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Posted by
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Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistance
Posted by quadfest on 2/13/17 at 11:32 pm00
Wife and I decided to go to South Africa in May. Having trouble figuring out how to maximize my points to get there, preferably business class. Trying to avoid flying through the Middle East.
Any help is appreciated. Dates are May 5-19, slightly flexible. Atlanta to Johannesburg (prefer Cape Town) seems the easiest.
Have 270K UR, 50K MR, and some Marriott.
Figured out if had to, could fly Virgin Atlantic premium economy and buy the tickets off CSR portal and it would cover it, but hoping for better value.
TIA and paging Amerikop.
Any help is appreciated. Dates are May 5-19, slightly flexible. Atlanta to Johannesburg (prefer Cape Town) seems the easiest.
Have 270K UR, 50K MR, and some Marriott.
Figured out if had to, could fly Virgin Atlantic premium economy and buy the tickets off CSR portal and it would cover it, but hoping for better value.
TIA and paging Amerikop.
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by BobMayonnaise on 2/13/17 at 11:37 pm to quadfest
When I went quite a few years ago, we departed from Atlanta, refueled in Cape Verde, then landed in Cape Town all through Delta.
For a flight that long, strongly recommend direct flights. Atlanta to Cape Town or Jo-burg. You will have to stop and refuel on the way back. It's a LONG flight.
Be sure and take the Blue Train between the two cities for a fantastic old world experience.
Be sure and take the Blue Train between the two cities for a fantastic old world experience.
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by Mingo Was His NameO on 2/14/17 at 8:52 am to quadfest
I can't give any first hand advice, but I do have a friend from Joberg. He flies either direct from Atlanta or through London. It will be long, but if you have time it may be nice to spend a day in London on a layover.
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by Teddy Ruxpin on 2/14/17 at 7:33 pm to quadfest
South Africa Airways has a flight from IAD to Johannesburg that you can transfer UR to United to book. Just remember that most of the time it stops in Dakar to refuel. Sometimes they do equipment changes and it can make it the whole way.
American miles on Qatar via Doha is another option.
UR miles transfer to Korean to book Skyteam partners is a cheap UR option for business class.
Chase UR to Africa
Multi part series going through options of various point systems.
American miles on Qatar via Doha is another option.
UR miles transfer to Korean to book Skyteam partners is a cheap UR option for business class.
Chase UR to Africa
Multi part series going through options of various point systems.
This post was edited on 2/14 at 7:35 pm
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by Rollwave034 on 2/14/17 at 8:14 pm to quadfest
There is one flight a day direct from DC from Johannesburg on South African air. When I went in November, I did Msy, DC, Johannesburg booked through United. On the way home, I did Johannesburg, London, Chicago, msy through United. Joburg to London was Lufthansa. Saa and Lufthansa are star alliance members but all flights were booked through united
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by speckledawg on 2/14/17 at 9:01 pm to Rollwave034
That sounds like a great trip, but that flight time is depressing. I thought ATL -> ICN was bad enough.
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by quadfest on 2/14/17 at 10:45 pm to BobMayonnaise
Booked via United for wife and I there, business (Turkish airlines and South African) through Istanbul and Dar es Salaam to JNB.
Still working on return flight.
Still working on return flight.
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re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by Reservoir dawg on 2/15/17 at 6:12 am to BobMayonnaise
SAA used to fly ATL-JNB nonstop. That route used to be one of the world's longest.
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by AmeriKop45 on 2/15/17 at 8:43 am to quadfest
Air France is an option too connecting in CDG. In economy this is one of the cheapest options. In business/first not so much.
Personally I would use UR -> Korean to fly business RT for 120K pp. United is a tad higher at 140K. But Korean only allows RTs on partners so if you've already booked your one way, this is not an option anymore.
On way back I would suggest transferring both UR and MR to Singapore and fly Business on Star members back. Think it is 72.5K pp.
Personally I would use UR -> Korean to fly business RT for 120K pp. United is a tad higher at 140K. But Korean only allows RTs on partners so if you've already booked your one way, this is not an option anymore.
On way back I would suggest transferring both UR and MR to Singapore and fly Business on Star members back. Think it is 72.5K pp.
This post was edited on 2/15 at 8:46 am
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by quadfest on 2/15/17 at 3:00 pm to AmeriKop45
When you say to Singapore? How do you find which flight to take for a Star Member. Looking to leave JNB may 20.
Yeah, in retrospect shoulda looked at Korean but didn't really understand how it worked.
I have about 105K UR and 50K MR left for return. And 30K Marriott
Yeah, in retrospect shoulda looked at Korean but didn't really understand how it worked.
I have about 105K UR and 50K MR left for return. And 30K Marriott
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by Teddy Ruxpin on 4/28/17 at 2:55 pm to quadfest
So does anyone have a trip report for Cape Town and/or Kruger?
I just booked for March 2018.
Biz class IAD - ADD - CPT; back from JNB - ADD - IAD in Econ (that should be fun) on Ethiopian. Have to add my Austin leg later.
Anything not so obvious suggestions? I see this Blue Train idea but that may take too long so planned on flying CPT - MQP nonstop to get to Kruger.
I just booked for March 2018.
Biz class IAD - ADD - CPT; back from JNB - ADD - IAD in Econ (that should be fun) on Ethiopian. Have to add my Austin leg later.
Anything not so obvious suggestions? I see this Blue Train idea but that may take too long so planned on flying CPT - MQP nonstop to get to Kruger.
This post was edited on 4/28 at 2:56 pm
If you can get your points converted to Korean Air miles. They have good redemption rates, you can exchange it on another Skyteam partner.
I wouldn't fly on South African, their product/service isn't that good.
The most comfortable way, avoiding ME carriers, would be on Virgin Atlantic.
I wouldn't fly on South African, their product/service isn't that good.
The most comfortable way, avoiding ME carriers, would be on Virgin Atlantic.
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by Teddy Ruxpin on 4/28/17 at 5:03 pm to RedFoxx
quote:
If you can get your points converted to Korean Air miles. They have good redemption rates, you can exchange it on another Skyteam partner.
Easier said then done as I just tried it.
Would have been great to book the Delta flight ATL to JNB or perhaps KLM, but to book this you have to call the Korean customer service line and feed them the route and dates. They then call you back. I have no patience to do that 30 times nor using an award booking service.
In 2007, flew from Memphis to DC and missed the flight from DC to Joburg so we flew to Amsterdam instead then straight down the globe to Joburg. flew back from Joburg to DC.. Stopped in Dakar to refuel to get back to the states.
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by quadfest on 4/29/17 at 7:54 am to Teddy Ruxpin
We are heading out May 6 for 2 weeks to South Africa. Ended up doing Turkish Biz there (2 stops) + SAA to Cape Town, then Virgin Atlantic First Class back through London. The Skyteam partners deal seemed better but I couldn't pull the trigger to fly through Cairo.
We are doing Cape Town 4 days, Frranschoek Wine Country 3 days, Sabi Sabi Safari (near Kruger) for 3 days then Victoria Falls for 2 days.
We are flying CPT - Kruger via SA airways, then have a Federal Air Shuttle to Sabi Sabi.
Will try to remember to come back and post a trip report!
We are doing Cape Town 4 days, Frranschoek Wine Country 3 days, Sabi Sabi Safari (near Kruger) for 3 days then Victoria Falls for 2 days.
We are flying CPT - Kruger via SA airways, then have a Federal Air Shuttle to Sabi Sabi.
Will try to remember to come back and post a trip report!
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by Teddy Ruxpin on 4/29/17 at 9:20 am to quadfest
Sweet. Please do. Sounds like you have some familiar elements to what we're going to need to know.
re: Traveling to South Africa-need flight assistancePosted by SpringBokCock on 4/30/17 at 2:29 pm to quadfest
Figure by now you already have it booked.
Went last year on Business class. I wanted to fly on an A380, so it ended up like an Amazing Race itinerary.
Columbia - Charlotte - Paris on American. 8 hour layover in CDG (got a hotel room). Then Paris - Doha - Cape Town on Qatar. A380 to Doha and 787 to Cape Town.
American was surprisingly good.
Qatar Airways was amazing. Gorgeous brand new aircraft; beautiful friendly flight attendants; super comfortable pods with 22-inch monitors. Food brought out on plates -- made to order. No trolleys and no trays. Pajamas and slippers. Bar in the back of the A380 is sweet.
Airport in Qatar is incredible -- opened in 2014. Freaked my wife out because she went to the bathroom in the business class lounge & two female attendants waited outside the stall door for her to finish so they could do an immediate clean up.
Wife was a little antsy about flying through the middle east, but it was a breeze. No sense of unease on the flight or the airport. She flirted her way through security at Doha with zero problems. Yeah, you see a few people in traditional clothing, but no one bothers you. You're pretty darn safe on Qatar, Etihad or Emirates.
After a week in Cape Town (stayed in Camps Bay), took the Blue Train to Pretoria. Overnight at JNB airport hotel and then flew to Botswana for safari. Flew home on Delta's nonstop between Joburg and Atlanta. 16+ hour flight.
I've taken both the Blue Train and Rovos Rail (and the Orient Express in Europe). They are fun as a bucket list sort of thing, but eventually grow pretty tedious. Scenery out of Cape Town is fantastic, but once you get deep into the Karoo, you're ready to get off the damn thing.
Go paragliding off Signal Hill. Best thing you'll ever do.
Springbok and Ostrich are delicious, as is the fish. If you see crayfish on the menu, it's actually lobster. Order it.
Take the cable car up table mountain; the boat to Robben Island; and drive to Cape Point. Rent a car. Unlike the rest of Africa, South Africa is easy to drive in (only real adjustment is driving on the left side of the road). Roads are in great shape, well-sign posted, and everyone actually obeys the rules.
Went last year on Business class. I wanted to fly on an A380, so it ended up like an Amazing Race itinerary.
Columbia - Charlotte - Paris on American. 8 hour layover in CDG (got a hotel room). Then Paris - Doha - Cape Town on Qatar. A380 to Doha and 787 to Cape Town.
American was surprisingly good.
Qatar Airways was amazing. Gorgeous brand new aircraft; beautiful friendly flight attendants; super comfortable pods with 22-inch monitors. Food brought out on plates -- made to order. No trolleys and no trays. Pajamas and slippers. Bar in the back of the A380 is sweet.
Airport in Qatar is incredible -- opened in 2014. Freaked my wife out because she went to the bathroom in the business class lounge & two female attendants waited outside the stall door for her to finish so they could do an immediate clean up.
Wife was a little antsy about flying through the middle east, but it was a breeze. No sense of unease on the flight or the airport. She flirted her way through security at Doha with zero problems. Yeah, you see a few people in traditional clothing, but no one bothers you. You're pretty darn safe on Qatar, Etihad or Emirates.
After a week in Cape Town (stayed in Camps Bay), took the Blue Train to Pretoria. Overnight at JNB airport hotel and then flew to Botswana for safari. Flew home on Delta's nonstop between Joburg and Atlanta. 16+ hour flight.
I've taken both the Blue Train and Rovos Rail (and the Orient Express in Europe). They are fun as a bucket list sort of thing, but eventually grow pretty tedious. Scenery out of Cape Town is fantastic, but once you get deep into the Karoo, you're ready to get off the damn thing.
Go paragliding off Signal Hill. Best thing you'll ever do.
Springbok and Ostrich are delicious, as is the fish. If you see crayfish on the menu, it's actually lobster. Order it.
Take the cable car up table mountain; the boat to Robben Island; and drive to Cape Point. Rent a car. Unlike the rest of Africa, South Africa is easy to drive in (only real adjustment is driving on the left side of the road). Roads are in great shape, well-sign posted, and everyone actually obeys the rules.
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