Find First Class Flights to South Africa

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FAQs for South Africa first class flights

  • How does KAYAK find such good deals on First Class tickets to South Africa?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights to South Africa for economy class as well as First Class travelers.

  • What is the best airline for first class flights to South Africa?

    The highest-rated airline by KAYAK users offering first class flights to South Africa is Delta, with an overall rating of 7.9.

Top tips for finding first class flights to South Africa

  • The most expensive day to fly First Class to South Africa is Monday, while the cheapest is Tuesday.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to South Africa

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly first class to South Africa? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.9
DeltaOverall score based on 7980 reviews
8.5Crew
7.9Entertainment
7.9Comfort
7.3Food
8.2Boarding
Airline reviews

We were delayed, which I think had to do with air traffic control. Otherwise, everything was great.

8.0 ExcellentTrisha, Oct 2025ATL - EWR
Read more Delta reviews

We were delayed, which I think had to do with air traffic control. Otherwise, everything was great.

The boarding process needs to be refined. Sometimes the gate crew call out the boarding zone, and then flip to the monitor to show which zones are boarding. So unless everyone is gathered around to see the monitor there is usually confusion as wi which zones are boarding.

The crew was not very visible. This might be a good thing for people who wanted to sleep but seemed odd when compared to the Atlantic crossing where they are more present in the cabin. The Food (beef) was not good. Tough and tasteless. Would love to see more choices on a long flight like that.

Convient flight. Good experience. No complaints other than the food quality seems to have decreased.

The food was terrible especially for a 15 hour international flight. The crew was unpleasant as well.

It was beautiful easy and smooth experience. Thank you. Will definitely get Delta for my next travel.

Our flight was canceled after several delays. No hotel vouchers offered, minimal help for resolution leave me ultimately to cancel and book on an other airline. Then waited to get bags for more than 3 hours This whole experience has been awful!!!

Leaving on time and having my luggage on my connecting flight

After I checked in, I realized we had no seat assignment. It said they would be assigned at the gate. This was really frustrating because I usually use a lounge before flights, but I couldn't because I had to be at the gate to ensure we got our seat assignments. The gate agent arrived an hour before the flight left. I was the first one up to ask about seat assignments. She told us to wait for names to be called. Dozens of other passengers were paged, but we were not. Finally, I asked my husband to ask. He went up and was also told to wait. About 10 minutes later, they called for boarding. We still had not been told our seats. We went back to the desk and they were in a panic, saying we actually weren't on that flight. Then they made an announcement telling the stand by passengers to not board (in case we needed their seats). It was so stressful and unprofessional. Finally they gave us our seats. I have no idea what happened and why the two desk agents seemed to have conflicting ideas about our seats, whether we were on that flight etc.

Delta is a cut above the others in customer service.

At the airport, terrible, I do not want to even remember it. It was too humiliating for a business class passenger.

They forgot to serve food and the crew was very unfriendly. Never experienced such a bad KLM flight. Usually fly from Toronto. New York was different.

Couldn’t get boarding pass in SLC even with help from a redcoat, so had to find a desk in AMS to get boarding pass. Technical problems so not sure why. Very inconvenient. The KLM app is not as user friendly as most apps. Also had to wait almost an hour on the tarmac for a fuel truck, which caused us to miss a connecting bus in LUX.

The immigration hall in Amsterdam was understaffed, so passport checking was slower than it should be for a major airport. They need to get the automatic readers up and running for non EU passport holders. Waiting in line after a long flight feels a bit abusive.

Over 1 Hr delay. No APU so no AC on ground. Plane was hot during boarding and then they closed the doors over 20 minutes before engine start so interior of plane was steamy hot and stuffy. Could have been helped by opening doors until ready to depart.

KLM remains a quality flag carrier airline which maintains its standards whilst all their competitors are lowering theirs.

The baggage drop-off in Stuttgart is bad: after online check-in you cannot use the automated baggage drop off as indicated on the website. You can use the terminals but have to cue to 1 of three open and slowly working counters to drop the bags. took about 45 minutes wait time.

Our first flight was delayed so we missed our connecting flight. However it was easy to book a later flight on their app.

My flight was delayed by 6 hours then I missed BOTH of my connecting flights, I then had to stay in the AIRPORT at JFK because soooooo many people also suffered from missing flights and there was no hotels available. I would like to be compensated for this experience! I had to stay in the airport for over 16 hours!

Klm start boarding while somw air issue in the plan

Overall, it was good. I was seating next to a wonderful lady and did not notice how time flew. Thanks

My flight was delayed about 1 1/2 hours in Chicago, but other then that it was a good flight.

The experience was great, the crew was very polite and hospitable. I will definitely make if my go to airlines.

It was all good flight was on time, service was good I enjoyed a few movies and everything was smooth

Efficient, calm when things were delayed and kept us regularly informed of what was happening.

Airbus plane, nice and polite staff, entertainment even as it was a short flight.

Very nice and clean plane. Transit time between flights was tight though

Our flights got changed from United to Air Canada and our purchased seats did not get transferred so we had to pay for seats twice. I brought it up with Air Canada and they stated I had to go back and chase it with United. The united seats were $21 Canadian each and Air Canada were $56 each so we have paid $77 for each seat. Very unhappy

So far so good but food and entertainment are not available for this flight

Plane temperature was comfortable (not to hot) when boarding and waiting for takeoff.

They only gave us 30 minutes to make an international connecting flight. We didn’t make the connection but they did do a good job rebooking us despite the chaos. Our bags didn’t make it back and their process for customer support is pretty bad when it comes to luggage.

The Boeing 737 MAX on this route, flown in the middle of the night, is an UTTER FAILURE for business travellers. The whole point of business travel is to arrive alert and recover from travel quickly, and this little aeroplane with its quarter recline uncomfortable business seats does nothing for that. It’s a small step up from economy in that you have decent legroom, but that’s it. Absolute margin at the cost of the traveller.

Good. Crew do seem to be less friendly- management are clearly limiting them or not empowering them as they used to.

POSITIVES The hostesses were mostly pleasant, NEGATIVES The full flight wifi was horrible, hardly able to use it. My charger port was not working which made me use my neighbour's port which resulted in an accident which ruined her flight. During dinner, meat ran out when the cart got to us forcing us to eat vegetarian which was not great. We watched everyone around us eating meat. My wifi did not transfer to the second leg of my trip as they promised as they changed the plane. I was thrown off the window seat I booked for the 2nd leg of my journey as they changed planes, all done at my expense. This was not a cheap flight ($2600) which i hurriedly had to book to attend my mother's funeral who passed away suddenly. I was honestly disappointed with the whole saga as I heard Ethiopian Airlines was one of Africa's best.

The food was terrible and the seating was uncomfortable, but the airline did a great thing letting us board in Abbis Ababa on our connecting flight after our original flight was very delayed.

Traveling with Ethiopian is always a good experience. I also enjoy the stay at skylight hotel in Addis

Were not told that carryon laggage has to be only 12 kgs but my bag was heavier asked to pay an additional $550.00. I could have upgraded to a bussiness class for that price and no one at the gate to upgrade but able to take money for the extra weight. I felt like this was a setup scam.

I had a comfortable seat that makes my trip wonderful. I appreciate the Ethiopia crew, they were very helpful

Im if Ethiopian can allow customers to use their mileage for in flight connexion it will be great.

No Asian Vegetarian food was available on this sector but only fish and chicken and pasta were offered.

Boarding was poor. Why are first class passengers not boarded first?! Bus to the plane and then held on a packed bus because we were waiting for people on the bus before to finish boarding. Seat belt on the fist clas seat is very uncomfortable, cutting into your neck. Other than that crew, seating and food were all excellent. Entertainment, as usual - rubbish.

flight was delayed from BWI to London - missed my connecting flight & then connecting flight (also British Air) was delayed - food is awful, TV & movie selection is great

First time on BA but will fly with them from now on! Everything about the flight was superb!!!

Had a nice little suite although I couldn’t close the door (but I didn’t ask anyone to help). 5K is a nice seat and very private (you look in on first class). Enjoyable flight and nice crew.

Did not use entertainment Food great Stewards had an attitude, not the best but below average from my other flights with AA or BA

The staff were fantastic and couldn't have been more accomodating; however, the air-conditioning was broken in our section of the aircraft, leaving us feeling extremely cold and unwell on arrival in Johannesbury. The head sets were also faulty, causing difficulty when listening to announcements and entertainment.

Old tired plane, Uncomfortable business class seat. Breakfast dreadful and meagre. At least flight was on time!

The crew is very friendly and helpful. The food is good for airplane food. The flight is long and hard to sleep. The leg space is great. The plane arrived in plenty of time.

Terrible, We experienced massive delays and then couldn’t book a hotel through the link provided, nothing was available. We then went to the airport the next day and experienced further delays, almost no communication was given. We had dinner at lunchtime and breakfast at midnight. We then landed in Jhb at 1am and had to book another hotel as our flight to durban was at 8am. The experience was painful and very expensive.

We were bumped from our flight and were made to spend the night even though we made our reservation a few months ago. We had to completely change arrival plans which put a spanner in our works. The seats were too crowded together. An overweight man sitting next to me kept spilling over into my space and repeatedly touched my feet. The staff was great yet I felt sorry for them with so many people on the plane.

Everything you need to know for your flight to South Africa

Cabin class types available on flights to South Africa

Cabin classes available on flights to South Africa. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.

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