SAA axes JNB-JFK non-stop
Aug 28, 2013, 10:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MSP/BUF/BNA/LFT
Programs: AA Plat, Priority Club Gold, Choice Privileges Gold
Posts: 1,225
SAA axes JNB-JFK non-stop
I was checking on a flight in March and noticed that SA203 was stopping in DKR again.
New Schedule:
8:15 pm - 2:50 am+1 South African 203 · JNB-DKR
1h 00m layover
3:50 am+1 – 8:45 am+1 South African 203 · DKR-JFK
Airbus A340
New Schedule:
8:15 pm - 2:50 am+1 South African 203 · JNB-DKR
1h 00m layover
3:50 am+1 – 8:45 am+1 South African 203 · DKR-JFK
Airbus A340
Aug 29, 2013, 1:24 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
Equipment downgrade from the A340-600 to the A340-300. Also, only stopping on the JNB-JFK leg. JFK-JNB remains non-stop. Returning to non-stop in both directions for the North American summer next year.
Aug 30, 2013, 1:49 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
The 346 is going into the rest of the network, mainly to PER, HKG and a little bit to MUC. That time of year is certainly not as busy between South Africa and North America compared to Australia and Europe.
Aug 30, 2013, 6:28 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
At 11 hours 5 minutes on the return leg I wouldn't call this a short route! It is being deployed because of capacity, not stage length. The 346 is used on many shorter routes including Cape Town, Luanda and Lagos for capacity.
Aug 30, 2013, 12:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,077
Huh huh huh huh what!
Darn. You know, I've almost always done IAD-JNB (stops both directions) and had gotten so used to that stop... It, or something like it (Sal, Accra ?) was always there (even when going via ATL, back in the day). Then in June 2013, I did JNB-JFK and thought, 'yeah, I could to get used to this' and had started to generally think this might be the way to go.
Hate that its gone. Hate even more than it'll be a seasonal-type thing. Having to generally guess about what SA is going to do is always ... interesting.
Darn. You know, I've almost always done IAD-JNB (stops both directions) and had gotten so used to that stop... It, or something like it (Sal, Accra ?) was always there (even when going via ATL, back in the day). Then in June 2013, I did JNB-JFK and thought, 'yeah, I could to get used to this' and had started to generally think this might be the way to go.
Hate that its gone. Hate even more than it'll be a seasonal-type thing. Having to generally guess about what SA is going to do is always ... interesting.
Sep 12, 2013, 10:44 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SMF
Posts: 180
Good thing I called SAA as they had reassigned seats for the out bound JFK-JNB and return in middle section seats (unfortunately I am flying cattle car class). I don't think so...changed to window/isle seats. I also asked about the stop in DKR. Agent stated that we stay on the plane. It is for refueling only; no onloading of PAX. Hmmm?? Is the jet stream so strong that they need to refuel for the JNB-JFK but not JFK-JNB?
Sep 12, 2013, 11:36 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
No, JNB is hot and high, more hot in the summer. Takeoff performance and aircraft is payload limited. One way to lighten the aircraft is to leave fuel behind and stop to refuel along the way.