African Safari Adventure - Travel Days

[soccerdad72]

This segment will likely be short - our 5am wake up call for the next game drive is coming up quickly tomorrow…

Travel day was pretty uneventful. We had a long layover in Newark, but the later flight in only gave us a little less than a 2 hour turnaround, so we didn’t want to worry about delays and things like that. It ended up not being a problem - we were on time with our 14 1/2 hour flight to Johannesburg. Our upgrade requests that we bought with miles didn’t pan out, so we ended up in economy, but with the middle seats not being occupied, we each had whole rows for the two of us, our boys in the row right behind us. Aside from being painfully long, the flight was all good.

Landed in Johannesburg, got through South African customs and got to our hotel for the night fairly quickly. My wife and older son weren’t hungry, so my younger son went to the hotel restaurant and grabbed a quick bite to eat and a drink and we all settled into bed early. The place we were at gave us a two bedroom suite - all the other places, we had separate rooms/tents/suites for my wife and I and our boys.

Day 1 officially of our adventure ended up being a long travel day. We got up, had breakfast at the hotel, then travelled back to Johannesburg airport for a flight to Maun, Botswana. That went smoothly. Unfortunately, when we landed in Maun, we were informed that our charter flight to the first camp, originally scheduled for 1:30pm, was going to be a 4:30pm flight. No real explanation was given, just an apology and an offer to go across the street to a cafe for a light meal and a drink (paid for by the airline and travel agency). We finally got off for our flight, all 10 of us on a single prop plane, and landed at Laroo La Tau airstrip, the first of many of these interesting landing places. A 20-30 minute jeep ride later and we arrived to the camp to a warm welcome with the staff all singing to us as we arrived. Unfortunately, while we were scheduled to have an afternoon game drive, we didn’t arrive in time, so we just had dinner and headed to bed.

The camp itself was beautiful - while I had pictured tent like structures, these were full cabins, with huge walkout decks overlooking the national park. And the food was fantastic - a theme of the trip as a whole. I’m probably going to come back 10 pounds heavier with all the food we’ve been fed.

Anyways, off to bed (it’s 10pm in Botswana). More in a day or two in some downtime.

 

[disykat]

I'm looking forward to reading your whole report!

 

[dvcgirl67]

I'm glad you got to stretch out on the flight with empty rows. Sounds like you were on United. We're flying EWR (our home airport) to Cape Town....then Johannesburg to EWR. We used a ton of miles (and some cash) to be up front. We'd heard that this route is a big "bucket list" route...so, I guess that makes sense that Polaris goes quickly. Bummer that you missed the first game drive, but betting you've gotten many under your belt by this point. We're just doing South Africa and opted not to do the small flights to airstrips for this one. We were a bit concerned about the luggage restrictions. The camp sounds incredible....and I've heard about the food....trying to drop at least 5 lbs this summer before we go in September because I'm sure I'll gain at least that much. Enjoy the next leg of your journey! Enjoying going along for the ride .

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks for the report, @soccerdad72. Very interesting.

Two questions. If you paid for an seating upgrade, how could they not give to you? Refund? And are you doing this trip through a TA? All the planning, coordinating, etc.?

 

[dvcgirl67]

Thanks for the report, @soccerdad72. Very interesting.

Two questions. If you paid for an seating upgrade, how could they not give to you? Refund? And are you doing this trip through a TA? All the planning, coordinating, etc.?

I can answer the seating upgrade question Dan. At least on United, which I suspect soccerdad72 flew....because they have a direct flight from EWR to JNB, you can use Miles or Plus points for upgrades. You have to buy a ticket that is above "basic economy" (lowest fare grade), and then it tells you how many miles it will cost...plus a fee for those without status. And then when they "clear" the upgrade waitlist, it always goes first to those with highest premier status, then fare class (so anyone in premium plus would go before economy), then United Club card holders....on and on. You do get your miles and any fee back if your upgrade doesn't clear.

We don't fly enough to ever make it to the front on an upgrade based on status....maybe when we retire . Also, Newark is a hub for United and there are a zillion premier status members around here, making it even tougher. So, we have to do like many others....use a credit card to pile up miles and buy the seat with the miles outright. We use the Chase Sapphire Reserve which seems to work pretty well for us. For our trip to Africa we noticed that the flight back from JNB was "only" $5,200 for the two of us in Polaris, and so we paid cash for that and used a *ton* of miles to get Polaris from Newark to Cape Town....I think it was like 480K, something ridiculous like that. It's a crazy long 15 hour flight as soccerdad72 said, and so those pods are very popular on this route.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Polaris

Thanks for all that explanation, @dvcgirl67. And is Polaris United's term for first class?

 

[dvcgirl67]

Thanks for all that explanation, @dvcgirl67. And is Polaris United's term for first class?

Yes, sorry......Polaris is the business lie-flat seats on United. Not all United planes have them....on the other planes it's regular "old school" business with seats that recline to like 38 inches. On the longer international flights they also have "Premium Plus", which is like domestic business class. And this is just United...every airline has their own deal...like learning a new language . I'm not positive, but I don't think United has a true "first class"....just business.

To complicate things even further, we flew on RT United flights to Hawaii....on a plane that had Polaris Pods (767-400)...the first time we experienced those pods. But that wasn't a true "Polaris" flight, because it's a domestic flight....so the food wasn't as good. However, it's an 11 hour flight, and the pods were awesome....and that was a deal at 7K for the two of us....RT. But...say you want to fly from Newark to most anywhere in Europe and pay for those same pods....the price skyrockets, and....they're usually shorter flights. Makes no sense at all....other than I suppose demand.

This is what they look like....

 

[SirDuff]

I'm not positive, but I don't think United has a true "first class"....just business.

Yes, they phased out international first in something like 2017/2018. For a while, they still had planes with a first section but the service there was the same as in business (but slightly better seats). As they retrofitted into the new Polaris, they got rid of them (possible that there are a still some old planes out there).

 

[dvcgirl67]

Yes, they phased out international first in something like 2017/2018. For a while, they still had planes with a first section but the service there was the same as in business (but slightly better seats). As they retrofitted into the new Polaris, they got rid of them (possible that there are a still some old planes out there).

Ahh, ok...thanks. I know the 767 that we flew to Hawaii had just been retrofitted with Polaris. But again, we just got the physical "pod"...not the true Polaris deal. Looking forward to checking out the Polaris Lounge in EWR too...which again, didn't get when flying to Hawaii. Also will request mattress pad and pajamas, which are only for Polaris flights over 14 hours...yet, another weird rule..lol.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I see. Thanks for the explanation. Looks like nice seating. I've only done domestic 1st class . No PJ's needed.

 

[SirDuff]

Ahh, ok...thanks. I know the 767 that we flew to Hawaii had just been retrofitted with Polaris. But again, we just got the physical "pod"...not the true Polaris deal. Looking forward to checking out the Polaris Lounge in EWR too...which again, didn't get when flying to Hawaii. Also will request mattress pad and pajamas, which are only for Polaris flights over 14 hours...yet, another weird rule..lol.

The PJ rule is pretty common across many airlines (though the length of time differs and also depends on timing of flight). Though, weirdly, for the first time I got PJs (they call it "loungewear") on Qatar between Europe and Doha (usually I only get them on flights between Doha and North America or Asia), so maybe their policy is changing (when I got them on my Doha-Europe flight I thought it was because it was the first time I took that flight leaving Doha at 1am, but I got it on my return too and that left Europe mid-afternoon). Given the shortness of the flights (only about 6 hours), I didn't see that many people changing into them. Can almost always get a mattress pad (on airlines that have them), though airlines vary in terms of the FA making up the bed for you versus handing you the mattress pad (or, like Air Canada, leaving it on your seat before you board).

The EWR Polaris lounge is quite nice - but there are always people at the check-in counter trying to get access but not qualifying (e.g. people like you in "Polaris" on domestic/transborder flights or people with status and/or paid access but not in Polaris).

 

[dvcgirl67]

The PJ rule is pretty common across many airlines (though the length of time differs and also depends on timing of flight). Though, weirdly, for the first time I got PJs (they call it "loungewear") on Qatar between Europe and Doha (usually I only get them on flights between Doha and North America or Asia), so maybe their policy is changing (when I got them on my Doha-Europe flight I thought it was because it was the first time I took that flight leaving Doha at 1am, but I got it on my return too and that left Europe mid-afternoon). Given the shortness of the flights (only about 6 hours), I didn't see that many people changing into them. Can almost always get a mattress pad (on airlines that have them), though airlines vary in terms of the FA making up the bed for you versus handing you the mattress pad (or, like Air Canada, leaving it on your seat before you board).

The EWR Polaris lounge is quite nice - but there are always people at the check-in counter trying to get access but not qualifying (e.g. people like you in "Polaris" on domestic/transborder flights or people with status and/or paid access but not in Polaris).

Yeah, I knew not to try for the Polaris lounge.....read that on the sub reddit United thread. Also learned there not to both asking for a mattress pad on the Hawaii flight as they only carry a couple for pilots who use one or two of the Polaris pods on that route. But...it's amazing how many people ask that question on Reddit....about access to the Polaris lounge. We will be checking it out...not sure when we'll be flying up front on a long haul international flight again.

I've seen YouTube videos of some of the business and first class flights on some of the other airlines that are known for superior service....some of them are really something! Some day maybe .

Looking forward to hearing about soccerdad72's trip. We're 100 days out, and can't remember looking forward to a trip this much in a long time .

 

[dvcgirl67]

I see. Thanks for the explanation. Looks like nice seating. I've only done domestic 1st class . No PJ's needed.

Yep, I get that. I don't anticipate even requesting the PJs for our flight as I'll be in some nice athleisure wear that will double as my PJs . That Hawaii trip was only my second time in "lie-flat" land....the last time was a trip to Italy back in 2013, also on United, but "pre-Polaris"....when they had a 2-1-2 configuration. So if you had a window seat and did not know the person on the aisle seat next to you....and they put their seat in lie-flat....you'd need to try and step over them or wake them up if you needed to use the lav. Now, all of the airlines have mostly reconfigured their planes to 1-2-1....and have angered the seats as well...so that everyone has their own access to the aisle. And when you lie down in that pod, it's like you're in your own cubical in the sky. I slept for six hours straight....like a baby....on a plane. It's a real game changer.

I've read stats that 75% of the larger airline's profits come from business class, and that's obvious when you look at how they configure their planes these days. Literally 1/2 of the plane is business class and "premium plus" (same as domestic business). On the 777-200....one of the planes for our trip, 74 people take up that front half, and then 202 people are in the back half.

 

[DawnM]

wonderful! We are heading to Kenya in just 4 weeks! I can't wait. It will be a 3.5 week trip.

 

[footballmouse]

Couldn't imagine having to be in a plane that long with a full row, definately a little too tight. Glad you had some arm room.

 

[soccerdad72]

Dvcgirl and SirDuff covered the airline stuff. Yes, we were United. My wife has status, but it still wasn’t enough for our points request to get us upgraded. On the plus side, whenever the miles get credited back, she’ll be loaded with future miles.

First safari camp report is here:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/african-safari-adventure-days-2-3-laroo-la-tau.3947237/