Getting from CAI to JNB/Egyptair

[drcam]

As I am finalizing my itinerary for my grand trip in the latter half of the year, I need to get from Cairo to Johannesburg as part of one leg of my trip.

My options are as follows:

(1) Spend 47000 SQ points plus negligible taxes for a direct overnight flight with Egyptair in business
(2) Spend $1,200 for a connecting flight with QR leaving early afternoon and arriving early morning (about 3 hrs in Doha) in business
(3) Spend $860 for a connecting flight with Air Kenya in business, legs about 5 hours each and connecting in the middle of the night in Nairobi
(4) Fly in Y and pocket the savings
(5) Spend 100000+ QF points plus taxes of $1000+ for a corresponding connecting flight via Dubai in business

I don't know if any of you have any experience with Egyptair, Air Kenya or Air Ethiopia, but my gut feeling is that option (2) is the correct choice

 

[jase05]

As I am finalizing my itinerary for my grand trip in the latter half of the year, I need to get from Cairo to Johannesburg as part of one leg of my trip.

My options are as follows:

(1) Spend 47000 SQ points plus negligible taxes for a direct overnight flight with Egyptair in business
(2) Spend $1,200 for a connecting flight with QR leaving early afternoon and arriving early morning (about 3 hrs in Doha) in business
(3) Spend $860 for a connecting flight with Air Kenya in business, legs about 5 hours each and connecting in the middle of the night in Nairobi
(4) Fly in Y and pocket the savings
(5) Spend 100000+ QF points plus taxes of $1000+ for a corresponding connecting flight via Dubai in business

I don't know if any of you have any experience with Egyptair, Air Kenya or Air Ethiopia, but my gut feeling is that option (2) is the correct choice

I’d take option 2.
I’ll preclude that by saying I haven’t flown with MS for some years but I still to this day think they make the top 10 of my worst airlines. Absolutely horrible.
Others may have better recent experiences

 

[RooFlyer]

Although I'm a fan of QR, I recently flew EgyptAir domestically in whY and found them 'normal'; no hassles or bad experiences. Internationally I'd expect better, although the aircraft may be a narrow-body??

If Egyptair are lie-flat beds, I'd go with them. If not, option 2 on QR. NOTE: CAI-DOH booked as Business on QR in my November flight was classified as First! It was really just business, re-badged, though. But you should get First SCs and points on whatever scheme you put it on. PLUS it means access to the Al Safwa First lounge in DOH for your onward J flight.

 

[drcam]

EgyptAir are lie flat beds; although apparently angle-flat, and, there is a chance of being chucked on a middle seat, as they are 2-3-2 configuration in business class!

Why would I have access to the Al Safwa first lounge in DOH if my onward flight is only in business?

 

[Mattg]

If EgyptAir is using a 787-9 for its CAI-JNB flight, that would be quite OK.

They are a dry airline and their lounges in Cairo are not good. If that’s not a deal-breaker for you, I’d book the direct flight.

 

[RooFlyer]

Why would I have access to the Al Safwa first lounge in DOH if my onward flight is only in business?

Its what they allow - inbound in First gets you Al Safwa access.

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Most of QR's regional flights are two class- Y and F; I guess so the local nobs "fly First class". If you book J, it's put up into F. But as I said, there is no difference to J that I could tell on the DOH-CAI and CAI-DOH legs, Def same menu and seats. But First lux coach on arrival from remote stand at DOH!