SAA C class question
 

How long does the SAA business class seat become?
I know the pitch is 77 inches, but how LONG is the actual seat/bed?
Is the service good on the LHR flight? A340-600 row 3 window/aisle with wife.
I could take another sector hop to FRA and then do F to JNB
but I dont know if its worth the effort as I will already be in London having arrived from another intercontinental flight, and frankly I just want to sleep and have a good dinner.

The info I have says 73 inches when fully in bed mode. Also, I believe SAA fly the 343 on the JNB-LHR run. I don't know what you mean by "F," I think all of SAA's longhaul 340's are 2 cabin configuration (J/Y).

by saying F from FRA, I presume you are considering a Lufthansa F?

If so DONT DO IT

I recently flew F on Lufthansa return JNB-FRA, it was terrible! From cabins that are throwback to the 80's they feature CRT tubes for crying out loud!, poor IFE, and so so meals, to overhead lockers that can barely swallow a pair of shoes!

The only reason to consider Lufthansa F is the First Class terminal in FRA (which you skip if you fly in from another city).

SAA C will be far better, comfortable (i weigh 130kg, 6ft tall) and easily get a good nights rest.

I have a question re. SAA. As they no longer have F (I think all 747 are gone now), are there any SAA lounges at JNB not open to C/J passengers? I think I recall reading here there is a lounge that an international C/J ticket won't get you access to, but if there's no F, who is the lounge for? Only SAA top tier elites? Thanks.

The old F lounge is now for SAA Platinum and lifetime platinum voyager members, as well as partner airline F class passsengers who do still offer F from JNB ie Lufthansa

SAA still flies F to various African destinations using 747s. So, apart from those already mentioned, the F pax on SAA also have access to the F lounge. See the lounge thread for some recently posted pictures of the F lounge.

I thought all 747 had now been retired. Anyway, to the OP, I just got off a MUC-JNB flight. I am 6'4'' and the seat was long enough when reclined for me to be comfortable and sleep. As to your bit about the meal, don't expect much. I found the food and cabin service to be substandard. Upon arrival in JNB you can grab a shower at the arrivals lounge and then use the BaoBab (spelling it right?) lounge.

The C product is satisfactory but I am 5'10. The food is hit or miss. The 747 is still used for intra-continental flights, but I don't know if they sell an F-cabin or if it's the same service as C just a better seat?

Speaking to the LH 747, I wasn't in F, but was in C earlier this year JNB-FRA and enjoyed the good quite a bit. Not a full bed in C but modern LCD on demand IFE so I enjoyed myself. I couldn't imagine F LH being worse, but perhaps I was lucky to be on a renovated 747.