Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

One retired British Airways Boeing 747 will live on as a film set

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

Last week a British Airways Boeing 747 departed from Cardiff Airport and headed to Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, where it will start a new life as a TV and film set.

Top Gear fans will probably recognise Dunsfold Aerodrome, which is used as the Top Gear test track.

The aerodrome already has one Boeing 747 that is used for filming, which you may have spotted during previous Top Gear episodes.

Dunsfold Aerodrome 747

This aircraft is also an ex-BA Boeing 747-200 and was used in Casino Royale as a stand in for the entirely fictional ‘Skyfleet S570’ aircraft. It joined Dunsfold in 2005.

It takes two to tango

New arrival G-CIVW will now provide some company for the 747-200. G-CIVW is a 747-400 variant manufactured in 1998 and retired earlier this year.

The aircraft will keep its current ‘Chatham Dockyard’ British Airways livery and will be stored ‘in public view’. In addition to use as a film set, the hope is that the aircraft will be opened up as an exhibition for visitors now that Boeing 747s are becoming an endangered species.

BA 747 Dunsfold Aerodrome landing
With thanks to Ian Shaw

Jim McAllister, Chief Executive of Dunsfold Aerodrome said:

“The 747 is a unique and important piece of aviation history and we are excited to be taking delivery of this retired aircraft at Dunsfold Aerodrome. Whilst G-CIVW will no longer fly, the aircraft will be preserved and given a new lease of life in the world of TV and film, training and special events.”

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2024)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (19)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • David Faichney says:
    26 Oct26 October 05:06

    My last Pre Covid and first 747 flight was in first class LAX to HRW 😢♥️

  • Dubious says:
    26 Oct26 October 05:53

    If you’re flying into Gatwick from the north or west whilst Gatwick is operating on easterlies (Runway 08L or 08R), you can often spot Dunsfold just north of the approach (you’ll need a window seat of the left side of the aircraft).

    You can usually spot at least one 747 so maybe now you can get a peek of the old BA 747 too.

  • Julian says:
    26 Oct26 October 09:07

    A great pity I didn’t know about the Dunsfold BA 747 arrival in advance or I could have gone over there to try and watch it as its only about 12 miles or 25 minutes away from my home a few miles south of Dorking.

  • Jonathan says:
    26 Oct26 October 09:11

    The 747 runs on some antique technology, a bit geeky but this is worth a watch if want to see some behind the scenes footage of a 747. https://www-theverge-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2020/8/11/21363122/boeing-747s-floppy-disc-updates-critical-software

  • Catalan says:
    26 Oct26 October 09:17

    Great video of G-CIVW’s final touchdown

    • Rob says:
      26 Oct26 October 10:23

      A reader sent a better one but Dunsfold has banned us from showing it as the reader was technically on their land when he filmed it.

      • The real John says:
        26 Oct26 October 10:51

        Does the word “technically” add any meaning to that sentence? Either he was on their land or he wasn’t?

        • Chris L says:
          26 Oct26 October 10:54

          Apparently the Negus has been gifted to Cotswold Airport to be used for events/education with profits going to charity.

        • Rob says:
          26 Oct26 October 12:04

          There is a difference between, say, cutting the fence to film next to the runway and filming in an empty field a long way away which it turns out is owned by the airport.

      • cinereus says:
        26 Oct26 October 11:46

        Can you just let them upload to YouTube? I’m not aware of any law that prevents them putting the footage in the public domain even if it was obtained while trespassing (yet to be shown one way or the other).

  • HM says:
    26 Oct26 October 10:29

    Managed to make it there too on Thursday – was a fantastic day. I have got plenty of pictures too if you need any more HfP, including interior shots (cockpit + cockpit hatch!).

    • Julian says:
      26 Oct26 October 20:26

      Really annoyed I didn’t know about this so I could see her come in to land when I was able to go along that day and live so near by. Although would I have been able to get on to the airfield without an invitation? Still could easily have seen her touch down from beyond the perimeter fence though………

      How exactly did BA and/or Dunsfold Aerodrome publicise this event?

  • Alex M says:
    26 Oct26 October 10:40

    It was manufactured only 22 yrs ago and already retired . Why could not they sell it to Africa where they fly 40 yrs olds…

    • Catalan says:
      26 Oct26 October 12:51

      You do realise Africa is a continent with some 54 countries. Could you be more specific?

    • DP says:
      26 Oct26 October 14:42

      I’m guessing not many African routes require a 747 its a pretty big and expensive plane to operate. Many African airlines have pretty young fleets compared to legacy European ones.

  • Mark says:
    26 Oct26 October 14:06

    I have always wondered why the 747 already at Dunsfold has both engines under each wing on one mount, anyone know why?

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Got any questions? Ask them in our forums.

Latest Forum Posts

Get 40,000 bonus points (worth 40,000 Avios) and £300 dining credit with The Platinum Card

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Get £10 when you spend £150 on your free Currensea card

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.7 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

SME? EARN POINTS WORTH 10,500 AVIOS WITH CAPITAL ON TAP

Get 20,000 bonus points, four airport lounge passes and your first year free with American Express Gold

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.

Got it!