Facts and figures of my travels in Europe, Middle East and Africa
20-10-2013
Let's start!
Sjamajee Oeps! I was supposed to start my blog a couple of months ago, but "TIME" is the problem. In the past 5 months I travelled to different countries, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kuwait, Kenya, Iran.
For the moment I'm back in South Africa, my Southern African Hub from where I travel to Namibia and Zambia. As usual I took a SAA flight from Brussels to Johannesburg. Normally I always fly through Frankfurt Airport, but this time I went throught Munich. I prefer SAA for several reasons; - Can have a combi ticket when flying arround in Africa, when appointments are cancelled I can change flights without too much problems. - SAA flights leave Frankfurt from Terminal B, so only one handlugage check, in Brussels; Lufthansa flights are mostly leaving (A380) from Terminal C...longer distance coming from Terminal A (where most European flights arrive) and another handlugage check. Had already some bad expereinces with unfriendly airport personel in Terminal C, so I just avoid it! - SAA, same quality (friendly staff, leg space, meals, entertainment program, etc...) as other companies flying to RSA, but cheaper...for Europeans! I always start my working week in the Western Cape (Cape Town), so after landing in Johannesburg, before taking a domestic flight, I first need to pass passport-control (for European passport holders no VISA required), take your lugage (SAA flights; belt 7-10, at your left hand when leaving passport control) and re-check your lugage in at the SAA-counters behind customs. Than pass the door to arrival, go to the left, take the stairs two levels up and walk till the end of the building to the gates for the Domestic Flights. Pass hand lugage control and take the time at Wimpy's for a good cup of coffee. I go to the SAA lounge, where the food, the coffee and service are OK!!
Ohh, yes! If you have an international connecting flight, don't go throught pass-control!! Just follow the "transfer flights" (?) sign. There is an "adapted" pass-control and a hand-lugage check, before entering the "boarding zone".
Flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town; +/- 2 hours: depends on the wind! This time it took us 5 hours....because of a copper-cable theft on OR Tambo Airport, the re-fueling devices were not able to work...so refueling took longer than normal. Since I was upgraded to business class, I didn't mind and had a good sleep on soft business class seat!
