Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - south african airways-ok econ?

flying nyc-cpt in february, econ all the way on saa. but thinking of upgrading: worth the extra cost on this very long haul? or will an exit row do the trick?
all comments welcome.
ecb

thats a long flight. I would try to get an upgrade. Not sure which planes they use on that route. If its a 747, then try to get the economy seats upstairs. row 79 is immediately behind the cockpit and has decent leg space, and is very, very quiet as the loos and the galley are in the back. Also, row 84 is the emergency exit with tons of leg room, but people tend to stand here, so I would try to get the window seat (84A or equiv.). Also, in the upstairs window seats you have a big shelf with a storage space on your side. If you're on the airbus, then try to get the emergency exit seats (can't remember the seat number).

thats a long flight. I would try to get an upgrade. Not sure which planes they use on that route. If its a 747, then try to get the economy seats upstairs. row 79 is immediately behind the cockpit and has decent leg space, and is very, very quiet as the loos and the galley are in the back. Also, row 84 is the emergency exit with tons of leg room, but people tend to stand here, so I would try to get the window seat (84A or equiv.). Also, in the upstairs window seats you have a big shelf with a storage space on your side. If you're on the airbus, then try to get the emergency exit seats (can't remember the seat number).

Probably too late but SA economy is very good. Particularly on the upper deck of the 744 they fly from Dulles. I flew all the way from LA and the flight on SAA was way ahead than the flight on United from LAX-IAD! that said I am using miles to upgrade my next trip in July to business which is very very nice!

Yes, I agree SA economy is very good. for the money of the upgrade I would buy a good bottle wine. Only buy C or F when they have beds.

Yes, I agree SA economy is very good. for the money of the upgrade I would buy a good bottle wine. Only buy C or F when they have beds.
Well obviously I am drinking at the bottom of the wine list! Don't know what the upgrade would cost you but C is infinitely more pleasant on a long haul like JFK-JNB. It may not be beds but it is hugely spacious.

I'll remain silent on this entire topic, because I'm so classy. :)

Will

Upstairs is good - but they tend to bump non-voyager members from these seats regularly. Donwstairs in Y is not good. Business on the 747: The seats are good enough for sleep but the food (portion size) and servcie is not very good.

If they use a 346 on that route (which they seem to do these days), C is fantastic (award winning flat beds), so if you have the miles an upgrade (if you can get one) is certainly worth it!
If you are in Y on a 346, the emergency exit seats (I think it is row 43, but not sure - look on flysaa.com) are very nice with lots of legroom (and not near the galley or the toilets!).

thats a long flight. I would try to get an upgrade. Not sure which planes they use on that route. If its a 747, then try to get the economy seats upstairs. row 79 is immediately behind the cockpit and has decent leg space, and is very, very quiet as the loos and the galley are in the back. Also, row 84 is the emergency exit with tons of leg room, but people tend to stand here, so I would try to get the window seat (84A or equiv.). Also, in the upstairs window seats you have a big shelf with a storage space on your side. If you're on the airbus, then try to get the emergency exit seats (can't remember the seat number).

That is great news! My new wife and I are assigned seats 79A&B, from IAD to JNB and back 79J&K. Does anyone know if the armrest in these seats go up? Also, is there a power port to plug in a laptop in econ? Seat guru does not address SAA planes. Thanks!

Make sure you check in early and don't let them bump you from these seats. Hold firm and you should be OK.

Armrests don't go up, as your meal tray is in the arms. Pretty sure there's not a power plug in economy.

Thanks for the response. That's too bad about the armrests.

Thanks for the response. That's too bad about the armrests.

its still worth sitting up there. My wife often takes the window seat, and she is able to stretch out her legs on the storage compartment by the window.

On the Airbus - avoid Econ seats at all costs. I'm not tall - 5'11" and am jammed into an SA Econ seat (both knees and width-wise). God help you if the person in front of you reclines. My wife (smaller than me) and I have been forced back there a couple of times and always vow NEVER again (of course, coming across 240,000 ff miles every 6-8 months for two business class seats isn't that easy).

On the 747s - Econ generally OK and I echo the earlier comments to get upstairs. When forced to go Econ (see above), we look for a 747 flight.

Of course, opinions vary widely but I can recommend SA's business class (either type of plane) for space (although the seats in both planes in full lie flat seem a bit lumpy - just a perception, not necessarily reality).

I have found service in both classes varies wildly. Some crews or individual staff seem wildly acommodating, friendly, etc. Others are 180 degrees opposite. Can't figure it out.

If you're looking for great food on SA business class, you won't find it. It's edible, but as I have said before, you're in a metal tube flying at 50K+ feet for more than a dozen hours, don't expect much. Perhaps my comment re: service variations explains some it. It is not Singapore Airlines, I can assure you.

No powerports in Econ seats on 747s or Airbus. Powerports in business.

One last thing on exit rows - with a caveat. I have always booked mileage based tickets on SA using DL Skymiles with DL booking the ticket. DL assigns seats and tells me to call SA for seat changes / meal requests. I call SA's US call center and they tell me they don't assign exit row except at the airport. I show up hours early (at SA JFK, IAD and ATL counter) for the flight, all exit rows gone. Maybe I'm just a schmo! That said, if you can snare em it beats "normal" econ seats on both the 747 and Airbus (of course, slightly narrower seats - tray table in armrest).

On the Airbus - avoid Econ seats at all costs. I'm not tall - 5'11" and am jammed into an SA Econ seat (both knees and width-wise). God help you if the person in front of you reclines. My wife (smaller than me) and I have been forced back there a couple of times and always vow NEVER again (of course, coming across 240,000 ff miles every 6-8 months for two business class seats isn't that easy).

On the 747s - Econ generally OK and I echo the earlier comments to get upstairs. When forced to go Econ (see above), we look for a 747 flight.

Of course, opinions vary widely but I can recommend SA's business class (either type of plane) for space (although the seats in both planes in full lie flat seem a bit lumpy - just a perception, not necessarily reality).

I have found service in both classes varies wildly. Some crews or individual staff seem wildly acommodating, friendly, etc. Others are 180 degrees opposite. Can't figure it out.

If you're looking for great food on SA business class, you won't find it. It's edible, but as I have said before, you're in a metal tube flying at 50K+ feet for more than a dozen hours, don't expect much. Perhaps my comment re: service variations explains some it. It is not Singapore Airlines, I can assure you.

No powerports in Econ seats on 747s or Airbus. Powerports in business.

One last thing on exit rows - with a caveat. I have always booked mileage based tickets on SA using DL Skymiles with DL booking the ticket. DL assigns seats and tells me to call SA for seat changes / meal requests. I call SA's US call center and they tell me they don't assign exit row except at the airport. I show up hours early (at SA JFK, IAD and ATL counter) for the flight, all exit rows gone. Maybe I'm just a schmo! That said, if you can snare em it beats "normal" econ seats on both the 747 and Airbus (of course, slightly narrower seats - tray table in armrest).


I believe they have now finished the 'legroom improvement programme' on the 346 and 343 in Y. The pitch is now supposedly 33" from 31" previously, which would make it better than any of the competition on the SA / Europe or SA / USA routes. Have not tried it yet, just from the seat plan (in the new printed timetable). Am travelling in June to LHR on a 346, but managed to get upgrades with Voyager miles. :cool: Would be interested to hear if anyone has experience with the improved leg room!

I believe they have now finished the 'legroom improvement programme' on the 346 and 343 in Y. The pitch is now supposedly 33" from 31" previously, which would make it better than any of the competition on the SA / Europe or SA / USA routes. Have not tried it yet, just from the seat plan (in the new printed timetable). Am travelling in June to LHR on a 346, but managed to get upgrades with Voyager miles. :cool: Would be interested to hear if anyone has experience with the improved leg room!
Some friends got back from SA yesterday and were on the JNB to ATL flight on a 346. One is a FA and said they were the most comfortable coach seats he'd ever been in. He said the pitch was not great, but the seat slides forward as you recline. This is good to hear as the old Y seats were awful.

its still worth sitting up there. My wife often takes the window seat, and she is able to stretch out her legs on the storage compartment by the window.


I always get the upper cabin window seat. It is a little awkward if you only have your seat to stretch legs out. If the middle seat is open, it is very feasible to sleep on ones back or side with legs curled over or around the window armrest.

A warning on the upper cabin. I have found that it is either child-free or like a flying creche.

I am not a Voyager member (UA MP 1P) and I have never been bumped from the upper deck if I have called the SAA number in the US to request a seat after booking with UA...

I always get the upper cabin window seat. It is a little awkward if you only have your seat to stretch legs out. If the middle seat is open, it is very feasible to sleep on ones back or side with legs curled over or around the window armrest.

A warning on the upper cabin. I have found that it is either child-free or like a flying creche.

I am not a Voyager member (UA MP 1P) and I have never been bumped from the upper deck if I have called the SAA number in the US to request a seat after booking with UA...

FYI SAA is eliminating the 747 on all flights to the US and replacing with the Airbus which is only one level. I believe they are meant to do this with the termination of flights to ATL and introduction of daily flights to Washington July 1