[QUOTE=serfty;11954059]Realistically, HBA could have been a better alternative option than ADL and certainly PER ... but not by much in relation to MEL:
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Taking the preferred flight path, you are correct, however given the OP states a few hours out of JNB they were down to 2 toilets, it doesnt take einstein to work out there is a high probability of these going OS with all traffic diverted through them (300+ pax on a full flight). 9hr10min to PER, 11hr45min to SYD I am sure with an early adjustment PER could have been met sooner than MEL, with a later adjustment ADL sooner than MEL.