SAA 204 - IAD to JNB
Feb 18, 2015, 8:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 160
SAA 204 - IAD to JNB
Hello fellow FT'ers:
SAA's flight 204 from Washington IAD to Johannesburg JNB stops in DKR pretty much mid-point in the journey (about 1am New York time or some 7.5 hours into the journey).
From memory, a dinner is served on departure from IAD and a breakfast is served (by the rotated crew) on departure from DKR.
Is there a pre-arrival meal?
Anyone have the menu for the flight?
As for the seats, has SAA updated its Business Class at all in the many years?
Thanks so much!^
SAA's flight 204 from Washington IAD to Johannesburg JNB stops in DKR pretty much mid-point in the journey (about 1am New York time or some 7.5 hours into the journey).
From memory, a dinner is served on departure from IAD and a breakfast is served (by the rotated crew) on departure from DKR.
Is there a pre-arrival meal?
Anyone have the menu for the flight?
As for the seats, has SAA updated its Business Class at all in the many years?
Thanks so much!^
Last edited by FFFlyer; Mar 12, 2015 at 6:43 pm Reason: Flight number is corrected to SAA 204
Feb 19, 2015, 12:02 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,910
SAA retired the last remaining 340 200 ZS-SLF in June 2014 so the business class product is horizontal lie flat across the A330/340 fleet. IMO it's still a good seat, one of the better out there.
Feb 19, 2015, 12:31 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
Feb 19, 2015, 5:44 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
^ Excellent to know it was retired. I missed that post when it happened last year.
Feb 19, 2015, 10:28 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
Even so, for most of their life with SAA (excluding the first few months), the A340-200s had the same lie flat seat in business class that the A340-300s and -600s had. It was the economy class cabin that was inferior.
Feb 22, 2015, 7:31 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 160
Some complain about a gap in the middle of the seat (where the sections meet), and taller folks find the seat is not great at heights above 1.90m
Finally, there is the question of bedding and mattress pads - any enhancements there?
I have read of some complaints that a journey of 17 hours should have more than a departure dinner and an arrival breakfast (arrival 5:40pm). Why not a full departure dinner; breakfast on leaving DKR; and then lunch/dinner service on arrival - at least in front (C cabin)? @:-)
Thanks...^
Feb 24, 2015, 2:16 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,731
Well duh. 
Blonde moment.
Surely they jest...economy seat width of 19-20"??
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Sou...s_A330-200.php
Blonde moment. Surely they jest...economy seat width of 19-20"??
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Sou...s_A330-200.php
Mar 2, 2015, 8:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
Mar 4, 2015, 3:10 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 160
That's a little scary...just landed in JNB and the "circa 2013" menu is the same
Great flight, crew, seats, bedding, service, food, menu etc etc.
Cheers.
Mar 5, 2015, 11:21 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
Well SAA is a bit of an odd duck in Star Alliance.
There isn't anything wrong with it. You just need to temper expectations accordingly when flying them. I personally like the large space between seats. Much less density than most carriers these days.
There isn't anything wrong with it. You just need to temper expectations accordingly when flying them. I personally like the large space between seats. Much less density than most carriers these days.
Mar 6, 2015, 4:24 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 160
It was an excellent flight. Arrived into JNB some 45 minutes early; passport check wasn't too onerous (though I can see how the line can be endless) and kudos to the ground team - our Priority bags were waiting for us in a roped-off Priority Area - much faster than back home in North America. Both crews excellent too. And indeed, three hot meals were served along the way - all delicious - and each course of each meal was noteworthy with an excellent vegetarian-friendly option - kudos SAA!
Last edited by FFFlyer; Mar 12, 2015 at 6:45 pm
Mar 17, 2015, 1:30 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
I will be on this flight in 3 weeks, April 5, in J.
What's the best strategy for sleeping? Do you sleep on the first leg and stay awake on the second? Or try to get ll the sleep done on the second only? Or some sleep on both legs?
How are the movie choices?
What's the best strategy for sleeping? Do you sleep on the first leg and stay awake on the second? Or try to get ll the sleep done on the second only? Or some sleep on both legs?
How are the movie choices?