Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: FL35
Programs: DL DM, AS MVPG, AA EXP, UA 1K, Bonvoy Plat, Hyatt Globalist, HH Gold, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Natl EE
Posts: 433
Go CX or Emirates & Avoid KLM, AF, BA, and DL
I've done KLM, AF, and DL on different trips in J and Y.
KLMs J is pretty old, but tolerable. Y on some of these planes is terrible - I was on a 777 to JNB that I swear had no personal overhead air vents. They do go to CPT which is nice (I have not done that flight).
The AF J is their angled lie flat & people are divided on it. I think it is decent, but you slide down while sleeping. Have not flown them in Y so I can't say. You can get an A380 out of CDG to JNB if you've not been on one before for novelty.
DL J is the standard 777 lie-flat product which is good for a US carrier, but J award tickets on DL metal to JNB at the low mileage level required for partner AS redemption will be basically impossible to find. I see only a handful a year and they only open up a few days out before travel - Y award availability is only marginally better. As far as travel, Y on this is surprisingly ok (or maybe I didn't know any better at the time?) esp if you can get exit rows. It is also the 4th longest commercial flight which is nice for your bucket list.
Everyone else is right about BA - taxes on awards are nuts for Y and even higher for J or F though the relative value is better. I don't book rewards on them on principle of getting value from my miles. They do have the most destinations served in SA though. BA first is wicked from what friends of mine say & you can also do 744 which is fun. It will cost you $1100-1500/ticket in YQ & taxes though last time I looked.
I agree with other posters - CX or Emirates both sound like world class experiences - even if CX takes longer. Plus you don't want to go to SA for anything less than 2 weeks. I recommend 3-4 if possible. It goes too fast. I plan on doing my next trip to Africa on Emirates since they allow stopovers in UAE for an extra country on my list.
As other mentioned the CX HKG-JNB service is changing/ramping down sometime this year - don't recall exact details. If you can't do either of those, I'd say AF, then KLM in order of preference. DL is just not going to happen in J or likely even in Y.