New SAA A330-300
Mar 27, 2018, 2:33 am
#76
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
At the moment SA346 (CPT/JNB) on 23 March is a 333. I'm booked in J, curious as to what I will find.
Not holding my breath though, the equipment has changed 3 times since I booked it in November.
And currently I can't log into MMB (but with SA's IT competence that's neither surprising nor unusual).
Not holding my breath though, the equipment has changed 3 times since I booked it in November.
And currently I can't log into MMB (but with SA's IT competence that's neither surprising nor unusual).
Mar 29, 2018, 2:18 pm
#77
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Sadly the above flight was subbed to a 346. But what I thought was remarkable is that it appeared to have been refurbished nicely. Where before the seat controls were sort of ‘worn away’, they looked brand new. And so did the seat upholstery and really everything else in the J cabin. Losing out on the 333 was a pity though....
Mar 30, 2018, 1:57 am
#78
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
Well, I did not put it in 'bed mode' on a 2 hour flight (which I guess I could have none in the interest of 'research'). But the seat appeared quite hard, so my guess is that they changed the upholstery but not the cushions.
Mar 30, 2018, 2:40 pm
#79
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
May 13, 2018, 10:08 am
#81
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
Just a heads-up: not all the JNB-ACC flights are A333. SA 209 which continues to IAD is a A333; SA 56 which continues to ABJ is a combination of A332, A343 and A333 and can change at short notice; SA 52 which is the JNB-ACC terminator is a combination of A332 and A333 and can change at short notice as well.
May 13, 2018, 11:48 am
#82
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Toronto
Programs: DL Silver, AC E75K, Chatime Elite
Posts: 339
Thanks for the heads-up. I am on SA52, and will monitor EF for any changes.
Just a heads-up: not all the JNB-ACC flights are A333. SA 209 which continues to IAD is a A333; SA 56 which continues to ABJ is a combination of A332, A343 and A333 and can change at short notice; SA 52 which is the JNB-ACC terminator is a combination of A332 and A333 and can change at short notice as well.
May 18, 2018, 12:17 am
#83
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,866
Sadly the above flight was subbed to a 346. But what I thought was remarkable is that it appeared to have been refurbished nicely. Where before the seat controls were sort of ‘worn away’, they looked brand new. And so did the seat upholstery and really everything else in the J cabin. Losing out on the 333 was a pity though....
May 18, 2018, 1:58 am
#84
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,236
i flew the 333 in J ACC-JNB in March and really liked it, a big step up for SAA, but with the seats in Y I will now actively avoid it, which means I'll be sticking with BA for the LHR-JNB turns....
May 30, 2018, 8:38 pm
#85
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 8
This happened to me as well on the JNB-GRU route, booked as an award through United. Any chance I can re-route? It seems there are no Business awards left in routes I need, but there are some Economy Saver. Should I chance the waitlist upgrade or remain on the old A332 business class, in hopes of a last minute swap?
I sat in a bulkhead window (9K) which I highly recommend because the storage/footwell was huge!
Jun 6, 2018, 8:26 am
#86
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,506
I flew in the new business class and found it excellent all-around. One bit of advice: Because of the way the seats are staggered, I'd try for an even-numbered window seat. Because of the way the seats are staggered, the even-numbered seats put space between you and the aisle while the odd-numbered seats put space between you and the window. I sat one trip in each and found the even-numbered seats a little more private.
Jun 24, 2018, 10:42 am
#87
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 126
Hi,
I'm looking to secure 2 J seats, ideally on the new 333. I'm looking at flight from IAD or JFK, but would also take an option from Europe (Frankfurt? London?).
I got the impression that SA opens up one seat at the time in J, as sometimes I would find 1 seat but not 2.
Any recommendation how to play this? If difficult on the 333 I'll take the other options, still beats X I guess. Thanks!
I'm looking to secure 2 J seats, ideally on the new 333. I'm looking at flight from IAD or JFK, but would also take an option from Europe (Frankfurt? London?).
I got the impression that SA opens up one seat at the time in J, as sometimes I would find 1 seat but not 2.
Any recommendation how to play this? If difficult on the 333 I'll take the other options, still beats X I guess. Thanks!
Jun 24, 2018, 1:31 pm
#88
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,335
Hi,
I'm looking to secure 2 J seats, ideally on the new 333. I'm looking at flight from IAD or JFK, but would also take an option from Europe (Frankfurt? London?).
I got the impression that SA opens up one seat at the time in J, as sometimes I would find 1 seat but not 2.
Any recommendation how to play this? If difficult on the 333 I'll take the other options, still beats X I guess. Thanks!
I'm looking to secure 2 J seats, ideally on the new 333. I'm looking at flight from IAD or JFK, but would also take an option from Europe (Frankfurt? London?).
I got the impression that SA opens up one seat at the time in J, as sometimes I would find 1 seat but not 2.
Any recommendation how to play this? If difficult on the 333 I'll take the other options, still beats X I guess. Thanks!
Jun 29, 2018, 2:16 pm
#89
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: VIX
Programs: AA / TAM / Multiplus / Smiles / Hertz Gold
Posts: 101
Gru - jnb - gru
Flew last year (DEC) JNB - GRU on A330-300
This year, DEC again going to SA from GRU TO JNB and back JNB - GRU.
The plane is A333 or A330-200? The plane is fixed in this route or constantly swapping?
Tks.
This year, DEC again going to SA from GRU TO JNB and back JNB - GRU.
The plane is A333 or A330-200? The plane is fixed in this route or constantly swapping?
Tks.
Jun 30, 2018, 10:25 am
#90
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
Notionally, JNB-GRU is scheduled as a A330-200, but gets subbed with A330-300 and A340-600 based on demand. In the last week, operated one with A330-300 and twice with A340-600.