SkyMiles DTW to JNB in December...Do you pick KLM or AF
Jun 28, 2019, 9:24 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ILM
Programs: UA - G (mm), DL - DM, MM, AA - Plat
Posts: 414
You didn't say which cabin you are flying in. If in J then it's an easy call to take KL as the 777 is much more comfortable than the AF388.
If in Y then it may not matter so much but I still like KL over AF.
The other factor is timing. KL is a day flight and AF is overnight. Unless you are staying in JNB the whole time then that means getting to a hotel in JNB around 11pm, Consider the intercontinental at JNB if you need a local hotel for one night.
If in Y then it may not matter so much but I still like KL over AF.
The other factor is timing. KL is a day flight and AF is overnight. Unless you are staying in JNB the whole time then that means getting to a hotel in JNB around 11pm, Consider the intercontinental at JNB if you need a local hotel for one night.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:24 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
AF and UG to La Premiere. It’s a whole ‘nuther level.
I like the idea of a 12-hour layover in gay Paris. Dinner and a good night’s sleep in a real bed, then your second long haul — all done at a leisurely pace.
I like the idea of a 12-hour layover in gay Paris. Dinner and a good night’s sleep in a real bed, then your second long haul — all done at a leisurely pace.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:51 am
#5
Join Date: May 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,032
The 12 hour layover would be morning to night, not night to morning as you suggest. So you're actually talking about back to back redeyes which, even in J, isn't easy...
Jun 28, 2019, 10:56 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: All over
Programs: MR, HH, DL, ALK
Posts: 136
Fly through LHR on VS. The VS experience is far superior at least so far as the soft product goes and their Upper Class lounge at LHR is fantastic. The 1-1-1 super angle hard product may not currently be competitive with D1 suites, but you're not getting a D1 suite, or even 1-2-1 seating on KL and possibly not on AF either if you're flying the A380.
Jun 28, 2019, 11:00 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
KLM. I always use KLM for JNB. Unlike all other European carriers, it's a day flight. Thus you have a short but reasonable connection. Also means you dont have to wait for room at hotel, since others arrive way too early.
ALSO KLM does its dining on demand service on this route. Its upgraded service from what KLM does normally.
Lastly, you get a delft blue house. After all that's the most important thing!
ALSO KLM does its dining on demand service on this route. Its upgraded service from what KLM does normally.
Lastly, you get a delft blue house. After all that's the most important thing!
Jun 28, 2019, 11:12 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Skymiles Gold
Posts: 642
Jun 28, 2019, 11:16 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
Poster said buy an award ticket and UPGRADE. You can always pay cash DoD with AF to upgrade.
Jun 28, 2019, 11:22 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,230
I did a 12 hour daytime layover on JFK-CDG-HKG last year in J, and thought it was pretty good. I definitely availed myself of the arrivals lounge to freshen up, got into town in time for an early-ish lunch, a leisurely wander around the city, an early-ish dinner, and then back to the airport by ~9:30pm for an 11pm flight. Certainly helped to make it easy to sleep well on the second red-eye!
FWIW, one of my toughest travel experiences was CPT-LHR-JFK on a morning departure from CPT and a late evening arrival into JFK. It was nearly 24 hours of daytime travel, and even in F (BA/AA) we were exhausted on arrival.
Jun 28, 2019, 11:32 am
#11
Formerly known as scootr29
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 976
Fly through LHR on VS. The VS experience is far superior at least so far as the soft product goes and their Upper Class lounge at LHR is fantastic. The 1-1-1 super angle hard product may not currently be competitive with D1 suites, but you're not getting a D1 suite, or even 1-2-1 seating on KL and possibly not on AF either if you're flying the A380.
Jun 28, 2019, 11:45 am
#12
Formerly known as scootr29
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 976
Fly through LHR on VS. The VS experience is far superior at least so far as the soft product goes and their Upper Class lounge at LHR is fantastic. The 1-1-1 super angle hard product may not currently be competitive with D1 suites, but you're not getting a D1 suite, or even 1-2-1 seating on KL and possibly not on AF either if you're flying the A380.
Jun 29, 2019, 1:23 am
#14
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta Diamond Medallion 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, National Car Executive Elite
Posts: 550
KLM flight is a good one -- service, plane. And, being a day flight, you can make time-zone adjustment easier because you can do short nap(s) during the flight so that you're not over-tired and not wide-awake when you get to JNB.