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Weekend in Johannesburg

Weekend in Johannesburg
Weekend in Johannesburg
via British Airways First Class
March 2022

Back home to Denver

After a quick 30 minute Uber ride from JFK, I was back at LaGuardia's attractive new Terminal B.   Love the art in the main lobby...

Instagram video of LaGuardia's new Terminal B.

First stop was the new Amex Centurion Lounge.  Sorry for the lack of pics as I was video and forgot to take pics most of the time.

Instagram video of the Centurion Lounge.

Next up, I stopped by the impressive new United Club.

Instagram video of the United Club.

And then a quick stop at the new rather sterile and boring Maple Leaf Lounge.  

Instagram video of the Maple Leaf Lounge.

Then off to the gate for departure.

New York LaGuardia to Denver
United UA 1488
737-900
6:00p-7:30p
March 15, 2022
 

What a gorgeous evening to be flying.

Cool instagram video of our sunset departure

Once in the air, same old, same old meal choices.

And today with the best in United utensils.  LOL. Hopefully a catering mistake...

Instagram video of the tonight's United flight.

Thanks for following along on this wonderful quick trip to South Africa.

 

Back home, my order from Eli's had arrived.  Just about the only good part of United catering.

BA A380 First Class back to London Heathrow

 
After lunch, we returned to the Four Seasons to relax for a couple of hours before heading off to the airport.
 

Earlier in the day, we had both used our BinaxNow test kits with the Navica app and got our still-mandatory test results in less than 20 minutes from start to finish.  Just a great way to meet the stupid US testing rules for return.

We went with the $28 Uber Black option vs. the hotel arranged $125 option.  After two perfect weather days, it sure looks like we are leaving at the right time.  

Miserable conditions.

Thirty minutes later, we arrived at JNB and another 10 minutes later after two more doc checks, we were next in line for First Class check-in.

With no priority lane, security was another 15 minutes, and then 5 minutes for passport control. 

Another five minutes later, we're at the BA Lounge.

Large and boring Business Class lounge...

But fortunately with a separate and quiet First Class room.

Menu options with food and drink delivered to your table.  We were both still full from lunch so neither or us sampled anything from the menu.

My G&T and chips.

At around T-60, we headed out for our gate.  After yet another doc check, we're in the gate area waiting to board.

British Airways BA 54
Johannesburg JNB to London LHR
A380-800
9:15pm-7:15am +1
March 14, 2022
First Class Suite 1A
 

Yet another pathetic BA First Class boarding experience as we waiting for handicapped, then dozens of families with small children, and then finally First Class.  Not that it meant anything as we waiting 10 minutes in the jet bridge before we were all allowed to board.​  This would never happen with Air France La Première.  

Ahhh, finally on board.  A380 pics from our earlier flight.

Another excellent BA crew providing stellar service again tonight.

Salmon and beet starter.

Beef was excellent, despite being well done again.

 

 

 

After dinner and a movie, I slept for another solid 6 hours.   

Again, I was really impressed by the service in BA First. Wonderful cabin crew providing stellar service.  It's a shame BA doesn't give them more to work with, and simply falls apart once you arrive at the gate, where the abysmal LHR ground experience is enough to make a First Class passenger avoid BA altogether.

 

Instagram videos of The BA Lounge at JNB and our BA First A380 flight to London...