Comair / BA flights earn QFF points?

[Myrna]

We are planning a trip to South Africa in September and have been looking at internal flights to Victoria Falls, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

There are South African Airways flights - but SAA is with Star Alliance. There are also BA flights, operated by Comair as a franchise for British Airways. We think that if we take BA flights then we should be able to earn Qantas frequent flyer points. Could someone please confirm this? (PS - We will be flying to JNB with Qantas).

[Dave Noble]

There is nothing in the airline earning table ( Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions ) that states that codeshares are not eligable, so you should be fine

Dave

[Myrna]

There is nothing in the airline earning table ( Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions ) that states that codeshares are not eligable, so you should be fine

Dave

Many thanks, Dave, for the reply. Hubby thought so too, and this was why he said we should use BA flights operated by Comair.

[browski]

I've flown Livingstone-JNB on Comair and have been credited the FF points. Being BA, the points are hardly worth it but the Status Credits are welcome. Please note that Victoria Falls is not a domestic flight within South Africa and is actually in Zimbabwe. These days, to see the falls you will have to fly to Livingstone which is in Zambia.

[Myrna]

I've flown Livingstone-JNB on Comair and have been credited the FF points. Being BA, the points are hardly worth it but the Status Credits are welcome. Please note that Victoria Falls is not a domestic flight within South Africa and is actually in Zimbabwe. These days, to see the falls you will have to fly to Livingstone which is in Zambia.

Thanks, browski, for the information. Yes, you are right - the points are not that much but the status credits are worthwhile to have. Hubby needs them to retain his Plat status. As for me, they are wasted because i am just a lowly bronze (and have been so for years). But, it is good that when I fly with hubby I get to go to the First Lounge!

Yes, Victoria Falls is in Zimbabwe. We have not decided to fly to Victoria Falls or Livingstone yet - depending on the political situation closer to September.

[Danger UXB]

198 qff point and 15 status credits Joberg to CPT on Comair each way
Cheers Danger UXB

[Myrna]

198 qff point and 15 status credits Joberg to CPT on Comair each way
Cheers Danger UXB

Not a lot status credits, but better than nothing - all add up to something. Compared Mel-Syd 10 status credits each way.

[sweens]

I use Comair/BA regularly in South Africa they are no better or worse than SAA except they schedule far fewer flights.

The plus is that you can use their lounges and get the FF points and SC’s.

I took the Flight to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe last year and besides the fact that the local airport is rather run down, the town of Victoria Falls is fine and relatively safe. (Very different to the rest of Zim.)

It also offers a better experience of viewing the falls compared with the Livingstone on the Zambian side.

A few of tips;
· Stay at the Vic Falls hotel.
· Prepay anything you can with a TA in South Africa including Helicopter ride over the falls, booze cruise down the Zambezi River etc.
· Take sufficient cash in USD or Rand in small denominations to spend.
· Ask to be charged in Rand or USD at the hotel on your credit card.
· Don’t touch the Zim $.

It’s a great experience.

[garyjohn951]

If you don't neeed points or sc's then use BA-Comair's "Jetstar" airline, Kulula.com which priced at a 1/3 of the BA-Comair fares.
Sometimes they are actually the SAME PLANE.

[Myrna]

I use Comair/BA regularly in South Africa they are no better or worse than SAA except they schedule far fewer flights.

The plus is that you can use their lounges and get the FF points and SC’s.

I took the Flight to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe last year and besides the fact that the local airport is rather run down, the town of Victoria Falls is fine and relatively safe. (Very different to the rest of Zim.)

It also offers a better experience of viewing the falls compared with the Livingstone on the Zambian side.

A few of tips;
· Stay at the Vic Falls hotel.
· Prepay anything you can with a TA in South Africa including Helicopter ride over the falls, booze cruise down the Zambezi River etc.
· Take sufficient cash in USD or Rand in small denominations to spend.
· Ask to be charged in Rand or USD at the hotel on your credit card.
· Don’t touch the Zim $.

It’s a great experience.

Oh, thanks, Sweens, very good tips about Victoria Falls! Appreciated that.

Friends did a quick safari in November last year stayed at the Vic Falls hotel - and said it was good. Although I have read a few reviews in Tripadvisor that this grand old hotel was a bit run down.

Very good recommendations to prepay for the tours and to take US$ - a few people have also told us this. Well, we saw a one billion Zimbabwe dollar note last weekend from friends mentioned above - along with a 150 million note and other assorted Zimbabwe notes.