Melbourne to Cape Town with least pain...

[ctrunfree]

Hi people
We're looking at the most painless way of getting from Melbourne to Cape Town in September.
It seems that regardless of what CPT airport Wiki page suggests there are unfortunately no longer direct SIN-CPT flights. Which leaves us with going MELB-PER on Virgin and then PER-JNB-CPT with SAA, at ugly times, MELB-SYD-JNB-CPT with Qantas or via DXB or DOH with Emirates or Qatar respectively (we'd do a stopover if going via the ME).
Price isn't the main issue (we'll probably fly Business class) but want to minimise time spent in airports and plane changes. Having done it a few times ex SYD we'd also like to avoid the JNB stopover if possible.
Any advice welcome, particularly on the respective merits of the aircraft currently used on these routes

 

[Sprucegoose]

I would still go via JNB it's only a short hop from there

 

[dajop]

SQ still does same plane service via JNB some days of the week. Not sure if you have to deplane or not though.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I would highly recommend not flying SQ on this particular route if you are concerned about the merits of the aircraft.
SQ use an old aircraft on the SIN-JNB route that continues on to CPT. The business class can be particuarly sub-standard (i.e. not lie flat beds) for such a long flight subject to aircraft changes. SQ have a monopoly on this route as no other SE Asian carrier flies to JNB so they charge exorbidant prices and schedule older aircraft.

I would additionally avoid the SAA option through PER.

IMO the ME carriers would be optimal for this route.

 

[dajop]

I would highly recommend not flying SQ on this particular route if you are concerned about the merits of the aircraft.
SQ use an old aircraft on the SIN-JNB route that continues on to CPT. The business class can be particuarly sub-standard (i.e. not lie flat beds) for such a long flight subject to aircraft changes.

SQ use 777-200ER aircraft on the SIN-JNB/CPT route. They have been progressively refitting these aircraft, replacing older style 2-2-2 angled flat seats to newer style 1-2-1 fully flat seats. IIRC, they only have a small number of aircraft remaining in the old configuration. Seat maps in September show JNB/CPT flights operating with 1-2-1 configuration, but I guess there's always a chance of last minute substitution.

 

[Daver6]

No idea about how long the layover is in DOH, but what about QR? I don't think they fly to CPT daily though.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I'm flying MEL > CPT in July.

MEL > SYD on QF

SYD > JNB on QF

JNB > CPT on BA ( comair).

I wish CPT would get a direct flight from Australia..... But unfortunately I suspect that idea is quite some years off, due to peaks & troughs of demand of the SYD > JNB sector .

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

On a side note I recently Learnt that QR will start services to Durban later in the year.... That will give EK a run for their money.

 

[ctrunfree]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I think we'll just bite the bullet and go QF via Syd and JHB. We've done it three times before and while its a pain I'm not a great fan of ME stopovers which involve late night/early morning departures. Might go up to Syd the night before to avoid the very early morning wake up in Melb. It sounds like Premium Economy might be bearable, which would save quite a bit of $ over J.

I think there have been some previous posts about PE on QF 63 and 64, which I'll chase up. Can someone suggest best seats for two people on these flights? And what is the meal timing?

 

[admin]

Being an ex-Capetonian, who now lives in Melbourne, I do this route every year to visit family. I have tried all possible routings, even the long way via Doha with an 18 hour stopover! Actually the stopover wasn't bad - Qatar throw in accommodation/transport/Visa/Meals etc, so you do get too see an interesting city at no cost.

Singapore is my preference: 2 direct flights with just one stop-over of a few hours. Door-to-door travel time is about the same as flying QF/SAA which have 2 stopovers

 

[ctrunfree]

Thanks admin-but when you say two direct flights, doesn't Singapore go Melb-Sing-Jhb-Cpt?

 

[mannej]

Thanks admin-but when you say two direct flights, doesn't Singapore go Melb-Sing-Jhb-Cpt?

It's a long way between JHB and CPT. J'borg is JNB.

 

[ctrunfree]

Thanks Mannej. It's definitely Jo'burg I'm talking about.

 

[admin]

Thanks admin-but when you say two direct flights, doesn't Singapore go Melb-Sing-Jhb-Cpt?

Depends on the day of the week (I think), as they do fly to Jo'burg as well. I always fly non-stop Singapore to Cape Town.

When doing the booking make sure is is a "non-stop" rather than a "direct" flight, as they are not the same! "direct" flights can involve a stop-over!!

 

[ctrunfree]

I believe Singapore Airlines have axed all the direct flights to Cape Town, and only go via Jo'burg these days.

 

[dajop]

Depends on the day of the week (I think), as they do fly to Jo'burg as well. I always fly non-stop Singapore to Cape Town.

When doing the booking make sure is is a "non-stop" rather than a "direct" flight, as they are not the same! "direct" flights can involve a stop-over!!

That used to be the case, but all services to CPT now (4x weekly) have a one hour layover in JNB. Presumably as it is only one hour it an Australian style layover where immigration is done in CPT rather than US style layover where immigration would be done in JNB. Not sure if it is like the SIN-MXP-BCN flights where passengers stay on the plane, or like SIN-FRA-JFK, where pax disembark and return through security.

 

[admin]

I've just checked and you are 100% correct. Apologies for that. I guess it now becomes marginal between SA and QF.

I believe Singapore Airlines have axed all the direct flights to Cape Town, and only go via Jo'burg these days.