SA JFK-JNB Business mid-flight food/snacks
 

Sorry for creating a new thread, I could really only find some of the various bits of info in the few TRs here and there.

Later this month I am flying J from JFK-JNB and I have heard that it can be easy to get hungry on the flight.
Some of the reports mentioned no mid-flight snack offered other than a bag of crisps or a cookie. Some said they were able to muster up a sandwich.

I figured I would get more info here than through one TR experience.
Should I plan to bring a few granola bars, jerky or something like that from the airport before we take off?

I did SA204 JFK-JNB last week in J.

We were served ample drinks, biscuits, crisps, pretzels and hors d'oeuvres type snacks throughout.

Okay cool...I figured it was just something exclusive to the TR that I read on it or perhaps the writer slept through or never asked for anything.
On anything more than 5-6 hours I always have a little emergency snack pack but was wondering if I should thrown in an extra thing or two.

Very excited about the flight!!

I flew IAD-DKR-JNB-DKR-IAD in January and did get a bit hungry. Usually I'm stuffed. It's always a good idea to have some emergency granola bars and snacks when you travel.

I'm doing that same route this coming week, good to know.

Also if I am doing JFK-JNB-CPT I assume I do passport/immigration in JNB but my bags I don't touch until CPT, right?

You will have to collect your bags in Johannesburg to take them through Customs before rechecking them at the desk after Customs.

Just like America! :p

Two years ago when I flew YYZ-IAD-JNB-CPT (SA on last two flights), I wasn't told properly that I had to collect my bags in JNB, so arriving in CPT, my bags are not there and upon talking to agent, was told they were already on the next flight which landed 20 min later after my flight. It was weird how proactive they were on this without me even knowing I screwed up.

So yes, make sure you claim and recheck you baggage in JNB.

They also make announcements on the aircraft to that affect. I doubt you were the first person not to pick up your bags in JNB so they have a system in place to deal with it, however, it costs them time and money and inconveniences you.

I wonder if / how they circumvent the customs process this way.
Seems a clever way to get items into the country without paying duty, 'forget' to clear your bags in JNB and have them sent to CPT (where I presume they arrive on the domestic side of the terminal as they are on a domestic flight).
Not that I have seen anyone do checks on 'green channel' pax in JNB for a long time. Other than in CPT, where the customs officers on duty make sure they keep busy (well, until SAA ended the LHR/CPT flights, I have not entered the country through CPT since then).

Evanb's experience with proactive SAA indicates that he should have played the lottery that day.

I have never actually had this experience. Just speaking of them probably having to do it often. But I do here the reminder announcement on the aircraft almost ever time.

Well in any event thanks for confirming the info...looking forward to this flight!

Sorry this is becoming my general SA questions thread lol

I have my flights booked through UA and with my upcoming first leg being JFK-JNB I have the PNR and called and got my seats assigned in J a few months ago.
Even with the SA # I can't view my reservation on the site but will I be able still OLCI with it? IIRC I had another code share where I couldn't view it online but I was able to OLCI.