New York to Johannesburg
Amazing what I had to go through to get this laptop working. Couldn’t connect to the wireless in the Swiss Lounge at the JFK airport, so I signed up for this Goingo wireless for $9.95 per month that may or may not work in South Africa????
Security at JFK
Anyway, we landed at JFK at 7:34 a.m. at Terminal 7 and discovered we had to make our way to Terminal 4 which was a journey in itself. We needed to take an air-tram to Terminal 4, but couldn’t because it was closed for repair until November 5th, so we ended up taking the only air-tram around the entire airport and got off at Terminal 4 twenty minutes later.
Our flight aboard United stunk! The seats did not work, so we sat upright in a “seating position” for 5.5 hours while other passengers enjoyed their working seats. They did give us a coupon that allows us to go to the United website and use a code to go shopping for whatever, to satisfy our bad experience — go figure.
Our next 15-hour flight will be aboard South African Airways on an Airbus 340, and we are flying first class. Our fingers are crossed that the seats work; if not this Englishman will speak up.
Our SAA Airbus waiting for us at JFK
Well, I have taken pictures, but they will follow in about 20 hours from now (hopefully). I am also hoping that the Wi-Fi in Jo Burg will work without additional cost.
Sam, returning home for 2 days.
While waiting at JFK International for our boarding SAA (South African Airways) for a 15-hour flight, we started talking to “Sam” who was also going to Johannesburg for a short visit. Sam was born and raised in South Africa and lived with his grandmother who just passed away 2 days ago. Sam, married and living in Los Angeles with his two “wiener dogs,” was doing a two-day flight and only staying 3 days to take care of family affairs.
Our 340 SAA Airbus pushed back at 11:15am EDT. This airbus is one of three excellent aircraft I have ever flown on — Singapore Airlines is #1 and EVA is the 2nd best.
3 pm "Snack"
2 am Snack
Enjoying First Class!
The onboard flight map showing us passing the West African coast.
During the 15-hour flight, we watched over 5 movies each, and touched down in Johannesburg at 0742, November 4th.
Sunrise over South Africa from 39,000 feet.
Back on the ground at Johannesburg Airport!
23:22 PDT (10:22 local):Landed waiting for group leader to put us on 2 buses to hotel
01:20 PDT (12:20 local):We r at the hotel waiting for it to b made room is not ready
Editor’s note: because of the nine hour time difference between Johannesburg and here in San Francisco, all flight related images and copy from Eray are included in this Day 2 entry even though, technically, upon arrival he is starting his third day. Day 3′s entry will begin after he has settled into his hotel room and his South African adventures get underway.
Simon retrieving our luggage at Johannesburg Airport
Simon in the garden near our hotel pool
