Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - SA questions....

Have made bookings for a friend to travel ABQ-ORD-LHR (UA) connecting to SA235 to JNB and then SA 1701 to WVB... (all in Y....:eek:.. but at least he gets E+ on UA))

After his overland travel he will fly LVI-JNB (SA49) connecting to SA236 back to LHR and on with UA to the USA to meet up with me in PDX... (arriving 43 minutes apart which I think is pretty neat given he originates in LVI and I start in CBR!)

The only way I could book this all at once was on XP (and I have not had any bad experiences with them so fingers crossed again:D)

.. but a few questions have ocurred to me...

According to the SA website those two flights are "always" operated by the 340-600... which is why I chose them.... and XP let me select 73D on both those long flights... for my slim but tall buddy...:D

I am unable to access the reservation on the SA website... SO.. anyone care to estimate how likely it is that he will retain that seat? ;)

Second question... Having read the thread about JNB... any advice about his transfer from 235 to 1701??

DUMB one.... Flying to WVB counts as international.. right? Sorry.. told ya it was dumb!

Thanks in advance!!

I don't think the information that that flight is ALWAYS operated with an A346 is reliable. Currently (I checked a few dates this month) SA 236 will be operated with an A342 (according to the *A electronic - downloadable timetable, which I find usually reliable).
Even if the flight he is on is operated with a 346 at the moment, there is a possibility that this will change, but in my experience that possibility is not all that great (not nearly as much as appears to be the case with some Asian carriers, according to what I read on FT).
If you have got 73D for him (^ probably the best Y seat apart from row 45!) and if the equipment does not change, I think that the probability of retaining that seat is very good, SA does not seem to change seat allocations very often. If it changes to a 343, you need 75D, if it becomes a 342 you are out of luck for that 'type' of seat as there does not appear to be a lower deck crew rest.
As always YMMV etc etc so don't shoot me down if you have a different experience!

Never! Big thanks for the advice actually..^ ( I am well aware that the most experienced folks in certain fields must still say.... YMMV!! :D)

Yup... nothing is guaranteed which is why I used the inverted commas... but it seems from the website that those two (as opposed to 237 IIRC) are at least slated to be the 600 on the dates in question... rather than the dreaded "EQV"!!

I'll just keep my fingers crossed... AND run away to check out row 45....hadn't noticed that'un....:D

WOW... no bulkhead at row 45!! Interesting....