Originally Posted by
jrobin
As a new QF Platinum going AKL-Malawi on a DONE5, Mrs Jrobin and I have a choice of
AKL-DOH on QR 921 (Airbus A350-1000 according to Expertflyer) and ~ 4hrs (10pm-2am) in Al Mourjan? lounge in DOH, then likely to LUN on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner or
AKL-SYD on QF 140 (Boeing 737), perhaps an hour 8:00-9:00am in the QF International F Lounge, and QF63 SYD-JNB (Boeing 787-9), arriving same day (16 hours earlier than QR) so could have an overnight near JNB at a hotel and start adjusting to time change.
I did SYD-JNB a few weeks back, and would choose that option (and saving lots of time) over the QR option any day of the week. I am not at all a fan of the very open-cabin 787-8 QR seat, and that middle of the night connection and subsequent redeye to LUN is going to be rough. However, if it's your ultimate destination you can also consider adding in overnights to arrive more rested. I'd also overnight in SYD to spare yourself the super early departure from AKL.