Best flights to Africa
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| If you go Emirates, just make sure the terminals are the same. They are also routing some flights through Maktoum Airport which is quite far from Terminal 3. |
Anonymous
| But just to add, if its all terminal 3, 1 hour is more than enough for transferring. |
Anonymous
|
OP here.
We have flown Emirates many times and are familiar with Dubai and Dubai airport. If the flight is on time I have no concerns making the next leg within 1.5 hours. But if the flight is delayed leaving DC by a hour then that becomes a problem. Safaris are expensive and paid in advance and non refundable so if we miss the connection and are put on a flight the following day we lose the first day of the safari, which would also include a separate domestic flight on Proflight from Lusaka to the parks. So things quickly become complicated. Even if insurance covers the lost day there may not be any available flights the following day, both from Dubai and the domestic flight, as we're going peak season. Having said this I am now leaning even more closely to Emirates but having a one day layover in Dubai to give us breathing space and to help cope with the jet lag. The return is a bummer with the 20 hour layover but Business for this leg may make thing more bearable along with a day hotel booking. I think Ethiopian business isn't flat seat? Those who mentioned United to Johannesburg, would that require a separately booked flight from Johannesburg to Lusaka? |
Anonymous
| Have flown both Emirates and South African. Would suggest you do Emirates and stay overnight. |
Anonymous
| Ethiopian sucks. Stay away! |
Anonymous
|
Ethiopian is flat seats in business. It is a good airline, lots of new Dreamliners. But then again I really like Ethiopian food. That said, addis is a more authentically African experience, and the chance of cancellation /delays is higher than with Emirates.
Personally I loathe Dubai, so would do anything to avoid 2 days there... |
Anonymous
And research yellow fever certificate requirements for your destination, and see if your stopovers affect this. |
Anonymous
| SAA is on the verge of bankruptcy. Wouldn't give them money for a flight so far out. |
Anonymous
|
Well, that just makes things even easier. Emirates it is.
The next question is the right timing to buy the tickets. Tickets for late next June/July are selling for 1800 for economy round trip but I did notice that they're selling tickets for this September, which is still peak season, for 1100. That extra 700 would go a long way towards upgrading to Business for the journey home.
|
Anonymous
|
Ethiopian is awful. Avoid at all costs. My friend took it to go to South Africa, and her experience was awful. Long delays. Long layovers (including an overnight stay in Addis Ababa). Crappy plans.
Are Ethiopian, Emirates, and South African really the only options? What about KLM? Or even Turkish Airlines? The only thing I would do is avoid a layover in Paris, unless it's overnight and you don't mind staying at the airport hotel. The international terminal is boring as hell. |
Anonymous
I wouldn't buy a year out; I would buy about 6 months out. |
Anonymous
Agreed. |
Anonymous
Yup. Though OP refers to Africa as if its a country, we fly regularly to Tanzania (family there). The fastest route is Ethopia Air to Addis and then Arusha. I get my star alliance points and through Addis is the fastest way...plus, yes, the dramliner is quite nice...all new planes. Ivr never gone through dubai, never will. Wayyyy too long of a flight. Totally overshoots and yes, Dubai is awful. |
Anonymous
|
OP here
The same handful of airlines (Emirates, South African and Ethiopian) seem to be the most popular for flying to Africa. I was looking for experiences with airlines in general more than the final destination. All the three options have similar flight times for reaching Lusaka. Returning on Emirates is the bummer at the longest return journey, but I'm now convinced of the virtue of having a day's layover in Dubai on the way to Lusaka to overcome jet lag. On safari we will be getting up at 5:00 daily so this layover will help us arrive refreshed and ready to tackle the glories of the bush. We have been to Dubai on long layovers before. It's a clean and safe city, easy to get around, nice beaches, fun malls, undeniably impressive skyline, some atmospheric old areas and marketplaces down by their creek. I'm not sure why some seem to think Dubai is awful. Especially if the alternative is being stuck in Addis Ababa.
|
Anonymous
|
There are many, many international airlines that fly to the continent of Africa. Are you only interested in those 3?
It sounds like this might be your first international trip. In general, it is better to refer to the country vs continent as Africa is a very large and diverse continent and there is really nothing that is universal across all of Africa. |