Trip report: South Africa on BA First and lots more
Jun 24, 2017, 3:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GCH, CXMP Gold, Amex Plat, HH Gold, Accor Plat, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,106
Trip report: South Africa on BA First and lots more
Good evening all!
I have posted a trip report in the main TR area, with the first chapter covering my British Airways First flight from London to Johannesburg.
South Africa: BA F, BA J, SA Y, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Safari and Garden Route
Please reply within the TR forum thread.
Mods: Please leave this for a while as I know not all members read the TR area.
I have posted a trip report in the main TR area, with the first chapter covering my British Airways First flight from London to Johannesburg.
South Africa: BA F, BA J, SA Y, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Safari and Garden Route
Please reply within the TR forum thread.
Mods: Please leave this for a while as I know not all members read the TR area.
Jun 25, 2017, 12:48 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dorchester, Dorset UK
Programs: BA Gold, BMI, ANA, HH Blue, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,063
Thanks for your excellent report and you're right, we don't all look at the TR section, at least not on a regular basis.
Do you search around for the best fares or use a regular TA like Trailfinders? Is F a lot more than J?
Do you search around for the best fares or use a regular TA like Trailfinders? Is F a lot more than J?
Last edited by botham; Jun 25, 2017 at 1:17 am Reason: To add a question
Jun 25, 2017, 2:11 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: North Yorkshire
Programs: BA Executive Club
Posts: 74
Thanks for this! We are doing the same trip in October - first First - and are really looking forward to it.
We, too, have arranged a 'meet and greet' on arrival in JNB, but did you find it reasonably easy to get through check-in/customs/security on the way back? We are doing a long township tour in JNB on our last day and I'm a bit worried about queuing for ages if we get to the airport only an hour or so before our BA56 flight at 20.20. Do other FTers have recent experience of this?
We, too, have arranged a 'meet and greet' on arrival in JNB, but did you find it reasonably easy to get through check-in/customs/security on the way back? We are doing a long township tour in JNB on our last day and I'm a bit worried about queuing for ages if we get to the airport only an hour or so before our BA56 flight at 20.20. Do other FTers have recent experience of this?
Jun 25, 2017, 2:23 am
#4
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Thanks for this! We are doing the same trip in October - first First - and are really looking forward to it.
We, too, have arranged a 'meet and greet' on arrival in JNB, but did you find it reasonably easy to get through check-in/customs/security on the way back? We are doing a long township tour in JNB on our last day and I'm a bit worried about queuing for ages if we get to the airport only an hour or so before our BA56 flight at 20.20. Do other FTers have recent experience of this?
We, too, have arranged a 'meet and greet' on arrival in JNB, but did you find it reasonably easy to get through check-in/customs/security on the way back? We are doing a long township tour in JNB on our last day and I'm a bit worried about queuing for ages if we get to the airport only an hour or so before our BA56 flight at 20.20. Do other FTers have recent experience of this?
The queues at both security and passport control (both ends of the terminal) were hideous and the airport is generally heaving at that time of night with all the long haul departures. Plus minimum check in time is 1 hour and even the premium desks can get busy with people arriving early for the later BA flight.
Jun 25, 2017, 4:51 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA, EK, UA, MK
Posts: 85
Thanks for this! We are doing the same trip in October - first First - and are really looking forward to it.
We, too, have arranged a 'meet and greet' on arrival in JNB, but did you find it reasonably easy to get through check-in/customs/security on the way back? We are doing a long township tour in JNB on our last day and I'm a bit worried about queuing for ages if we get to the airport only an hour or so before our BA56 flight at 20.20. Do other FTers have recent experience of this?
We, too, have arranged a 'meet and greet' on arrival in JNB, but did you find it reasonably easy to get through check-in/customs/security on the way back? We are doing a long township tour in JNB on our last day and I'm a bit worried about queuing for ages if we get to the airport only an hour or so before our BA56 flight at 20.20. Do other FTers have recent experience of this?
You may be pushing your luck arriving at JNB with only an hour to spare. Other users will, I'm sure, be able to give you more info as to which days/times are busiest but from my regular visits the security and immigration (the latter is required on departure) queues can be very slow. Not down to too many people but rather too few staff...often only one or two officers at immigration, one or two security scanners operating etc, a reflection of the economic difficulties SA is facing. I'd suggest a couple of hours minimum. Other threads have plenty detail on the BA lounge facilities. Great country to visit though...enjoy!
Jun 25, 2017, 5:08 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London, Sth Africa or LAS
Programs: VS Silver, BA Blue - finally; but hotels.com Gold :)
Posts: 1,858
1. Excellent start to this trip report, ^
2. JNB is awful for departures due to immigration / passport control being a zoo (fairly often).
I have used the 'meet at Gate' service arriving into JNB twice now, it probably helps save a bit of time ... maybe more on the 2nd BA flight as queues can be more then.
I would seriously consider any 'hosting' service departing JNB now. Not sure they can get you round Passport queue though .... there was a shortcut via transfer route upstairs, not sure that still works.
2. JNB is awful for departures due to immigration / passport control being a zoo (fairly often).
I have used the 'meet at Gate' service arriving into JNB twice now, it probably helps save a bit of time ... maybe more on the 2nd BA flight as queues can be more then.
I would seriously consider any 'hosting' service departing JNB now. Not sure they can get you round Passport queue though .... there was a shortcut via transfer route upstairs, not sure that still works.
Jun 25, 2017, 5:10 am
#7
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,924
Nice start (despite the long wait). It was a fun and unexpected meet-up that day. Your parents were a delight to meet and great company. Even #Jamier45 behaved himself, although I suspect that was due to the fact he had his beloved in tow.
Oh, one little thing: how dare you underscore my name, I'm hyphenated don't you know
Oh, one little thing: how dare you underscore my name, I'm hyphenated don't you know
Jun 25, 2017, 8:46 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GCH, CXMP Gold, Amex Plat, HH Gold, Accor Plat, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,106
We booked directly with BA with little to no searching around for other options to be honest. Our fares were £3.2k a ticket booking straight into revenue F fare bucket. I believe that this is pretty cheap for the route!
Thanks for this! We are doing the same trip in October - first First - and are really looking forward to it.
We, too, have arranged a 'meet and greet' on arrival in JNB, but did you find it reasonably easy to get through check-in/customs/security on the way back? We are doing a long township tour in JNB on our last day and I'm a bit worried about queuing for ages if we get to the airport only an hour or so before our BA56 flight at 20.20. Do other FTers have recent experience of this?
We, too, have arranged a 'meet and greet' on arrival in JNB, but did you find it reasonably easy to get through check-in/customs/security on the way back? We are doing a long township tour in JNB on our last day and I'm a bit worried about queuing for ages if we get to the airport only an hour or so before our BA56 flight at 20.20. Do other FTers have recent experience of this?
You'll have to wait until the end of the TR to see
Only joking, it was easy but only because my father was in a wheelchair and we circumvented the majority of the queues. I wouldn't recommend leaving only an hour at the airport to clear security and immigration, it looked like an absolute scrum!1. Excellent start to this trip report, ^
2. JNB is awful for departures due to immigration / passport control being a zoo (fairly often).
I have used the 'meet at Gate' service arriving into JNB twice now, it probably helps save a bit of time ... maybe more on the 2nd BA flight as queues can be more then.
I would seriously consider any 'hosting' service departing JNB now. Not sure they can get you round Passport queue though .... there was a shortcut via transfer route upstairs, not sure that still works.
2. JNB is awful for departures due to immigration / passport control being a zoo (fairly often).
I have used the 'meet at Gate' service arriving into JNB twice now, it probably helps save a bit of time ... maybe more on the 2nd BA flight as queues can be more then.
I would seriously consider any 'hosting' service departing JNB now. Not sure they can get you round Passport queue though .... there was a shortcut via transfer route upstairs, not sure that still works.
Nice start (despite the long wait). It was a fun and unexpected meet-up that day. Your parents were a delight to meet and great company. Even #Jamier45 behaved himself, although I suspect that was due to the fact he had his beloved in tow.
Oh, one little thing: how dare you underscore my name, I'm hyphenated don't you know
Oh, one little thing: how dare you underscore my name, I'm hyphenated don't you know
It was really good fun sat in the lounge, but time went by very fast!Ah yes, I shall blame FM for that
Thank you! I'm really looking forward to posting the Safari pictures.
Last edited by stevieed; Jun 25, 2017 at 8:53 am