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Forums Frequent flyer programs The British Airways Club 241 to Cape Town – easier to connect in J’burg?

  • 54 posts

    With Cape Town a highly sought after location for AVOIS reward flights- does anyone see any drawbacks other than time/cost in using the 241 to j’berg instead and getting an internal linking flight that I might be missing?

    Thanks

    458 posts

    I think if you have a dig around in the destination and 241 threads you’ll find quite a bit of info on this. But if you’re prepared to travel from a region it may be easier than you think to get award seats to CPT.

    401 posts

    As someone who had a few sleepless nights earlier this year trying to get this route with my 2-4-1 mid for Feb 2024, I had a plan B which was as you describe. Would have been a right PITA but the flights from Jo’berg and plenty and relatively cheap. I did it myself way back in 2008.
    After all my efforts the OH is now making noises about not going due to safety concerns and my attempts to calm his fears are falling on deaf ears 😟

    176 posts

    @Amy C we’re hopefully off to Amman in January but watching FCO website closely!

    1,916 posts

    As someone who had a few sleepless nights earlier this year trying to get this route with my 2-4-1 mid for Feb 2024, I had a plan B which was as you describe. Would have been a right PITA but the flights from Jo’berg and plenty and relatively cheap. I did it myself way back in 2008.
    After all my efforts the OH is now making noises about not going due to safety concerns and my attempts to calm his fears are falling on deaf ears 😟

    Is there something new going on in RSA?

    401 posts

    As someone who had a few sleepless nights earlier this year trying to get this route with my 2-4-1 for mid Feb 2024, I had a plan B which was as you describe. Would have been a right PITA but the flights from Jo’berg and plenty and relatively cheap. I did it myself way back in 2008.
    After all my efforts the OH is now making noises about not going due to safety concerns and my attempts to calm his fears are falling on deaf ears 😟

    Is there something new going on in RSA?

    No, but he read a Times article a few weeks ago stating how CT is the most dangerous city in the world or something and has been convincing himself we’ll be mugged/car jacked etc ever since.
    Then there was the British Doctor shot to death over there in the Summer, that didn’t help.
    There are elections next year too, not sure when though.

    257 posts

    Cheaper to take out a (short term) subscription to SeatSpy.

    I refuse to stay awake until midnight or 1am just for the sake of flights, and I managed to book outbound 2-4-1 (new style) LHR to CPT recently for October 2024 at a decent hour of the day without breaking a sweat.

    66 posts

    I’d agree that a SeatSpy subscription will do the trick. I had an alert set for March 2024 and have email alerts every few days for the last month with seats popping up.
    And this is for 3 seats, I’m sure 2 would open a lot more options up.

    250 posts

    As someone who had a few sleepless nights earlier this year trying to get this route with my 2-4-1 for mid Feb 2024, I had a plan B which was as you describe. Would have been a right PITA but the flights from Jo’berg and plenty and relatively cheap. I did it myself way back in 2008.
    After all my efforts the OH is now making noises about not going due to safety concerns and my attempts to calm his fears are falling on deaf ears 😟

    Is there something new going on in RSA?

    No, but he read a Times article a few weeks ago stating how CT is the most dangerous city in the world or something and has been convincing himself we’ll be mugged/car jacked etc ever since.
    Then there was the British Doctor shot to death over there in the Summer, that didn’t help.
    There are elections next year too, not sure when though.

    My OH is exactly the same. I grew up in Africa (Kenya, but visited SA several times). She is convinced that the moment she leaves the airport we’ll be shot. Managed to get her to MRU this year, but I’m going to Tanzania on safari by myself in May having concluded I’ll never go otherwise!
    Cape Town is a superb city – one not to miss.

    458 posts

    Remember SeatSpy doesn’t show the “extra” availability in CW, you have to search on BA.com for that with the 241.

    @Amy C – I think some places are reported on more than others; St Lucia and the US Virgin Islands (for example) have comparable homicide rates to South Africa but are still considered quite upmarket holiday destinations!

    257 posts

    Remember SeatSpy doesn’t show the “extra” availability in CW, you have to search on BA.com for that with the 241.

    Indeed, the fact that I managed to book two J tickets from LHR without angst using SeatSpy subscription augurs even better for anyone searching on BA.com and/or from one of the UK regions I believe.

    Only thing is it seems that BA financially disincentivises booking a return F from JNB if outbound is J to CPT, which currently has no aircraft with F availability.

    360 posts

    Also, don’t forget the option to go out to one of JNB or CPT and back from the other, if that makes availability any easier. You can book them individually online as one-way bookings, but if you wanted it to be a single return ticket you would have to call.

    171 posts

    Remember SeatSpy doesn’t show the “extra” availability in CW, you have to search on BA.com for that with the 241.

    Indeed, the fact that I managed to book two J tickets from LHR without angst using SeatSpy subscription augurs even better for anyone searching on BA.com and/or from one of the UK regions I believe.

    Only thing is it seems that BA financially disincentivises booking a return F from JNB if outbound is J to CPT, which currently has no aircraft with F availability.

    BA43 has F, starting at some point next year

    66 posts

    BA43 has F, starting at some point next year

    I’ve been monitoring the route and there’s been no F reward space released to CPT. JNB is quite good because it’s an A380, but the 777 is half the cabin size so not holding my breath.

    31 posts

    Have you had a good look on the website to see what’s available? I booked business on 241 voucher for May next year in July. Did it on the website for both out and return. I was really surprised as I thought it was going to be impossible.

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