Flying into Africa

[Isochronous]

Contemplating a trip to Africa at the end of 2010, returning to Australia probably early January 2011.

I would need to arrive in Gaborone, Botswana by 27/12 at the latest. I would possibly be departing from SYD, but would ultimately need to return to MEL.

Status Credits
It looks like I can get there using QF, but obviously using Sth African from Johannesburg to Gabarone. On the QF website that has a SA flight number - does that mean I wouldn't get QF Status Credits for that leg?

Also, how much would I roughly get in terms of SCs? Assuming that Johannesburg-Gabarone gives them to me - the QF website would only give them to me for SYD or MEL to Johannesburg, and it seems to vary between 95-115.

Better Deals?
Are there any alternative/better deals in terms of price? Perhaps even very cheap premium economy/business class fares?

If I have to leave from Sydney, would I be better off returning to Sydney then just booking a one way SYD-MEL upon return, or booking SYD-MEL before leaving and flying out of MEL? Since there's no direct MEL-JHB flight I suspect that might maximise the SCs since I'd need to stop at PER?

Stopovers
If I wanted to stopover in Johannesburg, or indeed to go to some other part of Sth Africa or something like that, what's the extra cost (if any) likely to be? Any general recommendations for travel in that part of the world?

 

[samh004]

Per Qantas FFP T&C:

South African Airways (SA)
Limits: Points can only be earned on:
- domestic flights within South Africa operated by South African Airways with a SA flight number;
- international flights between Australia and South Africa operated by South African Airways or Qantas with a SA flight number.

JNB - GBE is 182 miles. That fits into zone 1, so you’d earn 10SC’s in discount economy or 20SC’s in full economy on that flight.

Unless a more senior member corrects my judging of the rules.

 

[thewinchester]

Per Qantas FFP T&C:

JNB - GBE is 182 miles. That fits into zone 1, so you’d earn 10SC’s in discount economy or 20SC’s in full economy on that flight.

Unless a more senior member corrects my judging of the rules.

Seems spot on to me samh004.

 

[Flying Fox]

I'm in a similar situation (doing some internal African flights with SA in 2010). My understanding is that points are earned but no SCs.

I say this because on the QF Airline Earning Table, I have noticed when SCs can be earned, there is a line similar to -

Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes.

The above line isn't listed under SA and therefore I don't think that SCs are earned (much to my disappointment as I would like an additional 65 SCs). I guess that I will know for sure at the end of August.

 

[browski]

Contemplating a trip to Africa at the end of 2010, returning to Australia probably early January 2011.

I would need to arrive in Gaborone, Botswana by 27/12 at the latest. I would possibly be departing from SYD, but would ultimately need to return to MEL.

Status Credits
It looks like I can get there using QF, but obviously using Sth African from Johannesburg to Gabarone. On the QF website that has a SA flight number - does that mean I wouldn't get QF Status Credits for that leg?

Also, how much would I roughly get in terms of SCs? Assuming that Johannesburg-Gabarone gives them to me - the QF website would only give them to me for SYD or MEL to Johannesburg, and it seems to vary between 95-115.

Better Deals?
Are there any alternative/better deals in terms of price? Perhaps even very cheap premium economy/business class fares?

If I have to leave from Sydney, would I be better off returning to Sydney then just booking a one way SYD-MEL upon return, or booking SYD-MEL before leaving and flying out of MEL? Since there's no direct MEL-JHB flight I suspect that might maximise the SCs since I'd need to stop at PER?

Stopovers
If I wanted to stopover in Johannesburg, or indeed to go to some other part of Sth Africa or something like that, what's the extra cost (if any) likely to be? Any general recommendations for travel in that part of the world?

I'm pretty sure you can only receive Status Credits on the Qantas SNB-JNB or PER-JNB flights if using either the QF or SA code shares. I don't believe you are eligable for Status Credits on any other flight on the SAA network.

Bear in mind the the only connecting flight to GBE from JNB will be the Air Botswana flight; there is no SAA connecting flight that late in the day.

For best bang for your bucks, you might consider ignoring Status Credits and instead fly PE on the non-stop VAustralia MEL-JNB flight.

Alternatively, Malaysian Airlines invariably have the cheapest return flights to JNB. They also fly on to Cape Town if you choose to do so. (They actually even continue on to Argentina!)

One World contains not one African partner airline, so that should be the healthy tip for you to look elsewhere.

Finally, the best tip is to hire a car in JNB and just drive to GBE (it is only about 3 1/2 hours and the road is good - cars rental is inexpensive and you'll need a car in GBE anyway).

 

[bokflyer]

Hi, I second the suggestion that it's not a bad idea to drive to Gaborone, especially if you need a car when you are there. Most car rental agencies don't have a problem with cars going over the border to Botswana, but you have to tell them you are doing that. However, given QF63 arrives in JNB at 3.30 p.m., it is a bit of tough drive to do straight away when your body clock is well past midnight. There is a 5.30 p.m. connection on SAA, which is tight, especially if QF is late, but I guess they will be forced to accommodate you overnight if all booked on 1 ticket. Also, you can earn QF status credits on domestic flights in South Africa if you use British Airways, which is a franchise operated by Comair. They serve the major domestic cities as well as Vic Falls, Livingstone and Windhoek if my memory serves me correctly. They use 737s, many of them ex-QF 300 and 400 series, and they are pretty good. No status credits when using SAA, as far as I'm aware.

 

[Isochronous]

I'm pretty sure you can only receive Status Credits on the Qantas SNB-JNB or PER-JNB flights if using either the QF or SA code shares. I don't believe you are eligable for Status Credits on any other flight on the SAA network.

Bear in mind the the only connecting flight to GBE from JNB will be the Air Botswana flight; there is no SAA connecting flight that late in the day.

For best bang for your bucks, you might consider ignoring Status Credits and instead fly PE on the non-stop VAustralia MEL-JNB flight.

Alternatively, Malaysian Airlines invariably have the cheapest return flights to JNB. They also fly on to Cape Town if you choose to do so. (They actually even continue on to Argentina!)

One World contains not one African partner airline, so that should be the healthy tip for you to look elsewhere.

Finally, the best tip is to hire a car in JNB and just drive to GBE (it is only about 3 1/2 hours and the road is good - cars rental is inexpensive and you'll need a car in GBE anyway).

Malaysian could be one option, but that would take longer since it would be via Kuala Lumpur.

Is Star Alliance any better in this regard?

 

[browski]

Malaysian could be one option, but that would take longer since it would be via Kuala Lumpur.

Is Star Alliance any better in this regard?

Of course. SAA is *A....so PER-JNB is the obvious choice. However MH gets into JNB early morning, so you have a selection of SAA flights to connect with to GBE.

BTW, if you really want to maximize QFF SCs then look at the CX flights - they also arrive early morning into JNB.

 

[Isochronous]

Of course. SAA is *A....so PER-JNB is the obvious choice. However MH gets into JNB early morning, so you have a selection of SAA flights to connect with to GBE.

BTW, if you really want to maximize QFF SCs then look at the CX flights - they also arrive early morning into JNB.

Yeah that's another idea, not sure I'm too keen on going through HKG though. Just did a quick quote on the CX website, MEL-HKG-JNB return is A$2,299 with 22,472 Asia Miles. Can anyone convert that into QF points and SCs? It's also much cheaper than the QF website, which was $3,000 plus - flying JNB-Gaborone isn't going to cost me $1,000, nor would a hire car, but admittedly it's a longer routing. I wouldn't mind visiting HKG anyway.

To get SCs, if I am on CX does it matter whether the ticket has a QF flight number or not?

 

[browski]

You will receive the equivalent quantity of QFF status credits for distance travelled whether you fly CX or Qantas. However the amount of QFF points you receive will be far less if the flight has a CX flight number. Having said that, there is no QF flight number for HKG-JNB (that I know of).
If flying economy in CX, beware the "shell seats" - not to everyone's liking.

 

[mannej]

There are times when flying CX you will not get SC's.

Provided you book the flight in an eligible fare bucket you will get them.

If CX offers a codeshare on a non oneworld carrier, you will not earn SC's. However I don't think that this applies to this case. ( I am more thinking CX1726? HKG-KUL on MH)

Otherwise Browski is correct

 

[Mal]

My understanding is that points are earned but no SCs.

I say this because on the QF Airline Earning Table, I have noticed when SCs can be earned, there is a line similar to -

Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes.

The above line isn't listed under SA and therefore I don't think that SCs are earned

This is my understanding of the situation with SA as well.

 

[Mal]

Yeah that's another idea, not sure I'm too keen on going through HKG though. Just did a quick quote on the CX website, MEL-HKG-JNB return is A$2,299 with 22,472 Asia Miles.

When you do the quote on the Cathay Pacific site, on the "Itinerary Details" page showing the cost and flights it will mention the fare class. For example, a test quote I did just then (presumably the same as yours as the fare was the same) shows:

Economy Special (L)

L Class does earn Sc's and points on Qantas. Refer to the listing for Cathay in the T&C's on the Qantas site. Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions You also need to note "Excluded: Points and Status Credits are not earned on joint venture flights or Codeshare Flights operated by airlines other than oneworld Alliance Airlines." - not an issue with flying Cathay to Hong Kong and onwards to Johannesburg as they are "Cathay metal" (ie planes), but for some bookings you need to be aware. Codeshare flights are normally marked with a Red "OP" icon rather than a Cathay/Dragonair icon, and when clicking on the flight number, the "Operating Airline" line will show who actually operates the flight. If not a oneworld member, then no points or status credits will be earnt.

It only earns .5 points / mile though, as it is Discount Economy.

Using the Great Circle Mapper Great Circle Mapper (which is reasonably accurate for mileage checking, but doesn't always agree 100% with what the airlines use) MEL-HKG is 4590 miles, HKG-JNB is 6631 miles (total 11221 miles). At .5 points/mile, that would earn 11221 Qantas FF points for the return journey. From the Qantas Status Credits table Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Status Credits , it would also earn 140 (30+40 +40+30) status credits for the return journey.