Would You Go For it?
 

Right now I can get RT business class award tickets to PHX - JNB for June, 2014 if we agree to have a layover/connection in Cairo, Egypt.

Would you go for it?

What airline? There are several airlines that fly nonstop from the US which considering the length of the flight makes it a lot easier and more time efficient.

But what difference do dutyfree's questions make? I'm pretty sure the OP is saying that for AWARD tickets with his miles at that time this is his only option. Why ask about other alternatives if there are none? He's saying if this is the only option for an award ticket would you do it?

I probably would.

I have a feeling the OP's question is: Would you connect in that particular airport, given the events in that particular country?

I would probably grab what is available now, just so I have SOMETHING to get me to my destination. I would hope to be able to change it to something better in the future. I certainly understand OP's concern about connecting in a country where there is so much turmoil going on.

I've grabbed 1st class FF tickets to BKK (from ORD) for the holidays at the end of this year, but it is not on an ideal routing. I was aiming for, and managed to get, two seats on the Thai A380 in first class from FRA-BKK. It's just a rather roundabout way to get to FRA. Hoping to do a non-stop from ORD to FRA instead of a flight with stopover that I have now. I just keep watching!!!

Yes, I'd book a flight through Cairo.

Unless the award tickets are on Egypt Air...

Tix are most likely on Egypt Air. I've noticed that Mileage Plus award tickets have far fewer options on South African Airlines and more on Egypt Air for JNB as final destination.

I think eventually I'll also have to go with Egypt air as they are frequently the only option.

I'd book the space then keep looking for alternate routes that might come open in the meantime. I'm guessing you're using some Star Alliance members' miles (United, US Airways etc.) which is forcing the connection at CAI. If so, then other Star members offer flights to JNB - Turkish via Istanbul, Swiss via Zurich, Lufthansa via Frankfurt, Ethiopian via Addis, and of course SAA from various points.

Depending on your FF program, a change from the CAI route to another would probably cost you $150 or $200 in change fees, but it might shorten or make the trip more comfortable, something you could evaluate at the time.

Sorry for the last post back after so many responses. I realize in reading through that I didn't do the best job with the initial post. Sorry everybody.

Jeff_Costa_Rica - you're exactly right. My concern is going through Egypt given the turmoil. The layover in Cairo is approximately 3 hours and we would be coming to Cairo after a 2 night stay in Istanbul.

Kathie - yes they are saying that the route would involve Egypt Air. I've only flown Egypt Air 1 x and that was years ago!

Gardyloo - Yep Star Alliance miles is what we're using. Interesting though that they didn't offer JNB directly from IST. I may recheck that.

The other option I was given was to go to Sao Paulo and then on to JNB. The problem of course being that you need a visa for Brazil which seems like such a waste for just 2 nights.

I'm still looking and we're kicking it around.

<i>Yep Star Alliance miles is what we're using. Interesting though that they didn't offer JNB directly from IST. I may recheck that.</i>

Subscribe to ExpertFlyer - http://www.expertflyer.com/ - $5 or $10 per month, and use their award finder for all Star Alliance airlines. When you see "I" class inventory on desired flights, just phone your airline FFP number and give them the details.

I wouldn't worry about a stopover in Cairo, but my experience with Egypt Air is not encouraging. They have had major safety problems, lost their overwater certification for a time, have had major lapses in maintenence, etc. My SO was on a flight (after consulting with Egypt Air on safety issues). Right after takeoff, there was afterburn on one engine - just replaced - the pilot turned the engine off, which destroyed the engine. The pilot didn't want to dump all that fuel so they "landed heavy." Yipes!

Gardyloo - I'm taking a look at Expertflyer. As I understand it, if you put in a connecting airport you actually restrict your search. So wouldn't I be better to simply do some of the gateway cities to JNB?

Any pointers appreciated.

Kathie - How long ago did this happen with your SO?

Yes, don't put in a connecting city and don't start with PHX. The reason is that EF tends to look for easy connections - same day if possible. Coming from the western US that limits your options big time, since many times you'd need to connect on the US east coast, then again at some European hub, and the tool starts editing the options.

Remember with (I think both UA and US) Star mileage redemptions, you're allowed a "free" stopover anywhere en route. Stopping in Europe has the benefit of both widening the connection/departure options for Europe - JNB (since you don't have to worry about a flight from the US arriving in late morning or afternoon, thus missing a connection to the gateway airport) but also since most of Western Europe is in the same time zone as South Africa, giving you a chance to deal with jetlag to some degree.

Most flights to S. Africa from Europe depart in the evening, so if you use your stopover option at your point of entry to Europe, it widens the timeframe during which you can connect to the gateway city. What I do in searchig is to look for pretty much any start point in Europe, then let the tool find the connections. For the most part, intra-Europe mileage flights in business class are widely available, so even if, say, the flight to JNB is on Turkish, and your transatlantic flight is just to London, there's enough time during the (next) day to get to IST in time for the Africa flight.

Hope this makes sense.

Gardyloo - yes it makes sense - thanks. Actually our plan is to try to stop for a couple of nights in European spot.

We have to be in JNB on 6/12/14

So what I've been doing is putting in a search to leave various gateway U.S. cities either 6/7 or 6/8 and then doing a search from various European cities departing either 6/10 or 6/11 to JNB. Returning we cannot leave any earlier than 6/25 but can do 6/26.

Putting in various gateway cities in the U.S. and then doing a subsequent search to JNB. So far what I'm finding is zippo out of most European cities on that last leg to JNB.

IST seems to have the most availability right now. I've found IAH to IST on Turkish Airlines where we could stay (we've been there before but it's a fascinating city) and then IST to ACC (Ghana) also on TA where there is a 3 hour layover and then ACC to JNB on South Africa.

Returning is still the issue. Basically nothing open other than Egypt Air - through Cairo.

My head is spinning looking at the various combos!