T RIED AND TE ST E D FL IGHT


South African Airways A330-300 business class HEATHROW- JOHANNESBURG


B A C KGROUND The A330-300 is SAA’s newest aircraft having entered service in December 2016, but with the majority of aircraft delivered in 2017. This latest business class product has been on the London to Johannesburg route since March 2108. There are five in the fleet, each with a capacity of 249 passengers, 46 of these in business.


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C HEC K - IN I arrived at Heathrow T2 at 1630 for my 1900 flight, SA235. At check- in area D issuing of the boarding pass and passport check was quick (when flying to South Africa you should have two consecutive empty pages in your passport for entry stamps). The agent informed me that I could use any of the Star lounges, but that the Singapore Airlines and Air Canada ones were closest to the gate, with the United lounge just a couple of minutes’ walk away. So I asked which lounge was best of the Star Alliance options, and was told that Air Canada’s one had the best beer.


THE LOU NGE I went to the Singapore Airlines lounge, which is by gate B42; it was quiet as the Singapore Airlines’ flights leave a bit later. There was a good choice of hot and cold Western and Asian food – salads, sandwiches, curry, pad Thai, boeuf bourguignon, soup, cake and biscuits as well as lots of snacks (crisps, nuts, Bombay mix, popcorn, ice cream). There was a good selection of UK and Singapore newspapers and magazines.


BO A RDING The aircraft was parked at gate B43, just two minutes from the lounge. Boarding began at 1811 with premium customers first. The crew were attentive, taking my jacket quickly. When most of the passengers had boarded they offered newspapers and a choice of juices or sparkling wine. The plane pushed back at 1910 and was airborne at 1931 for what was to be a 10 hour, 40 minute flight.


THE SE A T Business class is split between two cabins with rows 1-8 in the first and 9-12


JUNE 2 0 18


I asked which lounge was best of the Star Alliance options, and was told that Air Canada’s one had the best beer


in the second separated by a galley and two toilets. The configuration is 1-2-1 (A-D, G-K), so all seats have direct aisle access. The space feels generous for sitting,


sleeping and storage. The seat is upholstered, except for the leather headrest, and is adjusted using two sets of controls, one for when sitting up and another when lying down. When fully reclined into a flatbed the seat is almost 2m long. The armrest on the aisle can be adjusted, although I kept mine up so I was not knocked during the night. There is a good- sized pillow, mattress protector and duvet.


The amenity kit contained an eye mask and earplugs, as well as face cream and lip balm from Crabtree & Evelyn. In the sitting position, the seat was 23


inches wide with footrest. Good storage was on hand nearby for small items including a water bottle, and at my feet was a generous magazine rack and storage box which could take shoes and a laptop with room to spare. For take off and landing there was also a shoulder strap that came out from the back of the seat and crossed the body fixing to the buckle. For working there was a good-sized, solid


table, international power plug and USB, as well as an adjustable reading light.


B EST SE A T I was in seat 1K. While it was at the front of the cabin, which gave it privacy from other passengers, it looked diagonally into the galley, so it was not the quietest option – there are better choices.


bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om


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