Saa A340-200

[fearfullflyer]

Hi, has anyone been on a South African Airways A340-200 recently? I havent travelled with SAA in about 10 years so just looking out at what to expect in terms of comfort/service etc.
The route is CDG-JIA-Durban if this helps although the JIA-Durban part is on a 737-800.

Thanks in advance,

fearfull

[flyyy]

Hi
i flew JNB-ZRH on the A340-200.
If you are travelling economy class don't expect too much. No personal TVs! So make sure you bring a book.
Food is normally quite nice, and the wine too.
can't say much about the seats as I have not flown with other airlines recently.

[fearfullflyer]

Thanks for the info flyyy, I'll definatly bring a book then!!!

[flyyy]

i guess you are going to transfer trough JNB on the way back again from Durban?
did you read about the shortcut from domestic to international if you already have your boarding pass for the international flight.
when you get out of domestic arrivals you go upstairs to domestic check-in. on the back of the check-in rows there is a security checkpoint and passport chontrol. after that you get directly to international terminal. there are no queues. did it last week, had no one in front of me at security, one person at passport control. saved me a lot of time, even had time for a glass of wine at the lounge...
good luck

[fearfullflyer]

Thanks for the tip flyyy, I didn't know about the shortcut , that will definatly be used because check in in JHB is always a nightmare!!!! Might even get that glass of wine to calm the nerves then lol.

[PAXboy]

flyyy Is that shortcut with or without your checked baggage? My journey usually terminates/starts at JNB so I do not have the transit problem. However, I know that - from international arrival you HAVE to collect any checked bags and manually transport them to domestic and re-check, irrespective of boarding pass. So my guess is that, on departure, you have to do likewise?

[Globaliser]

Is that shortcut with or without your checked baggage?The shortcut is, effectively, just an alternative immigration and security channel, situated in the domestic terminal but taking you directly in to the international terminal airside departures area. So you have to have disposed of your checked baggage already.

I used it when flying DUR-JNB-LHR a few weeks back, so my bag could be directly transferred from the DUR-JNB flight to the JNB-LHR flight. All I had to do was to walk out of the domestic arrivals area (up the ramp that bypasses domestic baggage claim) and then into this shortcut.

If connecting domestic->international, you don't have to reclaim and recheck because the bag doesn't have to clear customs at JNB, unlike on an international->domestic connection.

The shortcut was brilliant. I'm still smiling when I think of it - and still grateful for the inside knowledge! :ok: