We're planning a trip using Star Alliance RTW tickets (Business Class).

Our first segment will be flying from Perth, Australia to Zurich. We'd planned to fly SIA via SIN, but were told today that SIA charges a $500 per person surcharge on this particular routing. Lufthansa is a possiiblity, but that means a change in either FRA or Munich.

We're now considering flying South African Airways from PER-ZRH via JNB.

This route is on a 346 to JNB, which offers completely horizontal seats in Business, and connects to a Swiss flight. Looks good on paper, as it's only two flights and we arrive around the same time as the SIA flight.

We've never flown South African Airways. Any comments from those who have?

South African int'l business class does indeed offer excellent seats for sleeping -- among the best in the industry. And the SIA flight from SIN to ZRH does have a $500 surcharge.

However, flying through JNB adds a huge amount of miles and time to the trip -- it's 1500 miles more to go via JNB.

I'd suggest taking SIA to SIN, then connecting to the LH flight to MUC and then onward to ZRH. Taking this route, even with 3 flights instead of 2, takes less time than going through JNB. Both SIN and MUC are especially efficient airports, and connections are generally uncomplicated.

Thanks rizzuto. We've been to both MUC and FRA, just thought we'd try something different this time.

SIN-FRA is full, so we're waitlisted for it and confirmed on the SIN-MUC on LH.

While it does sound out of the way, I have flown SAA several times (in and out of JNB) - and I would definitely fly that airline again....

Thanks Debi. Most of the comments I've read about SAA on review sites have been positive. We're still tempted to give them a go.