KhenleyDIA From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 409 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 6923 times:
Per some suggestions from people here on a.net, I planned my return to Africa on SAA instead of BA. I am thrilled I did!! For the picture lovers, I'm sorry, I didn't get any pictures. I didn't plan on posting a trip report.
Flight Information:
Flight: SA208
From: IAD
To: JNB
Departure: 8:45AM
Arrival: 7:45AM
Equipment: 744
Seat: 80A
Class: Y
First off, you should know that I arrived at IAD shortly after midnight on a flight from SLC and had to be at the airport early to check-in, so I "slept" at the airport. Which makes me think, we should have an airport report section. ANYWAY!
I found the staff at IAD courteous and helpful, which was a great way to start the long day. Since I was on the upper deck, I ended up checking my carry on bag since it was a bit larger. I was impressed with how quickly they turned a fully loaded 747 and had it loaded and ready to leave. Under 2 hours.
Due to recommendations from people here on a.net, I made sure I got a seat up top. Since I love window seats, I wasn't going to have it any other way. At first, I thought I might regret it when 2 rather large men ended up filling the 2 seats next to me. Then the 1st or 4 meals came. (Not to mention snacks and drinks!) I realized that the window seat up top is a GREAT way to go! I was able to set stuff on the side storage bin. I basically had all the room I wanted. The other 2 guys had to fit everything on their trays.
The FAs on the flight were great. They were always available if you needed something and were pleasant. The IFE was terrific!! I watched more movies on that flight then some people watch in an entire month! I even managed to get 6-8 hours of sleep out of the 18 that I was on the plane.
The seats up top have extra leg room, which was wonderful to have. The seats themselves could be a bit more comfortable, but I learned to deal with them.
Just over half way to JNB, we stop in Accra for fuel and more pax. We were on the ground for about an hour and a half. I only wish that the IFE was left on for that part of the trip. With that said, I was able to get out of my seat for a while, stretch and take a look in the flight deck.
As I mentioned, there were 4 meals on the flight. The food was good and no lack of items to drink. All in all, I am REALLY glad that I flew on SAA. I am looking forward to my return trip when I get to fly from JNB to ATL on a A346.
Thank you SAA for a wonderful flight and you have won my future business!!
KhenleyDIA
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
Soups From Ghana, joined Jun 2004, 3437 posts, RR: 15 Reply 1, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 6842 times:
What was the day or travel if you dont mind me asking.... If a monday, a fantastic scene with 2 747-400 SAA landing one after the other. (one westbount one eastbound) went to the airport at 11pm just to watch them ........ sad i know...
Next destinations, Suarabaya, beirut, paris, Accra
KhenleyDIA From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 409 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 6689 times:
Quoting Soups (Reply 1): What was the day or travel
I'm sorry, I completely forgot to post that! I left on Thursday August 25, 2005 and arrived on Friday August 25, 2005.
Quoting Soups (Reply 1): If a monday, a fantastic scene with 2 747-400 SAA landing one after the other. (one westbount one eastbound) went to the airport at 11pm just to watch them
Not sad by any means. When I worked for United in Denver, I would often find myself coming in early or staying late just to watch the line up of planes on the horizon. There are many days where I think about it and miss it. Now I go to airports any chance I get!
KhenleyDIA
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15720 posts, RR: 48 Reply 4, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 6651 times:
Quoting KhenleyDIA (Thread starter): Just over half way to JNB, we stop in Accra for fuel and more pax
Do you suppose a nonrev could get on/off in ACC from IAD alone?
You see what a time change does to me? Yeah, I meant the 26th.
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 4): Do you suppose a nonrev could get on/off in ACC from IAD alone?
That is a good question. I would have to leave that answer up to someone else. If know one answers that question, I will be asking the crew on my way back to the states... In a few months.
KhenleyDIA
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
KhenleyDIA From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 409 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 6498 times:
Quoting Christao17 (Reply 6): So tell us about the four meals... what was served? How was it? Inquiring minds want to know.
Okay, well... As I said above, there were 4 meals... There were also snacks always available, drink service and ice cream. Did I mention that they had actual silverware?? All the meals are in the order I ate them.
Meal 1:
Now, breakfasts tend to be the weakness of any airline food (at least in my mind). It consisted of scrambled eggs, a sausage and a grilled tomato. Nothing much else to speak of for this meal. The other option was french toast... I think I should have asked for that. Oh welll!
Snack 1:
Along the way, I slept for a good while and woke to find everyone eating Klondike bars. That and a drink sounded great! Wouldn't you know it, when I hit my call button, the FA came with a Klondike bar and a water for me. Ahhh, that was good.
Snack 2:
During the entire flight, they had sandwiches available with drinks in the back of the cabin, and when you are upstairs that means you don't have to go far to find them. So, I had a sandwich and a drink. They were actually rather large considering other sandwiches I have had on flights.
Snack 3:
Another sandwich and drink. Did I mention they were pretty good? AND you could keep going back for more??
Meal 2:
We had options (of course) and I took the beef with green beans, a salad, cheese cake, roll, crackers w/ cheese, and of course wine and another drink. This meal was really good. The flavor was better than on many flights I have flown. Maybe I was just hungry.
Our stop in Accra for fuel came. It would have been kind of nice for the snackbar to be open, but the crew was switching, so I understand that would be difficult.
Meal 3:
This might as well been my favorite. The options were chicken, beef or pasta. I had the pasta. I expected about 4 noodles and that was it. Instead it was a ravioli pasta and there were a number of rather large noodles. Along with the pasta I had a salad, roll, chocolate cake, some more red wine and cheese and crackers.
There were more snacks available during the last part of the flight, but I felt like I had only been eating on the flight... which was true. SO, I waited for the last meal.
Meal 4:
This was a very light meal. It was kind of like a brunch. I received a small chicken sandwich, which wasn't bad and some type of pastry, which I didn't bother with. To be honest, since I didn't plan on posting a report, I failed to remember what came with it. I certainly don't remember it being all that special.
Over all, the meals did what they were supposed to do, put food in my stomach. They were pretty good too. Meal 2 and Meal 3 were my favorites. While cutting my steak, I was laughing inside for the 2 guys sitting next to me. I had moved most of my food and drinks to the side bin so I had more room to eat and watch my movies.
Sorry that my trip report wasn't very good. As I stated, I didn't plan on posting a report. Feel free to keep asking questions. When I return to the states, I will PLAN on posting a report, so I will take notes and take pictures.
Thanks for the questions!
KhenleyDIA
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
KhenleyDIA From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 409 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 6249 times:
Quoting Soups (Reply 9): The a/c stays one hour on ground, sometimes less
Our stop was more like an hour and a half.
Quoting Myk (Reply 8): During the Stop in Accra, you just stay in the plane ? How awfull !!??
Think of it this way. If everyone REALLY wanted to get off the plane, they would have to have busses available to take us to the terminal. It is also about 11:00PM there, so nothing in the terminal is even open. Then factor in, they would have to reload everyone PLUS the new paxs. So, instead of an hour stop or hour and a half, we could be looking at 2+ hours. So, staying on the plane, stretching and chatting with other pax, isn't so bad.
KhenleyDIA
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
The duty free shops are open whenever there are flights i recall being on a GH flight delayed from 11:59pm till about 4:00am, the main duty free shop was open.
at the moment just a quarter of accra airport is opened as its being re-developed! i had a quick tour of the ''new area'' it looks fantastic! shame ACC have only 2 gates only!!!
Next destinations, Suarabaya, beirut, paris, Accra
KhenleyDIA From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 409 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 6153 times:
Quoting Soups (Reply 11): The duty free shops are open whenever there are flights i recall being on a GH flight delayed from 11:59pm till about 4:00am, the main duty free shop was open.
So, you learn a new thing every day! Thanks. However, I still stand by my thought process. By the way, I don't even recall seeing the 2 gates. All the planes that were there were on the tarmac having people bussed to them. I believe there were 4 or 5, including my flight.
KhenleyDIA
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
KhenleyDIA From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 409 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 6017 times:
Quoting A342 (Reply 13): A trip report here too? I can´t wait to read it. When are you flying back?
It was going to be at the end of December, but now I am in the process of changing my ticket to the end of November. If all goes well, I will still get my ATL leg on the 346. I have never flown on a 340 before, so either ATL or JFK.
And I promise, I will take pictures and notes to do a REAL trip report! Unless God breaks my camera and my right hand before I leave.
KhenleyDIA
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
SK A340 From Sweden, joined Mar 2000, 845 posts, RR: 3 Reply 15, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 5992 times:
Great report!
I'm trying to re-book my flight back home from CPT from LH to SAA and if I manage I'll fly the A346. I would really like to try that airline, especially after reading this!
Soups From Ghana, joined Jun 2004, 3437 posts, RR: 15 Reply 16, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 5974 times:
Quoting KhenleyDIA (Reply 12): So, you learn a new thing every day! Thanks. However, I still stand by my thought process. Wink By the way, I don't even recall seeing the 2 gates. All the planes that were there were on the tarmac having people bussed to them. I believe there were 4 or 5, including my flight.
U Probably noticed the airport is U shaped. There is a gate at each end of the U.. its more like satelite 1 and 2. yes afriad PAX have to get on/off busses..... more fun
Next destinations, Suarabaya, beirut, paris, Accra
KhenleyDIA From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 409 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 5942 times:
Quoting Soups (Reply 16): U Probably noticed the airport is U shaped. There is a gate at each end of the U.. its more like satelite 1 and 2. yes afriad PAX have to get on/off busses..... more fun
I did notice the "U" shape, but still don't remember seeing the gates. Oh well. I will be coming back to Zambia, so I will just have to plan another flight through ACC.
As for HAVING to use busses, I know that it takes more time and some people don't like it, but I like it that way! You get to walk down by the plane, which is something I MISS from my days at DEN. There is nothing like standing next to the engine or tires of a 777 or a 747... or a 340... oh hell, next to any widebody aircraft!
I'm trying to re-book my flight back home from CPT from LH to SAA and if I manage I'll fly the A346. I would really like to try that airline, especially after reading this!
I thought it was a bad report, so I will make the next one worth the "Great Report" comment.
SAA has certainly got my business anywhere I can fly with them! I'm sure every airline has its bad days or stories, but I have flown a lot. Economy, Business, and First class, my entire life! I will fly SAA anytime!
KhenleyDIA
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
Cmk10 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 513 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 5936 times:
Strangely, this is the only airport overview pic I could find, however I think it speaks for itself.
Nice people are always welcome to make comments! Besides, hearing nice comments make people like me, who know that if they actually prepared for the report, know that they could do better and strive to be worthy of such compliments. So, Thank you!
KhenleyDIA
Did I mention that I like SAA?
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
SpeedbirdEGJJ From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2003, 429 posts, RR: 4 Reply 22, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 5824 times:
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 4): Do you suppose a nonrev could get on/off in ACC from IAD alone?
Maverick,
Non rev's are subject to the same traffic regualtions as commercials, so if you can't buy a commercial ticket on that routing then you can't have a Non rev either. I had a problem with this myself wanting to go LHR-GIG with a stopover in GRU, alas no traffic rights for BA on GRU-GIG so i had to go on GOL.
KhenleyDIA From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 409 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 5803 times:
It is official sports fans, for those who care, I have finalized my return and still get to fly on the 346 from JNB to ATL via... A small island I believe.
As I said before, I will plan ahead this time, take notes and take pictures!
Anyone have recommendations as to the best place to sit in economy on a 346? I am debating about getting an isle seat since there is nothing to see but water anyway. Recommendations?? Thanks all!
KhenleyDIA
Why sit at home and do nothing when you can travel the world.
Jfidler From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 290 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 5799 times:
I did JNB-ATL a few years ago, and they used a 744 then. We stopped in SID (Cape Verde, I believe), and we were allowed to deplane and go into the terminal. It was a refueling stop and I don't think they took on any passengers. The terminal (at least in 2000) wasn't much to talk about, but it was nice to get out and have some fresh air.
They parked the plane on the tarmac and we walked down stairs to deplane. You really realize the size of a 744 when you're standing below it!
25 KhenleyDIA: I will be sure to mention if we are allowed to do the same thing during our stop. KhenleyDIA
26 SA006: Yep , you stop in Sal , Cape Verde right off the coast of Senegal. I don't think pax are let off the plane anymore in Sal due to security reasons with
27 KhenleyDIA: Thank you. I am not in a rush to leave, but I do look forward to another wonderful flight! I'm trying to find ways to get more in sooner. I might com
28 Reggaebird: I flew IAD-ACC-JNB on August 11, 2005 connecting on to DUR on August 12, 2005 (Millenium Business Class to JNB, front of coach to DUR). I then flew JN
29 SA7700: Is the VS lounge at IAD the "official" lounge for F-and J-class pax leaving IAD on SA? I am rather interested because I will be flying back to JNB fr
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From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 409 posts, 
The food was good and no lack of items to drink. All in all, I am REALLY glad that I flew on SAA. I am looking forward to my return trip when I get to fly from JNB to ATL on a A346.
From Ghana, joined Jun 2004, 3437 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15720 posts, 
Yeah, I meant the 26th.
From Thailand, joined Apr 2005, 888 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jul 1999, 455 posts, 
By the way, I don't even recall seeing the 2 gates. All the planes that were there were on the tarmac having people bussed to them. I believe there were 4 or 5, including my flight.
From Germany, joined Jul 2005, 4655 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2003, 429 posts, 
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