Flight Arrangements
This is bit early since we aren't planning on going until 2015 (doing Alps this year), but just out of curiosity I was looking at flight info to/from Africa (using Delta's site and Travelocity.) We let Tauck make our flight arrangements for England, Scotland, Wales this past summer and everything was fine, but I booked our flights to Munich.
If we can swing it, we might try Business Class again for the Tanzania/Kenya Safari trip. Airfares seem to be all over the place. In Tauck's favor, payment is delayed, they have lenient change and refund policies, and claim to offer "significant savings on Business Class airfare on select flights." That wasn't the case for our flights to/from Munich which is why I made my own arrangements. Though Delta will have had my money many months early, it was actually nice, psychologically speaking, breaking the payments up into an early airfare payment and later tour balance payment, though I guess I could start paying Tauck early too.
I don't know if we have enough Delta miles to reduce the fair much, but hopefully after this next trip we'll have enough to save some, so I would like to stay with Delta (or partner KLM,) especially since our closest airline hub is Atlanta, Delta's home base.
From reading various posts it appears most Tauck travelers depart Nairobi in the late evening (on Kenyan or British AL?). The Delta/KLM flight leaves Nairobi in the AM before we get there.
So with that rather long bit of background, has anyone flown Business Class- US to Arusha/Nairobi to US? What were your experiences? Comments? Recommendations? Best fares, carriers, shortest layovers, etc., etc. Would it be worth my while to see a travel agent?
If we can swing it, we might try Business Class again for the Tanzania/Kenya Safari trip. Airfares seem to be all over the place. In Tauck's favor, payment is delayed, they have lenient change and refund policies, and claim to offer "significant savings on Business Class airfare on select flights." That wasn't the case for our flights to/from Munich which is why I made my own arrangements. Though Delta will have had my money many months early, it was actually nice, psychologically speaking, breaking the payments up into an early airfare payment and later tour balance payment, though I guess I could start paying Tauck early too.
I don't know if we have enough Delta miles to reduce the fair much, but hopefully after this next trip we'll have enough to save some, so I would like to stay with Delta (or partner KLM,) especially since our closest airline hub is Atlanta, Delta's home base.
From reading various posts it appears most Tauck travelers depart Nairobi in the late evening (on Kenyan or British AL?). The Delta/KLM flight leaves Nairobi in the AM before we get there.
So with that rather long bit of background, has anyone flown Business Class- US to Arusha/Nairobi to US? What were your experiences? Comments? Recommendations? Best fares, carriers, shortest layovers, etc., etc. Would it be worth my while to see a travel agent?
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The Business Class flights to JRO I found searching using Delta's website and a multi-city (pseudo round trip) search criteria, don't seem to be too bad, with reasonable layovers - ATL - AMS - JRO, but the return flights on Delta/KLM are pretty bad unless you accept a gigantic increase in fare. The route itself, NBO - AMS - ATL, is OK, but to get the lowest Bus Class fare means spending the night in Nairobi for a morning departure and a 14 hr layover in ATL before our local connecting flight. It looks like we save thousands if we accept the layover and spend the night in ATL than if we choose a better flight. Even a Travelocity return routing, NBO- LHR - ATL, which is a bit cheaper, has a 7 1/2 hour layover in ATL.
Also, flight amenity info is a bit scarce (from Delta and Travelocity) for all but the Delta trans-Atlantic segments. Unlike our upcoming Delta flight to/from Munich which shows the newer lay-flat seats (in Delta's Business Elite), the AMS - JRO and NBO - AMS segments don't show the type of seats. If I'm forking over that kind of money for Business Class, I want to be certain they are great seats. I looked on Trip Advisor's Seat Guru website which has more info about the seats, but without knowing specific model aircraft, it is hard to tell what you'll get.
We also flew through AMS on the way to Edinburgh this summer- you are right, minimal gate seating. Also, we arrived from Atlanta on one end of the airport and had to walk-run to catch or next flight because the departure gate was on the opposite end. There was no time to stop and look at anything!!! Hopefully, NBO will be better if and when they get done repairing the damage from the big fire last August!
Anyone else have more insights into flights to/from the US for this trip?
The flight to Mt. Kilimanjaro is from Venice and not the US, so I can't help on the best route from the US. I am meeting my daughter and her family for a Disney cruise from Barcelona to Venice before I go to Africa. I've never traveled with Disney, but I figure they will keep the kids happy and busy. At least I hope so.
The return trip was a bit better as we left from Nairobi and could fly to London, and then on to SF, but it was still one long trip, almost 30 hours all told. We are tall, and the economy seats are horrible for us. If I were to rate the business class on various airlines, I would rate BA toward the bottom. The seats are lie flats and comfortable, but you have to step over someone else to get to the aisle, and the food is pretty mediocre. Although, their wine selections are quite good. We have not flown KLM business, so can't comment there.
If you are flying in 2015, you certainly have a lot of time to ponder the best route. However, if you can secure your airline fare with Tauck, at this time, that might not be a bad deal. You can still cancel within a reasonable time frame. This is still a pretty long trip whether you do a stopover in London or Amsterdan. I would strongly advise flying busines.
It may be my imagination but whenever we start to look at flight prices on the internet the airlines always seem to have put the price up the next time we look and then the next too. I'm not sure if 'they' realize that we are interested and hike up the price, but anyway sometimes we look at the prices from a different email address and that seems to fool someone out there because the price does not go higher when we look from our usual address. Anyone else noticed this?
As British said, great tips! We travellers have to keep on our toes! When I look at those flights I would be arriving in Africa from Australia via Jo'burg, so I might have a few more options. Something has to make up for the zilch options I have flying from Melbourne to the States. Which is why I often fly across Europe into Boston, or take a roundabout route over the Pacific to SFO via Singapore. I have only made the mistake of flying MEL/SIN/HKG/SFO direct once. I have made my travel agent promise never to let me do that again. Note to self: Always break the journey in Singapore! Coming home from SFO via AKL is a doddle … and a joy on Air NZ. Keep that in mind for anyone planning on the OZ, NZ trip. Good flights and very pleasant.
Joyce, your potential flight saving story has made my afternoon! So glad you really hadn't spent that $5000! Boy, but you have to keep your wits about you!
Cheers,
Jan
Thanks! You all have given me some more data points!
Yup, Business Class sure is pricey, but we are not contemplating it for the luxury, food, or wine, just the leg room, shoulder room, and possibly the chance to sleep (on lay-flat seats). Delta lay flat seats all have direct aisle access. My plan, at least at this time, is to make flight reservation sometime this summer after the airlines release their fares and routes, and start taking reservations. I think I read somewhere that happens about 11 months prior to the desired departure. I'll be getting serious this July since we are looking at a June 2015 Safari. I wish Tauck would list all the expected departures- I guess they add additional dates only as needed. I really want to take a departure that is typically a week later that the one listed (yet?).
Delta/KLM looks good schedule-wise except for the the morning Nairobi departure and a long layover in Atlanta. The morning Nairobi departure would require we stay an extra night in Nairobi since it departs before our on-tour flight arrives. A benefit of flying Delta's Business Class is we can use their Sky Club in Atlanta during the layover- if it works out to be too long, we'll just get a hotel room.
LLVicky- Thanks! We normally fly Delta too- trying to accumulate air miles. l just looked into Ethiopian Air out of IAD. We currently live in North Carolina so usually take a local flight to ATL but we could drive up and stay at our daughter's place in Alexandria. On Business Class, Ethiopian Air out of IAD is $3K cheaper per ticket for June 2014 flights than Delta/KLM from our home (stops in ATL and AMS) and $2K cheaper per ticket than straight KLM thru AMS outbound and AMS & LHR inbound) (using a Travelocity search), and I think the flight durations are shorter. I'm not sure I like the idea of stopping in Addis Ababa, but it is only for 2 hours each way.
They appear to be using Boeing 777-200LR on the transatlantic segments. They have sleeper seats, but not the ones that lay flat. Their website shows they have four new 787 Dreamliners too (first in Africa) but those have the same seats. I couldn't find the routes where they are being used, either. I know the aircraft might change before we go, but how did you like the ET Business class seats and the service and amenities in general?
Thanks for everyone's input.
You pretty much sold me. There are a lot of ifs here, but unless my wife nixes ET for one reason or another, ET raises their fares a lot between now and then, Tauck comes up with an unbeatable bargain (Delta/KLM or other), or we end up with enough Delta frequent flyer miles to level the playing field, I think I'll try ET. In addition to the lower fares, I really like their enroute times with minimal layovers for both the IAD-ADD and ADD-FCO-IAD legs.
It is amazing, though my parents took many Tauck tours and our first was just this past summer to England, Scotland, Wales, I can't wait for the next one (Alps) and the one after that (2015 Safari)!!! Heck, I've got a proposed Tauck tour schedule mapped out for the next 6+ years!! I hope things in Egypt calm down a bit more, I would like to do Egypt & Jordan someday.
I know Tauck will come through. This is my fourth trip with them and all of them have been great. I've (we) went on the small ship tour from Istanbul to Athens and piggybacked the England, Scotland, and Wales with The Best of Ireland. Since the last trip my wife died and I am going solo on this one. I am piggybacking this after a Disney cruise with a daughter and her family. It'll all be an interesting test for solo traveling.
One question: is WIFI available in the hotels? Maybe two questions: do you know if the Verizon cell phones work during this trip?
Enjoy your New Year.
Between your comments and the price difference, I was sold. Unfortunately while trying to find a good seat map for ET's 777 200LR (I don't want to be in the middle section of a 2 - 3 - 2 Business Class cabin) I ran across these reviews. They run the gamut from good to totally horrible (probably could have used an even worse term!): http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/ethiopian.htm
A lot of the reviews are recent. Now I just have to hope that things improve over the intervening year and a half!
Late addition: I'd just like to add the ET industry reviews I read are good (propaganda?)- "Best Airline in Africa". ET was the first airline in Africa to get the new 787 Dreamliner (too bad an empty one caught fire at Heathrow- not because of the Lithium battery problem. It's back flying now) and they just took delivery of the first of what should be 5 new 777-300 ER's. I hope they can find good ground and flight crews to support this growth.
No, I don't know the phone number...sorry. Wait...let me look at my phone and see if it saved it. Yep, 1-800-445-2733, options 2, then 1.
We are taking this trip in July. We leave Nairobi at 10:25 PM on a KLM flight to Amsterdam to JFK, so I am confused why you said the Delta/KLM flights are only in the morning. Perhaps because your trip is still a bit out in time? Thanks
My info was from the Delta website for a rather narrow criteria - business class, minimal layovers, local feeder through Atlanta, constructive 2014 date. I'm sure flights will be a little different in 2015.
Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but i don't think the airlines release fares/schedules/take bookings until 330 days before departure. After the recent hijacking of an Ethiopian Airliner by the copilot, I am having second thoughts about them.
I forget when he will be going, but I will wait to hear ndvd's report on ET before I book with them.
Downside is you arrive in Arusha at 2:45AM! Tauck assures us that they'll pick us up at that time. Then off to the hotel to crash (with extra night).
We are looking at the same Ethiopian Air flight through DC in September. Departing Nairobi there's a 7:35 pm but it only gives you 35 minutes to connect in Addis Ababa, alternate is a 5:35 pm. departure. Tauck says to depart after 7:00 pm. What flight did you take from Nairobi and did you have any problem with the connection in Addis Ababa? Thanks for any information you can provide.
Bill- I read somewhere (ET website, Tripadvisor, Flyertalk-not sure?) that ET is pretty strict about checking in at Addis no later that a certain window. Again, I'm just reaching here, but I think the talk was that it was 2 - 3 hours prior. Later than that they couldn't guarantee you would be allowed to board. I'm not sure why that would be, especially if you are connecting from an ET flight from Nairobi- they wouldn't give your seat away, would they?!?!? Do they ever depart early? I've read airport congestion and passenger processing can be slow there. In any case, I would really research it carefully, and, at a minimum, take the earlier, 5:35 flight from Nairobi- which would mean you would miss dinner and have an early afternoon ride through Nairobi traffic.
The evening meal on departure day is not the farewell dinner, that takes place the night before in the Fairmont Mara Safari Club before you fly to Nairobi the next morning. Maybe someone who has taken this trip will confirm, but I think Tauck's departure recommendation is based on number of things- first, the Tauck-booked flights and those on KLM, BA, etc. typically depart very late at night (2300 - 0200), the traffic in Nairobi can be horrendous, and Tauck would like you to take a late flight to keep the number of trips to the airport to a minimum.
You will likely need to make a decision sooner, but ndvb is flying home after his safari on ET this July- I'm waiting to hear his report before we make our decision on whether to fly ET- but we don't go on safari until June 2015.
Someone here told me about a problem I might have if the flight to Dulles is cancelled. Something about having a Visa in Addis Ababa to leave the airport if I have to go to a hotel. I am not getting one, so I'll keep my fingers crossed on that issue.
It sounds like Vicky got home safely and on time--that is a good thing. Knowing the communication issues I had on the phone to get my seats assigned, I will keep her suggestions in mind about the airport. Thanks, Vicky, for the heads-up.
Tauck confirmed that the 1735 is doable so we are booked on the same flights as you in September. Interestingly I had no problem at all with Ethiopian Airlines customer service getting seats assigned on the phone. They were immediately assigned and I received e-mail confirmation within minutes. I'll watch for your update on how your flights go.
I like the 2-2-2 business class seat configuration on ET's 787- both travelers have aisle access if sitting in the center section, like the 1-2-1 seating on Delta's 767-3/400's. It is much better than the 2-3-2 on their 777-200 & new 777-300's. It sounds like you might have flown on one of ET's older 777-200's- ET took delivery of 3 -4 new 777-300's this year. ndvb was lucky enough to fly home from Addis to IAD on one of ET's newer 777-300's, so it looks like you could end up on any one of three aircraft on either leg- 787-8, 777-200LR, or 777-300ER. I like the fact that the connecting flight is scheduled to arrive in Arusha just a little past noon, instead of late at night. I like the earlier departure from Nairobi, also.
FYI for anyone else thinking about ET, they finally updated their website with all their new aircraft and seating configurations.
Bill- How much in advance did you make your reservations? Did you know which aircraft you would fly when you made your reservations since you said you selected your seats at the same time, or did you need to contact them later to update seat selection once it was determined you would be returning on a 787? How full was the Business section on each leg? What did you do to kill time during your layovers in Bole airport in Addis? It was probably good to be an hour late- less time to kill?
As much as I would prefer Delta/KLM, ET's price just can't be beat, not to mention the duration, on average, is 4 hours less per flight than other carriers. The cost difference is enough to cover the cost of another trip or the airfare for one!
Thanks so much! Only 254 days, 16 hours, and 19 minutes to go! (but who is counting?!? : ) )
For a while now, especially long haul vacations, we use them, they will book ANY flight for you.