Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - 3 hours in JNB after flight from CPT sufficient cushion for international connection?

My wife and I are flying CPT-JNB-FRA-SFO later this November (F award travel, FWIW). We're scheduled to depart CPT at 3:10 p.m. on SA, arrive JNB 5:10 p.m., then depart on LH at 8:10 p.m. I know that normally this would be plenty of time for transit, but I don't know how often and how for long SA flights on the CPT-JNB run can get delayed due to weather or whatever. (I have some rather thrilling memories of running into a hail storm on an afternoon Durban-JNB flight years ago.) Barring some very unusual circumstances, is 3 hours enough of a cushion to make the connection? Or are the CPT-JNB flights frequently delayed? If prudent, we could try to switch to an earlier flight from CPT.

Also, what's the best lounge in JNB for F passengers?

Finally, as long as I'm asking questions, any recommendations re best or worst C class seats for the front end of our trip, when we'll fly LHR to CPT on an SA 346 (unless, of course, SA changes the plane again for that route)? Already got one or two useful answers in response to a previous post, but thought I'd ask again just in case.

My wife and I are flying CPT-JNB-FRA-SFO later this November (F award travel, FWIW). We're scheduled to depart CPT at 3:10 p.m. on SA, arrive JNB 5:10 p.m., then depart on LH at 8:10 p.m. I know that normally this would be plenty of time for transit, but I don't know how often and how for long SA flights on the CPT-JNB run can get delayed due to weather or whatever. (I have some rather thrilling memories of running into a hail storm on an afternoon Durban-JNB flight years ago.) Barring some very unusual circumstances, is 3 hours enough of a cushion to make the connection? Or are the CPT-JNB flights frequently delayed? If prudent, we could try to switch to an earlier flight from CPT.

Also, what's the best lounge in JNB for F passengers?

Finally, as long as I'm asking questions, any recommendations re best or worst C class seats for the front end of our trip, when we'll fly LHR to CPT on an SA 346 (unless, of course, SA changes the plane again for that route)? Already got one or two useful answers in response to a previous post, but thought I'd ask again just in case.

1: 3 hours should be plenty. CPT/JNB flights are not often badly delayed. I would take anything over two hours without worrying.

2: The JNB SAA International F lounge (Cycad lounge) is world class.

3: For a couple: Take row 2 or 3 A/C. The theory is that left front of the cabin has the most senior FA (but 3 H/K is also fine). Avoid row 1 (people sometimes walk into your seat at night coming back from the bathroom). Row 4 tends to be in no-man's land between the front (1-3) and back (5-7) of the C cabin and I have been 'forgotten' in that row. When I travel by myself, I prefer 2 or 3D (or G) as you have no-one climbing over you and you have good aisle access. All my personal preferences, by the way!

Taking what thijsseh said:
1. Absolutely concur.
2. No idea.
3. Mostly agree. The minor caveat is that if you approach CPT directly, i.e. from the north, the HK side of the plane has better views (of Robben Island, Table Mountain etc.)

Taking what thijsseh said:
3. Mostly agree. The minor caveat is that if you approach CPT directly, i.e. from the north, the HK side of the plane has better views (of Robben Island, Table Mountain etc.)

Spoken like a true Capetonian, for whom the South Easter always blows :rolleyes: . I know it ofen does: I live in Blaauwberg!

But IF the wind is NW: there is no Table Mountain or Robben Island view on either side on the False Bay approach so, from a scenic point of view, game theory says Cheetah_SA is right.

(Cheetah_SA, if you want to accuse me of being pedantic, you may and you are probably right in this case ;) ).

(Cheetah_SA, if you want to accuse me of being pedantic, you may and you are probably right in this case ;) ).No worries, mate. Some of my best friends are pedants. ;)

Whether or not anyone's being pedantic, I appreciate the information. Thanks!

In January we managed a 55 minute connection in JNB (CPT-JNB-LHR) with two small kids and still managed to hit the Cycad lounge. We loved rows 2/3 H/K for the view. But also, managed to miss the afternoon thunderstorms, so no weather issues for us.