V-Flyer

My first trip on SAA Business Class. I was originally booked in F, but with a week to go the aircraft changed from a 744 to an A346 - which only has a 2 class seating.

Check in was a breeze at Terminal 1, as the 2 Business class check in kiosks were in use, i was waved to the 1st Class check in - bags tagged and boarding card given in about 2 mins (Pre booked seat 2K)
Through security (SAA have access to the fast track - which was pretty quick compared to the 'other' queue[y]).

The Lounge

The SAA 'Baobab Lounge' is located in an area where the signs say something like....'once you pass this point you cannot come back to the main terminal (for shopping)[?]... why on earth locate the lounge in such a place???
Anyway, went through to the Lounge which i must admit was very poor. I was not expecting The Clubhouse, but the offering (in my opinion was dreadful).. nuts, crisps and biscuits on the food front![:0]The bar was good with bar staff serving and there was 'pour and serve' coffee available.
Of the 2 PC's available only one was working and the seating was quite worn, i suspect, through heavy usage.
All in all, disappointing.

Boarding was called and you have to go through another screening process.
The Cabin seating was 2 2 2 (7 rows) = 42 seats
This flight was 100% full in the C Cabin.
Champagne offered (and accepted[:)])
We pushed back at 21h05 (spot on time!)
The tail camera was on through the feed in the cabin which made it quite interesting!! Heavy traffic to get to the runway we were advised.
Runway 27L...and we rolled at 21h45

Soon after take off, menus handed out and ones order taken

Dinner

Starter
Seasonal Salad
Offered with the choice of an olive oil and balsamic vinegar or blue cheese dressing
Parma Ham and Melon

Main Course
Beef Fillet
With Port wine sauce, accompanied by baby courgette,red pepper, butter squash, roasted red onion, with thyme and garlic potatoes
Breast of Chicken
Stuffed with pine Nuts and spinach and served with cumin potatoes, kenyan beans and spicy tomato sauce
Marinated Prawns
Served with Chunky tomato sauce,saffron basmati rice and sugar snap peas
Penne pasta
with herb cream sauce and roasted butternut squash, sprinkled with Parmesan shavings
Cheese Plate
Shropshire Blue, Cheddar and Camembert

Dessert
Yoghurt and Lime Gateaux

I had the Salad, followed by the Marinated Prawns.
To be honest the food was far superior to any meal i have had in Upper Class (except the Lamb dish i had for lunch coming back from Dubai in Feb 07!!)The choice of wine was also excellent with a choice of 4 Red and 3 Whites

After dinner i was asked if i wanted my seat put into bed mode, which i declined as i wanted to work it out for myself!![:?]Anyway, it was fairly simple, but i do prefer the Upper Class Suite bed 'operation'. The SAA C class chair, i think, is more comfortable as a chair than the Suite (more options as a seat)
No PJ'S offered on SAA C Class.
The bed was very comfortable, not as firm as the The Suite, but i managed at least 5 hrs before waking for breakfast.[|)]
Breakfast was offered about 2 hrs before landing....some very nice sliced fresh fruit followed by The English Muffin (with Scrambled eggs and Hollandaise Sauce and bacon, mushroom and tomato)
Again, in my opinion, far superior to the VAA offering (except for the bacon buttie!!)
45 mins before landing the AVOD was turned off. (V Port wins hands down on this front)and the tail camera view was projected onto the 3 screens at the front of the plane (this is a great feature)
The SAA skymap was nowhere near as detailed as VPort either.

We landed at 10h35 (local time) 25mins late and parked at a remote stand at 10h45. (next to G-VBUG!)
Massive queue at customs.. took at least 50 mins to get through.[:(!]
Bags were waiting and i shot up to the SAA Arrivals lounge for a shower.

Arrivals Lounge

Small shower rooms, but with all the amenities there.Food offer poor (compared to Revivals)... do your own toast... yoghurt pots in fridge...cheese slices and ham slices to help yourself.

So all in all, a good flight.
I think The VAA T3 Clubhouse makes a huge difference and the Bar onboard, as well as the Inflight Beauty Therapist..So in my book VAA would be far preferable on the LHR - JNB leg.
I'll post some pics of the SAA Arrivals lounge and then some of the SAA 1st Class Cabin / seats when i do the trip report of my return journey.

Cheers

Richard