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Hi. A new work assignment will bring me from OSL to JNB shortly. Company policy dictates that I will fly Economy class. No route goes directly from Oslo, Norway, so there will be a connection via a larger hub in Europe.

Any recomenndations or experienses you can share? (Also bad experienses.) I am looking to have as comfortable (in Y) and quick as possible travel.

In advance, thanks for your help.   

There are several options from Oslo. If you want to stay in Star Allaince you can take Lufthansa or SAS from Oslo to Frankfurt and then on Lufthansa to JNB. Or you can take SAS to London and take South African Airways to JNB. Or from Oslo take Lufthansa or SAS to Frankfurt or Munich and South African Airways to JNB. I like South African Airways and it gives you a "taste" of Africa. Both are good. Look at price and timing. Munich is the EASIEST of any of the airports to transfer in. London can be a nightmare and Frankfurt has its challenges. Munich by far!

Or you can take British Airways from Oslo to London to JNB.

Thanks, Tony.
I was actually considering South African Airways, as they have the fastest travel time of all, OSL-LHR-JNB in just 16 hours. (Pretty much the same on the return leg.)

If you have good experiences with them, I should give it a go!

[Edited 2015-06-02 05:55:49]

I am glad I helped. Like any airline/flight, a good experience depends on so many factors especially the cabin crew. Every airline has it's great ones and horrible ones. I have had fantastic trips with them, and some horror stories. But I have found that on many airlines. Nothing is guaranteed.

Good luck. You will LOVE South Africa, a beautiful country. I lived there for 5 years and miss it.

Try Turkish.

We have many positive trip reports for Y class.

I no experience from any of the suggestions but why not LH and the A380?

I'll recommend South African Airways as well. I flew them from IAD to CPT and they offered one of the best cabin crews I've ever experienced. With three connecting options in Europe, it seems like a very flexible option for scheduling too.

You also get a decent chance at flying the A346, which is an increasingly rare and enjoyable bird.

Get a cheap flight to ARN and hop onto ETHIOPIAN's B787 ARN-VIE-ADD-JNB - might be an alternative!

Quoting thunderboltdrgn (Reply 5): I no experience from any of the suggestions but why not LH and the A380?

If this is a chance for me to (finally) get on to the A380 I will definetly look into that!

Quoting masgniw (Reply 6): You also get a decent chance at flying the A346, which is an increasingly rare and enjoyable bird.

True. This is getting difficult. And I've never flown with SAA, so would love to give it a try.

Anyway, the convenience of departure/arrival also comes into play here.


A new question: Anyone ever had any luck getting a bargain deal on upgrade to Business class with either Lufhansa, KLM or South African Airways? I have heard that the better deal is to wait for as long as possible.

So should I try: a) Online, on the day of departure, b) At the check-in counter or c) When aboard the plane?   

Quoting hilram (Reply 8): If this is a chance for me to (finally) get on to the A380 I will definetly look into that!

Yes LH have daily A380 flights to JNB (LH572).

http://a380.lufthansa.com/TAKEPART/#/DE/EN/HOME
http://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/lh572/
http://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/DLH572

[Edited 2015-06-02 13:51:23]

AirFrance also flies to JNB from CDG with the A380. I did this and very much liked the service of AF, and their Y seats (on the A380) are not bad (they also had a small Y section on the upper deck...though it was full both ways and I ended up in the main cabin). I managed to sleep well on the flight over and back (both are night flights).
Granted you have to transfer in CDG that many probably will say is best avoided...but if both flights are in Terminal 2 (flying AF all the way, or a partner/T2 user airline and AF) the transfer should not be difficult.

Quoting mercure1 (Reply 4): We have many positive trip reports for Y class.

Yep. they're good, but better on 77Ws imo, which JNB is only a 332

Quoting debonair (Reply 7): Get a cheap flight to ARN and hop onto ETHIOPIAN's B787 ARN-VIE-ADD-JNB - might be an alternative!

That's the option I was going to suggest too.

Quoting thunderboltdrgn (Reply 9): Yes LH have daily A380 flights to JNB (LH572).

Just returned from GRU and all I can say, I just survived the poor LH service... Service on a 12hrs flight consisted of a late dinner right after take off, lights off, orange juice and mini chocolate in between, lights on and a mini, mini breakfast (yoghurt,bread roll,eggs with spinach) just before landing....

Quoting TonyBurr (Reply 1): London can be a nightmare

Quoting hilram (Reply 2): as they have the fastest travel time of all, OSL-LHR-JNB in just 16 hours. (Pretty much the same on the return leg.)

You'll be connecting at the new T2 (if SK to SA), which should be fairly hassle free.

Quoting masgniw (Reply 6): I'll recommend South African Airways as well. I flew them from IAD to CPT and they offered one of the best cabin crews I've ever experienced. With three connecting options in Europe, it seems like a very flexible option for scheduling too. You also get a decent chance at flying the A346, which is an increasingly rare and enjoyable bird.

SAA uses their A346 on their US route(s). LHR is serviced by a A332 and occasionally A343.

Quoting hilram (Reply 8): True. This is getting difficult. And I've never flown with SAA, so would love to give it a try.

If you want to get on an A346, Virgin is still flying them to JNB, but not for long, as they're replacing them with 787 some time this year. The only other option I know of out of LHR is QR flight QR010 to DOH and then on to JNB, but that makes for a much longer journey.

Quoting seat64k (Reply 14): SAA uses their A346 on their US route(s). LHR is serviced by a A332 and occasionally A343.

Only partially true. LHR is indeed served by the aircraft you mention, but MUN + FRA are both served by the A346

Quoting masgniw (Reply 15):

I stand corrected.

I would take SAA or TK. If you can transit through MUC, I would recommend that option. In LHR, it's quite a long walk (and boring, underground) to get from the T2 short/medium gates to long haul gates. IST is a mess but if you would like to upgrade just before your flight, I think TK would be the cheapest option (their J fare between Europe and JNB are often the cheapest). And they have one of the best *A Lounge out there, worth a visit.
I flew LH's A380 in Y and it was a meh experience (IFE was terrible), wouldn't recommend for such a long flight.

There's always KLM via Amsterdam to Johannesburg! As Amsterdam is one of the easier places to transfer, I'd go with them! Besides they have great crew and service.

Leo/ORD

Via Amsterdam, to Johannesburg is a daytime flight southbound, which may be preferable to some. And AMS is one of the best airports to connect at. Though they are currently undertaking some building works.

signol