Sanibonani everyone ! This is Zulu language because today we are going to KZN or KwaZulu-Natal. It will take us two flights to get there : MQP-JNB + JNB - DUR
We were dropped off at 7:45AM by a VW Caravelle belonging to Mbombela Tours, very reliable company. The only issue is that we arrived at MQP way too early. But I do not have any regret, you'll hear why…
The terminal was completely empty both landside and airside : so relaxing Let's start by the landside
And all of a sudden, I hear a choir starting some gospel songs. I did not directly film them because you know, privacy stuff, but damn those voices from the ground staff at security were
The check-in counters opened just 1.5hrs before the flight scheduled take off time. So do not arrive too early, unless you want to hear amateur gospel live ;) The check-in agent, a very friendly female thought that we were not seated together on the JNB-DUR flight so I told her not to worry because there was not a 5B seat on the A330-200. But that is actually a nice attention.
I will show you our BP for the next flight on the following FR. Security was fine : I still removed my computer from the bag and my watch, but not my belt. They did control the BPs as well. Airside it was as well completely empty
The boarding was called late : 10 o'clock dead for a 10:10 AM departure, short ! We scanned our BPs but mine did not work and I was already approaching the aircraft. I was then forced to come back and scan it again, which slowed the boarding even more ! We were treated to awesome views of this gorgeous new addition to Airlink's fleet : ZS-ALR
Rolls Royce powered
Photobomb^^
Once in the cabin, persuaded to be in an ERJ-135, I went for the last row, near the engines. WRONG ! I did not know they had changed the aircraft type probably after I had done the online check-in so I was "forced" to let a French couple grab my dreamseats. This was just the second thing I did wrongly this very morning
View from the window where another Airlink's ERJ, a 135 this time, was taxiing to its parking stand
A very rare Bombardier Global Express BD-700 registered M-MDBD, the same that was here a few days ago
It is time to take off !
This undesired seat still gave me plenty wingviews
The cabin once again showed its age but it seemed it had been well maintained by the former owner. The seat covers indicated that the bird probably operated for American Airlines Connection. A quick search on google confirmed this feeling.
You can see the leather is not in a bad shape
The safety card was however used, especially mine Front page
Center pages
Rear page
My mother's was a tad "better"
The great inflight magazine
The harbinger announcing the highlight of the return journey
On the same double page as my next destination… sometimes things are very weird !
Here is the fleet page
There was only one female FA on that flight despite the fact it was an ERJ-140. She was easy going and did her job with rapidity and professionalism. I chose a cheese sandwich and my mother a muffin a bit impractical to eat, along with fruit juices from the same brand we tried earlier on : Ceres.
The TOD came while we were still eating
Landing on-time into JNB only to wait a few minutes while other aircrafts were taking off Spotting featuring Comair, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways 77W, South African Airways, Safair 738, SA Express Dash Q400, Kulula 738, Airlink ERJ 135 and Jetstream 41
The annoying treadmills you have to use to get to the security area because no, there is apparently no transfer zone even for domestic connections (I asked my way to an airport staff just to be sure… weird)
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Verdict
SA Airlink
8.6/10
Cabin8.0
Cabin crew10.0
Entertainment/wifi6.5
Meal/catering10.0
Mpumalanga - MQP
9.3/10
Efficiency10.0
Access10.0
Services7.0
Cleanliness10.0
Johannesburg - JNB
5.9/10
Efficiency6.0
Access5.0
Services6.5
Cleanliness6.0
Conclusion
Airlink did not disappoint on this flight as for the others. The staff (both ground and FA) is mostly friendly and quick, the catering is good and the small airports make for a great flying experience without any kind of stress.
5 LIKESLIKE TO THANK THE AUTHORTHANKS ! FLIGHT-REPORT LIKED
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