ElliottNYC

Thanks Gardyloo. I guess I'll just have to "slum it" in business class. (I hope everyone can see my tongue firmly planted in cheek!). As said, the older business class is still better than the best coach seat!

Ericka

Are you all familiar with this website?

www.flatseats.com

Good overview of "who offers what" in biz and first. They list out who offers old seats, flat and angled-flat. They also have reviews and a 1,2,3 ranking of who's the best for seat comfort.

Gardyloo

Yes, quite familiar. On award tickets, however, beggers can't...

jasher

Hello,

Virgin Atlantic all the way for me -- even in coach much better than BA, and their business class is the best I've ever experienced. If only they'd fly to Cape Town all year round instead of just in the high season...another issue to raise with Sir Richard when I see him in town.

Cheers,
Julian

jasher

BTW, I have heard that Iberia, being Spanish, still allows smoking on some flights (as does TAP Air Portugal). You may want to check this if you don't care to asphyxiate on your way to Africa.

Cheers,
Julian

Gardyloo

Topping this older thread for ElliottNYC -

Apparently Iberia has ads appearing in the British press this week (<i>Economist</i> and <i>Daily Telegraph</i> if not more) which say that all longhaul IB flights will have the new &quot;business plus&quot; seating in service by July 1 2006. Fingers crossed.

jasher

All of my trips to Africa have been on Virgin Atlantic due to the number of FF miles I have with them, and I've had no complaints about either the service, the flights, or even getting FF redemption - it all runs like clockwork.

I have noticed, though, that the Virgin planes on the Joburg and Cape Town routes aren't as nice as those on the UK-US routes for some reason -- the improvements are rolled out first for the US routes. But the African routes are finally being upgraded.

Of course riding up front is much more fun -- Upper Class is very, well, classy. But as economy class goes, Virgin isn't bad.

Cheers,
Julian

Roccco

Gardyloo or anybody else,

Any news on how the Miama - Nairobi flights on Kenya Airways are coming along? I think this is a great option as Nairobi connects to most every city that matters in Africa.

For my November trip to Botswana and South Africa, I am going LAX - SYD - JNB, but for the next trip, I would love to go LAX - Miami - Nairobi...my next trip is either March 2007 or May 2007 (or both).

Which alliance does Kenya Airways belong to, as far as frequent flier miles go?

Thanks.

ElliottNYC

Gardyloo,

Thanks so much for thinking of me with this information. If IB is true to it's advertising, then this is indeed great news! I was content with the fact that I had business class seats at all, but if the Business Plus product is on my flight, it would be all the sweeter. If you happen to see any of these advertisements, and are able to capture it in an image, or a link, I would be most appreciative if you could post a quick note!

Julian - I do have to agree with you about Virgin's Upper Class. It is far and away the finest business class I have ever experienced.

Happy travels!

Elliott

Patty

Rocco,
Kenya Airways participates in Flying Blue (joint program of Air France and KLM). You can also earn Northwest Worldperks miles for Kenya Airways flights but these don't count toward elite qualification.

It was announced about a year ago that Kenya Airways will join Skyteam as an associate member, but that hasn't materialized yet. Once it does, I imagine you would be able to earn/redeem through any Skyteam member program (domestically that would include Continental, Northwest and Delta).

Roccco

Patty,

Thanks...I am hopeful that I may have enough points by next May to fly Miami - Nairobi in Business Class if that route materializes.

ElliottNYC

I was just digging around Iberia's website, and came across a press clipping from January that said that the entire long haul fleet would have the business plus product by &quot;spring&quot;. I really hope that they stay true to their word and have all the 340's converted by July!

IngridG

Technically in the continent of Africa - Egypt Air sucks!!

See my review:http://www.epinions.com/content_72882228868

safarilover

I usually fly SAA economy class JFK-JNB-CPT and would rate it mediocre at best. It's a far cry from the old days when SAA was a really good airline.

In January I flew Northwest also economy (can't afford anything else!) from US to Amsterdam where we picked up KLM to JRO. Where Northwest was abolutely dreadful, my traveling companion and I gave KLM high marks--video on demand, decent food and drinks, cheerful, courteous cabin crew, and reasonably comfortable seats.

My middle name is &quot;Fearless,&quot; but I must admit that I had some trepidation about the small plane flights in Tanzania, however, we were very pleased with our three Coastal flights--new, clean 12-passenger planes with competent pilots. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Zanair.

cindysafari

Right now British Airways is my LEAST favorite airline to Kenya...I cannot get through to talk to a live person, and when I call I am trapped in a prerecorded loop! UGH! Very frustrating!

DJE

Returned a few weeks ago from our second trip to Africa flying the european portion from London to Joburg again in FC on SAA. Fortunate to have collected enough points to obtain these tickets a year ago through Delta. Don't know how easy this would be now that they are a part of Star Alliance or how many points would be needed to book this class again. We better start saving in the event we do a 3rd trip in the future as I've been quite spoiled flying in that class for this destination. Normally it's Business Class for any flights longer than 3 or 4 hrs. The entire experience was wonderful in all respects and top marks given to the great staff and service provided.