I flew JNB-SYD a month ago in 1st. The inflight Customer Service Director had just been to a breifing about the 1st class cabin upgrading. They will convert all 747s to suite-type fully flat beds over the latter half of the year and they will have many of the trimmings of the other premium airline 1st class service eg pyjamas!

I beleive that one aircraft is already converted but is used mainly on the JNB-JFK route.

Unless you get the new cabin you'll be stuck with a 5 or 6 channel video-screen, comfortable but standard 1st class seats, very friendly inflight service, an unusual champagne from one of the smaller producers which in my experience has always been very good, some good but I don't think great South African wines and a beautiful menu which reads very well but unfortunately the food doesn't live up to the promise of the menu. Caviar is usually on the menu. If you order the beef dish it comes as it comes which is usually very well done. They said that they couldn't give it rare or medium as it was already cooked and all they do is reheat. Now while I can eat a well done steak (I prefer blood red) well done and reheated usually means tough as leather.

They do have an arrival lounge outside customs/immigration in Capetown which I have never used for 1st class passengers. The best part is their 1st Class departure lounge which is huge, beautifully furnished, has a couple of computers for internet connection, good showers, small rooms with comfortable ergonomic reclining chairs and music systems with headphones and best of all a small sit-down table area with an all day a la carte menu which includes a great crayfish claw salad and a very nice beef tenderloin sandwich. When I couldn't decide between the two they suggeted that I try both! Personally I'd eat well in the lounge because the food is prepared as you order it so much fresher than onboard ( At the risk of bringing on the wrath of the Cathay Pacific afficianados I prefer the SAA 1st class lounge to The Wing in HKG)

Overall its a good experience, they are friendly and try hard but the food is a bit disappointing - come to think of it that probably describes South Africa as well and the food is making noticeable improvements throughout the country so there is hope.