Review of Singapore Airlines flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg in Economy

I would die to be able to own a house here!!

Even more upscale residential along the Waterfront Canals.

Up the Table Mountain! We were lucky to go up early as the Cableway closed from the afternoon and subsequently 2 days due to strong winds.

Rightfully earns its reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

Long Street.

African curios at Greenmarket Square. You would really need to bargain hard here. Better stick to souvenir shops along the Waterfront.

Took a half-day trip to Cape Point as well.
Along Chapman Peak's Drive.

At Cape Point.

Passed Boulders Beach to view the African penguins as well!

Nice view from Boulders Beach.

Of course not forgetting the V&A Waterfront.

Not forgetting the really affordable, fresh and delicious food we had!

Time for our journey back to Singapore after all the nice scenery, food, fresh air (definitely will miss the air since S'pore frequently gets polluted by haze these couple of months) and of course the fantastic weather! We shall see if the return flight would have improved catering over the depressing catering on the way in.
Again, we took the really convenient public bus service from the bus stop right across our apartment and it was only a short 25min ride to the airport.
Reached the airport 2hrs prior to departure.

Check-in was swift as there were barely any queues. Again, the passenger load would be quite light for this sector. With such low loads, I am really dreading the day when SQ might withdraw from CPT.

After sending our bags and performing tax refund for some purchases, we proceeded through security and immigration painlessly as there were no other international departures during the hour.
Airside now.

As we were rather early, the departure lounge airside was almost totally void of passengers. There were quite a number of shops airside but all were quiet. In fact, there was not a single aircraft parked at the international airbridges.

Condor B767, BA B772 and baby BA B737. The BA B737 is operated by Comair as a franchise of BA.

Our aircraft landed slightly late from SIN via JNB.

Kulula B738 taxiing to the runway.

Our SQ bird arriving at the gate.

9V-SVJ would be performing the long-haul back to Singapore.

BA/Comair B734 taxiing away.

Our boarding gate was just a long narrow corridor.

Another BA aircraft, an elegant B744, arrived from London. There were more BA aircraft in CPT than any of the other South Africa airlines.

Air Namibia A319, the only other international departure for the hour.

26 October 2014
Singapore Airlines
SQ 479
Cape Town (CPT) - Johannesburg (JNB) - Singapore (SIN)
B777-200ER
9V-SVJ
Economy Class
Boarded was called by row numbers and was orderly. Went down the transparent gangway to our aircraft.

Welcomed at the door and directed to our seats at the rear of the aircraft.

Reached my seat at 57A while my mum and sis had 56 A/C. Rear cabin remained rather empty and I ended up having the 3-seater for myself again on this sector!
Legroom again was good at this particular seat due to the curvature of the cabin. Did not check behind the headrest though (read previous sector's review) for unwelcomed surprises. Sometimes, it is best not to know….

At the gate.

Air France B772 arrived from Paris.

Domestic gates at the other end of the terminal.

The usual SQ service kicked in, with offering of hot towels, headsets and menu. So far, the crew operating this sector seemed rather pleasant, offering the typical SQ service.
Menu for the return sector.

Flight time of 1h38m to Johannesburg.

With the light load, boarding was completed rapidly, doors closed, safety video played and we pushed back for departure.

Taxiing past the AF aircraft that just arrived.

Passing the Queen of the Skies, the B747! It has been a long time since I flew on one.

It was a cloudless and beautiful day, with Table Mountain clearly seen in the distance.

Video of taxi to the runway.

A short taxi later, we held at the threshold of Rwy19, waiting for 2 BA/Comair B737s to land.

On our way to Johannesburg! There was really beautiful scenery to be seen during our takeoff from Cape Town!

Watch the video of the takeoff and ascent, with breath-taking scenery.

Over hills around the Stellenbosch wine region.

After takeoff announcements.

Landscape gradually got dryer the further we flew away from Cape Town.

Continued with 22 Jump Street which I did not completer on the previous sector. Luckily no jumpy images on the IFE this time round.

While the IFE screen on the seat beside was tuned to the flight map.

Refreshment service soon started and the Economy cabin was served right from the front in the forward economy cabin towards the rear aft cabin.

Lets see what would be served on this sector. Oh, an improvement! We would be getting a hot refreshment on this sector! Makes you wonder why SQ decides to serve something hot on the CPT-JNB sector but not on the JNB-CPT flight.

I had initially wanted to choose the beef noodles, but it ran out long before the meal cart reached our rows. Guess due to the many Taiwanese onboard the flight today seated upfront and naturally they would have gone for the noodles.
At least the crew was apologetic about it and ensured we were fine with the quiche choice.
Handed a half-sized tray which looked rather bare with only a warm casserole and teacup. Well, I should be grateful that SQ even served a hot meal on this short sector. Had an apple juice and rooibos tea to go along (the apple juice catered out of South Africa was tasty, unlike the sweet syrupy kind from SIN) and I ordered a Singapore Sling as well.

Even though I did not get my first choice, I had no complaints as the spinach quiche and its accompaniments were rather delicious! The only complaint would be portion could be bigger or maybe include a fruit starter.

Finished the entire meal in no time. Haha, the tray seemed much fuller with 3 drink cups on it.

Singapore-slinging to Johannesburg.

Got more apple juice to sip on while watching my movie.

Patch of brown down there.

With the light passenger load, we still had more than half the flight to go after meal service was quickly completed.

However, skies turned cloudy as we were approaching Johannesburg. Crew also came round with another round of water/juices towards the end of the flight before descent. Not bad for a 1h40m flight!

Soon, started descending into JNB, with skies turning totally gloomy and cloudy. Not much landing preparations needed as we were allowed to hold onto our headsets for the next sector.
Descending into muggy Jo'burg, with the weather being a total contrast from Cape Town.

Final approach till landing on Rwy03R.

Video of our landing into JNB Rwy03R.

Taxiing to the terminal, passing an Air Mauritius A319.

Unique architecture of OR Tambo terminal building.

Parked at the gate. At JNB, no passengers were allowed to disembark while there was a change of crew and flight was serviced, prior to boarding of passengers originating from JNB.