Roccco

I have located a first class frequent flier seat from LHR - JNB for my required dates...would have preferred to go through Paris or Frankfurt but dates are not available. The most preferred way would have been business class from the USA - JNB but dates do not work...I am not changing my dates again or else I will start losing properties.

I have a choice between Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, American Airlines and a couple others.

I am leaning towards a Premium Economy flight on Virgin Atlantic for $1368, about $550 more than an economy flight. However, those extra few inches of comfort are probably worth it. Plus, it does give me about 8,000 more miles, about a $200 value?

Therefore, I am really paying $350 more for extra comfort, however minimal. To the best of my recollection, the premium economy seats are like the business class seats of a 737...nowhere near typical business class but definitely more comfortable than economy.

Any other options I should consider for LAX - LHR?

Thanks.

ShayTay

Would you happen to have elite status on any airline, such as being a United Premier member? If so, you could get their Economy Plus seats, which have more legroom than regular Economy. I think they also allow non-Premier fliers to upgrade to these seats for a fee. The other airlines may have a similar setup, but I usually fly United.

Roccco

ShayTay,

Thanks for the feedback. I have been on the phone for the last hour talking to different airlines. London is just not going to work for me as the only carry on that is allowed is a laptop sized bag. There is NO WAY that I am going to check in baggage containing my cameras & lenses.

No first class or business class air for me this time around as the only flight that worked was through LHR.

The carry on bag situation is much more relaxed if I go through Paris to Joburg. Chances are I will fly LAX - CDG - JNB or I will fly LAX - IAD - JNB.

The LAX - JFK - JNB flight does not work for me as it arrives in JNB at 5:55PM. At least the IAD flight arrives around Noon.

Lucia78

For the future, since it looks like you won't be flying through LHR....Virgin hands down. I've flown to LHR too many times and Virgin is by far and away the best. Their premium economy is quite comfortable. Basically instead of a row with a 2 4 2 configuration it's a 2 3 2 configuration and the seats have more pitch, are wider and have leg rests. They are definitely more comfortable than economy and are nicer than the business class that you'll find on domestic US Air or Airtran flights.

Good call on not going through LHR on your way to JNB. One of the people on our flight lost all her luggage (which was everything she had...as we flew when you had to check everything). Also you probably already know this, but apparently the JNB scanners are in bed with the baggage handlers and there's a real theft scheme going on.

Patty

If you're not UA elite, you can buy E+ access for $299 for a year http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51326,00.html

This allows you and one companion traveling on the same itinerary to select seats in the E+ section at the time of booking, subject to availability of course. E+ will give you a few additional inches of legroom but not as much as BA WT+ or VS PE. Also the E+ seats are the same as regular economy seats so no additional width or legrests (I don't think). E+ seating is 2-5-2 on the 777 and 2-3-2 on the 763 same as regular economy.

BA WT+ seating is 2-4-2 and VS PE is 2-2 on the 747 used between LAX-LHR or 2-3-2 on the A346. If you go with VS, I recommend the earlier flights (008/007) that use the 747 and get a pair of seats on the upper deck PE section, but I don't know if the schedule would work with your LHR-JNB flights or are you overnighting at LHR?

PE is very similar to US domestic first class seating only the catering and service on board will be the same as economy. You do get a separate check-in queue and priority boarding. Only you can decide if it's worth it. For us, the answer would be yes but Mark and I have vowed never to fly in regular economy on any flight over 5 hours duration if we can help it for the rest of our lives, so we may be more extreme than most

Where are you going to credit your miles? If crediting to DL Skymiles, VS PE earns only 115% so about 1600 extra miles RT. If crediting to VS Flying Club, you'll earn 150% or about 5400 extra miles RT (this is compared to most regular economy fare classes with the exception of N which only earns 50% Flying Club miles or zero Skymiles). Also if you're thinking of crediting this to DL Skymiles, make sure you book your flights with a VS (not CO) code.

Which trip is this for?

Patty

OK, nevermind

Patty

Which carrier's miles were you originally using for the LHR-JNB FC award?

Roccco

Patty,

Actually it is for my upcoming trip. Looks like I will be going solo this time around and I therefore need to hold onto my LAX - Sydney - JNB flights for next May for my Zimbabwe/Mozambique visit.

Alexsandra's business is booming right now (good for her business, bad for herb being able to join me for 25 days away right now).

So, that is why I am all of a sudden in need of a flight. I think I am going to go with the IAD - JNB flight on SAA. It gets me in at 12:50PM, giving me a restful overnight in JNB before starting my safari. I also have added a night in JNB at the end to make the transfer home easier and now that there is no time in Sydney, I have added a couple nights in Linyanti.

ITINERARY:

D'Oreale Grande, Emperor Casino, JNB (1)
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge (3)
Mateya Safari Lodge (3)
Linyanti Bushcamp (2) www.africanbushcamps.com
Baines Camp (3)
Chiefs Camp (3)
Lebala (2)
Lagoon (2)
Kwara (2)
Michelangelo Towers, Sandton (1)

I could not have picked a worse airline than Qantas for this cancellation as it is not as if I can fly Qantas to very many destinations from Los Angeles.

Patty

When did you buy your Qantas tickets? You're sure they're still valid for May 2007 right?

Roccco

Patty,

I bought them about two months ago...late June/early July.

matnikstym

who's herb?

CarlaM

Rocco,
What time does the Wash.DC-JNB arrive?
I never thought about flying through Sydney. Isn't that alot further traveling distance? Or are you just interested in visiting Australia?

CarlaM

Ok, sorry. I just looked up what IAD is (thought it was something other than Wash-Dulles). But I am still curious about the Sydney route.

Roccco

Carla,

For October, the pricing was about the same to fly LAX - Sydney - JNB as the price would have been to fly JFK or IAD to Senegal to JNB or LAX - Europe - JNB.

I don't have a mileage chart in front of me, but I am guessing it is nearly 2,000 miles further going through Sydney. However, it added less than 3 hours as there is far less time on the ground than if going through Europe.

However, I also chose this route because I thought the plane would be emptier and I wanted to spend 3 nights in Sydney. This route does add at least an overnight in Sydney on the return, and I thought having a single overnight by myself would have been silly, as would it be to experience Sydney by myself for longer.

Kavey

I've flown Virgin to Florida a few times, the last trip was in their Premium Economy cabin and I was very pleased.

Seats were comfortable and well-spaced out. Personal storage space was generous. Service was good and friendly. Food was the same old normal crap but I don't really care about the food to be honest.

I liked the fact that the Premium Seats were in the top deck on the plane too - the shape of the area meant only two and two in a row and storage space at seat height as well as overhead.

Roccco

Hi Kavey,

If not for those impossible carry-on restrictions for London, I would definitely have gone with Virgin Atlantic and flown LAX - LHR - JNB in premium economy the whole way. The seats are nearly as wide as the business class seats (20" vs. 22" while most economy is only 17&quot and the pitch is better than economy, as well.

Looks like I will settle for economy from LAX - IAD - JNB or LAX - CDG - JNB.

Oh well, at least I will have a very healthy frequent flier mile balance piling up.

dssxxxx

$185.00 for 2 Business First from EWR - AMS - JRO.

Not bad..........

Plus 400,000 FF miles using sleazy pass....

Roccco

400,000 ff miles...OUCH! It would take me 2.5 years to save up that many miles.

I may have another shot at the frequent flier mile seat as I may be forced to change my South Africa stay until the end of my stay. This would work better, anyway, as I like to think of South Africa as the sweet dessert to a hearty meal (the meal being my Botswana safari this time or usually my Zambia safari).

I just hope I am able to finish up in Linyanti/Lebala/Lagoon prior to the rains:

(I am going to dive right into this safari as I don't even have time anymore to spend an initial night in Joburg)

Linyanti Bushcamp (3)
Baines Camp (3)
Chiefs Camp (3)
Lebala (2)
Lagoon (2)
Kwara (2)
Michelangelo Towers, Sandton (1)
Sabi Sabi (3)
Mateya (3)

napamatt

VS wins hands down over any US carrier. Even economy is better because the IFE is so much better.
If you want more information on VS

www.v-flyer.com

Go to forums and Trip reports.

matnikstym

I'm going Virgin in October, but you don't get full mileage credit when doing economy, but better than BA which I got 0 miles from the last trip when flying economy. (the difference in price from economy and economy plus equalled about 4 nights in a lodge) so spent the money in Africa instead of getting to Africa.