There comes a time when airlines need to ask themselves “737 vs 747?” Despite the aircraft flying very different routes, they fill the same title. Boeing’s 20th century legacy.
We can all sit and marvel at both these planes. We can all sit and marvel at the stupidity shown by Boeing over the 737 Max incident.
But very few of us admire these aircraft for what they truly are: Boeing’s 20th century marvel. Both of these aircraft will go down in history for their achievements. But only one will earn the moniker, so which will it be?
But first, we need to decide which 747 and which 737 we’re comparing.
For this article, we will be comparing the 747-400 and the 737-800. This is due to the fact that
- These aircraft are both the most popular variant
- They were designed and built at roughly the same time
- They are both free from (too much) scrutiny
Background
Whilst we have covered the individual aircraft extensively in their own articles, we aim to provide some background on both aircraft!
747
Initially envisioned as a way to mass transport military hardware (later reconfigured for people!) The 747 went on to become the world’s most popular jet airliner.
Arguably, behind Concorde, the 747 is the most iconic of all of aircraft ever built!
737
Originally envisioned as a shorter haul variant to the 727. This appealed to several major airlines for use on short haul routes.
The 737 is used on routes like London to Madrid (on an airline like Iberia or BA) or Chicago to Dallas (on an airline like Southwest).
In fact, several airlines operate solely 737 fleets, such as Ryanair and Southwest (which is why Ryanair and Southwest are so successful!)
Reasons 747 is better
When debating the 737 vs 747, many people will point out that the 747 is better than the 737 in many different ways, such as:
- It’s more iconic
- There’s no controversy surrounding it, as there is with the 737 (MAX)
- It carried the space shuttle (the only aircraft to ever do so!)
- It’s a flagship for many airlines who operate it
- It carries the President! (of the US, China, and India as well as the King of Saudi Arabia and the Prime Minister of Japan!)
- 747 is drastically safer than the 737 based on the number of crashes and fatalities!
- Truly unique (the A380 was only an attempt to replicate the 747, that failed)
- Very nostalgic- many people flew on these aircraft as children, and their earliest aviation memories we of so!
- The 747 has flown more people at a whopping 3.5 billion! This is a lot more than the 2.5 billion people flown by the 737!
- The most expensive BBJ (Boeing Business Jet) at $310 million!
Reasons the 737 is better
When debating the 737 vs 747, many people will point out that the 737 is better than the 747 in many different ways, such as:
- Boeing’s best ever aircraft (in terms of units sold!)
- The 737 has flown more miles than the 747 ever could!
- More fuel efficient (per mile flown) than the 747!
- More countries fly the 737 than the 747 (due to the impracticality of owning such a large aircraft for perhaps, such a small country)
- More variants of the 737 (with 13 in total!)
- The 737 is the original “Boeing 20th century legacy” aircraft (having first been flown in 1967 in comparison to 1969 for the 747!)
- The 737 is quieter than the 747 on average (probably thanks to two less engines!)
- More people have seen a 737 than a 747!
- Most operated BBJ with 206 having been ordered (as of December 2018!)
- More major US corporations fly the 737BBJ than any other country!
Opinons
To ultimately decide who wins this, I interviewed four different groups of people. Avgeeks, pilots, passengers and C-suite executives of Fortune 500 companies (yes, I’m as surprised as you are, that they agreed to help me!)
Avgeeks
Avgeeks were actually quite split when I asked them. For many, the fact that the 747 is such a well known aircraft, and is one of the ‘air icons‘, this swayed them to say that the 747 was the winner.
However, it must be said that there were several avgeeks who were arguing that the 737 was more iconic, simply due to how many people had seen them (globally) compared to the 747!
Many of these avgeeks also argued that the question “737 vs 747” was rather silly as the aircraft only compete in the eyes of avgeeks and passengers.
Pilots
As with most of the time I compare two aircraft, there was a decisive 50-50 split. Even among pilots who had never flown either aircraft!
For many short haul and amateur pilots, there was a decisive “737” consensus. In which, only a handful had ever flown the 737 family (or its rival A320 family!)
Among long haul, cargo and military pilots (for some reason), there seemed to be a decisive “747” consensus. In which, many had flown the 747 as either a passenger or cargo aircraft! However, some had not flew either!
I couldn’t find a pilot who had flown both aircraft, and as such, someone who’d be able to settle this debate once and for all!
Passengers
Again, as with many of my aircraft comparisons, there too, was a massive split between passengers.
When I interviewed passengers who’d flown mostly in economy/coach class, they’d agreed that the 737 was comfier. However, they did also note that they probably wouldn’t be so if the flight was a long haul flight!
When I interviewed those passengers who’d often flown in first class or business class, they agreed that the 747 was comfier. This was down to the better range of in flight meals, entertainment, snacks and so on!
C-Suite Executives
Perhaps it’s rather strange why I also interviewed C-Suite Executives. Yes, it was partly because they often fly around the world for their company, but it’s the way they fly around that interests me.
Often, these executives fly around in either BBJ’s or converted 737 or 747’s. I managed to interview two executives for Fortune 500 companies (who wished to stay anonymous for their company’s sake!)
One of them, flew extensively on their company’s 737 BBJ. And whilst they agreed that they preferred the 737 BBJ to flying on a typical 737, they did also point out that their flights would be even better if it were a 747!
The other one, who’s company had bought a 747 and converted it, told me that his company’s 747 was great. He also added that it was stocked with everything he needed, which is more than he could say for the 737!
747 vs 737: Who wins?
Obviously, as a former 747 pilot, you can probably imagine what my answer is going to be: 747 all the way!
However, if you were to have asked me “737 vs 747?” when I was perhaps 25 (when I was still an F-16 pilot), I would’ve probably responded the 737!
Having seen the interiors of both the private 737 and 747, I can certainly say that the 737 was much better!
However, all in all, there is no right answer. Both are equally right and wrong.
With that being said though, the 747 is clearly the superior aircraft (in my own opinion, of course!)
737 vs 747: Who wins? Tell me in the comments!
Featured image courtesy of Christian Junker | Photography via Flickr