Killerbabe From Netherlands, joined Aug 2003, 186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1954 times:
I travel to Cape town with KLM and it was a great flight and it was a 747-400B. My girl-friend did the same flight on a A342 from SAA and although she is a small girl, she find the leg-room terrible.
Next time, she said,I will travel KLM who used the 747-400 or the 777-200.
Shamrock_747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1794 times:
I've never flown to South Africa, but I have flown Virgin Atlantic A340-300s and 747-400s out of LHR before. In Economy the seat pitch is 31". Lots of people moan about this but I'm 5ft10in and found it no problem. The interiors are bright and multi coloured which makes a nice change from dark blue BA, but isn't everyone's taste! The service on all of my four Virgin flights has been outstanding and the meals have been good.
Virgin have great IFE. A few A343s and one 744 have the Arcadia system - I've never been on an aircraft with this fitted but it seems to be average. The Oddessy system is on most 744s and A343s - I'd rate this as very good. There is a large selection movies, tv programs, audio channels, Nintendo games and a Skymap. None of it is interactive or on demand, but it is an excellent system better than most other airlines. V:port is the newest IFE on all the A346s and two (or three if G-VROC has been delivered) 744s. It is fully interactive and on demand, with a huge selection of movies/tv/cd albums/music channels/audio books/skymap etc. The 9" screens are absolutely huge! The only thing I thought that could be improved on the system were the games, which weren't has good as the Nintendo ones on Oddessy.
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 4, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1692 times:
All the 332s are BMI aircraft and the 342s are ex-LH, and they are not as spaciously arranged as SAA's own aircraft.
I think he wants to know about VS planes, however.
VS regular economy seat pitch is like being in your own not-particularly-private hell.
Richard28 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2003, 1570 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1593 times:
The JNB frequencies are currently 744's, until March, when it reverts to a A343.
From CPT you now have the option of the A346 for 2 flights a week, and the A343 for the rest (A340-600 flying CPT-LHR on Wed & Sat, and LHR-CPT on Tuesdays and Fridays).
As described above you're guaranteed V:Port (and a nicer economy class than the B744 IMHO) when you fly the A346 - that would be my choice
As far as seat pitch is concerned, VS is similar to BA in Y, however if pitch is key then SAA might be the best choice (esp if you can get the upper deck in Y on the B744)
Planesarecool From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 4096 posts, RR: 12 Reply 6, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1518 times:
I flew Virgin Atlantic to/from California on the B747-400 (G-VBIG/LHR-SFO - G-VWOW/LAX-LHR).
Had v:port both ways. Great stuff, however in various seats the v:port equipment box covers up half the seat in front so you don't get as much leg room. If entertainment is high in your rankings then you should make sure you get v:port by flying the A340-600 to Cape Town. I hear it's operating two times a week between Heathrow-Cape Town.
Leezyjet From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 4041 posts, RR: 55 Reply 8, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1430 times:
On the A346, the IFE box is under the window seats and under the aisle seats in the middle block. There is also more leg room in the middle 4 seats than in the window side seats too.
I would take the night flight from JNB rather than the day flight from CPT. I hear that the daytime flights on that route are a real pain in the a$$, with real demanding pax who eat and drink everything as they are awake and more irritable and need more to keep them occupied than on the night flight when most are asleep.
"She Rolls, 45 knots, 90, 135, nose comes up to 20 degrees, she's airborne - She flies, Concorde Flies"
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