patandhank

I've done several forum searches re airlines to SA, but a lot of the posts are really old (both here and on Flyer Talk). So I thought I would see by posting here if anyone has done any recent flying to SA on SAA and/or Egypt Air.

We're on award tickets to SA in June. We're taking the "scenic route" meaning that we're flying JFK to Toronto on Air Canada and then to Munich on Lufthansa where we'll stay for 3 nights. Then on to Cape Town via Johannesburg on Egypt Air and SAA (on the CPT leg). We're flying business class.

Some of the old posts I saw said SAA actually weighs your carry on at the gate. Any recent travelers have this experience? I'd really like to stay to carry on but the weight restriction of 17 lbs (per the website) may be a deal breaker for Egypt Air and SAA.

Just thought I'd see if any recent travelers out there who have flown these lines to SA.

1Caroline

We flew SAA 2 years ago. I know that's not as recent as you'd probably like, but I do have a couple of points to make. While I probably would fly SAA again as it is the major carrier into some places I like, I would find another airlines if I had a choice. There were a number of small things and one bigger one that made me feel that way. First we had chosen seats and when we got to check in they gave us different seats and when we questioned it they said they always 'reserved the right' to change the seats. So, I got in front of a child whose parents really, really needed some parental training. Not only did she drive me to the brink of insanity, she also drove other passengers and several airline personnel. I complained about the child who kicked the back of my seat and screamed with glee as she pulled my hair, and the airline personnel said they didn't know what to do as they'd already asked the parents to control her. I don't think she slept a minute during the flight as pulling my hair and running up and down the aisle squealing were too entertaining for her. When I told the parents they had to control her, they said 'We can't do anything with her.' So, that wasn't completely an airline problem, but they did change our seats from the original ones and then they didn't control the child.

The even bigger one though was that we stopped in Senegal and without warning they came through spraying some chemical over everyone in the plane (we couldn't get off). They 'assured us' that it wasn't a problem, but I have a serious pulmonary health problem and while I wouldn't want it if I were healthy, I don't think they could say with any credibility that it was safe for me. Additionally, I had with me a breathing mask for use in the event there was some problem on board that I needed to use it but they didn't give us any notice. The first I knew was when we saw the sprayer coming about 4-5 seats away. So, be aware that if you stop in Senegal (it usually just says one stop and you have to look a little to see where) you will get sprayed or did two years ago. They supposedly spray because of some disease that they are afraid will spread to the cattle.

Again, while this isn't totally current, I don't think it is obsolete either. I think (from friends) that they are still doing it.

We were told from a friend who is from SA that anytime you are flying into Jo'burg don't put anything into your luggage that you can't stand to lose. Also wrapping at the airports is strongly recommended by my friend and some of the books I've read.

Hope that helps some.

1Caroline

BTW, I forgot to mention Egypt Air. We flew a short 2-3 hour flight to Morocco from Barcelona on Egypt Air and were very impressed. It was clean, punctual that day (not sure about their record), and we were happy.

patandhank

Wow 1Caroline - just logged in and saw your replies. Thanks for taking the time to comment. It does sound like your SAA flight was a nightmare. I don't blame you for being upset.

We don't have any stops as it's a non-stop from JNB to CPT which is our SAA leg. I have heard the horror stories about JNB and luggage too (even from a flight attendant I recently met) which is another reason I'd like to do carry on if possible. Just concerned about the weight restriction.

ShayTay

Lufthansa will also weigh your carry-on (just flew with them to SA.) I don't recall SAA and Egypt Air doing that when I flew with them a couple of years ago. If you are flying Business Class, the limits for these airlines are 2 bags at 8kg (17.6 lbs) each. If you have more than that, perhaps you're taking too much! Pack light, because the safari camps will do laundry. I don't know about your stopover in Munich, but I imagine you can get laundry service there, as well, if needed.

patandhank

Thanks ShayTay. You're right about the laundry in the camps. My goal is to keep it one bag at the 17 lbs and then a smaller bag.
We're doing 2 nights (fast I know) in CPT then back to JNB for 2 nights where we meet some friends and then we head on to Botswana for 3 nights at Camp Kalahari at the Makgadikgadi Pans Nat'l Park; 3 nights at Kwando Lagoon Camp in Chobe Nat'l Park; 3 nights at Little Kwara in the Delta and then 2 nights at Ilala Lodge on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls. They all pretty much do laundry.

Guess I'll be doing some searches on the various packing lists people took!

Leslie_S

This is from a few years back but, yeah, the SAA spraying in Senegal was vile and at that time I'd not heard of it so we weren't prepared and got it pretty much right in the face.

Also, they did weigh our carry-ons coming back home.

My husband was really annoyed because they made him turn his iphone off even though he tried to explain it was in airplane mode. He was planning to watch movies on it and play games and not being able to sort of sucked for him on the long flight. Maybe in the years since they've figured out what airplane mode means on devices.

This sticks in my mind as odd but maybe there's a good reason for it...while getting ready to land in Senegal the flight attendant woke up an elderly woman and tried to take her blanket away from her to prepare for landing. This is on a stop where you don't leave the plane and she intended to keep sleeping if possible and also it was FREEZING on that flight. She argued with him and they both got quite loud. At a point the FA was pulling and she was holding on to the other side of that blanket for dear life. He did win eventually. Maybe there's some kind of risk to having a blanket wrapped around you during landing but it certainly wasn't handled very nicely!!

My one experience with Egypt Air was ok except they did not tidy the lavs at all during the flight (which unfortunately we were sitting near). They were the most disgusting mess I've ever seen/smelled from our seats (sorry to be so gross but it was awful) by the end of the flight from Cairo to JFK.

coolmeerajoshi

I have travelled in South African airways. I honestly think that it is decent airline service perfect for your journey. I have always had a great experience with South African airways, they were failed to deliver. You can get more links on South African airways from the links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrea...n-airways.html.

coolmeerajoshi

I have travelled in South African airways. I honestly think that it is decent airline service perfect for your journey. I have always had a great experience with South African airways, they were failed to deliver. You can get more links on South African airways from the links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrean_Airlines, http://www.cleartrip.ae/airlines/sou...n-airways.html.

Hobbert

I flew SAA from Dulles to Johannesburg last fall with a stop in Dakar. Yes, the chemical spraying was awful. No one said it was coming and it was disturbing to see it happening.

Our bags were not weighed at the gate.

Oddly, the plane was searched for a solid hour in Dakar on the way home. We all had to collect our carry ons and hold them so they knew who owned what while they searched the crap out of that plane. It was strange. We were all searched twice getting on the plane in Joburg and had to hold our passports out as we deplaned in Dulles. Hmmmm.

docklang

Btw, the experience with the child can happen on any brand airline. What did you expect the flight attendant to do, use duct tape? Lol! It happened to me on Lufthansa and the father told me to chill.

Yes the spray is a surprise but I have taken SAA about 24 times and suffered no ill effect, and I also have asthma. As I remember they do let you know it is happening and say you can cover your face if you wish.
It is probably a permethrin, a perfectly safe product made from flowers. They spray it in barns all the time.
It is for flies and mosquitoes that might be hiding.

cary999

Well, I hate them all!!!
Giving up flying unless necessary for family emergency. On my last safari when having dinner with other camp guests everyone complained about their flights. A lady said - flying I guess is just a necessary evil. I replied - yes it is evil, but, for me not necessary.

regards - tom

sandi

With few exceptions and depending on from where an air carrier is departing and then landing, few 'spray' any longer as they've been sued... so be sure to ask and get yourself into the lav as quickly as possible.

I know that some flights from the Caribbean to the US, others from India and a few African countries, even to the Seychelles still spray. Beats me to this day why before loading paxs the crew just doesn't spray the plane so no one is impacted... and know that they do have to spray towards the floor, not over paxs heads. So remember to ask.

Years back, friends who flew for US carriers in/out of the Caribbean were required to spray, but they figured out how to stop doing so... rather spraying the cans down the lav and on landing were able to present the empty cans to agents on the ground as was the rule of proof that they had. Sneaky, yes. But the crews were concerned with their own health. Guess the newer, younger crew members have lots to learn from their older sister/brother crew members Since those years, there are only a few routes that still require this.

On two of my flights in past 10-15/yrs between KEN/SEZ and VFA/JNB, as soon as I saw the crew go for those cans, I was in the lav so quickly you would have thought there was a fire under my butt. Again do ask and hope they provide proper info.

patandhank

We just returned from our trip to S. Africa/Botswana. Our experience on SAA was fine. Food was good and the flight attendants were fine despite some reports I had read. Never questioned on the carry on and everything was very smooth. They use very old planes compared to other airlines but hey - they got us there so no complaints from our end.

I'll be doing a trip report soon on our trip. It was amazing.