Trip report AA-Qatar-Airlink

[buckshot85]

Damn!!!’
You guys throw around $3500-$5500 like it’s nothing for a friggin plain ticket.
I just can’t see the value in that.
I can cattle car a long damn time before I think $4k a plain ticket is a deal.

 

[Philip Glass]

Damn!!!’
You guys throw around $3500-$5500 like it’s nothing for a friggin plain ticket.
I just can’t see the value in that.
I can cattle car a long damn time before I think $4k a plain ticket is a deal.

To each his own. We all have different circumstances. I am happy to sit in the back and have probably 20 times on international trips. Now, from time to time, I get to sit in the front!

 

[Philip Glass]

I flew Delta Premium Select in May and I paid DFW-ATL-JNB $3900 for 2 tickets for the wife and I and flew back Comfort +, premium select has more recline and more leg room and a larger tv screen than Comfort +.
Premium Select has nice headphones with dual pin jacks so your single pins will only play 1 speaker in yours. I would leave your personal ones at home. reline and leg room is better than Comfort + and has a leg support with a fold down footrest, I did not like that at all made it feel claustrophobic for me.
Depending on your group you can get side rows with just 2 seats compared to Comfort is 3 wide on the sides.
Comfort + As mentioned is 3 wide which worked for us as our son came 4 days later and we all took up a row on ride home. If you fly comfort + bring your own headphone as the ear bud style is Delta issue and for me 15 hrs is too long for those. Food is the same in both cabins.
On the trip home I had head up ass and didn't look around as last 3 trips were sold out both ways, I got up 3 hrs into the flight and 1/2 of the main cabin seats and 1/3 of Comfort+ was empty so everyone spread out so they could lay down and sleep the whole flight.
I got a good deal on the Premium seats but I thought comfort was a better deal than the premium as normal is $600-800 more than comfort.
Delta ticket counter on return in JNB was a little nerve racking as it took er 45 min to check us in and I have to pay overweight charge of R1200 gave her card she swiped it like 20 times, I asked if I needed to step into hallway to ATM and get cash she replied no, swiped another 20 times I gave her a Delta AMEX card same thing no go so she sends me to business off directly behind the ticket counter same thing eventually went and got the cash and we were on our way.
CBP in ATL was a little slow we declared our firearms and we flagged and escorted to the x-ray inspection room and told to sit and wait our turn, after a few minutes we were called up and guy asked where our luggage was we told him we had firearms and we were escorted straight there and not allowed to retrieve, he rolled his eyes and handed us back our passports and told to collect luggage and go to firearms room for boot spraying and clearing firearms boom 10 min whole flight was out of there.

Thanks for the info. I always take my Bose headphones with a 2 pin adapter as well at the RHA wireless Bluetooth adapter for these flights.
So how many with guns to check in at JNB on way home and total time? It’s always good for me to know as I have big groups hunting with me on safari.
PG

 

[buckshot85]

Thanks for the info. I always take my Bose headphones with a 2 pin adapter as well at the RHA wireless Bluetooth adapter for these flights.
So how many with guns to check in at JNB on way home and total time? It’s always good for me to know as I have big groups hunting with me on safari.
PG

Do you have a model # or link to the headphones you use?

 

[postoak]

Great read! Thank you.

Next spring will be our first flight and safari to RSA.
We are not wealthy and on a budget.
What seating in a plain is worth any extra?
I truly do not know the difference from economy to main cabin or anything else. Where is the smart money spent and where is it not?
We plan to fly from Milwaukee or Chicago to Atlanta then Joburg.

If you are less than 5'10" or so you are lucky and can sit in regular economy. If you're 6'1" or above you definitely want to snag a bulkhead or exit row seat because of all the extra legroom. The last time I flew with Lufthansa they charged $75 extra for these seats on each leg, so $300 for me which is money well spent. If you can't get one of those seats then you need to spring for economy plus seats.

 

[postoak]

The business class lounge in Doha is about as good as it gets. I've said before I think it is about the size of the entire international terminal in Houston. But it's an 8 hour layover going and that's the most tiring part of the trip.
Philip, who took that photo of you and your wife in your Q-suite beds? The flight attendant?

 

[Philip Glass]

Do you have a model # or link to the headphones you use?

I fly quite a bit so I buy only the best.

QuietComfort 45 Noise Cancelling Headphones | Bose

The wireless Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones build upon our iconic noise cancelling headphones to offer the perfect balance of quiet, comfort, and sound.

www.bose.com

RHA Wireless (it has 1 or 2 pins to connect to IFE

Wireless Flight Adapter | Bluetooth 5 Audio Transmitter for Headphones

Transform any output device with a 3.5mm aux into wireless freedom with our Bluetooth adapter. Available with free delivery and 3 year warranty.

www.rha-audio.com

Buy these two items and you will feel like you are flying first class!
With the RHA bluetooth adapter you can walk around or go to the restroom and still hear your movie.

 

[Philip Glass]

Do you have a model # or link to the headphones you use?

I fly quite a bit so I buy only the best.

QuietComfort 45 Noise Cancelling Headphones | Bose

The wireless Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones build upon our iconic noise cancelling headphones to offer the perfect balance of quiet, comfort, and sound.

www.bose.com

RHA Wireless

The business class lounge in Doha is about as good as it gets. I've said before I think it is about the size of the entire international terminal in Houston. But it's an 8 hour layover going and that's the most tiring part of the trip.
Philip, who took that photo of you and your wife in your Q-suite beds? The flight attendant?

I hope to visit the lounges on the Zim/Tanzania trip. the two RSA trips had short layovers. What itinerary had an 8 hour layover?
I had a total of 16 on that flight so it was no prob to get someone to take a pic!

 

[postoak]

Houston Iah to JNB is 32H10M vs Dallas DFW to JNB is about 25H, IIRC. That extra time is spent at Doha, an 8 hour layover from IAH vs either a 2 1/2 hour or 4 hour coming from DFW. (Both these layovers I'm talking about are going; the layovers coming back are both pretty brief).

One thing I learned this trip that will prove helpful is that there are a number of lounges at Doha. When you come out of the C gates you need to know the name of the one you want or you can spend a half hour wandering around. The one for Qatar Business Class is the Al Mourjan Lounge.

 

[mdwest]

Do you have a model # or link to the headphones you use?

I accidentally forgot my noise cancelling headphones on a trip in 2019... so I ran to the electronics shop at the DFW airport to look for last minute options..

The sales rep sold me on a set from Creative Labs called the Aurvana ANC... they are about half of the cost of Bose.. and in a side by side comparison, I couldn't tell any difference at all in sound quality, noise canceling, etc.. and I found the Aurvana's a little more comfortable to wear..

Ive been SUPER HAPPY with them..

Theyre about $200 at full retail.. but there are a lot of companies out there selling refurb's for $50 or less..

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Lightweight-Noise-cancelling-Headphones-Microphone/dp/B01E8S21E2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Creative Aurvana ANC Headset 51ef054000000 for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Creative Aurvana ANC Headset 51ef054000000 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

A review of the headphones is here:

 

[Philip Glass]

Houston Iah to JNB is 32H10M vs Dallas DFW to JNB is about 25H, IIRC. That extra time is spent at Doha, an 8 hour layover from IAH vs either a 2 1/2 hour or 4 hour coming from DFW. (Both these layovers I'm talking about are going; the layovers coming back are both pretty brief).

One thing I learned this trip that will prove helpful is that there are a number of lounges at Doha. When you come out of the C gates you need to know the name of the one you want or you can spend a half hour wandering around. The one for Qatar Business Class is the Al Mourjan Lounge.

Thanks for the info. I am eagerly awaiting the chance to visit the Al Mourjan Business class lounge on the way to Zim and possibly the Al Safwa First Class lounge on the way home from Tanzania. So far with two trips on Qatar Ive not had the chance to see the lounge due to short layovers.

 

[Philip Glass]

I accidentally forgot my noise cancelling headphones on a trip in 2019... so I ran to the electronics shop at the DFW airport to look for last minute options..

The sales rep sold me on a set from Creative Labs called the Aurvana ANC... they are about half of the cost of Bose.. and in a side by side comparison, I couldn't tell any difference at all in sound quality, noise canceling, etc.. and I found the Aurvana's a little more comfortable to wear..

Ive been SUPER HAPPY with them..

Theyre about $200 at full retail.. but there are a lot of companies out there selling refurb's for $50 or less..

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Lightweight-Noise-cancelling-Headphones-Microphone/dp/B01E8S21E2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Creative Aurvana ANC Headset 51ef054000000 for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Creative Aurvana ANC Headset 51ef054000000 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

A review of the headphones is here:

Dave,
Thanks for the info. I am always looking for options for items like this for my safari groups. The only downside I see with hese headphones is that they dont have bluetooth.
The Bose QC45 are $329 and the 700's are $379 so they are quite an investment.
Regards,
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

Do you have a model # or link to the headphones you use?

Bose 700's are what I have plus Ive used the QC45's for years as well. They are expensive but for the travels I do they are more than worth it.

 

[Philip Glass]

If you are less than 5'10" or so you are lucky and can sit in regular economy. If you're 6'1" or above you definitely want to snag a bulkhead or exit row seat because of all the extra legroom. The last time I flew with Lufthansa they charged $75 extra for these seats on each leg, so $300 for me which is money well spent. If you can't get one of those seats then you need to spring for economy plus seats.

On Delta we usually paid for Comfort+ seats for about $400rt more. it was 4" of leg room and 4" recline extra. At 6'2" it helped me.

 

[postoak]

Philip, what Delta flight did you take - the non-stop one? Does that exist anymore or did they change it to where you have to stop in Capetown?

 

[mdwest]

. At 6'2" it helped me.

While working for the World Bank, I managed to let myself get spoiled… we’d typically do more than 500k miles a year… and the position I was in REQUIRED me to travel in first class… (long story)…

At 6’5” and about 250lbs at the time.. it didn’t take long to learn to enjoy the comfort over traveling those same miles in cattle class like many members of my team had to…

These days I am long removed from the bank… and even though I could afford business class, I’m generally too cheap to spring for it…

And about 1/2 way over the Atlantic.. I regret being cheap every time… (I still make 2-4 international flights a year these days)…

Had I never worked at the bank.. I would have never known the luxury.. and probably wouldnt care lol..

 

[mdwest]

Dave,
Thanks for the info. I am always looking for options for items like this for my safari groups. The only downside I see with hese headphones is that they dont have bluetooth.
The Bose QC45 are $329 and the 700's are $379 so they are quite an investment.
Regards,
Philip

Yep… same here…

We took a group over last year.. and are taking another group over this year.. and are already in the planning phase for a group next year…

I know what works for me and what I like to have/use for travel and for the hunt.. but am always looking for other options for group members that might be in a different income bracket, or might have different tastes/preferences.. AH has been a great place to see what others are using, what’s worked for them, etc…

 

[Philip Glass]

Philip, what Delta flight did you take - the non-stop one? Does that exist anymore or did they change it to where you have to stop in Capetown?

That is a good question. I believe they will fly the triangle soon and until they aquire an A350-1000 and then maybe they will go back to the nonstop. For my EC hunts where I can take Airlink to Capetown (CPT) I will consider Delta. For other routes to say Zim or Limpopo I would not. Airlines make me so mad!

 

[Philip Glass]

While working for the World Bank, I managed to let myself get spoiled… we’d typically do more than 500k miles a year… and the position I was in REQUIRED me to travel in first class… (long story)…

At 6’5” and about 250lbs at the time.. it didn’t take long to learn to enjoy the comfort over traveling those same miles in cattle class like many members of my team had to…

These days I am long removed from the bank… and even though I could afford business class, I’m generally too cheap to spring for it…

And about 1/2 way over the Atlantic.. I regret being cheap every time… (I still make 2-4 international flights a year these days)…

Had I never worked at the bank.. I would have never known the luxury.. and probably wouldnt care lol..

Dave
Exactly! You dont want to go back once youve experienced the luxury of business class.
When I fly coach I just try to think hey this was cheap. And it keeps me going. After 4 safaris (soon to complete) in the QSuite I dont know how I can psyche myself up to do it. We will see.
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

Yep… same here…

We took a group over last year.. and are taking another group over this year.. and are already in the planning phase for a group next year…

I know what works for me and what I like to have/use for travel and for the hunt.. but am always looking for other options for group members that might be in a different income bracket, or might have different tastes/preferences.. AH has been a great place to see what others are using, what’s worked for them, etc…

You and I have very similar experiences. I too am in the situation of trying to study cost and travel time for everyone to have a great trip. I also want to keep flying different routes to add to the experience I have in order to advise others.
Its fun even in the misery of 2 days travel to get to our favorite place to hunt.,
Philip