Bad Armrests make trip not pleasant

[LJS DeBarba]

Trip report:

Perth - Johannesburg (and return)

South African Airways

June, 2018

Business took me to Beira, Mozambique, and I had to transit Johannesburg. Johannesburg is the unofficial “hub” for all of southern Africa – so going anyplace in southern Africa will likely mean a transit in JNB. Not always, but a reasonable probability

South Africa (SAA) flies not-new Airbus A340s across the Indian Ocean. The good news is they are 4-engine planes, so one engine failure does not equal a plane crash in the most remote part of the aviation world. The bad news is the older planes are really in need of refurbishment in economy class.

My economy seat (both ways):

· The armrests did not go all the way up. As a big person (i.e. fat, not tall) the armrests were digging into my thighs, my stomach, or my ribcage the entire flight. As it is an overnight flight, sleep was almost impossible

· No laptop power

· No USB port

Of note, while deplaning, the business class section looked like it had been recently refurbished.

Food was reasonable and above average.

The crew were nice and friendly (better than polite).

The plane departed and arrived on time (both outbound and return)

Would I fly them again? I will try to avoid them because of the armrest issue.

 

[trooper]

I think you will find many newer aircraft also have armrests that only go up to 45 degrees... I agree that's irritating...especially when you score empty seat)s) next to you.....

And...BTW...A modern 2 engine passenger aircraft is not going to crash after losing one engine. Look up ETOPS....

 

[LJS DeBarba]

...
And...BTW...A modern 2 engine passenger aircraft is not going to crash after losing one engine. Look up ETOPS....

Happy to be shown to be wrong, but my understanding is that ETOPS was developed for North Atlantic crossings. Places like Iceland, Bermuda, and the Azores allow the 198 minutes (or whatever the number is) rating of flying on one engine to be feasible. The South Indian Ocean does not have these landing strips.

Air New Zealand has been able to find suitable flight paths to North America where they can make the trip on two engines.

If there is an updated version of ETOPS, I am happy to be educated on it, but at the moment I do not know of any airline that flies two-engine planes over the South Indian Ocean

 

[trooper]

So if they don't fly 2 engine aircraft on that route, why the comment about them crashing????

 

[mannej]

As a point to the OP, SA have indeed flown their 332 between PER-JNB previously (not often), and QF were to use their 332's to fly the route.

 

[LJS DeBarba]

Happy to be told my info on ETOPS is out of date.

But that does not change the fact that the armrests made it a cough flight. And it does not change the fact that the plane is a bit tired and needs to be refreshed.

 

[oz_mark]

Happy to be told my info on ETOPS is out of date.

The Pacific is a bit different to the Indian Ocean, in that the Pacific is littered with islands.
And the thing with PER-JNB, is that even on an A330, it is not that much of a diversion of the great circle to keep within ETOPS limits.

 

[moa999]

ETOPS has been approved for 330 minutes on the 330, 787 and 350.
As mentioned upthread SA has flown a 330 on JNB-PER and LA has flown 788s and 789s on SCL-AKL for well over a year.

 

[TomVexille]

ETOPS has been approved for 330 minutes on the 330, 787 and 350.
As mentioned upthread SA has flown a 330 on JNB-PER and LA has flown 788s and 789s on SCL-AKL for well over a year.

And SCL-MEL