Question: How to get F from North America to South Africa?
Aug 26, 2019, 12:35 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Toronto - YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan/Hilton Gold/Marriott Bonvoy Titanium/Accor/Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 5,899
Aug 26, 2019, 1:24 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 29
It sounds like the OP is probably referring to a J/F cabin, not just F exclusively.
I personally have flown F to South Africa on an Aeroplan reward ticket. The routing was PEK -> JNB with a technical stop in SZX. The experience was awesome (great cabins, food, attendants, and amenities like Pajama/Slippers). That being said, the Shenzhen transfer was super annoying, as we had to deplane, clear some kind of immigration thing, and get back on all around midnight to 1am. Beijing immigration is also annoying with lots of process.
I'd recommend you instead try to fly in business to South Africa. Way easier from Europe (so many airlines). From the Asia side, I think Ethiopian and Air China are the main ones that fly into Asia from Africa - SQ won't release premium cabins.
I personally have flown F to South Africa on an Aeroplan reward ticket. The routing was PEK -> JNB with a technical stop in SZX. The experience was awesome (great cabins, food, attendants, and amenities like Pajama/Slippers). That being said, the Shenzhen transfer was super annoying, as we had to deplane, clear some kind of immigration thing, and get back on all around midnight to 1am. Beijing immigration is also annoying with lots of process.
I'd recommend you instead try to fly in business to South Africa. Way easier from Europe (so many airlines). From the Asia side, I think Ethiopian and Air China are the main ones that fly into Asia from Africa - SQ won't release premium cabins.
Air Canada in business looks nice and all but the surcharges are over $1000 which defeats the whole purpose and your points per mile will drop a lot with that charge
Aug 26, 2019, 3:24 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Toronto
Programs: DL Silver, AC E75K, Chatime Elite
Posts: 339
Woah! ET mediocre? They've got a very modern fleet and I enjoyed my flight thoroughly. I'd take ET any day over UA, SA, TP, SN, MS, and anyone else who might take you part or whole way to South Africa.
The FAs were warm, attentive, and eager to show off Ethiopian culture, the transit process, and of course, the food. After I chose the more western option, the FA still brought out the traditional J option for me to try. It was a chicken stew of some kind, if I recall.
The FAs were warm, attentive, and eager to show off Ethiopian culture, the transit process, and of course, the food. After I chose the more western option, the FA still brought out the traditional J option for me to try. It was a chicken stew of some kind, if I recall.
Alright, I want to thank everyone for the incredibly helpful information! I am open to flying J as some people were speculating but I've never flown J or F but it seems like J will be more than fine. I also want to note to avoid AC because of their ridiculous surcharges so I'd most likely do YUL - ZRH - JNB or do YYZ- ORD or JFK because there are direct flights to JNB from JFK as well. I was hesitant about taking ET because their reviews are mediocre but that's also a very popular option so I will definitely check out these possible routing.
Air Canada in business looks nice and all but the surcharges are over $1000 which defeats the whole purpose and your points per mile will drop a lot with that charge
Air Canada in business looks nice and all but the surcharges are over $1000 which defeats the whole purpose and your points per mile will drop a lot with that charge
Aug 26, 2019, 3:39 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,035
You will be happy with a modern long haul business class.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:59 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Toronto
Programs: DL Silver, AC E75K, Chatime Elite
Posts: 339
I flew MS last week. It's a dry airline, but I don't drink, so it didn't affect me at all. Transiting through CAI is... interesting.
You follow some guy, he stops to hug and kiss a few other fellow workers along the way. They talk and chew the fat for a bit. Then the counter agent remembers why you're standing there, looks a few things up, and hands your BP/passport back to you.
The terminal is functional, lounges small-ish, and gets crowded quickly. Smoke wafts through the hallways, and duty-free shops aren't the best.
Check out this forum for more on ET: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/othe...-airlines-471/
You follow some guy, he stops to hug and kiss a few other fellow workers along the way. They talk and chew the fat for a bit. Then the counter agent remembers why you're standing there, looks a few things up, and hands your BP/passport back to you.
The terminal is functional, lounges small-ish, and gets crowded quickly. Smoke wafts through the hallways, and duty-free shops aren't the best.
Check out this forum for more on ET: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/othe...-airlines-471/
Aug 26, 2019, 4:56 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Toronto - YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan/Hilton Gold/Marriott Bonvoy Titanium/Accor/Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 5,899
Woah! ET mediocre? They've got a very modern fleet and I enjoyed my flight thoroughly. I'd take ET any day over UA, SA, TP, SN, MS, and anyone else who might take you part or whole way to South Africa.
The FAs were warm, attentive, and eager to show off Ethiopian culture, the transit process, and of course, the food. After I chose the more western option, the FA still brought out the traditional J option for me to try. It was a chicken stew of some kind, if I recall.
The FAs were warm, attentive, and eager to show off Ethiopian culture, the transit process, and of course, the food. After I chose the more western option, the FA still brought out the traditional J option for me to try. It was a chicken stew of some kind, if I recall.
Aug 26, 2019, 7:45 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,035
But a very low bar to jump across. But long haul they are getting better