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South Africa is generally one of the more expensive countries to try to get to in any comfort if you’re starting your journey in Europe so good Business Class fares to Johannesburg and Cape Town are like manna from heaven when they appear…and that’s exactly what we have on offer right now.
British Airways is currently offering some incredibly good Business Class fares for travel between Amsterdam and South Africa and, what’s makes these fares even better, the great deals can be found for travel in most bookable months of 2019.
[HT: YHBU]
The Fare Rules
- Fares valid 24 December 2018 through 15 October 2019 (more on these later)
- Tickets must be issued on/before 19 December 2019
- A Saturday night stay is required
- Maximum stay is 12 months
- Accompanied child (2-11) costs 75% of the fare
- Infant without a seat costs 10% of the fare
- Infant under 2 with a seat costs 75% of the fare
The Fares
Johannesburg – Business Class From $1,571/€1,383 Roundtrip
The best fares I’ve found out of Amsterdam are for travel in the first three months of 2019 where a fare costing $1,571 (~€1,383) is pretty easy to find. For the remainder of the sale period (through 15 October 2019) the better roundtrip fares are around $1,660 (~€1,460).
Book through British Airways via this link
Here’s what availability looks like for the Amsterdam – Johannesburg (via London) fares:
Here’s what an example itinerary looks like:
Here’s a similar itinerary priced up on Google Flights:
If you have issues pricing these fares up on BA.com try using Google Flights to get you there first. If that doesn’t work then Orbitz, Expedia and other OTAs are all showing these fares.
Cape Town – Business Class From $1,460/€1,325 Roundtrip
I haven’t been able to find any good fares on this route for travel in the first two months of 2019 but, after that, the news is very good. Most months show availability for a roundtrip Business Class fare of $1,505 (~€1,325) and if you can travel in February there are a few dates where a fare as low as $1,460 (~€1,285) is on offer.
Book through British Airways via this link
Here’s what availability looks like for the Amsterdam – Cape Town (via London) fares:
Here’s what an example itinerary looks like…..
…and here’s a similar itinerary priced up on Google Flights:
Be careful with the flights you select as some routings involve a change of airports in London (e.g. LCY to LGW) and that’s not ideal.
Earning Tier Points & Avios
The roundtrip Johannesburg fares will earn British Airways Executive Club Members 360 Tier Points while the roundtrip Cape Town fares will earn 400 Tier Points courtesy of the slightly longer routing.
Avios earnings start out at around 18,400 Avios for a roundtrip fare to Johannesburg and 19,500 Avios for a roundtrip fare to Cape Town and these increase depending on what status you hold with British Airways.
Thoughts
British Airways may not have the best Business Class seats in the world (far from it!) but they’re a considerably better place to spend a 10+ hour flight than any Economy or Premium Economy seats you’ll find on offer.
The 787 Dreamliner that BA offers to South Africa has the better Business Class cabin followed by the 747 (if you can get the upper deck) and the flying dormitory (777) is probably the least premium choice of the lot – use that as a guide if you’re debating which flights to take.
All in all these are fantastic fares for travel in Business Class to South Africa and if they appeal to you I wouldn’t hesitate too long – these fares expire on 19 December so you have around 2 weeks to make some plans.
Featured image courtesy of Wiki Commons Media
