See inside Korean Air's Boeing 747, one of the last examples of the famous jet still flying passengers around the globe
- Korean Air was the last airline to receive a Boeing 747 passenger jet, specifically the -8i variant.
- Its jumbo is fit with first, business, and economy class, with the upper-level hosting a private experience.
The American-made Boeing 747 was one of the most significant innovations in aviation history.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, demand for air travel was booming and airline executives quickly realized the need for bigger aircraft.
Pan American Airways CEO Juan Trippe teamed up with Boeing in 1965 when he requested it build a plane larger than the Boeing 707.
The result was the world's first widebody aircraft, which stood twice the size of the 707. Pan Am's 747 aircraft could carry a whopping 347 people, effectively lowering overall fares and making air travel finally available to more than just the high-dollar few.
The 747 program eventually ended 53 years later in January 2023 with the delivery of the last-ever 747-8F to cargo giant Atlas Air. The passenger program ended a few years earlier, however, with the final 747-8i going to Korean Air in 2017.
While the Queen of the Skies lost favor with the rise of more efficient twin-engine widebodies, Korean Air — as well as a handful of other carriers — are still flying the beloved jumbo.
Take a look inside Korean's 747-8i, and see how it compares to the early days of flying.
Over the decades, the 747 has been built into several different passenger variants, including as a VIP private jet.
The passenger variants include the 747-100, the special performance 747SP, the 747-200, the 747-300, the -400, and the 747-8 Intercontinental, or 8i.
Probably the coolest 747 in existence is the business jet version, several of which have been owned by countries like Qatar — though likely the most famous is the Air Force One presidential jet.
Freighters and combis — the latter able to carry a mix of passengers and cargo — were derived from the -200, the -300, the -400, and the -8.
The 747-8F was the last-ever aircraft to be delivered, going to Atlas Air.
There were also a handful of short-range models produced, primarily going to Japanese airlines to use on domestic routes.
The jumbo has even carried NASA's Space Shuttle on its back, and the 747-400F model was modified into the famous "Dreamlifter" cargo jet.
The Dreamlifter is primarily used to transport awkward and oversized items, including Boeing 787 parts for assembly.
The rare jet is hard to spot though, with Boeing having only constructed a total of four.
The final passenger version was the 747-8i, which is still operated by airlines like Korean Air, Air China, and Lufthansa, among others.
Several airlines also still fly the 747-400 model, like Lufthansa, Asiana Airlines, and Mahan Air. Korean used the -400 up until 2020.
Onboard Korean, travelers will find 368 seats across three cabins: first, business, and economy.
First class seats six people and business class seats 48, with a majority of passengers sitting in one of the 320 economy seats.
Situated at the front of the plane and separated by a curtain, first class is the jet's most exclusive cabin.
Korean's premium cabin comes with the regular bells and whistles of first class, like multi-course meals, noise-canceling headphones, linens, and a lie-flat bed.
Passengers will also find charging ports, a personal closet, large storage bins, a full privacy door, and a 24-inch flatscreen TV.
Each "Kosmo Suite 2.0" also features a sliding door — fully enclosing the suite — and a lie-flat bed created by connecting the recliner to the footrest.
The sliding doors have a unique louver window, which Korean describes as allowing passengers to "look out without others looking in." A similar design can be found in Emirates Airbus A380 first class.
Behind first class on the lower level of the 747 are 26 of the 48 "Prestige" business class seats onboard.
The seats are in a 2x2x2 layout, but window seats passengers aren't boxed in thanks to Korean's rare "Apex Suite."
This specific design is only seen on a few global carriers, including Korean, Japan Airlines, Oman Air, and Gulf Air. What makes it unique is its staggered configuration that leaves room for a walkway to directly connect the window to the aisle.
The other 22 live upstairs on the jumbo's second level, which is accessed via a grand staircase.
I flew in seat 16J on the upper level on my trek from Los Angeles to Seoul, and I think it's one of the best available because of its storage and privacy.
The special Apex design provides a good amount of privacy at each seat, though window passengers get a better experience.
The window seat has storage bins next to the fuselage, which is something aisle seat passengers don't get.
Moreover, the staggered layout combined with the middle divider means window seat passengers are completely shielded from the aisle, giving them better privacy than their neighbors.
While the upstairs feels more like a private jet, the 747 has historically sported other luxury cabins on its second floor.
I loved the private jet feel of Korean's upper deck. When standing at the front lavatory, I could see the back of the cabin and it made me forget there were another 300+ people sitting below me.
Airlines including Pan Am, Australia's Qantas, and Air India were famous for their second-level bars and lounges.
Pan Am famously had a "restaurant in the sky" upstairs, while others had glamorous seating areas with bottomless alcohol, snacks, and coffee tables.
American Airlines even had a piano bar on its 747s. Meanwhile, Qantas boasted its "Captain Cook" lounge where elite travelers could sip on wine, relax, and talk with other travelers.
Most of these spaces were eventually replaced with seats to generate more revenue.
The economy cabin has also changed significantly since the inaugural 747 passenger flight.
Korean Air has several hundred economy seats split across three sections, swapping between blue and brown as the color scheme.
Photos from Pan Am's early flights show large recliners with white tablecloths laid across the tray tables.
Flight attendants even served meals restaurant-style with designer plates and glassware. The carts used were also much fancier than what we see today.
While Pan Am carried 259 people in economy in 1970, Korean now fits 320 in its lowest-tier 747 cabin.
Over the years, airlines have been cramming more people into jets as a way to generate more revenue. While this does help drive down airfare — as seen on high-density budget carriers like Ryanair and Spirit Airlines — it also means people have less legroom today compared to 50 years ago.
Fortunately, the 747-8i is designed to carry more people than Pan Am's original 747-100, so Korean hasn't sacrificed legroom.
Most economy seats are 33-34 inches, according to Korean. There are also a handful of front-row seats that boast a lot of extra legroom.
The seats are also well-padded and come with a solid headrest, deep recline, and a good seatback screen.
Passengers will also get a sturdy tray table, good inflight food, a cupholder, linens, and an eye mask to help them sleep.
Popular Right Now
Advertisement