Looks like Qatar is the best bet again. Just a little over 2000 for JNB to Atlanta in business. Only 25 hours. Not open yet but a few more weeks. A good product and lovely lounge in Doha. We are using ff to JNB which makes all the airfare for this trip easier to swallow. .

This time we did BA ff miles for CHeetah BUT are going to contemplate changing as we like Qatar so much.

For Giraffe a few weeks back we put our miles back in BA and changed to Qatar they had great fares.

There was a time Qatar was high but now they better fares are back.

We opted for a bit different itinerary. We're flying KLM non-stop from LAX to AMS (purposely chose a forced 21 hour layover to break up the trip) using our free night at the Crowne Plaza since I often can't sleep on a plane. Then the next day a non-stop from AMS to CPT. Each leg is the same length of time so it does break the trip 50/50.

That is a nice itinerary Marcie, breaking up the trip is good.

Got our Cheetah flights booked today. Looked at Qatar but return on June 5 had no availibility and if we waited to take the flight the following day, adding the 8 hour layover in Doha, we would have spent 3 days getting home sooooo we are booked in Emirates. Never flown them before but hear good things.
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Helen

I guess I better get busy. I had planned on using Qatar too....what is your itinerary? Was the price good?

I tried all weekend to book the June 5th evening flight on Qatar. Impossible. So I'll spend another night at the airport hotel and fly home the evening of the 6th. The afternoon flight on the 6th was available but that one has a long layover in Doha. The evening flight's layover is only 2 hours for the flight to Houston. Kathy, I used AA miles..The price is around 2K one way..........I think.

Kathy: the diff in price was only about $500 and Emirates will pick me up and take me to the airport and give me a hotel room on the way to So Africa. And drive me home from LAX after the trip. Clearly worth more than the $500 since r/t limo or long term parking would cost me almost that. I am so excited now!

Betty: I had the same problem. The websites all showed that flight available but it came up as not available when I tried to actually book it. FWIW the fare from LAX was $4800+ while Emirates was $5300. I used Amex points for one of the tickets and paid for the other. My miles are mostly on Delta which did me no good for a flight to Africa. Guess I will sign up for the Emirates FF club and maybe get a free ticket for a Jet Blue flight
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Helen

Thanks, Helen and Betty. Helen, are you flying straight to Cape Town. Do you change flights somewhere?

Betty, Ngaire said the hotel in Doha is very nice - right near the gate. Busy with another trip today, so maybe will start on this tomorrow

Kathy we fly from LAX to Dubai. We have an 8 hour layover (Emirates provides hotel and meal vouchers) and then an early morning flight from Dubai to Cape Town. We will arrive inCape Two. Around 11:30 am on May 25 and go directly to Birkenhead House.
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Helen.

Thanks, Helen. Very helpful! Best to you and Jerry, aka Sonny