With all the recent buzz over our 747-400s in Delta colors, did you know Delta first flew 747s in 1970-1977? You may not, because we only operated five 747-100s. They were a little too big–seating 370 people–for our route capacity when we flew international mainly to the Caribbean and Canada. If you had a chance to work or travel in them though, you probably have some great stories about the experience.
The scene at the Atlanta airport only minutes after Delta’s first 747 arrived on October 2, 1970. 
Delta turned the upper-deck area above the first class cabin into the “world’s first flying penthouse.” It could be sold as a unit to a group traveling together.
My father-in-law, a former bank executive from Augusta, Georgia, reserved the penthouse with his wife and two other couples, flying Atlanta to Miami for a banking conference in the early 1970s. He remembers, “It was great fun, we were treated like royalty. To get the penthouse you had to have a certain number of first class tickets–an odd number. The six of us bought the extra ticket to qualify for the penthouse and we laughed about our “phantom passenger” sitting there with us. On our return flight to Atlanta, the stewardess wrapped up all the extra food prepared for the penthouse and gave it to us.”
What do you remember about Delta’s original 747s?
Marie Force
Archives Manager
February 6th, 2009 at 12:42 am
What a beautiful Jumbo Jet! I think we should have some more penthouses now that Delta’s got the Northwest 747′s!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:22 am
Nothing – I wasn’t alive )=
But this is incredible!!! Where was that photograph taken? Also, note how there were only 3 windows on each side of the upper deck. Now, there are many windows for standard row seating. However, there were so few on these earlier models of the 747 in order to create a secluded feel, similar to a club, as described above.
Can I make a suggestion (again)? Paint another retrojet – a 747 in THESE widget colors. They’re like nothing else.
Joshua Z.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I can remember at ORD, that we parked the 747 at gate 11A/B……we used both jetways to board. Sometimes a DC-9 had to be double parked under the left wing at the end of the concourse. This is when we were still using the “H” gates.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I vividly remember the 747 in Delta service. While I never had a chance to ride on one I did get to go on board one at LAX. Around 1971-72 my grandmother was returning to Orlando and I was allowed to help her to her seat. ( remember when gate visits were fun ? ) I took the time to wonder around the aircraft and even visited the upper deck lounge area. Then after a peek at the flight deck ( thanks to the crew, forever a memory ) I returned to the gate area.
From around that same time, I have a much treasured Delta brochure that listed the Delta fleet and the aprox prices of each aircraft. The 747 was listed as costing $20 million back then.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Only time I was ever on a 747, was on a TWA flight back in 95.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I worked in DFW Cabin Service near the end of 747 service, and I remember that the caterers laid down track to move their catering carts through the airplane.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I flew Delta 747′s a couple of times in 1971 between Atlanta and Dallas/Ft. Worth. I was in coach, but it was still quite an experience! Particularly since I had traveled from Athens, GA to ATL on a Southern Airways Martin 404.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Thanks for all the great stories – it was fun for me to hear about Delta’s first 747s!
February 13th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I flew a DL 747 from Dallas (Love Field) to LAX in the mid 70′s with my mom on the way to visit Douglas for an intense career-interest with them and to look at DC-10s on the production line. Among them were those that Delta leased from UA in the early wide-body years. On the 747, we were in economy though, not in the Penthouse unfortunately.
February 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Matter of fact, we weren’t even flying to Canada (Montreal), yet when we took delivery in 1970. That didn’t happen until the Northeast merger in 1972. I do believe that we were still flying to Caracas and Maricaibo in Veneauela but the 747 was never used on these routes. The only international routes they were used on was the PanAm interchange to LHR.
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I worked as a Delta gate agent and P.S.A. (redcoat) for over 26 years…my grown sons flew many miles on this airplane…we had 5 of them. My first flight was Love Field to ATL and it was coach only…no non-revs allowed initially on this big bird! The flight was full–(70F/300Y) and a steak dinner was served in coach! It was exciting and a proud thing for us Delta folks. For many years I worked a midnight gate shift in SFO, and Flt 46 operated out of SFO daily at 2200 arriving in ATL at 0530-ish, with night coach connections to everywhere. Delta night coach (“Owly-Bird and “Early Bird”service) was 20% off day coach and was immensely popular with the flying public. Flight 46 was full every night. The inbound equipment for Flt 46 was Delta Flight 19, which operated ATL-SFO with an intermediate stop. in Dallas (DAL). We canceled Flt 46 only twice as i remember; once for a cracked windshield and once for a tear in the fuselage after a ramper drove an LD-3 container under the aircraft. Those two times were a re-booking nightmare. Great airline, great airplane, great employer, great Delta family! Where, oh where have the airlines gone?
Mike Marsh
Lakewood, CO
March 10th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I had a model of the original Delta 747s.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I am glad DeltaMD-90Flyer made that comment. I forgot all about my models. I have one completed in the 144 scale and two still in the boxes. I am inspired to get them done now.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I just ran across this entry and it brought back many memories. I had friends in school who’s dad was a DL 747 Captain (Capt. Frank Moynahan-ATL) and I visited with him onboard, upstairs several times when I flew with him in the early 1970′s. I flew the old 747′s a lot and even via IAD on the PAA 106/DL106 & PAA107/DL107 TL via IAD to LHR interchange with Pan Am. Many times in and out of LAX and SFO often via DFW, to ORD, MIA and DTW a time or two. All great memories. In the early 1970′s I opted for the penthouse when traveling with friends. We had to have six tickets in F to reserve the Penthouse whether or not there were six passengers. The upstairs was divided into two private cabins replete with swivel chairs, large fitted wall sofa and out own private flight attendant which was required for emergencies and meal/beverage service. On a daytime ATL/LAX 747 nonstop enroute to LAX there was a nursing mother with twins and for the early 1970′s in the main cabin, she drew a lot of attention. Solution? The InFlight Coordinator took her (and her twins) upstairs to the Penthouse so the kids can “dine” in peace.