V-Flyer

Probably been asked a million times, but what is the story on Cape Town UC mileage seats in February?

I just got an invite from a friend to come stay for 2 weeks in Feb, and would love to take it up, plus have over 700k miles in the account, but there's no UC availability for any day, not even a one-way flight. very odd - is it really that full, or do they just not release them?

I tried the trick of looking at the next few days, when usually they stop holding back seats and drop them into the system, but that shows zero too.

Thanks.

I off to Cape Town tomorrow on FC points exclusive and have to book months in advance an could not get exact days I wanted !

Exactly!

Can any Cape Town flyers out there confirm that the planes are completely full?

I'm also looking at this route and cannot find any availability at all from Nov to March!! Not a single flight!

Maybe it's to do with the fact the it's part operated by SAA? I think for the JNB-CPT hop? I was looking to spend a few days next week, but the cost was unjustifiably high for what is supposed to be a fun trip. So I'm just sitting it out.

The best option for rewards flights to South Africa is to go via JNB and pick up a domestic run with SAA, BA, Kulula or Mango.

Flexibility on dates wil also help your quest

Paul

Problem I'm connecting from MAN too so I really don't want another connection in JoBurg

Thanks though!

I have family in Cape Town and flew there Dec last year. Also I have been looking at getting a G for my mum who is flying in Feb '14.

The problem is that the route is currently serviced by a A343 so has less UC seats than the A346. It is also a popular route so finding availability is difficult.

I booked my G upgrade for Dec '12 flight back in Jan'12 (before seat allocation had changed to 90 day thing, and an A346 was scheduled).

I have eventually just booked a PE upgrade for my mum as fare prices were increasing. It is just down to basic supply and demand. A weekly call to Flying Club is what I was doing. No G's were available and I spent two months calling periodically.

Good luck in your search.....

There have been some UC seats for CPT flights this March/April released 4-9 days before the flight but other than that, we've seen no CPT UC reward seats released this year - nothing for 2014 at all yet.

PE reward availability for Feb/Mar is reasonable if thats an option for you.

RewardSeats wrote:There have been some UC seats for CPT flights this March/April released 4-9 days before the flight but other than that, we've seen no CPT UC reward seats released this year - nothing for 2014 at all yet.

Interesting. That's what I meant when I said in OP:

narikin wrote:I tried the trick of looking at the next few days, when usually they stop holding back seats and drop them into the system, but that shows zero too.

You often find airlines finally making space for reward Pax a few days (3-4) out from flying. They've given up on selling all of them and, and finally deign to allow miles flyers a couple of UC seats. How gracious!

But - that does not happen in peak season on the CPT route, it seems. Those are kept for revenue customers (and staff?). Hopefully they'll switch to a bigger plane next season. They certainly should, for revenue reasons alone - its always sold out, even J full fare UC.

Thanks all. I don't want to use miles for PE as its not great value....will keep checking.....

Or might have a week in Japan instead as there always seems to be availability there.

Yes .... Reward seats to Cape Town are like the proverbial Rocking Horse Dung !!! Rare Indeed.

We got 2 UC returns this year but had to book so far in advance. For 2014 we are currently flying to Joburg and back via Cape Town and not really on days we want but at least we have something. Should certainly be more reward flights available for those of us that rack up the hundreds of thousands of Air Miles needed for these flights.

On a side issue, had my first couple of Little Red flights to Edinburgh last weekend to keep my Rewards Status for the year. Great little service ..... very good