You get on board a flight at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport bound for King Shaka International in Durban, having flown from San Francisco to DC (or New York) on United — and then on to South Africa with South African Airways. The flight from Johannesburg to Durban is less than an hour. This includes about 25 minutes of food and drink time. And do you know what? Whatever time of day you fly, some sort of meal is served. And there’s a full bar service. And whatever South African wine you choose; or the Bloody Mary you want to knock back with your brekker? It’s free.
OK. So once upon a time a few years ago, this wouldn’t be a big deal. But as anyone in the US knows, get on an airline there these days on any internal fight, no matter how short or long — and even on some international flights — and if they could charge you for the air you breathe, they would. Free booze? Or food? Gone the way of the dinosaur.
You get the service in economy or business, the business category being of significance in the case of South Africa’s multi-award-winning national carrier’s two most recent awards. Business Traveler has awarded SAA with Best Airline to Africa and Best Business Class in Africa awards, while Global Traveler magazine has named SAA as Best Airline in Africa and Best Sparkling Wine in Business Class.
Connecting North and South America, Africa and China
Meanwhile SAA debuted its non-stop route from Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport to Beijing, China, Beijing this week (January 31). SAA CEO Siza Mzimela believes that substantial demand for tourism and trade to China would contribute to the success of the new route. China is one of South Africa's largest trade partners.
Of special relevant to anyone in the United States with an interest in combining China and South Africa for business or vacation travel, Mzimela pointed out that the Johannesburg-Beijing route will also position South Africa as an aviation hub between South America and China, linking three of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
"We believe that the route will play a strategic role in the growing economic relationships and dependencies between the continents. Commercially, SAA is able to deliver seamless travel from Sao Paolo via Johannesburg to Beijing, servicing all three continents" says Mzimela.
SAA will operate its Airbus A340-600 long-haul aircraft on the Johannesburg-Beijing route, non-stop with flying time at about 15 hours.
Chef Reuben — and 1,000 South African wines
Back to the US magazine awards and the wine. “We are honored to have earned these awards from two magazines that represent the discerning business traveler,” said Todd Neuman, executive vice president, North America, for South African Airways, adding: “We’ve continued our focus on growing the route network and making travel to more of Africa easier. We’ve also enhanced our on-board service with meal selections from South African star chef Reuben Riffel, and with our annual wine selection process.”
Global Traveler’s award for Best Sparkling Wine in Business Class went to SAA for its Philip Jonker Entheos Brut NV.
SAA’s annual wine selection process consists of a three-day tasting of more than 1,000 South African wines by a global panel.
The wines selected for 2012 will be paired with international and South African meal selections in premium business class, including signature dishes from South African chef Riffel — a rising star on the international culinary stage — on international flights departing from South Africa. Reuben Riffel’s namesake restaurant, Reuben’s, has locations both in the Franschhoek wine region and in Cape Town.
SAA’s 2011 awards included Best Flight Experience to Africa from Executive Travel Magazine.
Service info: SAA has a daily nonstop service from the US to South Africa with morning departures from New York JFK and afternoon direct service from Washington Dulles (with a stop in Dakar, Senegal). SAA connects to nearly 20 destinations within South Africa, and more than 25 cities across the rest of the continent. A Star Alliance member, SAA is able to offer its customers 1,290 destinations in 189 countries and more than 21,000 flights daily, including connections from more than 25 cities in the US through code share service with Star Alliance member United Airlines. For more information on South African Airways, visit www.flysaa.com. Fly to South Africa with South African Airways. Flying from the West Coast? Read about the SAA-Jet Blue link here.
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