Rafabozzolla From Brazil, joined Apr 2000, 672 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 1168 times:
I'll be flying from GRU to BOM next week. I don't have the tickets yet, but I know that it will be either SAA or Lufthansa, both cases, business class.
I've never flown biz on either one. I personally would prefer LH because it gives me miles on JJ's Fidelidade.
That said, I've read some really awfull things about connecting through FRA and, on the way back home, I'd have to wait over 12 hours at FRA.Should I give SAA a go?
BTW, do you guys know if there is any designated smoking areas airside at either FRA or JNB, or will I have to actually enter Germany and South Africa in order to have a puff?
Ota1 From Germany, joined Apr 2008, 226 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1061 times:
Quoting Rafabozzolla (Thread starter): BTW, do you guys know if there is any designated smoking areas airside at either FRA or JNB, or will I have to actually enter Germany and South Africa in order to have a puff?
There are smoking areas at FRA, so you don't have to go landside
Rafabozzolla From Brazil, joined Apr 2000, 672 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (2 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1061 times:
Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 2): If you don't want to fly via FRA or JNB, Have you checked Emirates via DXB?
It's not my decision to make. The company is buying the ticket. What I know is that it will be either SA or LH. Now I'm mostly curious about what to expect.
Hardiwv From Netherlands, joined Oct 2004, 5682 posts, RR: 44 Reply 5, posted (2 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1005 times:
SA J class is certainly better with lie-flat seats instead of LH angle-seats. However, with LH you always have the chance of an upgrade to F, especially if you are Senator.
Have you tried looking at LH schedule to BOM via MUC? MUC is far better than FRA.
The recommendation above EK via DXB is another excellent option.
C010T3 From Brazil, joined Jul 2006, 1173 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (2 months 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 862 times:
Quoting Rafabozzolla (Thread starter): That said, I've read some really awfull things about connecting through FRA and, on the way back home, I'd have to wait over 12 hours at FRA.Should I give SAA a go?
Connecting at FRA is great. I don't know what you read, but the most important on the way back, you can go to the city and do something with that time. Transportation is so reliable that you shouldn't have any problems.
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 6522 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (2 months 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 755 times:
I'll add my name to the pro-SAA list, the lie flat seat is great.
Quoting Rafabozzolla (Thread starter): BTW, do you guys know if there is any designated smoking areas airside at either FRA or JNB, or will I have to actually enter Germany and South Africa in order to have a puff?
I know that there is a smoking area in the old international departures area but how to get there as a transit passenger I couldn't tell you. I would think there will be one in the new section of the terminal as well.
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 5964 posts, RR: 73 Reply 10, posted (2 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 754 times:
If I could chose, I'd take SAA as well - they're just, plain and simply, better than LH. And connecting at JNB is painless, from my connections (but those were always just longhaul to domestic or regional / vice versa) I'd say that it's a very good airport for switching flights.
Other than that, I also agree with C010T3 - connecting in FRA is a far cry from the horror stories that some constantly feel the need to spread around here. Granted, it's not the most modern airport, and there are more comfortable places to transfer (though in Europe, I'd personally only consider ZRH as far better than FRA), but it's still a darn efficient airport for transfers. Plus, you're in town within about 10-15 minutes, so even if you just want to sit down at the river (where I'm heading in a few minutes to take some pictures), have a beer, visit some museums, it's all very simple.
CastropRauxel From Israel, joined Sep 2008, 317 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 735 times:
Quoting C010T3 (Reply 8): Connecting at FRA is great
I'm not sure I'd go as far as calling the procedure "great"... since 9/11 a lot have changed in the anyway very old terminal 1 in FRA. plus the constant constractions there and the mazes... as PPVRA said, "efffff" indeed. though now I know FRA as the palm of my hand, on my first (and second, and third) time there I was completely lost. gotta hand it to the germans though, that they are incredibly efficient - but still, struggling with the complex itself is far from being a joy.
on the bright side, as leskova said, you can take the 12 hours connecting time (jesus christ!) to go to the city - but how much city do you want between two long haul flights, that's another question...
I would definitely take SAA. not only because geographically it makes much more sense flying via JNB than via FRA - but mainly because their J is superior. I'm the biggest LH fan, but after constantly slipping down in their J, I've learned to appreicate a truly 180 degrees lie flat seat. there's a reason why SAA's business seat is repeatedly winning the best flat bed seat.
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