Hoping/planning to use miles to get two F or C tix for my wife and me to go from San Francisco to Cape Town and the Western Cape in South Africa in about a year or so. Any advice on the best routing in terms of the quality of airline, seats, whatever? The two main options seem to be on South African Air through JFK or IAD, or on UA/LH or just LH through Frankfurt. I'm posting because I figure more UA FFers have done this route than those of either other airline.

I've flown on LH once in C and once in F internationally, so have some impressions of it, but the only time I flew South African Air was nearly a decade ago.

Any suggestions?

I'd also welcome any thoughts on the best month to go, starting in November and running through March.

Thanks!