I flew this route in March in First, so will try to answer part of your question.

(I would definitely skip the T4 Terrace Lounges, and I am unsure if the First Lounge has reopened yet. Unless you get in before noon, and can take advantage of the Arrivals Lounge, forget it. Not only are the T4 lounges often overcrowded, but the hastle of transferring terminals should be gotten out of the way as quickly as possible.)

The large BA Executive Lounge (to the left and upstairs in the main lounge centre at T3) will officially accept one guest, maybe two if it is family, and you are oneworld Sapphire or Emerald or BA Gold. (All really depends on how crowded they expect it to get. If you are flying First, I am sure they will accept the extra person.) But the First Lounge in T3 (turn right and down the hall when you enter the lounge centre) is much smaller and nicer in an intimate way. Since it isn't really designed to handle large groups, they might be more restrictive on their guest policy.

As for Cape Town, I am not sure about the International facilities BA has there. I have only flown in Internationally, and out from the Domestic Terminal. There is a small BA/Comair lounge at the south end. I would expect there is a shared First/Executive Lounge for use in the International Terminal much as exists in Johannesburg. There are no arrival showers for sure in CPT, and I didn't notice any in the other BA lounge in JNB either.

Enjoy the flights. It is one of the best indulgences in the world, and for such a long journey, BA's First cannot be beat. (You can always give one of your friends in the back cabin a pair of the pjs you'll get on the overnight flight, or an amenity kit as a sop to having to endure economy.)

Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by Shareholder (edited 05-05-2000).]