NZ, Cape Verde, Senegal, South Africa & Mauritius - QF, CX, LX, TP, SA, BA, MU in J
Jan 21, 2017, 5:22 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 223
Part 4: Sal to Dakar
After a lovely wedding, and generally, a great time – it was time to go. I took a taxi back to the airport – arriving about 90 mins before departure.
Luckily there was a priority queue as the standard one was snaking all over the place and looked like it would take forever, with only 2 agents to sort the whole flight.
No lounge, however there were meal vouchers for a refreshment. I didn't end up using it, as I managed a good window seat, so read a book and watched the world go by. I was surprised at how busy the airport was… There were 4 tui 737s on the ground at the same time as our A320.
TAP Portugal TP1546
Airbus A319 (CS-TTC)
Sal Island (SID) -> Lisbon (LIS)
Depart 13:35, Arrive 18:07, Flight Time: 3:32
Boarding began slightly ahead of schedule and due to the number of flights and there been only two busses, we were allowed to walk the 50 metres to the plane in groups.
Business was only half full and again, I ended up with a row to myself. As with the flight down, this aircraft had the older seats – without power, however fortunately I, or more my electronic devices were fully charged.
On take-off, you could really see the dust in the air – which the locals said was coming off the Sahara.
Flight attendants were a little surly, but got the job done, after take-off menus were handed out.
And I got a different coloured amenity tin! Don’t tell me how many there are… otherwise I’ll want them all.
Lunch today was served about 45 mins after take-off and well received, chicken was nice, shrimp okay and the desert excellent. Best meal on TAP so far.
The same couldn’t be said for the guy who was sitting on the other side of the plane. Apparently, he had ordered a special meal, but got the wrong one… the flight attendants apologised profusely, but noted there wasn’t a lot they could do about it, as all the other meals had stuff he didn’t want.
Eventually he got a lot of salad… and was very unhappy!
A few hours later and we were landing in Lisbon, with the sun having just gone down.
Customs was quick and I found myself on the train into the city about 20 mins after getting off the plane, not bad.
Sheraton Lisbon
The Sheraton is right next to the Picoas Subway Station, which makes the train a convenient option. Check in was quick and I got an upgrade – but wasn’t clear on what it was!
Elevators were a bit of a mess with several large groups heading for the bar on the roof, which I suppose could be expected on New Year’s Eve.
After a bit of a wait I made it to the room, which was nice enough, the best part – a safe with a power point inside it… at least my electronics would be powered up for tomorrows flight.
I dumped by bags and headed to the Palace Yard to catch up with some friends and welcome the new year!
So, I set the alarm for 6:45 with the best intentions of getting up, having breakfast and taking the train to the airport. What actually happened was I hit snooze a few times and ended up having to take a quick shower and then a taxi…
Fast track was sans angry airport lady, I scanned my boarding pass and was through. Does what it says on the sticker, it was fast and efficient.
Lounge was the same as my past visit, and only really had carbs for breakfast so I went for a walk in the terminal to find an alternative.
I used the automated exit thingy, as I had entered the EU in Portugal – and it worked as expected, however you still must stop and get your passport stamped – which I’m okay with – as I only have a 5-year passport there is lots of pages to fill.
TAP Portugal TP1483
Airbus A320 (CS-TNX)
Lisbon (LIS) -> Dakar (DKR)
Depart 09:45, Arrive 13:46, Flight Time: 4:02
Boarding began on time and it turns out we were using a bus, which was excellent from a plane spotting perspective!
So, once boarding was complete it was clear I was the only one in business… Yaya! Nothing like the cabin to yourself. This plane had the newer seats – but no power either… the flight attendants said there were only two aircraft in that configuration, and they might be getting an update soon.
The amenity tin on today’s flight was a blue one…
The crew on today’s flight were excellent, drinks offered proactively – even offered to add a little vodka to the orange juice to help recover from last night….
We had a special menu for the flight – and given it was a lunch the crew suggested that it might work better later in the flight.
I asked for the Codfish at around midday and it was great, cooked to perfection. The potatoes were good, but the green stuff not so much. So, I left them.
Drinks were kept topped up.
We got a great look at Dakar on the approach.
And landed on-time making it to the stand a couple of minutes later.
There was a bit of a queue at the border, but it only took maybe 20 minutes to get through.
Dakar
Once of my friends works for a NGO and is based in Dakar, and was kind enough to show me around. It being New Year’s Day – Dakar was a little dead…
Which on the bright side, meant we could cover a lot of ground quickly.
Drove by the president’s place.
Stopped by some shops to pick up some trinkets for gifts…
Took a drive around the coast – looks like the fishermen were also taking a day off.
Stopped by so see the African Renaissance Monument – which needs a little love from the maintenance team… turns out the government has decided not to maintain it!
Radisson Dakar
After a tour of the city and dinner I was dropped off at the Radisson which is a lovely hotel. For the second time of the trip a hotel tried charging the wrong rate – and this time it was almost twice the price!
Fortunately, the front desk team fixed it without any issues.
I got a room on the second floor – which was great, but unlike the rest of the hotel – the room showed some signs of wear and tear – there was mould in the shower and some of the cabinetry wasn’t quite working how its builder would have intended.
But, overall a great hotel – I’d be surprised to find a better one in Dakar.
Luckily there was a priority queue as the standard one was snaking all over the place and looked like it would take forever, with only 2 agents to sort the whole flight.
No lounge, however there were meal vouchers for a refreshment. I didn't end up using it, as I managed a good window seat, so read a book and watched the world go by. I was surprised at how busy the airport was… There were 4 tui 737s on the ground at the same time as our A320.
TAP Portugal TP1546
Airbus A319 (CS-TTC)
Sal Island (SID) -> Lisbon (LIS)
Depart 13:35, Arrive 18:07, Flight Time: 3:32
Boarding began slightly ahead of schedule and due to the number of flights and there been only two busses, we were allowed to walk the 50 metres to the plane in groups.
Business was only half full and again, I ended up with a row to myself. As with the flight down, this aircraft had the older seats – without power, however fortunately I, or more my electronic devices were fully charged.
On take-off, you could really see the dust in the air – which the locals said was coming off the Sahara.
Flight attendants were a little surly, but got the job done, after take-off menus were handed out.
And I got a different coloured amenity tin! Don’t tell me how many there are… otherwise I’ll want them all.
Lunch today was served about 45 mins after take-off and well received, chicken was nice, shrimp okay and the desert excellent. Best meal on TAP so far.
The same couldn’t be said for the guy who was sitting on the other side of the plane. Apparently, he had ordered a special meal, but got the wrong one… the flight attendants apologised profusely, but noted there wasn’t a lot they could do about it, as all the other meals had stuff he didn’t want.
Eventually he got a lot of salad… and was very unhappy!
A few hours later and we were landing in Lisbon, with the sun having just gone down.
Customs was quick and I found myself on the train into the city about 20 mins after getting off the plane, not bad.
Sheraton Lisbon
The Sheraton is right next to the Picoas Subway Station, which makes the train a convenient option. Check in was quick and I got an upgrade – but wasn’t clear on what it was!
Elevators were a bit of a mess with several large groups heading for the bar on the roof, which I suppose could be expected on New Year’s Eve.
After a bit of a wait I made it to the room, which was nice enough, the best part – a safe with a power point inside it… at least my electronics would be powered up for tomorrows flight.
I dumped by bags and headed to the Palace Yard to catch up with some friends and welcome the new year!
So, I set the alarm for 6:45 with the best intentions of getting up, having breakfast and taking the train to the airport. What actually happened was I hit snooze a few times and ended up having to take a quick shower and then a taxi…
Fast track was sans angry airport lady, I scanned my boarding pass and was through. Does what it says on the sticker, it was fast and efficient.
Lounge was the same as my past visit, and only really had carbs for breakfast so I went for a walk in the terminal to find an alternative.
I used the automated exit thingy, as I had entered the EU in Portugal – and it worked as expected, however you still must stop and get your passport stamped – which I’m okay with – as I only have a 5-year passport there is lots of pages to fill.
TAP Portugal TP1483
Airbus A320 (CS-TNX)
Lisbon (LIS) -> Dakar (DKR)
Depart 09:45, Arrive 13:46, Flight Time: 4:02
Boarding began on time and it turns out we were using a bus, which was excellent from a plane spotting perspective!
So, once boarding was complete it was clear I was the only one in business… Yaya! Nothing like the cabin to yourself. This plane had the newer seats – but no power either… the flight attendants said there were only two aircraft in that configuration, and they might be getting an update soon.
The amenity tin on today’s flight was a blue one…
The crew on today’s flight were excellent, drinks offered proactively – even offered to add a little vodka to the orange juice to help recover from last night….
We had a special menu for the flight – and given it was a lunch the crew suggested that it might work better later in the flight.
I asked for the Codfish at around midday and it was great, cooked to perfection. The potatoes were good, but the green stuff not so much. So, I left them.
Drinks were kept topped up.
We got a great look at Dakar on the approach.
And landed on-time making it to the stand a couple of minutes later.
There was a bit of a queue at the border, but it only took maybe 20 minutes to get through.
Dakar
Once of my friends works for a NGO and is based in Dakar, and was kind enough to show me around. It being New Year’s Day – Dakar was a little dead…
Which on the bright side, meant we could cover a lot of ground quickly.
Drove by the president’s place.
Stopped by some shops to pick up some trinkets for gifts…
Took a drive around the coast – looks like the fishermen were also taking a day off.
Stopped by so see the African Renaissance Monument – which needs a little love from the maintenance team… turns out the government has decided not to maintain it!
Radisson Dakar
After a tour of the city and dinner I was dropped off at the Radisson which is a lovely hotel. For the second time of the trip a hotel tried charging the wrong rate – and this time it was almost twice the price!
Fortunately, the front desk team fixed it without any issues.
I got a room on the second floor – which was great, but unlike the rest of the hotel – the room showed some signs of wear and tear – there was mould in the shower and some of the cabinetry wasn’t quite working how its builder would have intended.
But, overall a great hotel – I’d be surprised to find a better one in Dakar.
Jan 21, 2017, 8:14 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LON
Programs: AS MVPG, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 1,350
I'm trying to get on the 350 from HKG to AKL later this year, it looks like a great product. If no space opens up with will have to be a 330 through SYD.
On the ashtrays, I read that they are still included so that pax have a place to put out a cigarette if they are lit - otherwise, they may put them in the trash, sink, or toilet where they could be a hazard.
On the ashtrays, I read that they are still included so that pax have a place to put out a cigarette if they are lit - otherwise, they may put them in the trash, sink, or toilet where they could be a hazard.
Jan 26, 2017, 2:55 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 223
Part 5: Dakar to Jefferys Bay
The Radisson has a complementary airport shuttle and the timing worked out well, so I caught a lift with them. The trip to the airport was about half an hour, with a surprizing amount of traffic to navigate for an early morning trip.
Check in was rapid and a short wait at the border.
Salon Prestige, Dakar
The lounge was, dimly lit… in fact, when I first walked in I wondered if it was closed. There were only a few others there and most importantly, it had a working coffee machine which spat out a pretty good coffee so I was happy.
An attendant came through the lounge about 5 mins before boarding calling for the Johannesburg flight, so I made my way to the gate to find a short business queue, and then a quick drive over to the aircraft.
South African Airways SA208
Airbus A330-200 (ZS-SXW)
Dakar (DKR) -> Johannesburg (JNB)
Depart 06:47, Arrive 17:18, Flight Time: 8:31
Got on board, to find those who were continuing from the states already there, close to a full load in the forward cabin with one empty seat, which was next to me. Score.
South African has a somewhat outdated long haul product, it’s a not quite flat seat and while the leg room is well, generous, it’s starting to show its age. With today’s flight a daytime flight, I guess it doesn’t really matter, but for an overnight flight its less than ideal.
The new aircraft they are getting are coming with a Vantage XL based seat, but refits won’t be happening, so I guess these will be around for the foreseeable future.
An amenity kit, pillow and blanket were waiting on the seat. South Africa seems unable to update their aviation regulations to allow the use of devices in flight mode during take-off and landing, so the crew found themselves explaining multiple times that this is not allowed.
Once all the visible devices had been turned off, we were underway and met with a lovely sunrise as we climbed above Dakar.
Breakfast was served about 45 mins after take-off and started with orange juice.
This was followed by a fruit bowl and muesli, there were other options but no menu – so I’m not 100% what else there was, but this looked pretty good.
The SAA entertainment system is not the best one you will ever encounter, the movie selection is limited, so I found myself watching stuff I’d brought with me. Also, somewhat annoyingly, only some functionally responded to touch, where as for other things you needed the remote.
Going through the amenity kit I found the eyeshade, and thought it looked pretty close to the Cathay one!
Not much more to report, the crew dispensed water bottles and dimmed the lights so that those who wanted to sleep could.
The second meal began about 1:45 out from Johannesburg. First was an appetiser that was handed out to all, along with drinks.
Then it came time for the starters and the flight attended looked exasperated when I didn’t know what I wanted… after making a fuss about hunting in the magazine holder, and coming up empty I think it dawned on him why I might not know, so he sheepishly read out the options. Tasted okay – nothing memorable.
Which was then followed by the main, which was a little dry.
Finally, there was desert and this was memorable. It was really, really good.
The tables were cleared away and soon we found ourselves descending into Johannesburg. Landing was very smooth and luckily there was no queue at border, so it was a very quick trip through to the hotel.
InterContinental Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport
The Intercon at Johannesburg airport is a lovely hotel, in fact it’s the first place I stayed at JNB and never been tempted to try elsewhere. I got a standard room at a slightly exorbitant rate. I asked the concierge how much time to allow for getting through security, however the response was the standard, you must allow 2 hours… which I thought was excessive, so set the alarm for 1.5.
In the end the body clock woke me before the alarm and with little else to do I had a coffee and wondered over to the airport.
South African Airways Domestic Lounge Johannesburg Airport
I really like the lounge here – the best domestic lounge in Africa? Possibly. Plus, I have a thing for large aircraft models.
There are a range of seating options.
A business area.
And breakfast…
Lots of it!
I’d had a coffee in my room, as I don’t have fond memories of the SAA coffee, but, I thought I’d check to see if it’s gotten better… Yeah, no.
Still, nothing like an apron view watching the sun rise. Avgeek heaven.
South African Airways SA401
Boeing 737-800 (ZS-SJN)
Johannesburg (JNB) -> Port Elizabeth (PLZ)
Depart 06:20, Arrive 07:48, Flight Time: 1:29
Boarding started more or less on time, and it was a light load in business, with 3 pax and one pilot.
SAA has a 3-2 layout in their business class which, while not as bad as the 3-3 that many European carries offer, here the middle seats are sold as Business too!
Leg room was very reasonable however, and after stern warnings about using handheld electronics while on the ground, we were on our way.
Breakfast was offered shortly after take-off by a lovely crew. Options of fruit or a hot breakfast, in hindsight, I should have gone with the fruit. I was surprised, however, that although there were multiple juices, orange juice wasn’t one of them.
Soon, we were landing in an overcast and rainy Port Elizabeth.
Avis Port Elizabeth
The rental car agencies are just across the road from the terminal, and with the rand not worth a lot and a good corporate discount I ended up getting a Mercedes C class, was offered a two door or a four door, however with family to cart about, I went with the 4 door. Paper work was fast and efficient and the agent awesome!
It’s an hour drive down to Jeffrys Bay along the N2 which, although a good road, I encountered a jackknifed truck on an onramp and an overturned VW Golf about half way down.
Jefferys was great fun, caught up with my cousins and spent some time at the beach.
Also, did the usual touristy things, including a trip out to Cape St Francis.
I even ended up playing a round of golf with my grandfather’s golf clubs that he played with in Waikanae, NZ!
All in all, an great visit.
Check in was rapid and a short wait at the border.
Salon Prestige, Dakar
The lounge was, dimly lit… in fact, when I first walked in I wondered if it was closed. There were only a few others there and most importantly, it had a working coffee machine which spat out a pretty good coffee so I was happy.
An attendant came through the lounge about 5 mins before boarding calling for the Johannesburg flight, so I made my way to the gate to find a short business queue, and then a quick drive over to the aircraft.
South African Airways SA208
Airbus A330-200 (ZS-SXW)
Dakar (DKR) -> Johannesburg (JNB)
Depart 06:47, Arrive 17:18, Flight Time: 8:31
Got on board, to find those who were continuing from the states already there, close to a full load in the forward cabin with one empty seat, which was next to me. Score.
South African has a somewhat outdated long haul product, it’s a not quite flat seat and while the leg room is well, generous, it’s starting to show its age. With today’s flight a daytime flight, I guess it doesn’t really matter, but for an overnight flight its less than ideal.
The new aircraft they are getting are coming with a Vantage XL based seat, but refits won’t be happening, so I guess these will be around for the foreseeable future.
An amenity kit, pillow and blanket were waiting on the seat. South Africa seems unable to update their aviation regulations to allow the use of devices in flight mode during take-off and landing, so the crew found themselves explaining multiple times that this is not allowed.
Once all the visible devices had been turned off, we were underway and met with a lovely sunrise as we climbed above Dakar.
Breakfast was served about 45 mins after take-off and started with orange juice.
This was followed by a fruit bowl and muesli, there were other options but no menu – so I’m not 100% what else there was, but this looked pretty good.
The SAA entertainment system is not the best one you will ever encounter, the movie selection is limited, so I found myself watching stuff I’d brought with me. Also, somewhat annoyingly, only some functionally responded to touch, where as for other things you needed the remote.
Going through the amenity kit I found the eyeshade, and thought it looked pretty close to the Cathay one!
Not much more to report, the crew dispensed water bottles and dimmed the lights so that those who wanted to sleep could.
The second meal began about 1:45 out from Johannesburg. First was an appetiser that was handed out to all, along with drinks.
Then it came time for the starters and the flight attended looked exasperated when I didn’t know what I wanted… after making a fuss about hunting in the magazine holder, and coming up empty I think it dawned on him why I might not know, so he sheepishly read out the options. Tasted okay – nothing memorable.
Which was then followed by the main, which was a little dry.
Finally, there was desert and this was memorable. It was really, really good.
The tables were cleared away and soon we found ourselves descending into Johannesburg. Landing was very smooth and luckily there was no queue at border, so it was a very quick trip through to the hotel.
InterContinental Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport
The Intercon at Johannesburg airport is a lovely hotel, in fact it’s the first place I stayed at JNB and never been tempted to try elsewhere. I got a standard room at a slightly exorbitant rate. I asked the concierge how much time to allow for getting through security, however the response was the standard, you must allow 2 hours… which I thought was excessive, so set the alarm for 1.5.
In the end the body clock woke me before the alarm and with little else to do I had a coffee and wondered over to the airport.
South African Airways Domestic Lounge Johannesburg Airport
I really like the lounge here – the best domestic lounge in Africa? Possibly. Plus, I have a thing for large aircraft models.
There are a range of seating options.
A business area.
And breakfast…
Lots of it!
I’d had a coffee in my room, as I don’t have fond memories of the SAA coffee, but, I thought I’d check to see if it’s gotten better… Yeah, no.
Still, nothing like an apron view watching the sun rise. Avgeek heaven.
South African Airways SA401
Boeing 737-800 (ZS-SJN)
Johannesburg (JNB) -> Port Elizabeth (PLZ)
Depart 06:20, Arrive 07:48, Flight Time: 1:29
Boarding started more or less on time, and it was a light load in business, with 3 pax and one pilot.
SAA has a 3-2 layout in their business class which, while not as bad as the 3-3 that many European carries offer, here the middle seats are sold as Business too!
Leg room was very reasonable however, and after stern warnings about using handheld electronics while on the ground, we were on our way.
Breakfast was offered shortly after take-off by a lovely crew. Options of fruit or a hot breakfast, in hindsight, I should have gone with the fruit. I was surprised, however, that although there were multiple juices, orange juice wasn’t one of them.
Soon, we were landing in an overcast and rainy Port Elizabeth.
Avis Port Elizabeth
The rental car agencies are just across the road from the terminal, and with the rand not worth a lot and a good corporate discount I ended up getting a Mercedes C class, was offered a two door or a four door, however with family to cart about, I went with the 4 door. Paper work was fast and efficient and the agent awesome!
It’s an hour drive down to Jeffrys Bay along the N2 which, although a good road, I encountered a jackknifed truck on an onramp and an overturned VW Golf about half way down.
Jefferys was great fun, caught up with my cousins and spent some time at the beach.
Also, did the usual touristy things, including a trip out to Cape St Francis.
I even ended up playing a round of golf with my grandfather’s golf clubs that he played with in Waikanae, NZ!
All in all, an great visit.
Jan 26, 2017, 2:56 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 223
I'm trying to get on the 350 from HKG to AKL later this year, it looks like a great product. If no space opens up with will have to be a 330 through SYD.
On the ashtrays, I read that they are still included so that pax have a place to put out a cigarette if they are lit - otherwise, they may put them in the trash, sink, or toilet where they could be a hazard.
On the ashtrays, I read that they are still included so that pax have a place to put out a cigarette if they are lit - otherwise, they may put them in the trash, sink, or toilet where they could be a hazard.
And on the ashtrays - yes I guess that makes sense!
Jan 26, 2017, 3:05 am
#20
Join Date: May 2006
Location: NBO, MEL
Programs: QR Platinum, TK Elite
Posts: 1,355
Jan 28, 2017, 9:19 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bargara Australia
Programs: VA, SQ, IHG, HH,ALL, Europcar
Posts: 1,530
Some people do the standard turkey and all the extras - formal sit down dinner, other people will do a BBQ and eat outside as most of us have out door living areas, others will go to a park or beach or somewhere outdoors like a lake or river.
Many people eat seafood - as seafood is plentiful and fresh, it all depends on who you are and what your family likes to do.
Me I am normally at work - and most years we organise some sort of food, it has varied from meat and salad platters to baked turkey, pork and lamb.
Lots of heavy food if it is a hot day - maybe as high as 45 degrees Celsius means you really want to eat light food, prawns and salad work well.
Lot of our holiday decorations will be reindeer and santas and snow but its just a hand me down from traditions from our early settlers.
Jan 30, 2017, 3:34 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 223
Part 6: Jefferys Bay to Mauritius
After an awesome break, it was time to begin the trip home. I would be stopping in Mauritius, because, well it’s sorta on the way, and I’ve always wanted to go. So, with Air Mauritius offering good fare and a reasonably priced stopover, it would have been silly not to.
The day started early for a quickish drive back to Port Elizabeth. I’d left extra time as it was a weekday, but I didn’t need it and arrived around 7:30.
There was a gas station just next to the airport entrance and dumping the car was simple.
BA’s check-in came in two varieties, bag drop, and club… I’m guessing bag drop is also the place for those who aren’t eligible for the club line? Anyways it was quick, but they weren’t able to print my onward boarding pass – suggesting the automated machines in Johannesburg would be able to.
Bidvest Premier Lounge Port Elizabeth
The Bidvest lounge looks like it serves most of the airlines at PLZ, it’s a simple, but functional place to wait for your plane…
There is food available…
A range of seating options…
And a coffee machine that works, plus a view of the apron. So, I was very much content with the whole thing. I headed off around the stated boarding time, to find it well underway.
British Airways BA6238
Boeing 737-800 (ZS-ZWP)
Port Elizabeth (PLZ) -> Johannesburg (JNB)
Depart 08:43, Arrive 10:19, Flight Time: 1:26
BA, like South African have a 3-2 layout in business for their narrow bodies… The crew were lovely and with a basically empty cabin, very attentive.
Drinks were offered on the ground – orange juice was consumed.
Once we were in the air, breakfast was served, starting with yogurt…
And followed by a bowl of fruit which was fantastic, also available were a couple of hot options. Not much more to report, it was a smooth flight and we arrived alive.
Once we were on the ground, as suggested by the BA check-in staff, I tried my luck with the first automated check-in machine I came across. It dutifully traded a scan of my passport for a boarding pass. Security was quick, passport control – not so much. Ended up waiting about 20 mins, but after no stopping on the way in… I think I came out ahead.
[Rant]
This might be my last trip to South African until they can sort out a reasonable visa application process… As Kiwi, I now need to appear, in person, at the South African embassy in Wellington (3,300 miles from where I live) which per reports may, or may not open when they say they will, don’t do bookings and don’t answer the phone. Oh, and multi entry visas, I don’t think so. Excellent!
[/Rant]
South African Airways International Lounge Johannesburg
I quite like this lounge, while SAA don’t quite have a draw dropping home lounge like some of the newer players out there, it’s well thought out and has a range of areas and options for travellers.
I prefer the seats along the window, and today – it was close to empty, so I had my pick of the lot.
There is a bar, where the bar tender/barista was in great form trying to add something extra to my drink to ‘help pass the time’…
The breakfast spread was out when I arrived and looked nice, however having had breakfast in PLZ and second breakfast on the plane… well, I thought 3rd breakfast might be a little too indulgent…
I skyped the parentals back in NZ and watched the world go by for a couple of hours.
Air Mauritius MK852
Airbus A340-300 (3B-NAU)
Johannesburg (JNB) -> Mauritius (MRU)
Depart 13:36, Arrive 19:34, Flight Time: 3:59
Our ride for today, taking in the sun. Boarding started on time, and the priority queue was strictly enforced, sending those in the wrong line packing…
Soon, I found myself being greeted at the door and escorted to my seat, which doesn’t happen all that often, especially not in business. Drinks were brought around shortly after I got settled in. The business cabin was full and the flight attendants were working hard.
The seats are basically the same as the ones on the SAA A330 that I flew from DKR->JNB, except Air Mauritius have tried to squeeze an extra row of seats in, so instead of being not quite flat, these are angled. With a lot of angle.
It was a bit of a wait at the gate as a couple of passengers decided they didn’t want to go to Mauritius after all and their bags needed to be found. Once that was all sorted, it was a quick taxi, we were underway. The drinks trolley made its way down the aisle about 45 mins after take-off.
The meal begin about an hour after take-off, and the based on the menu, seemed like it could be a bit fancy.
First came the duck liver parfait starter. Not really my thing.
Then, then main – I went with the Chicken which was much better than it looked. The cheeses were to my liking and overall, I thought it was a good meal.
The A340 had an antiquated IFE system, with the content running on a loop, so I watched stuff I’d brought with me and stared out the window.
Soon, the sun was setting and we found ourselves descending towards Port Louis.
Immigration/Customs were a breeze and I found myself at the car rental counters about 15 mins after getting off the plane.
The day started early for a quickish drive back to Port Elizabeth. I’d left extra time as it was a weekday, but I didn’t need it and arrived around 7:30.
There was a gas station just next to the airport entrance and dumping the car was simple.
BA’s check-in came in two varieties, bag drop, and club… I’m guessing bag drop is also the place for those who aren’t eligible for the club line? Anyways it was quick, but they weren’t able to print my onward boarding pass – suggesting the automated machines in Johannesburg would be able to.
Bidvest Premier Lounge Port Elizabeth
The Bidvest lounge looks like it serves most of the airlines at PLZ, it’s a simple, but functional place to wait for your plane…
There is food available…
A range of seating options…
And a coffee machine that works, plus a view of the apron. So, I was very much content with the whole thing. I headed off around the stated boarding time, to find it well underway.
British Airways BA6238
Boeing 737-800 (ZS-ZWP)
Port Elizabeth (PLZ) -> Johannesburg (JNB)
Depart 08:43, Arrive 10:19, Flight Time: 1:26
BA, like South African have a 3-2 layout in business for their narrow bodies… The crew were lovely and with a basically empty cabin, very attentive.
Drinks were offered on the ground – orange juice was consumed.
Once we were in the air, breakfast was served, starting with yogurt…
And followed by a bowl of fruit which was fantastic, also available were a couple of hot options. Not much more to report, it was a smooth flight and we arrived alive.
Once we were on the ground, as suggested by the BA check-in staff, I tried my luck with the first automated check-in machine I came across. It dutifully traded a scan of my passport for a boarding pass. Security was quick, passport control – not so much. Ended up waiting about 20 mins, but after no stopping on the way in… I think I came out ahead.
[Rant]
This might be my last trip to South African until they can sort out a reasonable visa application process… As Kiwi, I now need to appear, in person, at the South African embassy in Wellington (3,300 miles from where I live) which per reports may, or may not open when they say they will, don’t do bookings and don’t answer the phone. Oh, and multi entry visas, I don’t think so. Excellent!
[/Rant]
South African Airways International Lounge Johannesburg
I quite like this lounge, while SAA don’t quite have a draw dropping home lounge like some of the newer players out there, it’s well thought out and has a range of areas and options for travellers.
I prefer the seats along the window, and today – it was close to empty, so I had my pick of the lot.
There is a bar, where the bar tender/barista was in great form trying to add something extra to my drink to ‘help pass the time’…
The breakfast spread was out when I arrived and looked nice, however having had breakfast in PLZ and second breakfast on the plane… well, I thought 3rd breakfast might be a little too indulgent…
I skyped the parentals back in NZ and watched the world go by for a couple of hours.
Air Mauritius MK852
Airbus A340-300 (3B-NAU)
Johannesburg (JNB) -> Mauritius (MRU)
Depart 13:36, Arrive 19:34, Flight Time: 3:59
Our ride for today, taking in the sun. Boarding started on time, and the priority queue was strictly enforced, sending those in the wrong line packing…
Soon, I found myself being greeted at the door and escorted to my seat, which doesn’t happen all that often, especially not in business. Drinks were brought around shortly after I got settled in. The business cabin was full and the flight attendants were working hard.
The seats are basically the same as the ones on the SAA A330 that I flew from DKR->JNB, except Air Mauritius have tried to squeeze an extra row of seats in, so instead of being not quite flat, these are angled. With a lot of angle.
It was a bit of a wait at the gate as a couple of passengers decided they didn’t want to go to Mauritius after all and their bags needed to be found. Once that was all sorted, it was a quick taxi, we were underway. The drinks trolley made its way down the aisle about 45 mins after take-off.
The meal begin about an hour after take-off, and the based on the menu, seemed like it could be a bit fancy.
First came the duck liver parfait starter. Not really my thing.
Then, then main – I went with the Chicken which was much better than it looked. The cheeses were to my liking and overall, I thought it was a good meal.
The A340 had an antiquated IFE system, with the content running on a loop, so I watched stuff I’d brought with me and stared out the window.
Soon, the sun was setting and we found ourselves descending towards Port Louis.
Immigration/Customs were a breeze and I found myself at the car rental counters about 15 mins after getting off the plane.
Jan 31, 2017, 5:48 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: JNB
Programs: Flying Blue, Miles and Smiles, Hhonors, ICHotels
Posts: 1,307
Sp gad that I stumbled upon this TR. ^^
Love the amenity kits from TAP - that made me smile, considering that I had sardines for lunch today, all the way from Portugal.
Love the amenity kits from TAP - that made me smile, considering that I had sardines for lunch today, all the way from Portugal.
Feb 3, 2017, 6:36 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 223
Thanks! They have now been re-purposed for holding all sorts of miscellaneous travel stuff, small change, metro cards and the like.
Feb 4, 2017, 7:10 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 223
Part 7: Mauritius to Perth
So, our usually reliable Avis corporate code didn’t really work in Mauritius, in fact it just moved things from expensive to very expensive… hence, found myself taking a look at alternatives – Sixt was the best priced, I went with them.
I ended up with a Mitsubishi of some variety, picking up the car was simple and soon I found myself on the road towards Pointe aux Piments, the location of the Le Meridien, and my bed for the night. It took about an hour to cross the island, first time driving in Mauritius, at night – roads were a little narrow, but surprisingly, reminded me of driving in the country back in NZ.
Le Meridien Ile Maurice
I arrived at around 9 pm and joined the queue to check-in, one staff member was working while another two were talking, 10 mins later it's my turn… turns out I’m at the wrong desk, it seems I should have lined up at the unattended desk… the one in the corner with a small sign with “Guest Relations” on it.
Hotel manager came out to say hi, which was nice touch, however when I suggested a sign to clarify where to check-in, he clearly didn’t actually care and was just going through the motions… So, it probably would have been better if he'd stayed in his office.
I ended up with a suite, which is not bad for getting a good deal on the cheapest room….
The room had a couch/seating area on one side.
And the bed on the other, there was also two bathrooms, one of which was massive.
As the room was basically two rooms with the middle wall having a couple of holes in it – there were also two doors. This presented a challenge initially – as only one of them works – and it’s not the one with the room number next to it! I felt a bit stupid after I went back to reception – only to find I should have tried the other door… Did feel slightly better about it when the room service folk made the same mistake!
The hotel, as expected, has a series of pools/beaches/activities to keep the guests entertained.
After breakfast, I went for a drive about the island, and was surprised to find how many kite surfers there were about and was tempted to join in – but didn’t really have the time – next trip!
The roads were on the narrow side… After a few hours of driving I found myself back at the Le Meridien, where I went for a swim and just relaxed for a few hours.
I got a late check out at 4pm, however with my flight not until 10 pm I took the scenic route to the airport and stopped for an early dinner on the way.
Arrived at the airport around 6:30, there was a large premium area for check-in and I had my boarding pass in less than 60 seconds. Impressive.
I didn’t quite appreciate what a nice airport it is when I arrived, but now I could see it in the daylight, it really is great. Not massive, but an excellent facility. There was a fast trackish area off to the side of security and customs – again rapid service and I was exploring the gate area a few minutes after returning the rental car. As a bit of a plane spotter, I did enjoy wondering about the terminal and seeing planes from airlines I’d never seen in person before.
Air Mauritius Lounge
The Air Mauritius lounge is off to the side of where you pop out after the mandatory walk through duty free… With a large illuminated sign its well-marked.
When I arrived, the downstairs area was sectioned off – as there weren’t that many people there I guess, and I was directed up the stairs.
The upstairs section has a range of seating options, with a sort of balcony area which has views over the apron, so this was where I found a place to wait.
I had a couple of hours to kill so mainly watched a couple of movies and inspected the eating options, which looked pretty good – and based on how popular they were, must have been.
There are several flights leaving in the late evening together, so the lounge began to fill as more and more people arrived for their flights. I left once boarding for the Perth flight was called, and as I went downstairs, I noticed that section was now open, and looked close to capacity.
Air Mauritius MK440
Airbus A330-300 (3B-NBM)
Mauritius (MRU) -> Perth (PER)
Depart 22:24, Arrive 08:46, Flight Time: 6:23
Our flight to Perth was boarding at the same time as flights to Pairs and London so there was fair amount of activity on the concourse, but a quick scan of the boarding pass as I was aboard. Like the flight from Johannesburg, business on this flight was packed. Not a single empty seat.
The seat on a the A330 is the same as the A340, the major difference was that this aircraft had an IFE system that let you select what you wanted to watch, but more importantly, you could also control when you wanted to watch it…
The crew brought around the menu, and I thought a second dinner looked like a good option, as my first one had been 6 hours ago!
Amenity kits were also delivered along with a pre-departure drink.
It was a short taxi, and soon we were airborne for the last flight of the trip.
Dinner started with drinks and verrines, which were a lot better that they looked.
Next came the starter, which had a lot going on, but was excellent – I ate every last bit!
For the main, I went with the Lamb and wasn’t disappointed – it was fantastic!
There was desert and cheese to come – but, I was getting a little tired so skipped those, got changed in to my PJs (BYO…) and put the seat back for a couple of hours of sleep.
I woke up four or so hours later to find the breakfast carts in the aisles, and myself with a sore leg, which I’m attributing to holding myself in position given the seats steep angle…
Went with the muesli for breakfast, there were hot options to follow, but as I’d only had a second dinner a few hours before I skipped it.
Soon, we were crossing the coastline and I was back to reality…
Landing was smooth, but we had to wait opposite T2 for 5 mins, as according to the Captain there was another aircraft on our bay… when we turned the corner at T1 we found an empty apron from the International side all the way to the Virgin domestic side… Oh well – at least that made the formalities quick and I was in a uber home about 25 mins after landing. 10 of those minutes were spent waiting on the curb as Perth Airport clearly didn’t think though the traffic management side of their latest upgrade and have basically invested in a new bottleneck… Thanks PAPL.
I ended up with a Mitsubishi of some variety, picking up the car was simple and soon I found myself on the road towards Pointe aux Piments, the location of the Le Meridien, and my bed for the night. It took about an hour to cross the island, first time driving in Mauritius, at night – roads were a little narrow, but surprisingly, reminded me of driving in the country back in NZ.
Le Meridien Ile Maurice
I arrived at around 9 pm and joined the queue to check-in, one staff member was working while another two were talking, 10 mins later it's my turn… turns out I’m at the wrong desk, it seems I should have lined up at the unattended desk… the one in the corner with a small sign with “Guest Relations” on it.
Hotel manager came out to say hi, which was nice touch, however when I suggested a sign to clarify where to check-in, he clearly didn’t actually care and was just going through the motions… So, it probably would have been better if he'd stayed in his office.
I ended up with a suite, which is not bad for getting a good deal on the cheapest room….
The room had a couch/seating area on one side.
And the bed on the other, there was also two bathrooms, one of which was massive.
As the room was basically two rooms with the middle wall having a couple of holes in it – there were also two doors. This presented a challenge initially – as only one of them works – and it’s not the one with the room number next to it! I felt a bit stupid after I went back to reception – only to find I should have tried the other door… Did feel slightly better about it when the room service folk made the same mistake!
The hotel, as expected, has a series of pools/beaches/activities to keep the guests entertained.
After breakfast, I went for a drive about the island, and was surprised to find how many kite surfers there were about and was tempted to join in – but didn’t really have the time – next trip!
The roads were on the narrow side… After a few hours of driving I found myself back at the Le Meridien, where I went for a swim and just relaxed for a few hours.
I got a late check out at 4pm, however with my flight not until 10 pm I took the scenic route to the airport and stopped for an early dinner on the way.
Arrived at the airport around 6:30, there was a large premium area for check-in and I had my boarding pass in less than 60 seconds. Impressive.
I didn’t quite appreciate what a nice airport it is when I arrived, but now I could see it in the daylight, it really is great. Not massive, but an excellent facility. There was a fast trackish area off to the side of security and customs – again rapid service and I was exploring the gate area a few minutes after returning the rental car. As a bit of a plane spotter, I did enjoy wondering about the terminal and seeing planes from airlines I’d never seen in person before.
Air Mauritius Lounge
The Air Mauritius lounge is off to the side of where you pop out after the mandatory walk through duty free… With a large illuminated sign its well-marked.
When I arrived, the downstairs area was sectioned off – as there weren’t that many people there I guess, and I was directed up the stairs.
The upstairs section has a range of seating options, with a sort of balcony area which has views over the apron, so this was where I found a place to wait.
I had a couple of hours to kill so mainly watched a couple of movies and inspected the eating options, which looked pretty good – and based on how popular they were, must have been.
There are several flights leaving in the late evening together, so the lounge began to fill as more and more people arrived for their flights. I left once boarding for the Perth flight was called, and as I went downstairs, I noticed that section was now open, and looked close to capacity.
Air Mauritius MK440
Airbus A330-300 (3B-NBM)
Mauritius (MRU) -> Perth (PER)
Depart 22:24, Arrive 08:46, Flight Time: 6:23
Our flight to Perth was boarding at the same time as flights to Pairs and London so there was fair amount of activity on the concourse, but a quick scan of the boarding pass as I was aboard. Like the flight from Johannesburg, business on this flight was packed. Not a single empty seat.
The seat on a the A330 is the same as the A340, the major difference was that this aircraft had an IFE system that let you select what you wanted to watch, but more importantly, you could also control when you wanted to watch it…
The crew brought around the menu, and I thought a second dinner looked like a good option, as my first one had been 6 hours ago!
Amenity kits were also delivered along with a pre-departure drink.
It was a short taxi, and soon we were airborne for the last flight of the trip.
Dinner started with drinks and verrines, which were a lot better that they looked.
Next came the starter, which had a lot going on, but was excellent – I ate every last bit!
For the main, I went with the Lamb and wasn’t disappointed – it was fantastic!
There was desert and cheese to come – but, I was getting a little tired so skipped those, got changed in to my PJs (BYO…) and put the seat back for a couple of hours of sleep.
I woke up four or so hours later to find the breakfast carts in the aisles, and myself with a sore leg, which I’m attributing to holding myself in position given the seats steep angle…
Went with the muesli for breakfast, there were hot options to follow, but as I’d only had a second dinner a few hours before I skipped it.
Soon, we were crossing the coastline and I was back to reality…
Landing was smooth, but we had to wait opposite T2 for 5 mins, as according to the Captain there was another aircraft on our bay… when we turned the corner at T1 we found an empty apron from the International side all the way to the Virgin domestic side… Oh well – at least that made the formalities quick and I was in a uber home about 25 mins after landing. 10 of those minutes were spent waiting on the curb as Perth Airport clearly didn’t think though the traffic management side of their latest upgrade and have basically invested in a new bottleneck… Thanks PAPL.
Feb 4, 2017, 7:11 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 223
Thanks!
Ah, makes sense.
Ah, makes sense.