Trip Reports - Premium Class trip report on SAA DUR-GRU...Lots of Pics!

Well here is my return trip from Durban to Orlando via GRU. I flew SAA from Durban to Sao Paulo and then AA in First class from GRU to MCO via MIA (this will be a separate trip report).

The morning started early, as my flight was at 6:30 am. So I woke up at 4 to make sure that I had packed everything and to shower. We left for the airport at 5:15 and got there at 5:45. I had checked in online the night before but couldn’t print my boarding passes; I had luggage anyway. So my stepdad dropped me off and I went straight to the Premium Class counter and was helped straight away.

I got 1C for the flight to Johannesburg and the flight was on a A319 and I got 5H for the flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo. My bags got priority tags and off I went through security. Security took 3 minutes and off I was up to the lounge. The lounge was pretty full. I bumped into one of my friends who happened to be on the same flight; so, time went by pretty quickly.

They announced boarding at around 6:10, which means that most of the plane had already boarded. So when I got on there, there was no overhead space for my roll on or messenger bag. The flight attendant put my messenger bag in a cupboard but said that she had to check my roll on. “Great, this is a good start to the day”, I think. All my African Christmas gifts were in there and I was a transit passenger; so now I wasn’t anymore as I had to claim my bag at the carousel and then go through security again…The flight took off on time and off we went.

The flight was only 50 minutes and a hot breakfast was served, or you could have cereal and fruit.

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Other than the bag issue the flight was non eventful and we landed 5 minutes early. We were bussed into the terminal and I went through to the baggage claim area in which my bag appeared in about 5 minutes.
I then went through to the international side of the airport where I proceeded through security (there is no premium line) and went to passport control. All of this took a total of about 4 minutes, as there was hardly anyone there.

SAA has a temporary lounge in the International terminal which is a complete joke, all it has is some seats and a few snacks. I asked the Lady at the front desk where I could shower and she said that they have an agreement with the Premier lounge so she took my boarding card and wrote ‘premier lounge’ onto it. I then proceeded to the lounge where it was quite empty. It was larger than the temporary lounge SAA has, and it also just had a few snacks. I went to the showers and both were occupied. I waited about 5 minutes and finally got into the shower room. I had to go to reception to get a towel, but I was informed that all they have is bath mats (as the laundry had not returned them yet). So I took 2 bath mats and proceeded to the shower. It does not get cleaned, so I got in only to find that there is no soap, shampoo or conditioner. Great! Only then do I discover that after standing with the water running for 5 minutes there is no hot water!

I get dressed, go to the SAA lounge and tell the lady about my experience. She then sent me to another lounge where I took a 2nd shower. It was clean, it had hot water and soap, but the towel had a hole in it and was ripped. I guess I’m just not having a good day!

After all of that, there was only 30 minutes until boarding, so I made my way to the gate while browsing through the shops. Johannesburg International really is one of the best airports I have ever been to in this regard.
When I got to the gate they were screening people and checking passports. The lines were long, but moved quickly. Within 10 minutes boarding was announced and Premium Class passengers were invited to board. I was on the plane and settled in 5 minutes; the crew seemed quite cold and bored, which just kept adding to my great travel experience so far.

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There were only 18 of us out of a possible 42 in Premium Class and Economy looked quite empty too. Menu’s and toiletry bags were handed out and pre departure drinks were offered; Orange juice, water or champagne. I took the orange juice which was nothing to write home about.

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We took off on time and our orders were taken as soon as the seat belt signs were turned off. Food was served in about 30 minutes with each course following straight after the other.
Grilled Beef fillet with baby potatoes and mixed veggies is what I ate with a seasonal salad as my starter and a vanilla berry mouse cake for dessert.

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I put my seat into bed mode and slept for a good 5 hours. SAA’s seats really are comfy and that always makes flying with them worth it.

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We were woken up 1:30 minutes before landing and were served a light dinner.
I ordered the Chicken Thigh with yellow rice and vegetables (which wasn’t that nice). No dessert was offered, even though the menu said a fruit salad would be served, but I didn’t even bother asking where it was.

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I wasn’t that hungry as I knew I would be in the Admirals Club for 5 hours after we had landed and thought I would eat there.

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We landed on time and the bridge was connected at door 1L, so we were the first off the plane with no problem. I was through passport control and waiting for my bags within 5 minutes.
The bags with priority tags were on the carousel first and off I went through to the International check in terminal for my American Airlines flight back to Orlando via MIA in First Class (Separate trip report to follow)…

Great report.. Were the seats in BIZ flat or at an angle? Pics were terrific...

Thanks for the trip report.

Great report.. Were the seats in BIZ flat or at an angle? Pics were terrific...

The seats are 180 degrees flat, it is really comfortable, especially when you can lay the duvet from the empty seat next you down onto your seat and use it as a 'softer base'

Nice to see a SAA report for a change -Thanks. ^

I've read some reviews in the past regarding the poor standard of their Biz class product as well as their crews. It looks okay but nothing special.
I don't think I would have been too happy having my cabin baggage put in the hold then needing to collect it at baggage reclaim in JNB either ....poor show. :td:

Nice report, vanilla berry mouse cake looked like a winner!

Thanks for the TR on a route many of us don't get to fly on an airline you don't see many reviews of!

Nice to see a SAA report for a change -Thanks. ^

I've read some reviews in the past regarding the poor standard of their Biz class product as well as their crews. It looks okay but nothing special.
I don't think I would have been too happy having my cabin baggage put in the hold then needing to collect it at baggage reclaim in JNB either ....poor show. :td:


The seat is very good and as a bed it's the most comfortable I've been in (on a plane!) - probably more comfortable than their old F seats. Service I found to be hit-or-miss, not unfriendly but a bit inaccurate or forgetful - but no biggie.

Thanks for the report, RyanG. ^

I use SA very seldom these days but I agree that their seat is very good and amazingly comfortable as a bed. (I would say the best J seat in the skies barring the new SQ one.) Pity that the rest is so mediocre or unpredictable. And the temporary lounge in JNB is just a bad joke! (On my last visit I turned about after one look around,and left to use the BA lounge.) As for your shower experiences... makes me embarrassed for my country. :o

Ryan

Great TR - pity the standards are not consistent , but great to read about airlines and routes that people don't often report on.

Adam

I take SAA pretty regularly in C and they seem pretty consistent to me. Certainly long haul to JNB from LHR or MUC is better than our other options of AF/KL or LH! You are right though - the seat itself makes it worthwhile. They are using older 744's on the regional runs to LAD from JNB these days instead of the A346's that run for about two years....the difference is noticable.

Nice report! I flew SAA C on an A346 from JNB-CPT and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would not hesitate to fly SAA C for a long haul flight.

You may note that Star partner TAM operates GRU-MCO nonstop A330 in 2 classes. This could have been a better option rather than flying AA via MIA.

Rgs,

:) Excellent report. Agree with you and others about the F dinner selection on AA. US airlines have a lot to learn from their European and Asian (and South African) counterparts.

Very jealous at your entire itinerary. When I was 20 my biggest thrill was flying from Minneapolis to Detroit a couple of times/year on a battered Republic Airlines DC-9.

Cheers.

:) Excellent report. Agree with you and others about the F dinner selection on AA. US airlines have a lot to learn from their European and Asian (and South African) counterparts.
Cheers.

Add South American airlines to your list, TAM and LAN are both top quality, excellent airlines.

Rgs,

Add South American airlines to your list, TAM and LAN are both top quality, excellent airlines.

Rgs,

Thanks -- have heard lots of good things about LAN. :)

I've been flying biz class with *A all around the globe and I can say SAA is top-notch.

Nice report mate!

I flew CPT/LHR/CPT in C recently on SA. Must say that the service on both legs was outstanding and (together with similar experiences earlier in the year) it almost seems that the soft product is becoming more reliable ^ (I think most of us agree tha the hard product is top notch anyway). On the return leg (in a 346, which is unusual for this route as it is these days usually served by a 342), the FA consistently adressed myself and Mrs t by name! (of course I had made sure to have seats in the front left hand quadrant of the C cabin (3A/C) where the most senior attendant - purser? - works, identifiable by the red scarf) :D.

The experience with the check-in crew in CPT is another story. Too OT for here, I'll post it in the MEA airlines forum.

As for your shower experiences... makes me embarrassed for my country.Hey, at least he managed to get three showers in the course of a morning, which is something the vast majority of your compatriots can only dream about.

Johan