SAA, BA or Virgin from London to Johannesburg

[Dustylaw]

Any views on who to fly with from London to Johannesburg? Flying in August, Economy class.

Virgin. But only because of personal vendettas over the years of flying that route. Actually have done KLM via Amsterdam the last few times (from Manchester). isnt it much of a muchness really?

Virgin or BA.

I have flown with all 3, I have major issues with SAA and their utter incompetence, Virgin was ok and BA were good.

I must say the last few times I have flown to SA I have done so with air France and came back with KLM, both really good.

Good luck.

I have family over there and over the years we have flown with pretty much everyone bar Virgin.

Our favourites are Emirates and Etihad; long way round, but usually competitively priced, very good in flight entertainment, decent enough seats and reasonable food. For me the big bonus is that the flights are 7 hours to Dubai and 8 hours to Jo'burg, so 3 hours longer in the air than the more direct flights, but get to have some fresh air and a decent walk around mid way. We have had over 20 trips with Emirates in the past 7 years or so and never had a problem.

BA has lost 5 bags on 5 different flights, 3 of which have never been found, the quickest to be returned took 3 days.

Air France staff have been racist to DH in the past, so he now refuses to fly with them.

SAA planes that my extended family have been on have been older planes and the video screens haven't always worked. I haven't flown with them, but the general consensus is that it wasn't a great experience.

A cousin flew with Iberia a few years ago and said it was only ok, but he much preferred Emirates.

Flown once with Lufthansa and they lost a bag, turned up 3 months later.

We have never flown with Virgin as we have found them to be more expensive.

I haven't flown to Johannesburg but have flown to Cape Town and that was with Virgin. We had a really good flight, good flight times and no jet lag.

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to book with BA. SAA had good prices but only for older planes and overhead monitor screens. Virgin were indeed more expensive than BA for no discernible reason. BA had good prices and multiple flights. Would certainly try Emirates and Eithad in future but no good prices left.

I did it with SAA and was very impressed, easily as good as virgin long haul. But it was a new plane.

Didn't enjoy SAA and would book Virgin by choice. BA were ok though.