Newbie has basic questions/ NYC to Capetown
Mar 10, 2018, 11:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 136
Newbie has basic questions/ NYC to Capetown
Trying to figure out the best way to get from NYC to Capetown in early 2019. Looking at several airline choices. SAA is the cheapest. Would be flying economy from JFK through Johannasberg. Seat selection 48 hours prior to flight (would this be a huge mistake?) No mileage loyalty on any airline. Other airlines route through Dubai or London. Any thoughts on the best flights for this route? Is there a reason SAA is cheaper than the others?
Mar 10, 2018, 2:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
Trying to figure out the best way to get from NYC to Capetown in early 2019. Looking at several airline choices. SAA is the cheapest. Would be flying economy from JFK through Johannasberg. Seat selection 48 hours prior to flight (would this be a huge mistake?) No mileage loyalty on any airline. Other airlines route through Dubai or London. Any thoughts on the best flights for this route? Is there a reason SAA is cheaper than the others?
Mar 10, 2018, 3:32 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,015
Trying to figure out the best way to get from NYC to Capetown in early 2019. Looking at several airline choices. SAA is the cheapest. Would be flying economy from JFK through Johannasberg. Seat selection 48 hours prior to flight (would this be a huge mistake?) No mileage loyalty on any airline. Other airlines route through Dubai or London. Any thoughts on the best flights for this route? Is there a reason SAA is cheaper than the others?
- Price
- Total flight time
- Departure & arrival time
- Frequent flyer earning ? (SAA is Star Alliance)
- Seat allocation
Capetown as the destination limits your choices.
More airlines to JNB and then a separate ticket to Capetown is another option
Mar 11, 2018, 3:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
While indeed there are more airlines that fly to JNB, there are also so many that fly to CPT which OP can use with a single connection - AF,BA,KL,LH,QR,EK to name a few, I would personally avoid JNB is there is no good reason to connect there, and even more so on separate tickets.
Apr 6, 2018, 11:46 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 136
Just to follow up...ended up finding a great fare (almost half the cost of SAA) on Delta/KLM through Amsterdam. Longer flight, but so much cheaper, and we tend to accumulate Delta miles. Flight home is good as we are leaving out of Cape town and would have to connect on any airline.