quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
another consideration is Etihad Aiways from Chicago or NY to Abu Dhabi(sp??) to Joburg. i flew them last Oct, business on the Joburg to Abu Dhabi leg, first from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow home( freg flyer ticket so routing was a bit awkward). their business class was nicer than the American or BA first class service. coach looked very nice/comfortable from what i saw. the first class service was the only flight i have ever taken where you had your own compartment with a door and 27" TV!! they are FF partners with American.

If you look at my hunt reports, you will see that Emirates has the same "suites" as they call them on their First Class from Dubai to Dar.

i would guess that Etihad and Emirates are competing for the client base in the Gulf states and can't afford to let the competition get a leg up!

Does Emirates have something similar to the economy comfort upgrade offered by Delta?

No, not that I am aware of.

I just got in this afternoon from the ass killer 18 hour return trip through Dakar. I have to say that I checked my luggage in at the Albuquerque Airport all the way through to Harare, Zim and am equally pleased that everything made it just fine. And no one made or asked to see the ammo until I got to Zim or on the way home. I also checked all my luggage in at the Harare airport all the way through to Albuquerque. I still had to go through Customs in Washington/Dulles but other than busy and slow, it was absolutely painless. The Customs Agent asked to see my 4457 and never even bothered to have me open my gun case. United had cancelled my flight from there to home and they jumped through hoops to get me to Albuquerque and faster than originally planned. Even with the change of plans, my guns made it and my main bag will be overnighted and delivered to me tomorrow. While some of the SAA counter people are difficult to deal with, I have always had good luck with them.

For some time I have added my comments about the dismal service and care by SAA :
1.)I am still waiting for an outcome of lost luggage that is 5 years old now , by lost I mean gone for good - they just dont reply.
2.) My wife got a doctors note after a cancer operation on her leg and liased with the special department for assisted passengers - only to have the airhostess do her own thing and place her between other passengers even though there were other seats open to move to. They have never replied to her complaint.
3.) for years there award program offered a free ticket if you spent x - in 17 years of flying with them we have never qualified ? how strange - after many people complained they are restructuring.
4.) on a return trip from the USA my wife and 6 year old son were flying out of Dulles - they were given tickets with seating about 20 isles apart - only after my wife refused to move from the counter until they changed the seating did they assist. This took 2 hours.

But the best is the latest news - there is not a single white male cadet candidate from 40 recruited because SAA policy is not to employ white males.

South African news is carrying news of a Embargo against SAA by South Africans.

Graeme said it first.........I simply repeat it.
SAA = "Select Another Airlines" !!!

quote:

Originally posted by Safaris Botswana Bound:

But the best is the latest news - there is not a single white male cadet candidate from 40 recruited because SAA policy is not to employ white males.

South African news is carrying news of a Embargo against SAA by South Africans.

This has been going on for some time and has come to a head, now they just trying to smoke screen it.
I havent flown SAA in 3 years, DELTA is the way to go.

Been flying SAA for 40 Years, loved the jumbos and direct flights, tried JFK and did not like it direct - takes some 17 with Airbus, hours used to be 13.45. The service etc has gone downhill and I fly 2-3 times a year to SA. Switched to Delta and Lufthansa for the last few and going in two weeks again with Delta direct from Atlanta to JHB and then Bulawayo. Problem can be internal connecting flights because not the same ticket.

quote:

Originally posted by bcolyer:
Graeme said it first.........I simply repeat it.
SAA = "Select Another Airlines" !!!

no, as i posted elsewhere- SAA=SHITTY AS ALWAYS

Flying to NZ last year in cattle class, during the "night," I found that my long legs were cramping, I decided to stretch out a little in the aisle. A member of the cabin staff decided to offer sleeping passengers, bottles of water. He did not see my legs in the dark and ended up measuring the floor. I watched him through near closed eyes, scrambling around looking for the cause of his fall, a case of escaped bottles of water and cursing assorted "tekoloshes".

The really sad thing is that back in the good old days, they were one of the very best!

I always print out the "rules" off of the SAA web site before I travel. Then, when the gate agents act clueless, I show them their own rules in print. They always look them up and act surprised when they learn what SAA really requires. I have had to use this technique on each of 5 flights I have had leaving from Dulles. Somehow they 'forget" that if you are carrying firearms, you are allowed an extra piece of baggage free of charge. Same goes for ammo in you checked baggage. You need to be able educate the gate agent on the spot, or they will take advantage of you.
Going back from Harare to the States has never been a problem. A $5 bill still goes a long way there!

I have no problems with ammo going from Harare back to the states because I give my ammo to the PH after the hunt.