I just made my first trip on Delta's new service from Atlanta to JNB. After many bad experiences on SAA I must say that the Delta flight was not too bad.

On the plus side:
1: Easy connection in Atlanta...no trouble with baggage transferon outbound flight.
2. Good flight crew. No Fags playing with each other in the galley or refusing to serve drinks because they were too busy or on break.
3. Very competitive pricing...I flew RT from Arkansas for less than $1200 tax included!

On the Down side:
1. No personal entertainment however I understand this will be added soon when they change aircraft.
2. Limited number of free drinks.
3. Full flight. There were no empty seats.

Over all I was happy with the Delta service and would not hesitate to use them again.

Roscoe,

My hunting partner and I chose SAA again this year, simply because the onward connections to Harare were tight and we did not want to put the bags at any more risk than necessary.
[The SAA ground personnel seemed quite willing at every stop to check that our bags were traveling with us - and they all arrived when we did in Harare - TPA-IAD-JNB-HRE. Mine did get misplaced here in the US on the return trip due to a miss marked flight number - check your bag tags!]

I must say that these SAA flights, both ways, were the best I've had [5 trips in the last 7 years] since the 747 upper deck in 2003.

The seat leg room seems to have been sorted out [neither of us is too tall, but I am somewhat wider!] and the seats worked fairly well for both of us, I got pretty good sleep although the Ambien helped I'm sure.

The food was pretty decent and plentiful, particularly on the return flight. [They seem to serve a meal of some sort on every domestic flight as well.] The entertainment system had more to see and do than I could use on two trips. And the drinks seemed to be fairly available though they did not make too many trips with the bar cart. The DID seem to have and unending supply of small water bottles and also those wonderful little Ceres fruit juice boxes, which are all I needed.

Service was distinctly better, more cooperative, friendly and accommodating on all the flights.

We probably would have flown Delta if not for the connections, just because, but SAA worked out for us. Maybe the competition is having some effect?

Les

[Sorry, didn't mean to hijack. It just seemed like the place for a comparison]

I've started planning for 08. does anybody know what aircraft Delta will use and its configuration?

The flight I was offered on Delta out of Atlanta for August 08 was a Boeing 767-400, and that was to JoBerg. The same aircraft on the return leg. You can look at the seating on their web page.Hope that helps

After you sort out the Airline and type of plane plane, check out seatguru.com. Has lots of info about most seats on flights. Legroom, proximity to toilets, power ports, etc. Indispensable in helping to pick seats on a flight.

quote:

seatguru.com

I use it ALL THE TIME.

quote:

Originally posted by Bamabow:
I've started planning for 08. does anybody know what aircraft Delta will use and its configuration?

The flight crew told me that delta is soon switching to 777 aircraft for the Africa route. Not sure if the info is accruate or not. The plane I flew on was 767.

Here's what Delta is up against regarding operations into South Africa...Looks like it will be 767's for the forseeable future. When they first announced service they said they where going to use a 777. SAA did not like that, too much competition at one time.


delta/SAA.pdf

Thanks guys. I had not seen seat guru before, I like it. I was hoping for a lie flat seat in Business class. I have flown with Delta internationally twice to Europe this year and while the "recliner" seats will suffice for a nine hour flight, my wife will not fare well in those seats for twice that long. Interestingly, one of thier aircraft appeared to be a very worn out vetran and the other a brand spanking new aircraft. Regardless, untill they upgrade, Delta's business class seats are inferior to SAA's but I would sure like to lose the leg to Dulles and avoid the delayed luggage.

SAA Lie Flat seats are the best. Delta with them in the new 777, but not in all the 767 till 2012.

It does make a big differance on which plane you get, during the last few years very few airlines have been upgrading older aircraft, and you never really know what aircraft till you get to the gate.

Delta is currently operating Atl to Jnb using the 767-400 which is a real improvement over the 767-300 and a quantum leap over any of the Airbus equipment. If the route continues to be financially viable,(and I think it will) we can expect the 777 within a few months. The move to Airbuses at SAA was to save money (airbus being subsidized by the French Gov.) and send a political message to the U.S.

Just flew the Delta - Atlanta Jo-Berg flight two weeks ago -- bird was a 767-400, which was a great improvement over the 300 I flew over on in May. Each seat had a personal TV screen with a reasonably good selection of viewing opportunities -- although I did take along my own movies on my Ipod.
I would strongly suggest that everyone no matter which airline you are flying on download a copy of the planes seating plan. On two occasions I have had my seat assignment changed in Jo-Berg – for no apparent reason -- to less desirable seats. Fortunately I had a copy of the seating floor plan with me and was able to avert a very uncomfortable seating situation -- add the "airline seating chart" to your take along list -- you won't be sorry.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: You'll get me on that SAA ATL/JBG flight again at gunpoint. I'd almost fly Northworst first, if they went there.

I commuted all over the world for 39 years professionally and was capt. on a 747 and that A340 is a plodding piece of crap. So if the South Africans want to send a message, I'll send one right back: fly Delta first.

If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going.