Hi guys,

I'm looking to fly from CLE to JNB (final destination PLZ but seems booking that leg separately allows more flexibility). I fly mainly Continental living in Cleveland with the hub so I'd love to be able to make this flight on SkyTeam. So far I can only find flights that take 2 days to get there or arrive late in the evening so I can't connect through to PLZ until the next day. If I fly United/Star Alliance I can get there early next day but I won't get my miles and elite bonus. Any thoughts on best/cheapest/fastest routes? Flying July 9 returning July 20

Thanks!

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

As you've discovered, the options on SkyTeam are rather limited. Essentially you are forced to connect in Europe to get to Africa, though there are a couple other options that might work. There is an ATL-(fuel stop)-NBO flight that operates 4x weekly. From there you can connect on KQ to JNB. This would mean leaving ATL at ~4pm on day one (so leaving CLE around noon) and arriving in JNB close to midnight on day two. You'd be able to get to PLZ the morning of day three.

Because of the flight durations involved the options that connect in Europe leave late at night, much like the US to deep South America flights. That adds a lot of ground time in Europe which is nice if you want to get out and see a city during the trip over but not so great if you actually want to get there.

I know there is an AF flight that arrives in JNB at 09.40 in the morning, but coming from the USA you would have a layover of at least 10 hours in Paris.Maybe you could include a day in Paris if your schedule allows it.

I'd fly to ATL and take DL's new 777LR nonstop to JNB (just started this week). It arrives JNB at 5:10 PM.

Tha's the OP's whole dilemna. The last flights from JNB to PLZ on either BA or AA leave only 30-40 minutes later, so no time to clear customs and re-check, necessitating an overnight in JNB.

I understand the OP's problem. My point was that there is no way to avoid either a long layover in Europe or an overnight in JNB. If it were me, I'd take the nonstop from ATL and just stay overnight near the JNB airport. I have been told that the Intercontinental Hotel at the airport is nice with a good restaurant.

Or they could stay overnight at a B&B - I'd recommend this one from a few years ago in Melville, one of the hipper parts of JNB - http://www.pensionidube.co.za/

The only other option would be if the OP flew on DL to Capetown leaving the 8th or the 10th, but then again would have to overnight before flying on to PLZ.

Or took the train/drove to PLZ, roughly ten hours on the road by car.

DL flight from ATL then connect to:

SA1459 JNB - PLZ July 10 6.30pm