Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - SAA IAD-JNB in C

Just got back from a trip to SA. Great flights with SAA. I used Voyager miles to upgrade to C and it was the best use of miles. One of the first flights out of DC to use the new Airbus. All of my previous flights have been on the 744. After arriving on United from LAX we checked in and made our way to the Virgin Clubhouse that is right next to gate B32. Decent lounge although nothing to write home about-especially compared with the Virgin Clubhouse at LHR or the SAA lounges in SA. They had a few snacks and drinks and also had a good selection of movies you could borrow and watch. My daughter enjoyed the various Disney cartoons. Soon the lounge staff made an announcement that SA 208 to Dakar and Johannesburg was ready for boarding. The gate was busy but they had a separate line for business and voyager elite members. Made our way on board and were escorted to our seats (2A and C). First impression was the great amount of space and also how pleasant the cabin felt. A flight attendant came around with a choice of juice, water or sparkling wine and before long we were ready to leave humid DC. The airbus has this great feature where you can watch the plane depart via a camera mounted from the tail.
After take off the flight attendants came around with the menus for the entire journey (lunch 1 hour out of DC, light snack before arriving in Dakar, dinner leaving Dakar and breakfast before arriving at Jan Smuts Airport). Food was all good. Wines were exceptional and inflight entertainment was decent. Nice choice of new release movies that can be stopped and started at any time. I slept for about 2 hours on the 8.5 hours to Dakar and then about 6 hours after we left Dakar (DKR-JNB is around 7.5 hours). Arrival into JNB was easy. No wait at immigration and bags were off in about 10 mins. WE made our way to the domestic terminal and the very pleasant Baobab SAA lounge for about an hour before our flight to CPT. The amazing thing about JNB and other airports in SA is how they are about 100% better than any US airport in every way. Decent shops, clean, organized, delays are announced even if they are only 5 mins.
Seat/bed was exceptional and I slept the best I have ever done on a plane. Far better than ANZ, BA, Virgin and we wont even discuss the US airlines.
Return from JNB was also great. Plane arrived 45 mins early into Dulles and the immigration/customs people werent there so we had to wait at the gate for about 30 mins which is just what you need after an 18 hour flight! What a joke for an "international" airport. Welcome to America! The journey got progressively worse after we left the friendly SAA people and were brought sharply back to reality by United's service to LAX. I'm going back to Cape Town in September to see my fiancee. Cant wait.

Cant wait.To see your fiancee or to fly SAA? ;)

I concur with you regarding SAA's business class on the 346/343, but you must have had a lucky day at JNB!

SmilingBoy.

Any chance you could post the menu for this flight?? I'm sure there are quite a few menu mavens like me out there! Cheers and many thanks!

Thanks for the report!

SAA's C class seats really are wonderful.

On Friday, I'm doing my first IAD-JNB flight(in C, thank God! :)), and I greatly appreciated your report. I had wondered whether SAA still used the VS Clubhouse at IAD, or whether they had switched to a Star Alliance partner lounge. Thanks for the update!

By any chance, was your flight late arriving at JNB? I've been checking SA208's arrival status on SAA's website nearly every day for the past 2 weeks, and I notice that the flight is at least 30 minutes late nearly every day (somedays it's almost an hour late). I have 110 minutes to make a connection to DUR, and SA208's performance leaves me wondering if I'll make it in time, or have to wait another hour for the next flight to DUR.


Best regards,
Umhlanga

Thanks for the responses:
Umhlanga-you should be fine with the connection. We were on time, but had to catch a bus from a remote parking spot to the terminal. Had a 2 hour connection to Cape Town and were in the domestic lounge for about 45 mins.
Another piece of information that be helpful: the Airbus accepts US plugs in the seat. I had a question about this before the trip and the SAA website suggests that only european plugs work. Not the case.
Sorry I dont have the menu. Best meal was upon leaving JNB-great ostrich. I think out of DC we had steak which was ok. And then duck with orages out of Dakar which was great. Breakfast was good. I just had cereal though.
Re my trip in September. SAA will be nice but seeing my fiancee in Cape Town will be even better! This should be my last trip as I am moving to Cape Town end of the year!

Soon the lounge staff made an announcement that SA 208 to Dakar and Johannesburg was ready for boarding. The gate was busy but they had a separate line for business and voyager elite members.

Tim, I just remembered this part of your report. Never having flown out of that part of IAD's B Concourse, I was wondering: Is there a separate jetway at the gate for the front of the plane? Or do the gate agents just elbow the Y passengers aside so those of us in C can board?


Best regards,
Umhlanga

Tim, thank you for this. I will be taking this flight next year. When you said the seats/beds were better than Virgin's were you comparing them to the Virgin suites? Because those are my favs and I thought these were modeled on those. I like the high walls, the privacy.

Were the rest of the business class passengers also trying to sleep both legs of that flight (wondering how quiet it was)? How long is the stop in Dakar? Do they spray the plane?

Lucky you that you get to live in Cape Town! :)

Tim, thank you for this. I will be taking this flight next year. When you said the seats/beds were better than Virgin's were you comparing them to the Virgin suites? Because those are my favs and I thought these were modeled on those. I like the high walls, the privacy.

Were the rest of the business class passengers also trying to sleep both legs of that flight (wondering how quiet it was)? How long is the stop in Dakar? Do they spray the plane?

Lucky you that you get to live in Cape Town! :)

Yes they were the suites and I have also taken ANZ LHR-LAX and they have the sames suites as Virgin. Whilst the virgin suite is good in the flat position I didnt really find it particularly comfortable sitting up. I also prefer the SAA seat as it faces forward rather than facing the aisle. The cabin crew were way more professional than Virgin and I think the food was better.
Cabin was very quiet. Most pax slept the last couple of hours into Dakar and then all the way to JNB. The stopover in dakar was an hour and it was nice to breathe some fresh air from the door of the plane. I believe they did spray the cabin after we left Dakar although Im not 100% sure
Im very excited to be moving to Cape Town!
Umhlanga-sorry I didnt get back to you regarding the gate at IAD. There is only one entrance to the plane although they do have a separate line for business passengers. Looking forward to a trip report when you get back!

I am on the IAD/JNB flight September 7. When they stop in Dakar are pax required to stay on board the aircraft?


Thanks in advance for your reply.

Cheers!

When they stop in Dakar are pax required to stay on board the aircraft?




Yes, you are.

I am on the IAD/JNB flight September 7. When they stop in Dakar are pax required to stay on board the aircraft?


Thanks in advance for your reply.

Cheers!

Also, you may be required to remove your bag(s) from the overhead compartment and hold it/them on your lap(s) in Dakar until all bins have been cleared and checked. Empty passenger seats may be torn apart ( multiple times, unless you can convince them someone already did it).

P.S. Suggest skipping the chicken sandwich snack. Noticed quite a lot of them returned to the FA with one bite taken... including mine.

And where does SAA get those cute little 200ml coke cans? And, uh... why do they serve them on an 16+ hour flight? :rolleyes:

Thank you for the replies. I'm definitely looking forward to the flights. I've flown SAA on the LHR/JNB and CPT/LHR route once before and was in the upper deck where service was fantastic. Looking forward to the A340-600 service.

I won't be concerned about the chicken sandwiches as I am vegetarian. Yes - those wee coke cans are cute and the 'tizer juice drinks are great but I am spending this entire year drinking water only. Crazy I know - but a good challenge.

Cheers all!

:)

Do Star Gold pax still have admittance to the VS Clubhouse in JNB? Is it located near the SA gates? Will be on a domestic JNB-CPT flight and would like to use it.

Do Star Gold pax still have admittance to the VS Clubhouse in JNB? Is it located near the SA gates? Will be on a domestic JNB-CPT flight and would like to use it.I must be missing something but I can't imagine why they ever did.:confused: The SA Baobab lounge is the designated *Gold lounge, I believe. And anyway for your purposes it doesn't matter as the Virgin Clubhouse is in the international terminal not the domestic one.

If the SAA business class seats (on the iad-jnb) face forward, do they still have the "high" walls of the Virgin suites? Do they have that foot cushion where you can store your carryon bag? I will have a camera that I don't like to put in the overhead.

Some months have passed since the early posts in this thread. Is the Business class lounge still Virgin's? We're also flying domestically in coach several times during this three week period (jnb-Dar-jnb, jnb-windhoek) - what would the cost be to have a temporary pass to the lounge?

If the SAA business class seats (on the iad-jnb) face forward, do they still have the "high" walls of the Virgin suites? Do they have that foot cushion where you can store your carryon bag? I will have a camera that I don't like to put in the overhead.The configuration is totally different - straightforward 2-2-2, no herringbone layout. The seats (http://ww2.flysaa.com/en/en_content_frameset.html?contents=/in_flight_information/Lounges_Cabins/za_lounges_cabins_intro_content.html)have a hard shell but not the massive separating "walls" of the Virgin suites. There is a small dividing panel that you can pull out for a bit of extra privacy. There is no ottoman. But there is a cubby hole at the bottom of the seat in front of you (so not in bulkhead seats) big enough to store your shoes and a few knicknacks.

Some months have passed since the early posts in this thread. Is the Business class lounge still Virgin's? We're also flying domestically in coach several times during this three week period (jnb-Dar-jnb, jnb-windhoek) - what would the cost be to have a temporary pass to the lounge?Dunno about the IAD lounge. Haven't heard that you can buy lounge access in SA lounges. If you have a Diners card you can use the Premier Club lounges at JNB including the arrivals lounge. Priority Pass membership gets you into those plus lounges at DAR and WDH.

Each time Ive been in an SA lounge at both JNB and CPT, there have been captains and first officers there roaming the lounge enjoying snacks or sitting with their families. It's nice to have them there, but does SA allow crewmembers to use lounges (because other airlines dont), what a nice perk for them!

Each time Ive been in an SA lounge at both JNB and CPT, there have been captains and first officers there roaming the lounge enjoying snacks or sitting with their families. It's nice to have them there, but does SA allow crewmembers to use lounges (because other airlines dont), what a nice perk for them!Yes SA let flight deck crew use lounges. They even get to use the F lounges where available. I'm ambivalent about it since they take up space in what can be quite small and crowded facilities. But they are seldom there for very long periods.

(because other airlines dont),

I have seen LX flight crew in lounges as well.