyy%20Qvib%20naq%20n%20ybg%20bs%20bgure%20fgnef.%20Gur%20hccre%20pynff%20fhvgr%20unf%2010%20orqf%20ba%20gur%20hccre%20qrpx%21%20%2810Q%2F15zzS2.8Svfurlr%29&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=51031&NEb25uZWxs=2005-07-25&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=28194%2F1100&static=yes&width=1024&height=706&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20YVXR%20%27Obrvat%20747%25%27%29%20NAQ%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ivetva%20Avtrevn%20Nvejnlf%20%28Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Znegvanve%20Ubyynaq%20%28Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20nfp&photo_nr=42&prev_id=0816860&next_id=0972887&tbl=CABIN

I have so say I travelled in the old Upper Class seats several times including on this very upper deck and even they were extremely comfortable.

1L.

Green Day and Il Divo in the same cabin ? What an unlikely line up that must have been… I guess they don’t fly “American” much these days right enough ? 😀

And look how much Virgins upper deck has changed in only 4 years.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0167019&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20747-238O&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf&QtODMg=Beynaqb%20-%20Vagreangvbany%20%28ZpPbl%29%20%28ZPB%20%2F%20XZPB%29&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Sybevqn&ktODMp=Znl%2018%2C%202001&BP=0&WNEb25u=Whfgva%20Prqreubyz&xsIERvdWdsY=T-IYNK&MgTUQtODMgKE=Hccre%20Pynff%20frngvat.%20Gurl%20ner%20irel%20pbzsbegnoyr%20gbb%21&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=16416&NEb25uZWxs=2001-06-01&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=20921%2F241&static=yes&width=950&height=625&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20YVXR%20%27Obrvat%20747%25%27%29%20NAQ%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ivetva%20Avtrevn%20Nvejnlf%20%28Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Znegvanve%20Ubyynaq%20%28Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20nfp&photo_nr=6&prev_id=0167017&next_id=0178833&tbl=CABIN

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0886829&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20747-4D8&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf&QtODMg=Va%20Syvtug&ERDLTkt=Vagreangvbany%20Nvefcnpr&ktODMp=Sroehnel%2011%2C%202005&BP=1&WNEb25u=P.F.%20Cubgbtencul&xsIERvdWdsY=T-IGBC&MgTUQtODMgKE=Urer%20jr%20unir%20n%20fubg%20bs%20gur%20hccre%20pynff%20frpgvba%20ba%20n%20Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20747-400.%20Guvf%20vf%20gur%20cneg%20gung%20vf%20ng%20gur%20sebag%20bs%20gur%20hccre%20qrpx%20ba%20gur%20747.%20Zlfrys%20naq%20Xriva%20Pnqq%20jrer%20fng%20ba%20gur%20hccre%20qrpx%20va%20rkvg%20ebj%20cerz%20rpbabzl%20sbe%20guvf%20syvtug.%20Gur%20frng%20ba%20gur%20yrsg%20unaq%20ebj%20ng%20gur%20sebag%20zbfg%20cneg%20bs%20gur%20pnova%20unf%20gur%20uhtr%20zhfvp%20fgne%20Wnzvebdhnv%20ylvat%20nfyrrc%20va%20vg.%20Nyfb%20ba%20guvf%20syvtug%20gbqnl%20jnf%20Terraqnl%2C%20Vyy%20Qvib%20naq%20n%20ybg%20bs%20bgure%20fgnef.%20Gur%20hccre%20pynff%20fhvgr%20unf%2010%20orqf%20ba%20gur%20hccre%20qrpx%21%20%2810Q%2F15zzS2.8Svfurlr%29&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=51031&NEb25uZWxs=2005-07-25&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=28194%2F1100&static=yes&width=1024&height=706&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20YVXR%20%27Obrvat%20747%25%27%29%20NAQ%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ivetva%20Avtrevn%20Nvejnlf%20%28Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Znegvanve%20Ubyynaq%20%28Ivetva%20Ngynagvp%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20nfp&photo_nr=42&prev_id=0816860&next_id=0972887&tbl=CABIN

I have to say I travelled in the old Upper Class seats several times including on this very upper deck and even they were extremely comfortable.

1L.

It all looks very anti-social in there… Do business class passengers at the sharp end typically spend 11 hours ignoring each other ?

It depends. Captains of industry have work to do and can’t be spending valuable time socialising with ghastly footballers and pop singers. On my only trip in BA first class (seat 1A in a 777, LHR-ORD 😀 ) I was sat in front of Baroness Jay. We didn’t socialise. However, there was a bit of socialising going on elsewhere in the cabin. They obviously sussed me out as being an oik who had only paid £15 for his ticket :diablo: Not that I was bothered, I got the jump seat for the climb to cruise and from the top of descent and the pilots were far more interesting than the Baroness and the other well to do.

Nice experience, though 😉

It all looks very anti-social in there… Do business class passengers at the sharp end typically spend 11 hours ignoring each other ?

Well it’s certainly easy to be anti-social if you want to. However, the 2 pairs of seats at the back of the cabin can have the privacy screen between them lowered, and the footrest can be used as a companion seat opposite for chats/meetings/dinner for two/etc.

By the way Ren, that’s First. Isn’t it Mark?

Much nicer than the plain wardrobe doors I ended up staring at

My heart aches for you. 😉

1L.

It all looks very anti-social in there… Do business class passengers at the sharp end typically spend 11 hours ignoring each other ?

Well spotted 1L.
I find these sort of comparisons fascinating.

I love the 70s style interior. Although somewhat garish by todays standards, it harks back to simpler times.
Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong decade.

Its particularly interesting to note that that particular 741 served BA a further 18 years after that photo was taken. Making it a total of 28 years in service, from new with BA.

I found these two pictures of A zone on BA 747s on A.net

Thankfully for the better! I shudder to think what a 12 hour overnight to JNB in those old seats would have been like compared to the newer ones. For a start you’d have 3 stops to get there as well I suppose!

Edit: That said, I do really like the flower design on the closet. Much nicer than the plain wardrobe doors I ended up staring at all the way to and from SA! 😀

😮 i know which one i like better

I found these two pictures of A zone on BA 747s on A.net

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0061938&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20747-136&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf&QtODMg=Abggvatunz%20%2F%20Yrvprfgre%20%2F%20Qreol%20-%20Rnfg%20Zvqynaqf%20%28Pnfgyr%20Qbavatgba%29%20%28RZN%20%2F%20RTAK%29&ERDLTkt=HX%20-%20Ratynaq&ktODMp=Wnahnel%201981&BP=0&WNEb25u=Pyvir%20Crnpr&xsIERvdWdsY=T-NJAS&MgTUQtODMgKE=%20%28Ergverq%20Bpg%2099%29.%20Svefg%20Pynff%20frpgvba%20bs%20guvf%20ON%20747-100&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=28350&NEb25uZWxs=2000-01-12&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=19766%2F111&static=yes&width=768&height=524&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20%3D%20%27Obrvat%20747-100%27%29%20NAQ%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Oevgvfu%20Nfvn%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Nve%20Senapr%20%2F%20Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Hagvgyrq%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Abegurnfg%20Nveyvarf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ry%20Ny%20Vfenry%20Nveyvarf%20%28Pnyrqbavna%20Nvejnlf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Angvbanve%20%28Pnyrqbavna%20Nvejnlf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Pnyrqbavna%20Nvejnlf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Fvatncber%20Nveyvarf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=1&prev_id=&next_id=NEXTID&tbl=CABIN

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0362327&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20747-436&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf&QtODMg=Pneqvss%20%28-%20Eubbfr%20%2F%20Jnyrf%29%20%28PJY%20%2F%20RTSS%29&ERDLTkt=HX%20-%20Jnyrf&ktODMp=Znl%2024%2C%202003&BP=0&WNEb25u=Fgrir%20Unyy&xsIERvdWdsY=T-OAYR&MgTUQtODMgKE=Svefg%20Pynff.%20Gnxra%20ng%20gur%2010gu%20naavirefnel%20Bcra%20Qnl%20ng%20ONZP.%20Fbal%20S717.&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=35101&NEb25uZWxs=2003-06-09&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=24047%2F753&static=yes&width=1024&height=780&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20%3D%20%27Obrvat%20747-400%20%28NY-1%29%27%29%20NAQ%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Oevgvfu%20Nfvn%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Nve%20Senapr%20%2F%20Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Hagvgyrq%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Abegurnfg%20Nveyvarf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Ry%20Ny%20Vfenry%20Nveyvarf%20%28Pnyrqbavna%20Nvejnlf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Angvbanve%20%28Pnyrqbavna%20Nvejnlf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Pnyrqbavna%20Nvejnlf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Fvatncber%20Nveyvarf%20%28Oevgvfu%20Nvejnlf%29%25%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=14&prev_id=0362328&next_id=0362326&tbl=CABIN

They really show how aircraft cabins have changed in just a couple of decades.

1L.

WOW, what a difference…the shot of A zone in the first pic, would probably be the equivilent of ‘premium economy’ in these days…!