SAA A340-300 vs Qantas 747

[pjohn]

Afternoon all. Am looking with Mrs pjohn to fly a JASA SYD-JNB later on in the year. We've done the Q63 a couple of times direct from SYD, but would like to know if anyone has taken QF303 the codeshare with SAA out of Perth as I'd like to know if the stop would be worth transfer on to their A340-300 and if the J section is better?

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Double-D]

Hi pjohn.

I have flown both routes. And I can say that overall I preferred the QF direct route. The change over at Perth can be painful transferring over from domestic to international.

One thing about SAA is that the J section is better as there is more leg room and the fully flat bed is easier to sleep in than the QF 744 J inclined config.

That said overall service is still better on QF. Food IFE and overall attentiveness is slightly better. Overall QF J direct is till my overall preference.

Hope this helps.

 

[Danger]

I echo Double-D's comments. I've flown SYD-JNB in QF J once and PER-JNB-PER with SA in J, although it was the A340-600. SA's seats, as mentioned, become completely flat without the angle of the skybeds on QF 747s. However, on my last flight (just last week), I found the length to not be that great. I don't recall the same issue on the previous flight where I slept very comfortably. Also as mentioned, I find the service on QF superior.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Afternoon all. Am looking with Mrs pjohn to fly a JASA SYD-JNB later on in the year. We've done the Q63 a couple of times direct from SYD, but would like to know if anyone has taken QF303 the codeshare with SAA out of Perth as I'd like to know if the stop would be worth transfer on to their A340-300 and if the J section is better?

Any help greatly appreciated.

I have done it many times. SAA you buy the seat, no IFE or say even NC Headphones. Food definitely to a budget as it the rapidly changing cabin crew. Seats however are great, lie flat and big enough for me.

Not sure of the schedule at present,but I would QF 63 it.

 

[pjohn]

Thanks for all the advice. QF 63 it is!

 

[mannej]

There is also the small issue of the PER domestic to international transfer, which probably isn't the best in the world.

 

[pjohn]

There is also the small issue of the PER domestic to international transfer, which probably isn't the best in the world.

Thanks mannej. I've never had the pleasure of making the transfer there and by all accounts will not look to in the future.

 

[serfty]

Actually, I believe the proble with PER transfers has been rectified with a new road.

 

[NM]

Actually, I believe the problem with PER transfers has been rectified with a new road.

The problem with PER transfers is mainly around the very early am arrivals of some international flights and transferring to the domestic terminal in the midnight to 6am timeframe. Transfers Dom->Int during the day are no more of a problem than other airports where the terminals are at different parts of the airport facility.