Topic Wiki

Cape Town

Trip Reports
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UPDATED: Kosher Info from Beth Din in Cape Town (last updated Dec. 2020) http://www.uos.co.za/kashrut/ct_kosher.asp

Kashrus Note According to link above, all meat is glatt however milk is NOT Chalav Israel.

Restaurants

NameTypeHoursContactLocation & Description
Avron's Place (Sea Point)
Meat
S – T: 11am – 3pm; 5pm – 10pm; F: 11am – 2:30pm
+27 (0)21 439 7610 Link
19 – 33 Regent Road - Oldest kosher meat restaurant in SA. The humbly adorned, family-friendly eatery, serves a wide variety of dishes, including beef ribs, burgers, mixed grills, boerewors, Cape lamb curry, vegetarian platters, pastas and sushi. Prices rather reasonable. On Tuesdays there's a special on its beef burger and chips (R49 instead of the usual R59). Offers takeaways and catering and packed Shabbat meals for visitors. For the Sephardim the meat is Bet Yosef. But check to make sure.
The Press (Sea Point)
Meat
S – T: noon – late; F: 11am – 3pm; Sat: 1 hour after Shabbat till late
+27 (0)21 434 7724 Website
176 Main Road - Restaurant and Bar (many craft beers on tap).
Coffee Time (Gardens)
Milk
M – T: 8am – 3:30pm; F: 8am – 3pm
+27 (0)21 461 8414
20 Breda Street - Set in an old house in a lush, garden environment. Lawn seating with views of Table Mountain. Breakfast, brunch or lunch. Menu includes scrambled egg, salmon and humus wrap, fish bobotie with homemade chutney, tuna lasagne, sandwich, salad, quiche or smoothie. Early-morning special between 8am and 11am (a combo of two eggs, grilled tomato and mushrooms goes for R25) and also serves a delicious, and incredibly popular, buffet lunch every Wednesday between 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Gluten-free and sugar-free options. Offers catering. Proceeds support the Astra Centre.
Café Riteve (Gardens)
Milk
S – T: 8:30am – 5pm; F: 8:30am – 3pm
+27 (0)21 465 1594
Website
88 Hatfield Street - Located on a piazza that’s part of the same centre as the historical Gardens Shul, the South African Jewish Museum, the Cape Town Holocaust Centre and the Jacob Gitlin Library. Large and varied menu includes three-egg omelette, sushi salad, grilled hake, falafel with dukkah wedges and humus, tuna and mushroom cannelloni, smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich and chocolate ganache-filled croissant. Also sells range of shakes and juices as well as kosher wine and liquors. Offers catering, takeaways, no delivery. They had some CY, just ask. The earlier you go the more likely the have.
Goldies Deli and Diner (Sea Point)
Meat & Pareve
S – T: 8:30am – 8pm; F: 8:30am – 4:30pm
+27 (0)21 439 3008
Link
174 Main Road - Meat and parev deli and bakery - next door and connected to The Press. Menu include burgers, steak rolls, schwarmas, bagels, salads, fish cakes, breakfast plates and more. Specials every Wednesday and Friday (deals like a three-course meal for four for R120). Delivery is free in Sea Point. Bakery treats include carrot cake, cinnamon twists, chocolate brownies, doughnuts, cupcakes, apple crumble, croissants and teiglach. Offers Shabbat meal orders.
Café B'tayavon @ Highlands House
Milk
021 461 1100
9 Gorge Rd, Highlands Estate - Snacks and Light Meals
Jean's Kitchen @ The Kaplan Centre
Milk
021 650 3064 info@jeanskitchen.co.za
The Kaplan Centre - University of Cape Town - Tea, coffee,
sandwiches, gourmet salads, falafel etc
Baskin Robbins @ Mojo Market (Sea Point)
Note: This is the only kosher B & R
All ice creams, ice cream cones, milkshakes and waffles are Kosher, milchik.
The following topping ONLY are kosher: Crushed Almonds, Crushed Cashews, Fudge, Mini Astros, Mint Crunch
NB: Cakes are NOT KOSHER

Bakeries, Groceries & Ice Cream
Checkers Sea Point- 76 Regent Road - They have a large selection of kosher products including a kosher take out and bakery.
Spar Sea Point - 96 Regent Road - They have a large selection of kosher products including a kosher take out and bakery.

Shuls
Sea point is the main Jewish area.
Green and Sea Point Hebrew Congregation (Marais Road Shul)
Chabad


Hotels with Points near a Shul (Walking Minutes)
Protea Sea Point

Airport Transfer Options
Cab -
Executive Bus -
Public Bus -
Train -

Major Activities
Name
Cost
Distance from CPT
Description and Notes
Boulders Beach
R17035 min• "I found that there were two different entrances, boardwalk and beach. The boardwalk has a higher density of penguins but if you want a better experience, I recommend visiting the beach side- especially at low tide. Because of the tide I was able to walk past the few dozen folks on the beach, climb under and over some boulders, and encounter effectively a different private beach- with penguins!!"
• For budget travelers, take the train to Simonstown and from there a cab to Boulders beach - R20.
Betty’s Bay
1.25 hoursAlso features African Penguins though less crowded than Boulders beach, though further.
Chapman's Peak Drive
R45/car45 min• Beautiful scenery, you have the mountain on one side and the ocean on the other side, great pics, great to make a BBQ come during daylight hours.
NOTE: You need Rand or an SA issued card to pay for the Chapman's Peak toll.
Cape of Good Hope/Cape Point
R360/pp1.5 hours• LONG but AMAZING drive
• almost a full day activity
Lions Head
• Hike - not difficult
• Paragliding - around $85 (prices might be outdated). Book ahead
Robben Island
Tours depart three times a day and take about 3.5 hours, consisting of a ferry trip to and from the island, and a tour of the various historical sites on the island that form part of the Robben Island Museum. These include the island graveyard, the disused lime quarry, Robert Sobukwe's house, the Bluestone quarry, the army and navy bunkers, and the maximum security prison. Nelson Mandela's cell is shown. Reviews are mixed
Table Mountain (Cable car or hike)
~R350• Follow on Twitter for updates on if open or closed
• Cableway costs ~R350 rand pp - depends if morning or afternoon
• Can repel down
• 895 rand pp (prices might be outdated)
• repel for like 15 mins
• hike back up is 25 mins
• Closes 6pm
• BOOK IN ADVANCE
Signal Hill
Go there for a sunset with bit more a "local" flavor. Views aren't great compared to Lion's Head and can be quite crowded at sunset.
V & A Waterfront
The Garden Route
long scenic drive

Kirstenbosch Gardens
Shark Diving
$88 +$34 for video (prices might be outdated)2 hoursCan do in Gansbaii. Links:1, 2, 3

Sandboarding
Bring goggles!
Skydiving
$170 (prices might be outdated)
Cheaper
Quad Biking (ATVs)

Hout Bay market

Kayaking at Hout Bay
Link
Amazing experience. Views may very but can often see Heaviside dolphins jumping right in front of you
Cheetah Outreach
Where you can go and pet cheetahs and other animals super cool. Website

Aquila Private Game Reserve

2 hoursPricey but quality accommodations for overnight stays. Good for people who aren't leaving Cape Town area but want to see wildlife. Some dismiss as a "glorified zoo"
Cango Wildlife Ranch

5 hours


Winelands
[Likely way more then listed but those are the few I remember]
(Might be worthwhile to make a trip to the winelands, even if one does not enjoy wine, for the scenery. Only about an hour or two from CPT)
  • Franschoek
  • Kleine Dracken - Kosher
  • Backsberg - Kosher

Johannesburg

Trip Reports
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MarkusLink
YaaliliLink
Yehuda57Link
Ponash123Link
YehoshuaLink

Restaurants
http://www.uos.co.za/kashrut/restaurants.asp

http://yeahthatskosher.com/2013/04/kosher-restaurants-travel-advice-for-johannesburg-south-africa-joberg/

Map of Kosher Johannesburg

NameTypeContactLocation & Description
Corner Cafe (Glenhazel)
Milk
+27 11 440-3160 Link
Corner of Queens square and cross road in Glenhazel. Corner Café is the best place to go (or maybe the only) for kosher gluten free muffins. I’m told they’re very good. They also have great breakfasts and pastas, but I usually stick with a toasted cheese and chips.
Dee-Jays (Sandton)
Milk
+27 11 883-2265 Link
Morningview Shopping Centre, 100 South Road, 2196 - Dee-Jays provides casual dairy food that is perfect for a breakfast out with the family. Their fishballs are really good and if you need a cake in the Sandton area, they’re the place to go.
Market Cafe (Norood Mall)
Milk
Cholov Yisroel cafe
KosherWorld, Mi Vami Kosher and Chop N Wok (Glenhazel)
+27 11 440 1402 Website
1 Long Avenue, Johannesburg, 2192
Gelatisimo (Glenhazel)
Across the road from Kosher World, authentic Italian gelato. Chalav Yisroel. Absolutely fantastic.
Michelos (Glenhazel)
Milk
+27 11 885-1500 Link
17 Northfield Ave, Johannesburg, 2192 - Michelos is the second best pizza restaurant. They are very centrally located (in the Jewish area of Glenhazel) and their food is nice. Never go there the night after Pesach because you’ll wait hours but most other times are good, plus they serve chalav yisrael.
Nandos Kosher (Savoy)
Meat
+27 11 885-1496 Website
553 Louis Botha Ave, Savoy, Johannesburg, 2090, South Africa - Nandos is a large chain of Portuguese chicken restaurants, but there is only one kosher Nandos in South Africa, so be aware that you can’t step into any of them! They serve top notch chicken but be sure to also try their beef burger (and order extra sauce).
Next Door "Non-CY" (Norwood)
Milk
+27 11 728-2577 Link
80 Grant Ave, Johannesburg, 2192 - Next Door is rated as a top restaurant in Johannesburg, kosher and not, so you know it must be pretty good. It is usually full so booking is highly recommended. While their sushi may not be top class, their pizzas certainly are and, if you’re around in Summer, definitely try their fish braai (barbeque in South African).
Pie Works (Sandringham)
+27 11 485 2447 Website
74 George Ave, Johannesburg, 2192 - Their pies (clearly) are the best kosher pies in the country and are perfect if you want to buy some to take home and reheat. Their burgers are delicious and the have a milk side with pizza that is really good. They’re situated on what is known as the Kosher Strip, so any Jew will be able to direct you.
RTG "Ready to Go" (Norwood)
A fast food place next door to ... Next Door. While they do offer steak and a Chinese menu, the focus is their extensive burger and hot dog menu.
The Deli Store (Sandton)
011-656-3142 / 4915  info@thedelistore.co.za, http://thedelistore.co.za/menus/main-menu/
Shop 52, (opposite Woolworths) Morning Glen Shopping Mall Cnr Bowling & Kelvin Road Gallo Manor - Reviewed in CBS's TR, as having excellent food for very low prices. According to Google is "Permanently Closed".
So Sushi (Glenhazel)
Jozi Blue (Glenhazel)
Milk
They have some items Cholov Yisroel, which they will serve on disposables on request


Bakeries, Groceries & Ice Cream
Kosher World - http://www.kosherworld.co.za/

Shuls

Hotels with Points near a Shul (Walking Minutes)

Airport Transfer Options
Cab - Uber
Executive Bus - Shuttle from HLA airport to anywhere in Sandton for R80 per person.
Public Bus -
Train - Gautrain from JNB airport is R135-155 depending on destination. Must purchase gold card before for R13.

Major Activities
Apartheid Museum
Flea Market
Gold Reef City - amusement park, along with other African themed attractions (tribal dancing, old "gold mine tour")
Lion Park - see lions from your car up close, pet lion cubs.
Monte Casino - Casino and shopping mall, with cool "outdoor" Tuscan style
Soweto Tour
Pilanesberg Safari- If you can't make it to Kruger for malaria, time or other concerns,  this is a much smaller park with less wildlife, and not as good of an experience, but definitely well worth it. About 2 hours out of Joburg, it can be done in your own vehicle, but will be a lot better with a guided game drive.
Sun City Right outside of Pilansberg
Elephant & Monkey Sanctuary- About an hour out of Joburg. Get close to elephants, touch, feed and ride them. The monkey sanctuary has a massive enclosure with hundreds of various monkeys and lemurs. No feeding or touching, unless one jumps on you. If you do go to Pilansberg, this can be done on the way.

Kruger National Park

Trip Reports
CbsLink
shmebebleLink
txtmax4Link
Jomaster28Link


Tour Options

Major Activities

Near Kruger:

The Panoramic Route includes a half dozen waterfalls; Lisbon, Horseshoe, Bridal Vail, Mac Mac, Sabie and others; The Potholes, G-d's Window, Wonder View, The Pinnacle, The Three Rondawels and views of the stunning Blyde River Canyon (third largest canyon in the world).

AJK SA trip route planning - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=33867.msg669659#msg669659

« Last edited by mendelk on February 20, 2022, 11:02:13 PM »

Author Topic: Southern Africa (SA/Zim/Zam/Botswana/Namibia) Master Thread  (Read 467224 times)

Offline boruchy

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1120 on: August 03, 2017, 08:45:13 PM »
how did u warm it up ?

Offline Saulius

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1121 on: August 04, 2017, 01:03:34 AM »
Technically, you aren't allowed to bring it in (I would not have know, I just searched now). However, customs is not tightly enforced. IME, I get stopped whenever I have a box, but have never been stopped with just suitcases. BUT, if you do get stopped and get stuck with a hard headed dude on a power trip, ain't nothing gonna help you. South Africa is a mixed first/third world country, and many "officials" you deal with will be, shall we say, "intellectually challenged," incompetent and uncompromising. Some try bribery, but that can backfire.

An Uber from the airport to Moshe's, Kosher World, or another Kosher store will cost ~$15 and take about 15-20 minutes each way.

I once declared to customs a few laptops that I brought in not so long ago. The customs guy was writing the amounts on his hand, and then after calculating the total due, he just let me go, because I only had US dollars, and they only accept Rand.

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1122 on: August 04, 2017, 01:06:06 AM »
I once declared to customs a few laptops that I brought in not so long ago. The customs guy was writing the amounts on his hand, and then after calculating the total due, he just let me go, because I only had US dollars, and they only accept Rand.
My brother had 2 iPads in his bag. He pulled up the apple website on his phone and showed the customs official the price for an iPod shuffle and they let him go on his merry way.

Offline Saulius

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1123 on: August 04, 2017, 01:16:48 AM »
My brother had 2 iPads in his bag. He pulled up the apple website on his phone and showed the customs official the price for an iPod shuffle and they let him go on his merry way.

And to get stopped by customs in JNB is extremely rare. Just don't get hijacked.... http://ewn.co.za/2017/05/16/more-details-on-hijacking-near-or-tambo-airport

Offline jomaster28

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1124 on: August 04, 2017, 12:23:36 PM »
we r going from airport straight to Kruger.

I landed in JNB from Mauritius and the minute we landed we called Nandos Kosher Chicken and placed an order for them to deliver to the airport. They only charged like $10 the most to deliver.

They met us outside and we went straight through security again. was a breeze and the food was amazing!!

Offline Geshmak25

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1125 on: August 18, 2017, 10:46:51 AM »
Just want to confirm some info that I gathered via google searches:

NYC => JNB => CPT on 1 PNR via SA. Being on 1 PNR doesn't help, still need to collect bags and drop them off again for the domestic leg.

SZK => JNB => NYC on 2 PNR via SA. If it was on 1 PNR then they could check bags all the way through. May be able to get an agent to check all the way through. Any datapoints?
« Last Edit: August 18, 2017, 11:21:50 AM by Geshmak25 »
PUTPAC = PITA

Offline Saulius

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1126 on: August 18, 2017, 11:20:13 AM »
Just want to confirm some info that I gathered via google searches:

NYC => JNB => CPT on 1 PNR via SA. Being on 1 PNR doesn't help, still need to collect bags and drop them off again for the domestic leg.

SZK => JNB => NYC on 2 PNR via SA. If it was on 1 PNR then they could check bags through all the way through. May be able to get an agent to check all the way through. Any datapoints?

Makes sense as when you initially arrive, you have to clear immigration and customs in JNB and then transfer to the domestic flight.

Online Yehuda57

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1127 on: August 18, 2017, 11:38:55 AM »
Just want to confirm some info that I gathered via google searches:

NYC => JNB => CPT on 1 PNR via SA. Being on 1 PNR doesn't help, still need to collect bags and drop them off again for the domestic leg.

SZK => JNB => NYC on 2 PNR via SA. If it was on 1 PNR then they could check bags all the way through. May be able to get an agent to check all the way through. Any datapoints?

No specific data points, but like Saulius said, you have to clear customs in JNB, though you do not have to "check in", you just have to do a bag drop. The same as arriving at your first port of entry in the US.

As for #2, I didn't do it from SZK, but I had a flight JNB>LHR>FRA>ORD>OMA on 3 different airlines and 2 PNRs and they checked everything though

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1128 on: August 18, 2017, 12:13:06 PM »
No specific data points, but like Saulius said, you have to clear customs in JNB, though you do not have to "check in", you just have to do a bag drop. The same as arriving at your first port of entry in the US.

As for #2, I didn't do it from SZK, but I had a flight JNB>LHR>FRA>ORD>OMA on 3 different airlines and 2 PNRs and they checked everything though
I think with #2 he was asking because it's a domestic connection. On our CPT-DOH-AUH-JFK-LAX flights on 3 different airlines we also checked everything in at the beginning and picked it up once in LAX, but both our flights were international first, not domestic.

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1129 on: August 19, 2017, 01:35:46 PM »
No specific data points, but like Saulius said, you have to clear customs in JNB, though you do not have to "check in", you just have to do a bag drop. The same as arriving at your first port of entry in the US.

As for #2, I didn't do it from SZK, but I had a flight JNB>LHR>FRA>ORD>OMA on 3 different airlines and 2 PNRs and they checked everything though

Furthermore, if one is flying Ethiopian Airlines (ET849) - from Addis Ababa, the flight makes a stop in Johannesburg and continues on to Cape Town. I flew on their business class price mistake from Brussels back in January 2016, for 530€, (they were very extremely mad at me at check-in). So those flying on to Cape Town do not disembark in JNB, and then on arrival at CPT are treated as international passengers. Ethiopian is nice as if stopover in Addis Ababa is between 8 and 24 hours, and an earlier connection is not available, they provide a free hotel.

Btw, does anybody know how strict SAA is with carry-on luggage weight from JFK to JNB? Says 8kg online, need to bring back a hundred kgs of seforim.

Offline Joe4007

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1130 on: August 19, 2017, 11:09:23 PM »


Btw, does anybody know how strict SAA is with carry-on luggage weight from JFK to JNB? Says 8kg online, need to bring back a hundred kgs of seforim.
They didn't weigh our carry-ons, though we were in J.

Offline davidmal

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1131 on: September 06, 2017, 02:57:49 PM »
Meanwhile, I am in Zambia for the past week, and a Zambian dude approached me in the supermarket and offered me rough diamonds from Angola. He tells me "I can trust you with a sample, I can give you a sample rough one or the cut and polished one already."

Now, I know absolutely nothing about diamonds, other than that there is such a thing as Kimberley Process certificates and blood diamonds. I wouldn't take a risk either way, but anyways I messaged my friend in the industry, and he replies, "We don't do rough. I would NOT get involved in any way. Makes no difference what guy says. You can get arrested and thrown in jail. You can get in big trouble for even touching a diamond. People can be looking at videos. Stay away. Rob banks if you must."


My factory sales guy got thrown in jail for a few months! no reason!
-DMC
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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1132 on: December 05, 2017, 12:17:04 PM »
i will be visiting south africa for a bit over a month. can anyone share ideas regarding phone service? is there a decent prepaid sim that i can use to make local (south african) calls and send SMS?

Offline Dawie

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1133 on: December 05, 2017, 12:19:55 PM »
i will be visiting south africa for a bit over a month. can anyone share ideas regarding phone service? is there a decent prepaid sim that i can use to make local (south african) calls and send SMS?
Vodacom
http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/shopping/data/prepaid-data

Offline koplonko

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1134 on: December 05, 2017, 02:39:31 PM »
is that my best option? are there other companies?

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1135 on: December 05, 2017, 02:44:57 PM »
is that my best option? are there other companies?
T-mobile from home.

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1136 on: December 05, 2017, 02:50:14 PM »
is that my best option? are there other companies?

There are other companies, but I don't think they will be cheaper than Vodacom. It is significantly cheaper for a South African resident to buy a sim and plan than a tourist, if you know someone there that is willing to go into a store and buy one for you.

T-mobile from home.

Yup, and you can call with Whatsapp which is very popular there.

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1137 on: December 20, 2017, 07:25:59 AM »
i will be visiting south africa for a bit over a month. can anyone share ideas regarding phone service? is there a decent prepaid sim that i can use to make local (south african) calls and send SMS?

I go to SA very often and use a Telkom Sim, it also roams to the MTN network, however the coverage isn't good in rural areas (I have heard, haven't had a problem).  Bought the Sim at Woolworths in JNB airport, sometimes they run out. Otherwise can be bought in most Checkers, Shoprite, Pick n Pay and Pep stores.  Get the cheap, 1 Rand (may be 5 now) Sim and get R100 airtime, via the app get free-mee 1GB bundle.  I don't use the phone for calls, usually use Whatsapp (free via this bundle) or Skype.

Offline Geshmak25

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1138 on: December 21, 2017, 10:19:33 AM »
2 seats in J seem to be hard to come by. I have only seen availability in the middle of the week.  I was looking for seats for next May but I also checked close-in and availability was still scarce.
Was able to upgrade 1 seat to I (which is what I assume you guys are calling J). Still need to work on the other seat. Worst case scenario they may be willing to cancel the Y ticket and book 1 ticket in J with $$ (/amex bp). What is the average J price for JNB => JFK? The flight is in may if that matters...
PUTPAC = PITA

Offline Saulius

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Re: South Africa Master Thread
« Reply #1139 on: December 21, 2017, 04:49:23 PM »
Was able to upgrade 1 seat to I (which is what I assume you guys are calling J). Still need to work on the other seat. Worst case scenario they may be willing to cancel the Y ticket and book 1 ticket in J with $$ (/amex bp). What is the average J price for JNB => JFK? The flight is in may if that matters...

You can get cheap J from Maputo (Mozambique) with TAP Air Portugal with a stopover in Lisbon to either MIA or EWR.