Airline advice for New York to Dar es Salaam?
Jun 12, 2018, 11:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 13
Airline advice for New York to Dar es Salaam?
Apologies if this is duplicative, I did not see this in any recent topic. I am starting my planning for a 2019 safari, and I am inquiring about any guidance/advice on which airline to book for a NY-area airport to Dar es Salaam. I know this is a broad question, but I have been overwhelmed in my initial research by all the options, and was hoping to rely on some kind expertise and/or good experiences people have had.
Ideally we would travel Premium Economy, for all the logical reasons given how darn long the flights add up to be. Unfortunately, I can't see us affording anything above that.
Many thanks for any insight!
Ideally we would travel Premium Economy, for all the logical reasons given how darn long the flights add up to be. Unfortunately, I can't see us affording anything above that.
Many thanks for any insight!
Jun 13, 2018, 3:13 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,866
im not in NY, so cant help you on that part.
most safari operators are based in Arusha and start a pick up at arusha airport or kilimanjaro airport (another 50km away)
atleast a few carriers fly longhaul to kilimanjaro, such as KLM and Turkish. if you do not care for Dar es Salaam, then fly directly to these airports and skip the hassle of transiting through DAR... which depending on landing time might even involve an overnight
most safari operators are based in Arusha and start a pick up at arusha airport or kilimanjaro airport (another 50km away)
atleast a few carriers fly longhaul to kilimanjaro, such as KLM and Turkish. if you do not care for Dar es Salaam, then fly directly to these airports and skip the hassle of transiting through DAR... which depending on landing time might even involve an overnight
Jun 13, 2018, 10:45 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,636
None of the international airlines serving DAR offer true premium economy (although KLM does have economy plus)
If you can't face the full trip in economy then an overnight stop in Amsterdam or Zurich would break the journey nicely into two 7-8 hour flights
If you can't face the full trip in economy then an overnight stop in Amsterdam or Zurich would break the journey nicely into two 7-8 hour flights
Jun 14, 2018, 2:01 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Personally I would fly into Nairobi. The flights are generally cheaper because of competition and there is PE on BA and AF, etc. AF flies the new 787 and BA has a trusty old 747. LX and LH also fly there as well as all the Gulf carriers. From there I would rent a car or find some transport for the 4 hour drive to Arusha. See the countryside a bit!
And I agree about spending a day or two in the transit city. Your body will thank you. Find some time to visit Nairobi or have a DIY day at Nakuru.
And I agree about spending a day or two in the transit city. Your body will thank you. Find some time to visit Nairobi or have a DIY day at Nakuru.
Jun 14, 2018, 7:35 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Personally I would fly into Nairobi. The flights are generally cheaper because of competition and there is PE on BA and AF, etc. AF flies the new 787 and BA has a trusty old 747. LX and LH also fly there as well as all the Gulf carriers. From there I would rent a car or find some transport for the 4 hour drive to Arusha. See the countryside a bit!
And I agree about spending a day or two in the transit city. Your body will thank you. Find some time to visit Nairobi or have a DIY day at Nakuru.
And I agree about spending a day or two in the transit city. Your body will thank you. Find some time to visit Nairobi or have a DIY day at Nakuru.
Jun 16, 2018, 2:47 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: DXB
Programs: TK Elite Plus
Posts: 413
For safari you'd probably be best off flying to Kilimanjaro Airport. That's what I'd have done. KL, TK, ET and probably others fly there to. If you fly to Nairobi you have to deal with border crossings etc, and all the best parks are on the Tanzanian side of the border anyway.
If you fly to Dar, be aware that traffic to/from the airport can be horrible in the daytime. Rush hour in Dar es Salaam can easily mean 1-2 hours in traffic.
If you fly to Dar, be aware that traffic to/from the airport can be horrible in the daytime. Rush hour in Dar es Salaam can easily mean 1-2 hours in traffic.
Jun 18, 2018, 7:44 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 288
Apologies if this is duplicative, I did not see this in any recent topic. I am starting my planning for a 2019 safari, and I am inquiring about any guidance/advice on which airline to book for a NY-area airport to Dar es Salaam. I know this is a broad question, but I have been overwhelmed in my initial research by all the options, and was hoping to rely on some kind expertise and/or good experiences people have had.
Ideally we would travel Premium Economy, for all the logical reasons given how darn long the flights add up to be. Unfortunately, I can't see us affording anything above that.
Many thanks for any insight!
Ideally we would travel Premium Economy, for all the logical reasons given how darn long the flights add up to be. Unfortunately, I can't see us affording anything above that.
Many thanks for any insight!
Jun 19, 2018, 6:33 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: DAR / CDG
Programs: A3 Gold; FB Gold; Hertz Gold
Posts: 54
As noted by others, there are no true PE options to Tanzania. Assuming, then, that you're travelling in Y here are my thoughts based on years of living here:
LX (DAR)
Regards
LX (DAR)
- Decent reliable product, good connection times.
- Good arrival / departure times in Tanzania (late evening). Will require overnight in Dar if immediately travelling to elsewhere in the country.
- Good lounges in ZRH if you have access to them.
- Decent reliable product, good connection times, ok lounge in AMS.
- Good arrival / departure times in Tanzania (late evening), travel directly to Arusha if your trip begins / ends there.
- Beware that they fly the 777 on the route on some days (vs. an A330 on others), with 3-4-3 seating in Y
- Decent reliable product, good lounge in IST, but narrow-body 737 on the IST-Tanzania leg.
- The Y cabin on the Africa-bound 739s are pretty comfortable, but it can still feel more constrained than a wide-body.
- Arrival / departure times in Tanzania are pretty terrible, i.e. 3-5am.
- Average product, somewhat hectic connection process in Addis.
- Bad arrival / departure times in Dar (3-5am) for flights connecting from North America.
- Y service onboard not great.
- Seat-blocking for Star Gold members means a much higher chance of a free seat next to you. Generally lower load factors in my experience as well.
- Great soft product, decent connection times, great lounge in DXB
- Good arrival time in Dar (mid-afternoon) allows same-day connection to other destinations in Tanzania.
- Hard product not great on leg to Dar, 777 in 3-4-3 configuration
- Great soft product, good connection times. great lounge in DXB
- Good arrival time in Dar (mid-afternoon) allows same-day connection to other destinations in Tanzania.
- Narrow-body on DOH-Tanzania leg can feel more cramped.
- Ok soft product, ok connection times, good lounge in AUH.
- Good arrival time in Dar (mid-afternoon) allows same-day connection to other destinations in Tanzania.
- Code-share with Precision Air allows through-ticketing to JRO / ZNZ / elsewhere from the US.
- Narrow-body on DOH-Tanzania leg can feel more cramped.
Regards
Jun 23, 2018, 7:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: ShebaMiles Blue, Skywards Blue
Posts: 42
As noted by others, there are no true PE options to Tanzania. Assuming, then, that you're travelling in Y here are my thoughts based on years of living here:
ET (DAR, JRO, or ZNZ)
Regards
ET (DAR, JRO, or ZNZ)
- Average product, somewhat hectic connection process in Addis.
- Bad arrival / departure times in Dar (3-5am) for flights connecting from North America.
- Y service onboard not great.
- Seat-blocking for Star Gold members means a much higher chance of a free seat next to you. Generally lower load factors in my experience as well.
Regards