Find First Class Flights to South Africa – Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, First, 0 bags

Save 20% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

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 KLM, with an overall rating of 7.8.

Top tips for finding first class flights to South Africa

  • There are no direct flights in first class between Canada and South Africa, so you’ll be flying with a layover.

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.
7.8
KLMOverall score based on 1552 reviews
7.2Entertainment
7.3Food
8.4Crew
7.8Boarding
7.7Comfort
Airline reviews

Brand new plane lots of room the snack was very flavourful and enjoyable

10.0 ExcellentBob, May 2026
MAD - AMS
Read more KLM reviews

Brand new plane lots of room the snack was very flavourful and enjoyable

I’m grateful for the KLM Air France shuttle bus service to Ottawa. However due to construction and other issues related to the chaotic Uber pickup system at YUL, it’s a challenge to find the Kelios bus service to Ottawa. The signs are not clear or even available. No staff to guide passengers. It’s a stressful experience.

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.

The service was great. However the lounge only gets passing grade

I tried to upgrade to premium economy anis seat online during the checkin process. The payment didn’t work due to a technical glitch on KLM’s website. I wasn’t able to change my seat unless I called Amsterdam. Since I was in Canada and there’s a time difference this wasn’t practical. So when I arrived early to Ottawa airport my seat wasn’t available and I could only get a middle seat in premium economy which isn’t great. These middle seats are priced at the same rate as an aisle seat which makes no sense.

Transavia flight. Couldn't select seat or anything prior to flight. No connection with klm systems. Seats are very crammed. Extremely no frills.

It’s chaotic at the bus stop outside of the airport because of the Uber meeting point. You need to be alert and look for the KLM bus which is not branded or labeled. Incorrect information was provided to go to gate 28, when in fact the bus was at gate 27. On the plus side the bus left early and arrived early to Ottawa.

The plane. Airbus A330-200. Comfortable for a 7-hour flight. Seats seemed to have more legroom. I was in row 17. Flight was operated by Delta but was better than expected.

The flight itself it was great nice food the crew were very nice and helpful, Checking in from Birmingham wasn't great long queues for bag dropped, And I had my hand luggage case taken away from me even though I requested to have it with me as I had breakables items. I was told I can not because of the length of the flight with no explanation at all no options was given for me to take my fragile items out of my case it was taken away with hold buggage I find the staff member who was checking me in very unpleasant !! Can we please be advise if the rules have changed about the the carry on hand luggage it will be easier to be advise on booking your tickect if we not allowed to take the hand luggage with me. Overall I had a good flight .

Amazing KLM service and brilliant economy comfort seats. Well worth the extra.

I’m an EP on AA every year for more than a decade but this was a very pleasant and surprising experience. Clean and sizable plane for HOU to CHI. 5 row first class. And excellent food in first class the steak option was really good. Your flight attendants even better. Seat 5A

I'm a United 1K member and have ben for 10 years. The gate agent had no control over the boarding process and had us passengers queued for hours as delays were announced. On the plane, the overhead air nozzle was broken so col over was powering through on me and the passenger next to me. Not a great experience for a million miler on United. Feel free to contact me. Josh Smigel - DM426089

3 hour delay…. Nearly 2 hours sitting on tarmac. Do better, United. Or at least have the sense to not say “we hope you enjoyed your flight with us” upon disembarking.

Airport terminal was outdated, flight was on a small jet with no wifi

Flight was late - I was downgraded from first class to coach

Not good - outbound flight was delayed and missed my connection even though I got to the gate after running through the airport - the agent would not let me on because the door was closed (flight had not left). There was no notification from United - overall experience was very disappointing. Additionally, I was downgraded from first class to coach on the alternative flight

See my previous comments. I was probably booked in business but was moved to economy

Delays!!! Serious delays. I was told by a member of staff in LGA that I would miss my DEN to LAX flight connection, so I was put on a later flight. Due to delays I would have been able to have made my original flight, where I was sat in business class - seat 1A: I was put on my original flight but bumped from business - 1A to economy 33C. I want a refund for paying business class but only flying economy

Marked by flight delays on all segments of the trip. Food in first class cabin was mediocre and overhead cabin storage was not adequate. Overall, the premium charge for first class cabin was poor and over hyped. This will be our last flight with UA.

the plane was old. the wifi didn’t work. the entertainment was boring and dated. the charging ports were impossible to find. i was mostly ignored by flight attendants that had no problem speaking to the man beside me. i got two drinks the entire time i was on the plane.

It was a great experience for my first time flying with this airline. I will be flying with them a lot more now. Plane crew was amazing.

Flight was delayed by two hours. This really messed things up because I missed my connecting flight in Addis. I had a meeting in Entebbe which was scrapped because my flight from Addis landed later in the day.

We had a good flight experience with this airline despite reading many negative comments

The crew was not helping us in the airports ..Very bad experience..the washrooms are not meeting the expectations..need more good service... The hotel service was good but there is a very long wait time which wasted time to go through..

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.

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 use of a domestic carrier without entertainment was disappointing and a let down

There where no ear phones provided and the food needs to improve.

I was a good, but long trip. The airline did a good job. I would use them again.

The food could be better, the beef was quite tough. The crew were friendly and helpful on this flight, which has not being my experience on other Ethiopian flights.

This may have been the hottest cabin temperatures I have experienced on any flight prior to take off lasting for approximately 30 minutes. I am not typically one to complain but I was genuinely worried about the health of several passengers on the flight due to the extreme temperatures including a small toddler.

I got bumped by Qantas to American Airlines incurring a 6 hr layover at lax. I was not happy

Air conditioning was out for about 15 minutes that made it uncomfortable. WiFi went out halfway into the flight. Flight was about 45 minutes late.

Delayed due to weather in Dallas (arriving flight arrived late), then boarded the plane only to deboard immediately afterwards, tire needed to be replaced. Flight supposed to depart at 6:15pm but departed at 9:35pm.

Cancelled and rebooked twice in one day with a drop in seat class. Not good at all.

Service in first class no longer exists on American Airlines .

Customer service in first class does not exist on American Airlines

First class flight attendant was rude and lacked any customer service skills.

Customer service for American Airlines first class is at an all time low.

Airplane was cold. Flight attendants were rude. Phone charger did not work. No food available.

Flight was late missed our connection to Indianapolis no hotel rooms really difficult finding a room hope to be in Indianapolis one day late and multiple flights to even get there.

Kept me waiting for hours with the excuse of aircraft needed to cool down and then cancelled.

Everything was great except that I wasn’t issued a boarding pass for the second flight so they would not let me into customs until I had said boarding pass. Luckily a gate attendant from another Air Canada flight was able to print one for me so I could go through.

First time flier on Air Canada and absolutely loved it. Everything was so clean. Friendly staff. Easy boarding.

Flight attendants had an attitude with everyone, not sure they should be working with customer service if they cannot show a pleasant attitude. Underwhelming, to say the least. The food was awful, and nothing could be purchased from Toronto to Tokyo. Do better, Air Canada.

I suppose to board the plane AC5110 to San Francisco on July 16 2026 @07:00 am and arrive San Francisco at 09:25 am. At 9:30am still in YVR I was told the plane was delayed until 11:30 am to take off. Not until 11:35am the pilot of the plane declared that due to hydraulic system problem this plane was cancelled. After waited in a long pile up for negotiating with the counter-staff, I finally got the tickets for myself and my wife Yim Mei KONG firstly to Seattle and then transferred to San Francisco on the plane AS 2014 & AS 791 with Alaska Airlines. I suppose to attend the funeral of our friend in San Francisco on July 18 and a Memorial Gathering for the Birthday of the deceased on July 16, 2026. I arrived San Francisco at 9:40 pm that day (12 hours later) and couldn't joint the Memorial Gathering. This upset me a lot. I am seeking for compensation of this failing trip. Please let me know how to and where to forward my complaint.

Terrible! Our flight was cancelled. No other nonstop flights available. Had to rent a car and drive 7 hours!

Boarding and times were all good. Food was as expected and enough. Comfort for a 6’ tall male 200 lbs (somewhat average sized) was terrible. It was just SO much more money to upgrade to premium economy. It’s a 777 so seating is 3-4-3 and is really crammed. What are you going to do? The only real downside is not being able to sleep so your first day in Europe is a write off. I suppose if you need that first day then pay the extra $500 to get premium economy and maybe you can sleep and wake up with some energy?

Well I had insisted to be put on standby because I knew there was one seat so there should have been another. There was, seat 36AC for both of us, the last row in the plane that does not recline nor does it have any room in the overhead bin because of plane necessities. The bathroom right behind so a line up with people's bums on your arm rests, etc. We were happy to get a flight earlier because of the missed connection, but we saw flight people who were sitting in customer seats and I felt we should have been seated there and they should have been put in the back. Plus the stewardesses were wearing so much perfume, I had to hold my nose because of a severe allergy to perfume.

Planes arriving on time would be better. Apparently flights are delayed almost all the time, making your connection impossible then having to rebook on another flight at another time. There is no regard for customers who need to travel somewhere at a certain time. Connection flights are not held by the same airline, even though they know the plane can get there within 30 minutes or less. Airline staff is amazing, but the excuses Air Canada gives for delays is not truthful. Some messages will say mechanical problems and the next message for the same plane will say air traffic control issues. So what is true? They don't need to refund anyone if they use these two excuses. So if travel from B.C. to Montreal with delays like this is common, I will consider not flying there anymore. When we missed our connecting flight, the next flight had one seat (4.5 hours later) and the next flight was a red eye at 10:45. Big difference from our 12:15 initial flight.

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.