Zimbabwe

[Quickstatus]

Looking for flight options into and out of HRE and from SYD
5 November-19Nov in Zim
Can attach discretionary ports after Zim

Qantas points option, or any other reputable airline Ok too

Thanks in advance

 

[dajop]

Qantas to JNB connecting to Comair to HRE, which operates the BA franchise in South Africa (under the BA brand) would have to be the logical choice as they are a oneworld affiliate member. Also Emirates would be a good option.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking for flight options into and out of HRE and from SYD
5 November-19Nov in Zim
Can attach discretionary ports after Zim

Qantas points option, or any other reputable airline Ok too

Thanks in advance

Googleflights is good for this sort of thing. VA/SA combo is around $1665 for the dates you want. QF/SA want $2084 for the same days, one hour shorter trip duration. The return trips are quick on both QF or SA/VA, but the outbound have 5-6 hours in JNB. You can cut that down by three hours but the fare goes up to around $2400.

 

[Quickstatus]

So the main reputable intra-Africa airlines would be Comair and SAA?

And the best hub for intra Africa travel (ex AU) would be JNB?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So the main reputable intra-Africa airlines would be Comair and SAA?

And the best hub for intra Africa travel (ex AU) would be JNB?

Googleflights will give you the hubs and connection times, but JNB really is the immediate gateway from Australia. Other options are via the ME.

If you wanted to split tickets you could take Ethiopian out of SIN, or a combo of SQ/SA out of the same.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes I know about google flights. There are several options as you say.

What is I would also like to know is the relative reputation of the various airlines

SAA is OK
Comair?
There are several intra Africa airlines operating such as Air Botswana and Air Zimbabwe. Any comment about them?

 

[drron]

Comair is preferable to SAA which rely on the Government to keep them in the air.
Comair is BA.
But why Zimbabwe.Botswana and zambia are better.

 

[Quickstatus]

Comair is preferable to SAA which rely on the Government to keep them in the air.
Comair is BA.
But why Zimbabwe.Botswana and zambia are better.

All 3 actually
Daughter going on a organised university research camp somewhere near Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) but will be also going into Zambia as part of the camp.

I thought maybe I can attach for her (being a good dad)a pre or post camp something around there - maybe Okavango (Botswana) something something something but first I wanted to get a feel for the airlines there

(Specifics of camp itinerary are not available yet - including specific airport pairs )

Seems like Comair is a local airline with a BA franchise - sort of like QantasLink in OZ or Compass in USA??

 

[drron]

Botswana is the pick of the countries in Southern Africa but tends to be more expensive.
They rate highly on the least corrupt list in Africa.
One of the few countries who have told China to POQ.
Also one of the best anti poaching units in Africa,There used to be 130000 elephants on the Chobe river between Namibia and Botswana.They can swim so now Botswana 130000,Namibia nil.They are relocating rhinos from South Africa to Botswana because of this.
Press Release: Rhinos Without Borders moves a further 40 rhino to Botswana - Rhinos Without Borders

Translocate.
I believe 100 rhinos have now been relocated to Botswana.

 

[drron]

Should add I naturally did a TR.
A Botswanan Adventure.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes I know about google flights. There are several options as you say.

What is I would also like to know is the relative reputation of the various airlines

SAA is OK
Comair?
There are several intra Africa airlines operating such as Air Botswana and Air Zimbabwe. Any comment about them?

ET/SQ/SA/QF/BA are all fine. Don't know about Air Botswana, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information about them but airlineratings gives them a 7/7 rating Air Botswana - Airline Ratings Air Zimbabwe I'd be steering well clear of. Although they were recently still flying a classic 737-200 wit almost original interior which would be fun. But not from a safety perspective.

 

[drron]

Yes definitely don't use Air Zimbabwe-
Broke Air Zimbabwe on brink of collapse - report
A recent report I think on OMAAT that they no longer have any pilots.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes definitely don't use Air Zimbabwe-
Broke Air Zimbabwe on brink of collapse - report
A recent report I think on OMAAT that they no longer have any pilots.

I don’t think a 737 has a drone mode (MH conspiracies notwithstanding)

 

[drron]

Well they did use MH pilots to fly their 777 to Harare.
The only other flights it has made were a return flight to KUL for servicing.Again using MH pilots.

 

[Quickstatus]

1)Transport Kasane to Victoria Falls and Border checkpoint issues
2) Security and Safety in Johannesburg, Botswana and Zimbabwe for 1-2 19 year old young ladies

Inviting comments about the above please.

 

[Jacques Vert]

We flew Comair/BA in J from WDH-JNB-LVI and LVI-JNB during our trip to Southern Africa. All flights were 734s so a little tired but the service and overall experience was fine (better than Club Europe on BA mainline IMHO).

Refer to this section of out rip report here: Kruger and Southern Africa

 

[docjames]

One-stop options will be limited so expect many routings will be two stop. Essentially only JNB or DXB serve both SYD and HRE. The EK flight lands in Lusaka on the way to HRE so is still two stops.

QR seem to have a $1700 fare SYD-DOH-JNB-HRE which is reasonably connected straight through and uses SAA or the JNB-HRE leg.

EK would be $1900 but in on EK the whole way (stopping as above in Lusaka).

Others have mentioned, there are multiple "decent" airlines serving HRE (EK, SAA, Comair, Kuala, ET etc) so avoid Air Zim.

Edit: your approx dates there appears to be a $1500 fare QF to SIN the ET via Lusaka/Addis Ababa all with reasonable connections but a third stop.

QF want $2600 to do SYD-JNB-HRE for those dates.