SAA Cycad First Class Lounge JNB
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
SAA Cycad First Class Lounge JNB
Are there any reviews of this lounge anywhere? It seems really nice and would love to see what more information there is. Also, do you know if you get access into this lounge arriving from a LH F flight then connecting on SAA in J?
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Johannesburg
Programs: QRPC Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHg Diamond Amb, Sixt Diamond, Avis Pres, AmexCenturion
Posts: 488
The lounge is very nice, and in my opinion the best lounge at JNB. The reason I like it so much is that its generally very quiet due to strict access policies.
To use the lounge you must be an SAA platinum member, or flying in first on one of only a handful of airlines, LH LX if memory serves me correct. I also heard SAA allows top tier LH members in, although I have written to SAA to ask them if it is true to stop this as LH doesn't allow SAA plat members into their F lounges, reciprocation being key. Dont start me on all *A members who should be blocking SQ members from using their premium cabins.
Back to the lounge it has a lounge area seating about 30 or so people, and then a separate restaurant area. There are meeting rooms, bathrooms (with very nice showers) to the left as you pass reception. The showers have always been available whenever I have passed through.
Food, drink, & snacks are via waiter service and up to a very high standard.
Prawn Soup:
To use the lounge you must be an SAA platinum member, or flying in first on one of only a handful of airlines, LH LX if memory serves me correct. I also heard SAA allows top tier LH members in, although I have written to SAA to ask them if it is true to stop this as LH doesn't allow SAA plat members into their F lounges, reciprocation being key. Dont start me on all *A members who should be blocking SQ members from using their premium cabins.
Back to the lounge it has a lounge area seating about 30 or so people, and then a separate restaurant area. There are meeting rooms, bathrooms (with very nice showers) to the left as you pass reception. The showers have always been available whenever I have passed through.
Food, drink, & snacks are via waiter service and up to a very high standard.
Prawn Soup:
#3
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
Programs: UA GS, DL Plat, Marriott Bonvoy LIfetime Titanium/SPG refugee, Hertz Prez, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,201
I was here this summer as a LH FC passenger and was entirely underwhelmed. 5pm in the afternoon and they had hard, stale donuts out. Getting hot food or a drink required chasing down staff who all seemed to prefer to sit at the front registration desk together and chat. Wifi was very slow and furniture was worn out.
In the future, I would plan to arrive as late as I thought I could get away with and skip this lounge entirely. I feared what the Business Class Lounge must have been like.
In the future, I would plan to arrive as late as I thought I could get away with and skip this lounge entirely. I feared what the Business Class Lounge must have been like.
#5
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: The World! Home Base = DCA/IAD
Programs: HHonors, Hyatt GP, Marriott, Varying Levels w/ UA /AF /DL /SQ /AA
Posts: 2,666
"I also heard SAA allows top tier LH members in..."
They do.
The sign states (and has since HON Circle was introduced even with the old/previous Cycad lounge) "Lufthansa First Class Passengers and Honorary [sic] Circle Members"
They do.
The sign states (and has since HON Circle was introduced even with the old/previous Cycad lounge) "Lufthansa First Class Passengers and Honorary [sic] Circle Members"
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
I actually don't find the SAA business class lounges to be that bad:
- seating is comfortable, though the lounges can get very crowded
- drink selection is decent
- food selection is rather pathetic
- bartenders are generally cheerful while the other staff are hit and miss
#9
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BGI (ex-YYC, YYZ)
Programs: AC*G-E100K (once again)
Posts: 1,701
I actually don't find the SAA business class lounges to be that bad:
- seating is comfortable, though the lounges can get very crowded
- drink selection is decent
- food selection is rather pathetic
- bartenders are generally cheerful while the other staff are hit and miss
The hot food is better than the maple leaf lounge
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
The food offering has indeed improved a lot in the SA JNB J lounge since I made that post over three years ago.
The buffet used to offer very few options, but no there's a separate buffet area with multiple hot dishes that are quite good.
The buffet used to offer very few options, but no there's a separate buffet area with multiple hot dishes that are quite good.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
#13
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
I am more interested if arriving in F grants it [like it does on some other airlines/alliances] or not.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
Then no. Domestic and international terminals are separated. SAA have an arrivals lounge in the international terminal, but I don't believe that LH have paid up for access. The domestic departure lounge will only be treated on departing flight/status.
#15
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
As I'm flying to Namibia, would that be from the international terminal [shows as B]? If so, would that make any difference?
Sorry for the noobs questions, I've been through JNB quite a few times, but mainly on BA and/or SA through tickets.