Best routes to South Africa (flying)

[Inspectorclueso]

I need to go to SA in January, Cape Town and Durban. I wondered what peoples experience of flights a routes there is. I went last year, BA from LHR to Cape Town, this was overnight, but I managed to bag business class so that was ok. However, Business class this time is £7k, which is a bit steep, so I'm looking at options.

I'd much prefer to go in the day, I don't sleep well on flights, hence I'm looking at either largely day times flights, or better value Business class. Unfortunately most of the flights are over night.

I have seen KLM from Amsterdam is daytime out, but not back, or may consider Emirates via Dubai.

Any views ?

[Burrow01]

I fly KLM on the day time flight years ago and it was very good. You basically fly across the Sahara and down the coast of Africa - very interesting views out of the window.

As there was no time difference between NL and SA you arrive mid evening with no jet lag, and therefore have no problem sleeping after arrival

I was in Business Class and it was a long time ago and so I cannot recommend any current airlines etc, but it was definitely a flight I remember

[Largechris]

Done this a few times, don't think there are any great answers after a lot of routes were cut:

Might have changed very recently, but BA consistently stuck their oldest worst planes on the direct route and charged silly prices as you've seen. Just on principle I declined this last time.

Via Dubai is obviously great in terms of being a proper airline with service, but if you look on the map it does seem an awfully big diversion and turns it into a pretty much whole day affair.

Think you might have to suck it up and try the Virgin overnight option, you don't have to sleep.

[Inspectorclueso]

thanks for view - going to check the KLM option.

I have seen that the Virgin flight back from Cape T is day time, so that helps, and I have also seen emirates from Birm to Dubai - stay over night, then daytime to Durban, so that may be another option, but agree, it adds a fair amount if time !

[gotoPzero]

The old BA aircraft is because VS fly the 787 with the old suite. As soon as VS put an A350 on the route BA will put the newer layout aircraft on.

[Imasurv]

We have a day time flight back from CT later in December with Lufthansa.

[paddy1970]

Do not go via dubai...it really makes the journey too long. I did it once and really regretted it. Only fly direct.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Maybe look at BA premium economy - we did LHR to CT like that and I actually managed a good sleep and I also don’t sleep well on planes

[Imasurv]

paddy1970 said:

Do not go via dubai...it really makes the journey too long. I did it once and really regretted it. Only fly direct.

Would tend to agree. We fly from Manchester so have to connect, with the euro carriers (inc BA) you are looking around 14/15 hours. With Qatar/Emirates it’s around 19 hours which is a fair difference.

[Inspectorclueso]

One of the main reasons in considering Emirates route is the fact I need to go to Durban and Cape Town, hence you can go straight to Durban from Dubai, then fly to Cape Town then Cape Town to LHR. But..., there's always a but...if I use the car to get to the airport, the car is then at BHX and I'll land back in LHR. I think I'll keep it simple and go to and from LHR, which in fairness is a much better airport....

One option that has arisen is to go from Amsterdam - daytime flight to Cape Town. I'd need to get to Amsterdam the day before, but that means I'll have a night in Amsterdam to kill on my own.... So the next thread may be, one night in Amsterdam, what to do ?

[Boxster5]

paddy1970 said:

Do not go via dubai...it really makes the journey too long. I did it once and really regretted it. Only fly direct.

Definitely agree with this - our first time we flew Emirates Newcastle to Dubai, Dubai to Cape Town - 2 very long flights with the only advantage being you arrive mid morning but it’s still an overnight flight. It’s like a hind leg of a donkey and the return flight we had some horrible guy flying from India or Pakistan next seat to me coughing, sneezing & wiping it on his shiny suit and demanding “tea”, “paracetamol” - horrible man!
Last time we flew KLM Newcastle to Amsterdam then Amsterdam to Cape Town which gets you in around 9:00pm - ending up staying a night in Hotel Verde near the airport rather than driving to our accommodation at night. So first night effectively wasted.
Next year we’re flying BA Newcastle to Heathrow, Heathrow to Cape Town - arrives around 12:00 - will see how that one pans out.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Inspectorclueso said:

One of the main reasons in considering Emirates route is the fact I need to go to Durban and Cape Town, hence you can go straight to Durban from Dubai, then fly to Cape Town then Cape Town to LHR. But..., there's always a but...if I use the car to get to the airport, the car is then at BHX and I'll land back in LHR. I think I'll keep it simple and go to and from LHR, which in fairness is a much better airport....

One option that has arisen is to go from Amsterdam - daytime flight to Cape Town. I'd need to get to Amsterdam the day before, but that means I'll have a night in Amsterdam to kill on my own.... So the next thread may be, one night in Amsterdam, what to do ?

This is Piston Heads……….do you need to ask!!

[Inspectorclueso]

Boringvolvodriver said:

This is Piston Heads……….do you need to ask!!

I thought there may be some good museum / cultural experience recommendations ....!

[jinkster]

Virgin B787 night flight (no rush hour traffic on the M25) down to Cape Town and day flight back landing around 8pm (missed the rush hour traffic again...!)

[djc206]

gotoPzero said:

The old BA aircraft is because VS fly the 787 with the old suite. As soon as VS put an A350 on the route BA will put the newer layout aircraft on.

BA use club suites aircraft on the Cape Town route now. Not on the Jo’burg route though