Transito!: A Connection On TAAG-Angola (B743/B772) - Airliners.net
Transito!: A Connection On TAAG-Angola (B743/B772)
Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:31 pm
Original photograph sourced from TAAG Angola's page on Facebook
There was a staircase that had the sign “Transito” but also a door that was locked. Another woman soon got there as well and about ten minutes later, a representative from TAAG brought us past immigration thru different corridors and customs to the check in counter and an agent there check us in for the flight to JNB. He then went back with us to the departure lounge. The whole process was very fast; less than 10 minutes. Taag 777 LIS-LAD 17May07 With Pics (by The777Man Jun 12 2007 in Trip Reports)
TAAG - Transportadora Aérea Angolana
Think outside the box this time. Not your usual five-star dining experience at thirty thousand feet, but more an adventure that began out in pure darkness. The unknown is something I try to avoid in everyday life, yet I could not feel more drawn towards it on this occasion. I begin this journey with nothing more than what you have read so far however, sometimes very little is all you need.
But I did not know that prior to the trip. Consistent Internet reviews on the airport experience only revealed rather horrific stories of bribery, tse-tse flies, slow processing, missed flight connections, and everything else revolving around "a truly bizarre place." I certainly did not want to miss my flight in a place like this.
With my ticket in hand, it was time to fly an airline that seemed to have a rather contrasting history. From a few decked out Triple 7's to a 737 crash in 2007, a previous EU blacklist status, and one of the very few profitable airlines in Africa. Which direction do I turn to? Perhaps it's best that I stick to the thought of that ex-Swissair 747 that was about to fly on!
Deep into the night, it was rather icy, though I had no choice but to continue. It felt exciting, dangerous, and definitely far out of my comfort zone. This isn't Cathay or Etihad after all, it was Africa! With Internet reviews practically dismissing the entire journey, I had no choice but to freak the hell out!
Nevertheless, with my pre-flight Portuguese lesson accomplished, it was time to embark on this journey with nothing but 'Transito' echoing inside my head. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes it's only so much you'll need to know.
Bem-vindo ao TAAG Linhas Aereas de Angola
CONTINUED BELOW
Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:32 pm
WELCOME TO MY 26th TRIP REPORT
This TR will cover the following sectors on TAAG Angola:
A) Johannesburg - Luanda in Economy Class (B747-300 Combi)
B) Luanda - Lisbon in Business Class (B777-200ER)
B A C K G R O U N D
Following on from a previous post on Facebook as many of you may know, this trip happened the following day after my Emirates flight between DXB and JNB (a TR will follow later). However, the result of a TAAG Angola trip happened rather last minute.
The initial plan was based around a Hellenic Imperial Airways B747-200 flight from Johannesburg to Athens, where all other itineraries including Emirates, were planned to predominantly connect me to and from this flight. However, a week before my travel, I received a call from Hellenic Imperial's office in Athens informing that the flight would be cancelled on that day due to low demand.
I was proposed an option between receiving a refund, being rebooked on the next available Hellenic flight, or on another airline. Now, having a plethora of itineraries that have already been purchased, I was rather bummed to realize that this entire trip had lost its value as there was absolutely no point in aimlessly circling around the altitudes of three continents anymore. I only had a long weekend to work with, and the next Hellenic flight would be on the first day I had to be back at work. So I opted for a refund and decided to find my own way to get me from Africa to Europe.
TAAG Angola was my next choice, although Arik Air was an interesting idea as well. A call to TAAG's GSA in the UAE was quite useless as the system was down and the agent was unable to access any information on her computer. However, a visit to my travel agent was quite fruitful and I was eventually booked on TAAG Angola from Johannesburg to Lisbon with a five hour transfer at Luanda.
The most exciting part was the chance to re-experience the B747-300 between JNB and LAD and in such a case, Economy Class is the best way to travel. The connection to Lisbon was on TAAG's flagship 777, and on this sector I opted for an experience in Executiva Class, which is the airline's version of Business Class.
For those of you who are interested, Hellenic Imperial Airways is still flying an ex-Lufthansa B747-200 between ATH and JNB. So if you have some time to kill, and your plans could squeeze in the possibility of a random flight cancellation, a trip on this classic bird is a must try! The flights are also easily bookable on www.hellenicairways.com
O R I G I N
At 10:30am, I had checked out of the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo Hotel that is located within the airport boundary of JNB. Taking the airport shuttle bus, I was dropped off at Departures Terminal A of O.R. Tambo at 10:45am.
Departures Terminal A at JNB
Curbside
The interior of the departures hall looked very dull. It reminded me of an airport as old as Washington Dulles, though nowhere near as pleasant (I am a big fan of IAD). The pale yellow lighting and the rather dark check-in hall was quite depressing actually, and definitely not favorable for taking pictures.
The atmosphere was quite congested, and clearly because there were several flights departing around the same time, including Etihad, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Kenya Airways, Air France, and of course TAAG Angola. However, the World Cup spirit was clearly felt even inside the airport after hearing several deafening soundings of the Vuvuzela.
Inside Terminal A at JNB
Further inside the building, I arrived at the very dim check-in area. This hall runs throughout the length of the entire building and can be a far walk from end to end. TAAG's check-in counters were literally located towards the very end of the hall, and were not open yet. Having time to kill, I explored the area for a while.
Check-in hall at JNB
Located one level above the check-in hall is an aircraft viewing area which, while enclosed, features excellent views of the apron, taxiways, and the runways. I spent most of my time there while I waited for TAAG's counters to open.
Air Seychelles B767-200ER (S7-SEZ) while CX spies on me with jealousy
Kenya Airways B767-300ER (5Y-KQY)
Etihad A330-200 arriving from CPT
Iberia A340-600 (EC-LCZ)
Returning back to the check-in hall at 12 noon, I noticed my flight listed on the check-in FIDS screen.
Check-in FIDS screen
For today's flight, TAAG was using counters A97 and A98, both of which are located right across from the airline's ticketing desk. Arriving at the counters, I noticed that passengers had already begun checking in for the flight. I approached two agents who were standing before the counters right next to a scale, and they requested to see my ticket.
I explained to them that while I was traveling Economy Class to Luanda, I was connecting on the Lisbon flight and would be flying Business Class. To my knowledge, some airlines allow passengers to use premium facilities and services as long as at least one of their itineraries is in a premium class. My worry was that the airline may request me to check in my carry-on to Luanda, when the whole idea of not checking in any luggage was to help for an easier transit.
As expected, the agents could not grasp what I was trying to explain to them, and insisted that my carry-on was too heavy and needed to be checked in. I did not try to explain my point to them any further, and thought I would give it another try at the counter. However, my laptop bag was tagged and approved as cabin baggage.
TAAG's check-in counters at JNB
At the check-in counter, I explained my situation to the agent as she tried to locate my flight booking on her system. However, she could not find any booking under my name and requested me to go to the ticketing counter to get a printout from the agent there.
Luckily, a very rude TAAG agent at the ticketing desk located my itinerary and gave me a printout to hand to the check-in agent. When I asked if everything was alright with my booking, she simply ignored and turned her back to me to make a phone call. Back at the counter, I once again reminded the same agent of my mixed-class situation and that I needed not to check any luggage in.
"So you will stay on the plane in Luanda?"
"No I will be changing planes to another TAAG flight which is going to Lisbon"
"Oh ok. So you want to collect your bag in Luanda and then carry it on the flight to Lisbon?"
"No. I will be in transit, and will not go through immigration. I need to carry it on board from here"
She consulted with the supervisor, whom I assumed was TAAG's station manager, and after a quick discussion, he confirmed to me that it is possible for me to carry my bag on board from JNB because I was traveling in Business Class on the Lisbon flight.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course sir, I am the supervisor"
"Then just to be sure, may I have an approved carry-on luggage tag like this please?"
"Oh. Where did you get this from?"
"Your agents over there that are weighing the luggage"
"Ok. I will get one for you"
With this relieving progression, the station manager tagged my carry-on, and my boarding pass to Luanda was printed. I was asked to check with the ground staff at Luanda for my Lisbon boarding pass, as the flight hadn't yet opened for check-in.
Just look at this fascinating boarding pass
A tag from TAAG: Approved as cabin baggage!
Immigration and security were a breeze, and by 12:55pm I was airside. Similar to the landside part of the terminal, it was dull but it did offer some excellent shopping and a range of F&B outlets.
Airside at JNB
FIDS
As I had some time to kill, I continued to explore the terminal. In almost each and every corner, there was something set up for a commercial purpose. Almost the entire space was efficiently used to the point it sometimes seemed a little congested. However, a long transit at O.R. Tambo could be far from uneventful.
Ample seating area scattered throughout the terminal
F&B outlets overlooking the aircraft and the apron
I decided on a sit-down for something to eat
I settled for a grilled cheese sandwich and a Diet Coke
This future TR was the view outside of the window where I was sitting!
At 1:10pm, I spotted TAAG's 743 taxiing to the gate, and was pulling into the stand close to where I was sitting. I must admit, TAAG's livery is one of the nicest out there in my opinion. The bright orange colors, along with the logo form a design that is very 90's and is reminiscent of a time when I was growing up alongside a lot of aviation happenings that are practically classic as of today. And to complement this mood elevation, was this very livery on a B747-300 Combi!
I can't remember when the last time I flew on B743 was, but decades ago on Singapore Airlines' Mega Top between SIN and HKG comes to mind! I had always preferred a B744 to any other variant back in the day because I had always associated it as 'larger' mainly because 4 is greater than 3! However, it's commonality today makes me beg for a ride on the 743 or its predecessors!
TAAG's B747-300 Combi
At 1:50pm, I proceeded towards Gate A4 in hopes that the holding area would be open by then. However, the doors were still closed although several of us had began to congregate around the entrance.
My fellow passengers to Luanda
Another version of the FIDS
At 2pm, the agents finally opened the doors and everyone was allowed to proceed inside the holding area which seemingly, was located down a ramp one level lower. Halfway down this ramp, a small queue had formed before your typical podium that was staffed with one agent who was scanning boarding passes.
In queue at Gate A4
My boarding pass was reconciled in the system, and I was handed back my ripped stub. The friendly agent wished me a pleasant flight before I proceeded down the ramp. I then found myself inside the aerobridge one hour before departure. Looking behind me with slight confusion, there was no holding area, and in fact, we were actually boarding! Is it normal for boarding to commence one hour before departure at JNB? This is great and gives me more time inside the aircraft!
Arriving at Door 1L, a male purser was standing at the entrance welcoming everyone on board. He smiled and spoke Portuguese to me which presumably translated into the usual "hi welcome on board, your seat is right this way"
By 2:20pm I was on board TAAG Angola's B747-300 Combi.
CONTINUED BELOW
KDT578 01JUN30JUN 0234507 26374D JNBJNB1525 1755LADLAD J
GI BRGDS
Actual Departure Time: 15:25 (Pushback)
Actual Arrival Time: 17:30 (Touchdown)
Registration: D2-TEB
Condition: 22.6 years old, delivered to TAAG in 1999, and previously owned by Swissair as HB-IGG
Remarks: NIL
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TAAG Angola!
As expected, the aircraft interior was definitely shabby. The cabin was also slightly dirty, with the carpeting in a dire need of some vacuuming. Who cares though, I wasn't on board this bird for an audit of cleanliness standards. I was hoping for this aircraft to have the classic 747 window designs however, that was not the case. Though the overhead bins were purely 747-style, and so were the overhead screens which were the classic projector-type. This aircraft seemed like it was almost untouched since Swissair.
The cabin
After snapping some pictures of the seat and the cabin, a female cabin crew (the same one that has short hair that is standing on the left of the introduction picture at the beginning of this TR) quickly approached me as I was walking towards my seat. I could hear her slightly elevated tone saying something in Portuguese with a few "Hey, Hey!" in between. Oh no, here we go again, I knew what this was going to be all about.
She approached my seat, and was frowning ever so angrily; she was pissed and I was scared! Her sharp features can really elaborate on her anger and it was clearly vibrating across towards me. She uttered a few struggling English words in the midst of all the Portuguese and ever so firmly mentioned that photography is strictly prohibited. I smiled and apologized, and even after this she shot me with one more vibrating frown before proceeding down the aisle to assist a fellow passenger who had boarded.
Carrying on, I settled into my seat which was quite comfortable, though the padding was definitely used and abused time and time again. The legroom however was excellent! Naturally, the seat was plain and pure and featured no IFE screen, nor its associated IFE box that would otherwise eat away at your personal space.
The seat
The seatbelt sign was on! This one just wasn't working
Old-school wing
Footprints on the wing. Is it allowed to step on this part of the wing?
We had so much time before our scheduled departure and as such, the boarding process could not have been more leisurely. Passengers trickled into the cabin in bits and pieces that it seemed our flight load was going to be light. However, only as we neared our departure time did I realize that the flight was rather full.
Casual boarding
As I was silently observing these casual goings-on, the angry cabin crew, in a calmer state by then, was strolling down the aisle waiting for the next trickle of boarding passengers. I thought to break the ice a little and ask her some questions about the transit in Luanda.
"Excuse me, I have a question"
"Sim"
"I am connecting on a flight to Lisbon after this, will I need to go through immigration to check-in for the flight"
"Lisboa?"
"Emm .. sim, you go to check-in counter for boarding pass"
"Even when I am transit?"
"Transito?"
"No not TAP, on TAAG"
"Ah sim .. ten o'clock your flight"
"Thank you"
More passengers boarded
At 3:10pm, our captain made an announcement to welcome us on board, and to inform us that we were almost ready for our departure to Luanda. He also informed us of our routing for today's flight, and that our flight time to Luanda was to be 3 hours. At 3:15pm, the doors were closed.
A manual safety demonstration was conducted afterwards, and it was quite the sight. The crew was standing on each side of the cabin, by Doors 1L and 1R where they were performing the demonstration to the sequence of the announcement. However, the passengers seated in the middle rows had no view of the safety demonstration because the staircase and the overhead screens were obstructing their view.
We pushed back at 3:25pm as the engines on this aircraft spooled back into an ageing life.
While we taxied to the runway
At 3:35pm, the muffled squeal of this 747 was in full swing as we thundered down the runway for a powerful takeoff into the African skies and towards Luanda. Eventually reaching cruising altitude, the seatbelt sign was switched off and the crew released for service preparations.
Cabin shots at cruising altitude
Filthy safety card
On-board literature and IFE guide
The crew did take their time in preparing the meal service however, the trolley eventually appeared in the aisle and was manned by two crew, Claudio and the angry lady.
Meal service
On offer were a beverage selection from the bar, and a choice between chicken or fish. I opted for the chicken and a cup of water. The meal consisted of your basic salad, bread, Kiri cheese spread, butter, and crackers. The main course consisted of chicken with a creamy sauce and accompanied with potatoes, carrots and green beans, and a basic mousse type of cake was offered for dessert.
Meal tray
After taking the picture above, Claudio approached me.
"Why are you taking pictures?"
"Sorry, is it not allowed?"
"I don't know, I will have to check with my supervisor"
"No it's ok, I'll stop"
Since the angry lady was on the other side of the trolley, I could feel her firing away at me with those angry looks. I did not dare look back at her, though I did continue taking pictures.
Main course
Salad
Dessert
Overall, the meal was awful. The salad had too many onions and the main course was absolutely tasteless. The chicken was too tangy and the sauce far too creamy. Also, the potatoes and the rest of the vegetables were undercooked. The dessert however wasn't too bad, but rather generic.
During the meal service, the crew walked around the aisle with cases of juice to offer seconds to the passengers. I thought this was a rather unique touch that I had not seen before. This was followed by the standard coffee/tea service which was conducted by the angry lady.
Nasty coffee!
Just for laughs was played on the screen after the meal service
I spent the remainder of the flight holding a conversation with a fellow passenger who was seated next to me. He was a South African who was living and working in Luanda. When asking him about how dangerous (or not) Luanda and the airport are, he stated that in simplest terms, Johannesburg was far more dangerous as a city. He also mentioned that the transit process should be relatively easy as the terminal building is very small.
At 4:55pm Angola local time, our captain made an announcement to inform us that Argentina had beat Mexico 3-1 at Soccer City in Johannesburg, and that while he was supporting England, he was sad that they had been out of the World Cup earlier that day. He then proceeded to inform us that we were to begin initial descent within ten minutes and were expected to arrive Luanda earlier than scheduled.
Cabin s hot before descent
At 5:05pm, the seatbelt sign was switched on and the crew began preparations for arrival. At 5:30pm, we had touched down at Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport, bringing my B743 experience to an end.
We docked at the stand right next to a company 777, which was soon to be my ride to Lisbon a few hours later. Thanking the purser at the door for the crew's efforts during the flight, I proceeded down the steps and into the bus that took us to the main terminal building.
It was now time for the anxiously awaited for transit at Luanda.
CONTINUED BELOW
"But the sign said transit passengers here"
"I said not here. Just go!"
I went back to the entrance where the bus had dropped us off, and I found a TAAG-uniformed agent standing outside of the building alongside two officers. She noticed I was waiting for her, and then came inside the building.
"Transito .. to Lisbon"
"Yes yes.. Please come. I take you"
"Thank you"
I followed her into a 'Staff Only' corridor that bypassed immigration and ended right at the customs area. She spoke to the customs agent in Portuguese and I was even allowed to skip the security screening machine to get to the baggage claim area.
"You have bag?"
"No. This is all I have"
"Ah finish?"
"Yes. Finish"
"Please come"
Inside the very small check-in hall, we arrived at the counters and the agent had a word with the officer and informed him that I was in transit from Johannesburg to Lisbon.
"Transito?"
"Yes transito. To Lisboa"
I thanked the very helpful agent for her support, and she then handed me over to the check-in staff before returning back to her routine duty. At the counter, my usual documents were handed to the agent who began processing my way through the Lisbon flight.
"Window? Aisle?"
"Is the flight full tonight?"
"Sorry?"
"Heheh sorry I do not understand"
"It's ok then"
"Ahhh sim I know … no Business Class not too much"
Again, the very nice agent was very helpful and very quick. In no time my boarding pass to Lisbon was printed and handed to me along with my passport, ticket, and lounge invitation. By 6pm I was ready to proceed further.
Boarding pass to Lisbon
Very nice lounge card!
Backside of the lounge card
After passing through security, the officer asked me if I was carrying any Kwanza on me since it is strictly illegal to export the local currency. After declining, I was allowed to proceed through immigration.
I handed the immigration officer my passport, and he asked to see my visa.
"Hello my friend. Where is your visa?"
"Transito! I came from Johannesburg"
"Oh Transito! Where are you going?"
"Lisbon"
"Come my friend, I take you to customs"
"Thank you"
I was taken inside a small office where a customs agent was sitting behind a desk.
"Lisbon?"
"Oh ok. From where did you come?"
"Johannesburg"
"Are you carrying any Kwanza with you?"
"No"
"Any US Dollars or Euro?"
"Yes .. Dollars"
"How much?"
By 6:15, I was airside, and that was it. As simple as that! Absolutely nothing that was mentioned on Skytrax was valid. The process was rather eccentric to say the least, but to say that it was difficult is definitely not the case. The staff was friendly, extremely helpful, and the overall experience in this airport offered far more than many other airports that I have traveled through. As long as the rules are followed, and you are aware of the word 'Transito', you will have absolutely no problem whatsoever.
The airport is very small, but it was far from old and shabby. It seemed like it was newly constructed, or at least renovated. The small airside area was located one level above the departures hall, and featured nothing apart from a tiny seating area, a smoking room, and TAAG's Welwitchia Premium lounge. Free wireless internet is available throughout the airport, which was a great bonus, and one small café was located next to the departure gates which offered food and drinks.
Airside at LAD
Smoking room
Apron view
At the time I was there, an Emirates A330 was getting ready for its flight back to Dubai, a Brussels Airlines flight had just arrived from Brussels, a TAP Portugal flight was expected to arrive within the hour, and finally, my TAAG Flight to Lisbon was to depart in a few hours time. So simple and humble! I was really liking this place!
I proceeded inside the lounge at 6:45pm, where I was to spend the remainder of my transit. Another friendly TAAG agent took my lounge card and welcomed me inside. The lounge featured a simple and reasonably modern design, and offered ample comfortable seating.
Food and beverage included sandwiches, soup, cookies, and peanuts, in addition to an open fridge with non-alcoholic beverages. Alcohol was also available at the bar which was located next to the entrance of the lounge. Overall, it was a comfortable area and although the food options were mediocre, it was far more than what I had expected.
TAAG's Welwitchia Lounge
I had some cookies
And a Bloody Mary later on
By 9pm, there was nothing left that I could do in the lounge, so I proceeded towards Gate 3 which was right around the corner. A small queue had already formed at the entrance to the gate, where an officer wearing a yellow vest that had 'CDG' written on it, was checking passenger documents.
At 9:05pm I was inside the holding area, and boarding began only several moments afterwards. Joining the crowd, I proceeded one level down and was inside the bus that was to take us to the aircraft.
Ten minutes later, we had arrived at Door 4L of the Triple 7, where Economy Class passengers were to board from. There was another set of steps attached to Door 2L however, and Business Class passengers were allowed to walk to it and board from there.
Arriving at Door 2L, I was greeted by the female purser on tonight's flight.
"Welcome"
By 9:20pm I was on board.
CONTINUED BELOW
KDT650 01JUN30JUN 1234567 255772 LADLAD2200 05101LISLIS J
GI BRGDS
Actual Departure Time: 22:05 (Taxi from stand)
Actual Arrival Time: 04:55 +1 (Touchdown)
Registration: D2-TED
Condition: 3.8 years old, delivered to TAAG Angola in September 2006
Remarks: NIL
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On board TAAG's 772
Think Emirates A380, BA London City Premium Service, or SQ's Newark flight, this is TAAG's version of a flagship route. In TAAG's world, this is the perfect flight offering the full-on service to its full potential. The crew were friendly, looking fresh, and the cabin was spotless. The ambience however, was slightly dimmed and the seat coloring was far too dark for my taste.
Cabin
Arriving at my seat, I discovered that it was the bulkhead located right after Door 2L. I had not bothered to check before, but I was a little disappointed as it was far too close to the galley and the crew. However if the flight wasn't going to be full in Business Class, I didn't think there would be any issue with switching seats later.
The seat was quite comfortable, and even more so than those on other reputable airlines to be honest. TAAG's Business Class product on this aircraft also offers lie-flat seats and personal IFE screens (though the screens are TINY). Legroom was typical J class, and each seat had a wrapped blue blanket placed on top of the seatbelts. Other amenities also include the usual power and USB ports etc. Basically, the hardware is quite competitive and nothing sub-standard to the usual offering.
The seat
Small IFE screen
Blanket
Welcome drinks were offered right after the first group of passengers had boarded. This included a first tray service that offered Champagne, and was shortly followed by a second service that offered a selection of orange juice and water.
Naturally, I was celebrating with a glass of champagne
As one of the crew passed by my seat, I requested to change to another window seat if it was possible.
"Excuse me, if the flight is not full, I would like to change to another seat please"
"Please wait. After takeoff ya? I tell you"
"Thank you"
Doors were closed at 10pm, and moments later the same crew returned.
"Ok. You change now. But quickly please ya?"
"Thank you!"
The view from the last row in the cabin
Leg space
Amenity kits were distributed
Tonight's purser on the flight made an announcement to welcome us on board and to inform us that the flight time tonight was approximately 7 hours. The safety video was then played on the IFE screens while the engines powered on as the aircraft was still idle on the stand.
At 10:05pm, we taxied away from the stand for a quick hop to the runway. At 10:10pm, we thundered down the runway and began our 7 hour journey to Lisboa. After reaching cruising altitude, the seatbelt sign was switched off and the crew was released to prepare for the in-flight service.
Service commenced with the distribution of headsets
Followed by hot towels
Views of the cabin during service preparations
Table linens placed on my table
The meal service was conducted from a trolley and on offer was a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and a choice of meal. Menus are not offered on TAAG.
Meal service
"I have beef, chicken, or fish. What you like to have?"
"Chicken please"
"No I have Fanta, Coke, and soft drink"
"Vodka & Tomato Juice please"
"Sure"
My tray and drink were placed on my table with a genuine smile, and a "Please enjoy" with that too. My tray consisted of a starter, main course, butter, crackers, bread, and plastic cutlery. The starter was some type of beef which looked a little similar to Carpaccio and was accompanied with melon. The main course consisted of fried chicken with a type of sauce, and came with pasta and green beans. No effort was made to remove the plastic/foil covering from the plates, which has its positives and negatives I suppose. Freshness is preserved, while the look is not.
Meal tray
Main course
Introducing the ronerone-made TAAG Angola Bloody Mary!
I did not touch the starter, as I am not a fan of Carpaccio, nor anything related to it. The melon that accompanied it was soggy and far from fresh. The main course wasn't any better either. The pasta was drenched in butter and the chicken and vegetables were cooked in a jelly-like sauce/broth which seemed that the whole meal was overcooked. The meal was quite tasteless! The Bloody Mary however, was excellent, and that is mainly because the tomato juice was very tasty. It was the same brand that was offered in the lounge, and the result of 4 Bloody Mary's that turned my lounge experience into an enjoyable buzz.
The crew returned with the trolley to collect my tray once I was through, and to also offer dessert.
"Finished? May I?"
"What do you want? I have cheese, fruit, or cake"
"Cake please"
"I'll have a glass of water please"
"Water only? I have Bailey's you don't like?"
"I had too much Vodka. But thank you"
"No problem. Here you go"
"Thank you"
"Bye bye"
Once again, the dessert plate was covered with plastic, and consisted of a Black Forest cake with strawberry cream and sauce on the side. Wow, Black Forest cake is so retro, I can't remember when the last time I had it was, but I did enjoy it though. I think TAAG's desserts are their strongest point in the culinary experience.
Dessert
"You want me get anything more?"
"No thank you. I will sleep now"
"Ah yes. But please, you close window after ya?"
"Yes"
After the meal service, passengers got into their zones of either sleeping, lounging, or watching IFE. The cabin lights were dimmed shortly afterwards, and the overall mood was calm for most of the flight.
Cabin shots after the meal service
I was feeling quite sleepy and in view of the long itinerary ahead that was to transport me back to Dubai, it was best that I caught a few hours of sleep. But prior to that, I powered on the IFE for a quick inspection.
Also known as Palanca, TAAG's IFE offering is quite decent. It offers an AVOD selection of Movies, TV programs, Radio, and Games. A range of relatively recent movies were showing including the likes of Avatar and what not. As always, IFE does is not my favorite aspect of the flight, though I can definitely say that TAAG offers a lot more than Jet Airways and Royal Jordanian in that area, albeit a very small IFE screen.
Palanca
IFE controller
I settled for the Route Map
I then turned my seat into its lie-flat position before dozing off for most of the remaining flight time. In its slightly angled lie-flat position, I found TAAG's bed to be quite comfortable. My feet were not touching the seat in front of me, and I was able to move about and find a comfortable position.
In bed with TAAG
Right before I fell asleep, I noticed the crew operating the Business Class cabin, appear from Economy Class and following them were several groups of passengers that were seated in the back of the bus. These passengers were allowed to sit in Business Class for the remainder of the flight. In the end, as we neared Lisboa, the Business Class load factor was 100%!
After closing my eyes, I was suddenly awoken to the movement of one young girl attempting to cross over my legs and hop into the empty window seat next to me that was already stacked with some of my things.
"Me and my partner want to sit together, and we like two seats"
"Okay? And?"
"You move somewhere else?"
"Didn't you pay for Economy Class?"
Before she responded, a crew had already appeared to take her aside and have a word with her in Portuguese. I was a revenue passenger in Business Class and I was getting what I wanted. Rightfully so, the teenage girl flocked away from my seat afterwards and I was able to fall asleep.
I woke up approximately one hour before landing, to find that the breakfast trolley was already in my area of the aisle. The crew pulled out a tray, and placed it on my table and offered drinks from the bar.
"Good morning. Sleep good?"
"What you like to drink?"
"Orange juice and coffee please"
Breakfast was a one-tray service which included a cheese sandwich, a deli meat sandwich, and a cup cake, all of which were horrible. The bread was stale and very dry, and without any spread it was hard to swallow. I left the meaty sandwich to the side and ate the cheese sandwich and the cupcake.
Breakfast
Cabin during the meal service
My tray was collected as soon as the seatbelt sign was switched on. At 4:30am Portugal local time, the captain made an announcement to inform us that we had begun our initial descent towards Lisboa and that we were expected to land within 30 minutes.
Cabin at top of descent
The crew readied the cabin and eventually took their seats during final approach.
D E S T I N A T I O N
At 4:55am, we touched down at Lisbon Portela Airport and hence, bringing my TAAG Angola experience to an end. After a quick taxi, we docked at a remote stand and deplaned through mobile steps. I thanked the crew for their great efforts and proceeded inside Lisbon for my transit to London.
My British Airways flight departed from Terminal 2, which was the newer side of the airport. I found both Terminals 1 and 2 to be more of a dump. While Terminal 2 looked new, it offered very little entertainment and shopping, and the terminal map was completely misleading. Internet stations and smoking rooms were clearly marked on the maps however they were nonexistent.
Considering that the airport has a rather active marketing department, I quite expected a lot more than what was really on offer. Nevertheless, I made my connection on British Airways and that was the most important thing.
C O N C L U S I O N
While the overall service on TAAG is quite weak in comparison with the other usual airlines, this was definitely not the purpose of the report.
This trip was based on the journey itself, which I found to be quite easy and very pleasant. I had expected the utmost worst for my transit in Luanda, only to find that it was easier than many other airports. I would not take any of those comments on Skytrax seriously anymore, because the reality of it was nothing like that. TAAG, in addition to Luanda's airport staff really tried their best, and I appreciated every bit of it.
Anyone can do this, only never forget the word 'Transito' !
The following is an extensive show of all the TAAG souvenirs I gained after this trip:
TAAG Glass
Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:36 pm
Hi Roni,
fantastic routing and choice of airline. Hellinic Imperial would' ve been nice also, but this surely beats I think. Was that Hellenic flight cancelled because the B742 was operating charters from Western Europe to South Africa with supporters for the World Cup?
About TAAG, you mention the meal on JNB-LAD tastes bad, but it looks good in my opinion. The business class meal is definitely not at level compared to other airlines. And, that 'upgrading' passengers during flight is definitely not something I like, and even more, it's officially not allowed since they all change compartment during the flight, and influence the weight and balance during the flight. We all might hope that the flightcrew also knew about this. But, probably not. It's TAAG after all.
Looking forward to your onward journey.
Regards
Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:39 pm
Hi Roni,
Thank you very much for bringing in this report. I have been waiting for it and really curious about your TAAG experience.
You really did a great job on covering the whole flying experience all the way from JNB. I appreciate your efforts to carry on despite your unpleasant encounter with the angry stewardess and really, I admire you on that. I will be following your example of this no matter what.
my Emirates flight between DXB and JNB (a TR will follow later).
I suppose you were flying A380?  
 
However, my laptop bag was tagged and approved as cabin baggage.
You must have been relieved by that.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course sir, I am the supervisor"
"Then just to be sure, may I have an approved carry-on luggage tag like this please?"
"Oh. Where did you get this from?"
"Your agents over there that are weighing the luggage"
"Ok. I will get one for you"
Good move. You would never know what could have happened if you did not do that.
During the meal service, the crew walked around the aisle with cases of juice to offer seconds to the passengers. I thought this was a rather unique touch that I had not seen before.
It reminds me to PIA somehow, though the attendants walked around carrying soft drinks.
And a Bloody Mary later on
Do you know that I have missed it on some of your earlier reports?
Introducing the ronerone-made TAAG Angola Bloody Mary!
It looks pretty spicy!
"You move somewhere else?"
"Didn't you pay for Economy Class?"
Before she responded, a crew had already appeared to take her aside and have a word with her in Portuguese. I was a revenue passenger in Business Class and I was getting what I wanted. Rightfully so, the teenage girl flocked away from my seat afterwards and I was able to fall asleep.
Well, the teenage girl really got the nerve. Luckily, TAAG still recognizes how to treat their premium passengers, although such experience should have been avoided.
Breakfast was a one-tray service which included a cheese sandwich, a deli meat sandwich, and a cup cake, all of which were horrible.
Really sad!
Roni, you are getting me more and more in the mood of my own traveling tomorrow. Your report is really encouraging. Just what I need this time. Thank you so much.
By the way, I look forward to your EK trip report.  
Cheers,
Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:33 pm
Hi Roni,
excellent report with many great pictures - you never cease to amaze me with your choice of airlines and the way you present your experiences.
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 1 ):
The initial plan was based around a Hellenic Imperial Airways B747-200 flight from Johannesburg to Athens, where all other itineraries including Emirates, were planned to predominantly connect me to and from this flight. However, a week before my travel, I received a call from Hellenic Imperial's office in Athens informing that the flight would be cancelled on that day due to low demand.
Oh no, I'm sure that would have been a very interesting flight.
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 2 ):
She approached my seat, and was frowning ever so angrily; she was pissed and I was scared! Her sharp features can really elaborate on her anger and it was clearly vibrating across towards me. She uttered a few struggling English words in the midst of all the Portuguese and ever so firmly mentioned that photography is strictly prohibited. I smiled and apologized, and even after this she shot me with one more vibrating frown before proceeding down the aisle to assist a fellow passenger who had boarded.
Simply ridiculous...
After taking the picture above, Claudio approached me.
"Why are you taking pictures?"
"Sorry, is it not allowed?"
"I don't know, I will have to check with my supervisor"
"No it's ok, I'll stop"
Since the angry lady was on the other side of the trolley, I could feel her firing away at me with those angry looks. I did not dare look back at her, though I did continue taking pictures.
Supervisor? Unbelievable. At least you were able to continue.
Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:03 pm
Hello Roni, an excellent report with some stunning picture taking! As usual, of course  
TAAG is an airline that haven't been covered much here on the forum, but it's nice to finally see a detailed insight of what this airline has to offer.
The first part of the report, featuring the ex Swissair B743 was the most exciting one in my opinion. The interior did indeed look very old-school, and to me it looked like they had kept the original seats from Swissair. At least by judging the seat covers, which to me look very similar to what you would find on some of the older A332's (ex SR) in LX fleet. I could be wrong though...
The food on the first flight looked pretty nice to me, at least the quantity seemed generous for the duration of the flight.
Your transit, or should I say "Transito" in LAD seemed like a bit of a hassle, but it was at least nice that the staff (that btw to me seemed a bit unprofessional) managed to sort it out well. The Lounge however looked great, by far muc better than one would expect from an African carrier. One question though: Did they have "Fayrouz" in the Lounge fridge? 
TAAG's J class product looked pretty nice to me, IIRC those seats are from EADS Sogerma, a pretty common model found on many other airlines such as TK, IB, SAA(?) etc. The seat colours weren't that nice in my opinion too.
The food however looked pretty bad, especially the overall presentation. But the main course looked just like an Y class dish served on some nicer china. The breakfast looked pretty horrible as well, very Y class'ish.
The crew on the other hand didn't seem very professional on both flights, and them upgrading all those Y pax to J was very bad. I would personally been furious, since you've payed a lot of money for this, and they get this all for free. And it even looked like they were served the J breakfast? Also that teenage girl was very rude, asking you to move like that. She should at least have been happy for the up grade...
Thanks for sharing!
Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:20 pm
Hi Roni,
What a great report and on an airline we see very few reports about and on which few of us will ever fly or want to fly.
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
The most exciting part was the chance to re-experience the B747-300 between JNB and LAD
- A good reason to fly for sure, reminds me of my one and only 743 flight, QF in 2007.
The connection to Lisbon was on TAAG's flagship 777, and on this sector I opted for an experience in Executiva Class, which is the airline's version of Business Class.
- Looking forward to seeing that.
At 10:30am, I had checked out of the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo Hotel that is located within the airport boundary of JNB.
- Any good? - I'm going to be in JNB in Nov or Dec, need a place to stay.
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
She consulted with the supervisor, whom I assumed was TAAG's station manager, and after a quick discussion, he confirmed to me that it is possible for me to carry my bag on board from JNB because I was traveling in Business Class on the Lisbon flight.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course sir, I am the supervisor"
"Then just to be sure, may I have an approved carry-on luggage tag like this please?"
"Oh. Where did you get this from?"
"Your agents over there that are weighing the luggage"
"Ok. I will get one for you"
- Hmm, seems a difficult conversation!
This future TR was the view outside of the window where I was sitting!
- Nice, looking forward to that one.
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
I had always preferred a B744 to any other variant back in the day because I had always associated it as 'larger' mainly because 4 is greater than 3! However, it's commonality today makes me beg for a ride on the 743 or its predecessors!
- Agreed. I've been filling in my flights on Flightmemory.com, looking back it seems I always tried to get on new equipment, nowdays, getting on a rare or older machine is a real pleasure.
Overall, the meal was awful. The salad had too many onions
- Indeed, never seen so many onions on an airline salad!
Free wireless internet is available throughout the airport, which was a great bonus
- Not something I expected here.
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
The lounge featured a simple and reasonably modern design, and offered ample comfortable seating.
Food and beverage included sandwiches, soup, cookies, and peanuts, in addition to an open fridge with non-alcoholic beverages. Alcohol was also available at the bar which was located next to the entrance of the lounge. Overall, it was a comfortable area and although the food options were mediocre, it was far more than what I had expected.
- Indeed the lounge looks pretty decent, much better than I would have envisaged.
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
I did not touch the starter, as I am not a fan of Carpaccio, nor anything related to it. The melon that accompanied it was soggy and far from fresh. The main course wasn't any better either. The pasta was drenched in butter and the chicken and vegetables were cooked in a jelly-like sauce/broth which seemed that the whole meal was overcooked. The meal was quite tasteless!
- The meal looks more like something you would get in economy across the atlantic, ok perhaps a bit bigger that that, but i'm sure your get my point.
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
Right before I fell asleep, I noticed the crew operating the Business Class cabin, appear from Economy Class and following them were several groups of passengers that were seated in the back of the bus. These passengers were allowed to sit in Business Class for the remainder of the flight. In the end, as we neared Lisboa, the Business Class load factor was 100%!
- What, the FA's allowed this? - very poor!
#14
Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:54 pm
Amazing report, ronerone! I've long been fascinated with TAAG Angla Airlines. You are courageous to fly on TAAG's 747-300... not sure I could to it. Interestingly enough, I'm supposed to fly LIS-LAD-WDH on TAAG in a few weeks but we'll see if that ends up happening for a variety of reasons. Interesting that you were actually in Angola and had to go through the immigration counters in LAD despite the fact you were changing planes! I suppose that if you really wanted to you could just walk outside the airport and be your way?
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
Right before I fell asleep, I noticed the crew operating the Business Class cabin, appear from Economy Class and following them were several groups of passengers that were seated in the back of the bus. These passengers were allowed to sit in Business Class for the remainder of the flight. In the end, as we neared Lisboa, the Business Class load factor was 100%!
Nice... I hope they at least payed for their upgrades... although I would bet that if they did pay anything it would just go to the purser or someone and not the airline itself.
Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:25 pm
First and as always, GREAT TR, great pictures, great airline...
The initial plan was based around a Hellenic Imperial Airways B747-200 flight from Johannesburg to Athens
Well, it's a shame, read carefully the last press-release
"Due to essential flight operations rescheduling, please be informed that we are temporarily suspending
operations of our direct flights between Athens and Johannesburg with immediate effect.
The resumption of our flight schedules, including periods and timings is currently being reassessed and
will be communicated to all concerned, end of August 2010.
I think, this route will be axed after 2flights like all other routes; e.g. Birmingham, Jeddah etc.!
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 1 ):
TAAG Angola was my next choice, although Arik Air was an interesting idea as well
Come on! This is not true, is it? How boring... My first choice would have been Bellview Airlines via Lagos (but I think the route is temporarily suspended) or Afriqiyah via Tripolis. Unfortunately the best flight with B727-100 and B767/L1011 onboard of Hewa Bora Airways is gone- very, very sad!
Great trip report ronerone! Its great to see TAAG still has the B743 flying.
Thanks seemyseems! Glad you enjoyed it.
This TAAG thing happened so quickly that i did not even know i was on an ex-SR bird till i began writing this TR a few days ago!
Was that Hellenic flight cancelled because the B742 was operating charters from Western Europe to South Africa with supporters for the World Cup?
Hi Eric!  
I was told that only two people (myself included) were booked on the flight that day. Imagine that! TWO people booked on an entire 742, on a JNB flight right in the middle of all the World Cup happenings! .. Do they even have route planners?
it's officially not allowed since they all change compartment during the flight, and influence the weight and balance during the flight. We all might hope that the flightcrew also knew about this. But, probably not. It's TAAG after all.
Probably the flight crew were the board members of this 'business'  
Thank you very much for bringing in this report. I have been waiting for it and really curious about your TAAG experience.
Thanks Suryo  
Quoting akhmad ( Reply 7 ):
You really did a great job on covering the whole flying experience all the way from JNB. I appreciate your efforts to carry on despite your unpleasant encounter with the angry stewardess and really, I admire you on that. I will be following your example of this no matter what.
Thanks! In a one-off experience like this, it was difficult not to stop! Even if picture quality was at stake.
I suppose you were flying A380?
I was on the B77W.
Do you know that I have missed it on some of your earlier reports?
Haha .. so have i!
Roni, you are getting me more and more in the mood of my own traveling tomorrow.
Have a great time! and we are looking forward to lots of TRs on your trip!  
excellent report with many great pictures - you never cease to amaze me with your choice of airlines and the way you present your experiences.
Glad you enjoyed PH!
Oh no, I'm sure that would have been a very interesting flight.
I was really looking forward to it!
Supervisor? Unbelievable. At least you were able to continue.
With extreme caution yes. It was more or less a game of hide and seek.
Quoting WhereToNext ( Reply 9 ):
Was a departure "fee" requested after this question?
Skytrax reviews all mentioned similar situations where additional 'favors' or 'fees' were requested, and i was fully prepared for it. Though it never happened!
However, apparently it seems that they do question certain amounts of Euros or Dollars!
Amazing trip report! TAAG has always been a mysterious airline, so thank you for shedding some light on their operations!
Welcome to a.net WhereToNext!
Quoting WhereToNext ( Reply 9 ):
I'm surprised your experience at LAD was seemingly positive. All I've heard about LAD is that it is a nightmare for passengers.
I was quite surprised myself! Within only an hour, i had turned around between flights and was in the lounge waiting for my connecting flight! I think that is quite standard at any airport.
At first Swissair 747s had 9 seats accross compared to 10 on other carriers. I think later they added 1 more like the others. But that was one of the plusses of flying SR.
Hi lychemsa,
Really? I did not know that before. It would be interesting to see a picture.
I have only been on SR's MD-11 (ZRH-ATL) and their A310 (ZRH-AUH-DXB).
Hello Roni, an excellent report with some stunning picture taking! As usual, of course
Thanks for stopping by Younis!
Quoting LH4116 ( Reply 11 ):
and to me it looked like they had kept the original seats from Swissair. At least by judging the seat covers, which to me look very similar to what you would find on some of the older A332's (ex SR) in LX fleet. I could be wrong though...
Very interesting indeed! I will have to lookup some cabin shots in the database to compare.
The food on the first flight looked pretty nice to me, at least the quantity seemed generous for the duration of the flight.
From a quanity perpective, it was great. But the taste was ... odd.
Did they have "Fayrouz" in the Lounge fridge?
Hey how do you know about Fayrouz? Do they also have it in Sweden?  
But no, it definitely was'nt Fayrouz otherwise i would have noticed it. Though, they did have 'Oasis' water which is a Dubai company.
The breakfast looked pretty horrible as well, very Y class'ish.
Well, it didn't even look LCC'ish! Countless BOB options on other airlines looked better!  
What a great report and on an airline we see very few reports about and on which few of us will ever fly or want to fly.
Thanks for stopping by Mark  
Quoting BA319-131 ( Reply 12 ):
Any good? - I'm going to be in JNB in Nov or Dec, need a place to stay.
It does the trick if you plan to overnight near the airport before catching a flight the next day. It was cheaper than the Intercontinental (also located in the airport boundary).
Quoting BA319-131 ( Reply 12 ):
I've been filling in my flights on Flightmemory.com
Which reminds me, i have to do this too. I have stopped fillinf in my flightmemory page for a couple of years now and i have lots to catch up on!
Were you transiting in LHR? - give me a shout next time for a beer, the last one in NYC was nearly 2 years ago! -
Yes i was. Was lingering around T3 waiting for my RJ flight  
Will definitely let you know when im next in your area!
Quoting BA319-131 ( Reply 12 ):
BTW - we are there again from mid September.
It looks like i may be there in September (around the 10th or so) as well. Will let you know for sure!
Nic gives a virtual hug.
Best wishes to Nic!  
Amazing report, ronerone! I've long been fascinated with TAAG Angla Airlines. You are courageous to fly on TAAG's 747-300... not sure I could to it
Thanks MHTripple7! You should go for it yourself!
Quoting MHTripple7 ( Reply 13 ):
Interesting that you were actually in Angola and had to go through the immigration counters in LAD despite the fact you were changing planes! I suppose that if you really wanted to you could just walk outside the airport and be your way?
The airline and the airport along with all the staff are barely 'built' for connecting passengers. My passport was even stamped on my way 'out' of Angola.
Quoting MHTripple7 ( Reply 13 ):
Nice... I hope they at least payed for their upgrades... although I would bet that if they did pay anything it would just go to the purser or someone and not the airline itself.
You make a very interesting point. The crew were quite focused on ensuring these Economy Class passengers were seated wherever they wished in J class! Perhaps money was indeed involved.
Sounds like the service though lacks, especially the food service, but we have to remember that this country has endured so many years of covil war. Again thanks for such a great report!
Hi globalflyer,
I think overall, TAAG was okay. Given those many years of civil war, their airline has emerged and prospered better than many others who probably wouldnt have.
Quoting EICVD ( Reply 15 ):
Hi Roni
As always an excellent trip report from you. Always nice to read reports about airlines not well covered in the trip report forum. Thanks for posting.
Thanks EICVD! Glad you enjoyed.
First and as always, GREAT TR, great pictures, great airline...
Thanks debonair!
Well, it's a shame, read carefully the last press-release
"Due to essential flight operations rescheduling, please be informed that we are temporarily suspending
operations of our direct flights between Athens and Johannesburg with immediate effect.
The resumption of our flight schedules, including periods and timings is currently being reassessed and
will be communicated to all concerned, end of August 2010.
I think, this route will be axed after 2flights like all other routes; e.g. Birmingham, Jeddah etc.!
Wow .. so soon after they announced frequency reduction only a month or so ago!
Too bad indeed! However, that is so Hellenic!
Quoting debonair ( Reply 16 ):
Come on! This is not true, is it? How boring... My first choice would have been Bellview Airlines via Lagos (but I think the route is temporarily suspended) or Afriqiyah via Tripolis. Unfortunately the best flight with B727-100 and B767/L1011 onboard of Hewa Bora Airways is gone- very, very sad!
LOL. Don't tempt me, all i need is an excuse!  
Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:25 am
Fantastic report, Roni!
Fantastic picutes as well. Thanks also for the link to my report! Seems you had a similiar expericne to mine although I flew in Y all the way and in the other direction. I was supposed to have a 743 LAD-JNB but ended up on the same 777 as LIS-LAD. We both flew on D2-TED......The airport seems to have gotten a huge upgade since I flew about three years ago or probably a new terminal, The lounge in LAD looks very nice. Food actually looks pretty good but I guess I'm less picky than you. Seat looks great on the 777 but food seems more economy class than business. Appetizer looks like prosciutto to me.......which I LOVE.
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 18 ):
Which reminds me, i have to do this too. I have stopped fillinf in my flightmemory page for a couple of years now and i have lots to catch up on!
Flightmemory only lets you fill in 300 flights at no cost, over that you have to pay......Bad for me as I'm now over 700 flights....
The airline and the airport along with all the staff are barely 'built' for connecting passengers. My passport was even stamped on my way 'out' of Angola.
You were lucky; I did not get a stamp,,,,, 
Thanks again for a fantastic repot!
The777Ma
Boeing 777s flown: UA, TG, KE, BA, CX, NH, JD, JL, CZ, SQ, EK, NG, CO, AF, SV, KU, DL, AA, MH, OZ, CA, MS, SU, LY, RG, PE, AZ, KL, VN, PK, EY, NZ, AM, BR, AC, DT, UU, OS, AI, 9W, KQ, QR, VA, JJ, ET, TK, PR, BG, T5, CI, MU and LX.. Further to fly.. LH 777
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 18 ):
Hey how do you know about Fayrouz? Do they also have it in Sweden?
Haha, yes good old Fayrouz! We don't have it in Sweden, since the concept of selling non-alcoholic beer soda would of course never work here. But they do have it in Morocco though. I remember five years ago when they first launched it, it was a great hit, and I really liked it so much that I brought home a suitcase full of Fayrouz cans. Lately though, it have become a bit unpopular, and not many places sell it. They've also started producing it in Morocco, instead of importing it from the UAE, it just doesn't taste the same  
SAS Plus is Business Class made faux!
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
She approached my seat, and was frowning ever so angrily; she was pissed and I was scared! Her sharp features can really elaborate on her anger and it was clearly vibrating across towards me.
I think every airline has their own dragon....Here was TAAG's in all her glory LOL LOL. Very smart looking crew by the way
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
Footprints on the wing. Is it allowed to step on this part of the wing?
I think the areas that are not safe to walk on have the "Do not step" markings on them
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
I thought to break the ice a little and ask her some questions about the transit in Luanda.
Very bold of you, considering your hair was still smoking from the last breath of fire from her!!
After taking the picture above, Claudio approached me.
"Why are you taking pictures?"
"Sorry, is it not allowed?"
"I don't know, I will have to check with my supervisor"
"No it's ok, I'll stop"
Since the angry lady was on the other side of the trolley, I could feel her firing away at me with those angry looks. I did not dare look back at her, though I did continue taking pictures.
Great that you continued to take the pictures!!
Just for laughs was played on the screen after the meal service
Had no idea the show was that popular overseas.
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
Smoking room
Was this a room and if not it should have been totally enclosed in glass. Reminds me of KHI's no smoking zone which is useless as the smoke infiltrates into the non-smoking areas making the smell unbearable.
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
No effort was made to remove the plastic/foil covering from the plates, which has its positives and negatives I suppose. Freshness is preserved, while the look is not.
I guess it allows you to decide when to eat, while still keeping the contents warm...Had it been removed it would almost seem like you were being told to start eating asap!!
"You move somewhere else?"
"Didn't you pay for Economy Class?"
Before she responded, a crew had already appeared to take her aside and have a word with her in Portuguese. I was a revenue passenger in Business Class and I was getting what I wanted. Rightfully so, the teenage girl flocked away from my seat afterwards and I was able to fall asleep.
Are you sure this was not a nightmare you had lol. (Also you switched to the aisle seat from the window seat you were originally in). This is really unheard of having some Economy class passengers come into Business, and then ask you to move!!!
Nevertheless, I made my connection on British Airways and that was the most important thing.
And is British Airways another trip report from your end?  
Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:54 am
Ronerone,
Another fantastic report! Wow, what a report on TAAG Angola. I felt like I was traveling along with you .. every aspect of the trip was so well documented!
I'm amazed by the level of annoyance with a person taking pictures displayed by that flight attendant .. I mean, what are you going to do? People can play music, why can't they use a camera?! I guess they just don't get it ..  
The seats and the cabin of the 777 looked impressive; the food average, certainly not up to other airlines standards ..
Thanks again for sharing!
quite interesting to see HT flight to ATH on the check-in screen eventhough it was cancelled!
Thanks Stylo777.
I did notice that, and i did search for their counters, though it was true that the flight wasn't operating that day (whew!)  
Quoting The777Man ( Reply 21 ):
Fantastic picutes as well. Thanks also for the link to my report! Seems you had a similiar expericne to mine although I flew in Y all the way and in the other direction. I was supposed to have a 743 LAD-JNB but ended up on the same 777 as LIS-LAD. We both flew on D2-TED......The airport seems to have gotten a huge upgade since I flew about three years ago or probably a new terminal, The lounge in LAD looks very nice. Food actually looks pretty good but I guess I'm less picky than you. Seat looks great on the 777 but food seems more economy class than business. Appetizer looks like prosciutto to me.......which I LOVE.
Thanks The777Man!
Your TR served as my pre-flight brief. And it documented the most realistic view i have read before traveling.
Nice TR Roni, an excellent read to enjoy my breakfast.
Thanks MIAspotter. Glad you enjoyed it  
Quoting MIAspotter ( Reply 22 ):
and about the "Transito" stuff, perhaps they are not used to connecting PAX in LAD.
They definitely didnt seem like they are used to connecting passengers. But they did try their best, and it was great!
Next time say "I am conducting a secret review for an exclusive magazine" and see what happnes
LOL. I definitely wouldn't request this from the angry lady herself though  
My oh my, that's a lot of souvenirs!!!
I have lots more, from almost each flight i take!
Impressive Report and thanks a lot for sharing! Loved the transit part. Although I never flown any african airlines, seems that TAAG is not so bat at all.
Thanks reifel Glad you enjoyed.
Quoting MHTripple7 ( Reply 24 ):
It's now official - i'm flying LIS-LAD-WDH on 14 Aug and then WDH-LAD-LIS on 17 Aug. On the way to WDH I'm connecting to an Air Namibia flight with a TAAG codeshare flight number placed on the flight. We'll see how my transit goes. I'm expecting an adventure! I'm flying Y but perhaps we can "upgrade" to business at the last second?
Congrats MHTripple7.
I hope you will be doing a TR on this. Air Namibia is also another interesting one!
Just look for a TAAG-uniformed agent as soon you arrive at the terminal building in LAD, and recite the whole 'Transito' thing. It should be ok. Other non-TAAG airport staff and officers will not be of much help unless a TAAG agent speaks to them.
Quoting LH4116 ( Reply 25 ):
Haha, yes good old Fayrouz! We don't have it in Sweden, since the concept of selling non-alcoholic beer soda would of course never work here. But they do have it in Morocco though. I remember five years ago when they first launched it, it was a great hit, and I really liked it so much that I brought home a suitcase full of Fayrouz cans. Lately though, it have become a bit unpopular, and not many places sell it. They've also started producing it in Morocco, instead of importing it from the UAE, it just doesn't taste the same
Very interesting. I had always assumed that Fayrouz was a local brand only found in the UAE.
But they were still there to remind you in Africa
They weren't too happy, but in the end they approved!  
Hmmmm so an Air Austral trip report in the making (Sorry if you already mentioned this as confirmed in one of your replies below)
Nothing confirmed yet. But Air Austral is high on my wish list.
I think the areas that are not safe to walk on have the "Do not step" markings on them
I always assumed this sign applied to the entire wing.
Was this a room and if not it should have been totally enclosed in glass.
It was totally separate, and a fully equipped smoking room.
And is British Airways another trip report from your end?
Unfortunately everything after TAAG was used for rest. No trip reports!  
Quoting caleb1 ( Reply 28 ):
You've done it again Roni. Excellent job! Once again, I performed my pre-reading ritual of getting a snack and tuning in to Gilles Peterson on BBC1. What an adventure to read this report, and I can't wait to read your next installment.
Thanks caleb1!  
Thank you for sharing, very interesting read.
Thanks for stopping by chepos.
Did you get screamed at for taking pictures for the segment between Luanda and Lisbon?
No i did not. But i was being very very careful.
great report roni, really makes us feel we were tere with you..... keep em coming....
Thanks concordechild. Glad you enjoyed.
Quoting 767747 ( Reply 31 ):
I'm amazed by the level of annoyance with a person taking pictures displayed by that flight attendant .. I mean, what are you going to do? People can play music, why can't they use a camera?! I guess they just don't get it ..
Hi 767747,
I was told that this was the attitude of the 'old' government rule in Angola, and that traces of it are still found during the current transition.
Cheers,
Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:10 am
Hi Roni,
Brilliant as usual, TAAG isn't something that is going to feature in my flying plans that soon!
trip happened the following day after my Emirates flight between DXB and JNB (a TR will follow later).
You flew an A345 or just another B77W?
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 1 ):
For those of you who are interested, Hellenic Imperial Airways is still flying an ex-Lufthansa B747-200 between ATH and JNB.
One of the few things I liked about Air India back in the 90s and even early 2000s was that they sent the B742s regularly to the gulf. Between DOH and BOM I have flown the A300/A310/B742/B743combi/B744/B772A/B772ER of Air India.
he interior of the departures hall looked very dull. It reminded me of an airport as old as Washington Dulles, though nowhere near as pleasant (I am a big fan of IAD).
IAD is dull for sure .. but its fine no major hassles for regular travelers.
Luckily, a very rude TAAG
Who would've ever thought rudeness would come to rescue?
This aircraft seemed like it was almost untouched since Swissair.
Ha hahaha.
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 2 ):
The legroom however was excellent! Naturally, the seat was plain and pure and featured no IFE screen, nor its associated IFE box that would otherwise eat away at your personal space.
Again, one of the few things I liked about the old B742s of AI and CX as well. Though I would say AI's B742s were better than CXs
During the meal service, the crew walked around the aisle with cases of juice to offer seconds to the passengers. I thought this was a rather unique touch that I had not seen before.
Yet, again this was/is a common feature of mainline Air India's India - Gulf flights.
#35
Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:23 am
Great report as always. I love these "exotic" ones! LAD looks a lot nicer than I expected. The food in J looks unacceptably bad, but otherwise TAAG looks like an OK airline.
The most exciting part was the chance to re-experience the B747-300 between JNB and LAD and in such a case, Economy Class is the best way to travel.
Why do you say Y is the best way to travel in this case?
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 1 ):
I must admit, TAAG's livery is one of the nicest out there in my opinion. The bright orange colors, along with the logo form a design that is very 90's and is reminiscent of a time when I was growing up alongside a lot of aviation happenings that are practically classic as of today.
'90s? I'd say '80s or even '70s. By the '90s it was already dated. Does fit the "classic" aircraft though, and it is not bad looking at all, if clearly showing its age.
This aircraft seemed like it was almost untouched since Swissair.
Well, the seat covers are different! Otherwise it looks much the same though.
Having had a look at the TAAG web site I am surprised to see that it still offers a three-class product and thus the layout looks unchanged from the SR days. This inspired me to see if there were any photos of the premium cabins in the DB, and lo and behold, I found this:
View Large View Medium
Photo © JetStream Aviation
That seemed really luxurious when I had the chance to wander around one of these not long before SR retired them. Today it is not so impressive. I think I like my memory better!  
Quoting lychemsa ( Reply 10 ):
At first Swissair 747s had 9 seats accross compared to 10 on other carriers. I think later they added 1 more like the others. But that was one of the plusses of flying SR.
9-abreast was the standard Y configuration for the 747 when introduced. Nothing specific to SR. Maybe SR kept it a bit longer than others, though I would doubt that it was still 9-abreast by the time the 743 came around.
For that matter, the original DC-10 and L-1011 seating configuration was 8-abreast in Y, later upped to 9 and on some (mostly charter) airlines 10!
Quoting LH4116 ( Reply 11 ):
The interior did indeed look very old-school, and to me it looked like they had kept the original seats from Swissair. At least by judging the seat covers, which to me look very similar to what you would find on some of the older A332's (ex SR) in LX fleet. I could be wrong though...
The seats are the SR ones, but I am pretty sure those are not the SR seat covers. Here's an SR A330 cabin:
Photo © Christian Waser
The MD-11 had the same fabric in Y. Unfortunately I can't find any SR 747 cabin pics.
Getting There is Half the Fun!
Brilliant as usual, TAAG isn't something that is going to feature in my flying plans that soon!
Thanks Ojas!  
You flew an A345 or just another B77W?
B77W.
One of the few things I liked about Air India back in the 90s and even early 2000s was that they sent the B742s regularly to the gulf.
Ah the good old days when AI did not have 9W, IT, and the LCCs around it!  
IAD is dull for sure .. but its fine no major hassles for regular travelers.
It is old and very 'brown'. But it is a great airport nevertheless  
Though I would say AI's B742s were better than CXs
Your AI is my CX  
Great report as always. I love these "exotic" ones! LAD looks a lot nicer than I expected. The food in J looks unacceptably bad, but otherwise TAAG looks like an OK airline.
Hi BOACC,
Quoting BOACCunard ( Reply 34 ):
Why do you say Y is the best way to travel in this case?
There is more to see and 'feel' in a Y cabin. As the main cabin, i would definitely want to be there when flying a retro-jet.
Quoting BOACCunard ( Reply 34 ):
Having had a look at the TAAG web site I am surprised to see that it still offers a three-class product
Why? TAAG's traffic (and Angola's in general) seems to be quite on the premium side. Most who fly seem to be business people from the oil & gas industry, and also diamond industry.
TAAG's 777 also seems to have a high premium configuration with 14F/51J/190Y ... thats quite a lot of F and J!
Cheers,
Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:46 pm
Hi Roni
I am always enjoying your trip report and this is no exception.
I love your spirit of adventure and i liked the idea your traveled without preconceived ideas.
The photos are amazing as always
I particularly liked the TAAG lounge , I loved the furniture and lighting
You have a thing wit the flight attendants you had dominatrix on your Jet AW and I feel you had Cruela de Ville in this.
BTW may be the last "Foret Noir" you ate was back at " La Gondole" Beirut.  
And Habibi Hellenic Imperial AW Dakhlak avoid them like plague (for a long sector), but they will open TLV and CMN in the future
Mon Aug 02, 2010 9:43 pm
Hello Roni!
Is there anything new I can write about your TRs, which I haven't mentioned before? Of course, there is no such thing and it is always a pure joy to read your reports. This one was no exception.
Quoting ronerone ( Thread starter ):
Just look at this fascinating boarding pass
Finally, someone came to their senses. I can understand cost cutting measures to a certain extent, but it looks unbelievable that they can save more with white and boring boarding passes. This one certainly looks like a keeper.
The following is an extensive show of all the TAAG souvenirs I gained after this trip
Well, after seeing all of that, I just hope we'll fly sometime together  
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:42 am
Another addition to your record of Super Trip-reporting(thats the highest level).
I would not take any of those comments on Skytrax seriously anymore, because the reality of it was nothing like that
I do agree with you on that very much.
Yes it does seem like you had quite a pleasent experience with them , and the IFE on the 777 doesn't look bad at all. It was surprising that they upgraded passengers inflight , never knew that still happens. Also what dissapoints me is that people think Africans aren't all that friendly , which is not at all through , its just that they express their feelings and concerns in a different way , I personally have delt with some excellent central african flight attendants on EK and Flydubai , they deserve a TR don't they 
Thanks again for the stunning Trip Report
Best Regards,
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 32 ):
Your TR served as my pre-flight brief. And it documented the most realistic view i have read before traveling.
I'm very happy that my trip report served as some guidance for you and that you were willing to try TAAG Angola Airlines! I had a niceflight in Y and think more people should give TAAG a try.
The777Man
Boeing 777s flown: UA, TG, KE, BA, CX, NH, JD, JL, CZ, SQ, EK, NG, CO, AF, SV, KU, DL, AA, MH, OZ, CA, MS, SU, LY, RG, PE, AZ, KL, VN, PK, EY, NZ, AM, BR, AC, DT, UU, OS, AI, 9W, KQ, QR, VA, JJ, ET, TK, PR, BG, T5, CI, MU and LX.. Further to fly.. LH 777
I am always enjoying your trip report and this is no exception.
I love your spirit of adventure and i liked the idea your traveled without preconceived ideas.
Thank you Christian! .. Glad you enjoyed  
I must admit, i did have a preconcieved idea about traveling through Luanda, but that was from Skytrax. Though everything changed as soon as i noticed the positive results!
You have a thing wit the flight attendants you had dominatrix on your Jet AW and I feel you had Cruela de Ville in this.
I do yes  
... They do make or break the flight! From that leading dominatrix that you like, whom we all must bow down to her command, to this new dragon cruella that we need to watch out for  
hahah
BTW may be the last "Foret Noir" you ate was back at " La Gondole" Beirut.
LOL .. Or the Printania Palace in Brummana  
And Habibi Hellenic Imperial AW Dakhlak avoid them like plague (for a long sector), but they will open TLV and CMN in the future
 
  Leish plague Hellenic? Are they that bad?
Well regarding their new routes to TLV and CMN (also DXB and TIP seem to be planned), we have heard this tune many times before. The failed Birmingham flight and the wasted Hajj theme, and of course the dwindling Johannesburg thing that currently ongoing. How long will TLV and CMN last? Half an hour maybe?  
You have to give them credit for being so adamant on flying somewhere with that 742! They never seem to give up!
Hey Phil! Wow you are in Lebanon! .. You better be doing a TR on this! ..  
Thanks as always for your comments and support!
Quoting Aleksandar ( Reply 40 ):
Hello Roni!
Is there anything new I can write about your TRs, which I haven't mentioned before? Of course, there is no such thing and it is always a pure joy to read your reports. This one was no exception.
Thanks Aleksandar!  
Finally, someone came to their senses. I can understand cost cutting measures to a certain extent, but it looks unbelievable that they can save more with white and boring boarding passes. This one certainly looks like a keeper.
I know! These white boarding passes are so dull!
Well, after seeing all of that, I just hope we'll fly sometime together
And will we strip the seats off the aircraft and 'souvenir' them?  
All that is left now, is sourcing two TAAG model airplanes!
Another addition to your record of Super Trip-reporting(thats the highest level).
Thanks Islam  
Quoting EkA380 ( Reply 41 ):
Yes it does seem like you had quite a pleasent experience with them , and the IFE on the 777 doesn't look bad at all. It was surprising that they upgraded passengers inflight
I know that EK upgrades passengers on board, and usually before the doors close. But this was indeed interesting on TAAG. It just looked too dodgy!
Quoting EkA380 ( Reply 41 ):
Also what dissapoints me is that people think Africans aren't all that friendly , which is not at all through , its just that they express their feelings and concerns in a different way
I agree! Though i found Angolans to resemble South Americans (i.e. Brazilians) in their looks and behaviour. While at LAD, ta some times it felt like i was back in Miami! Definitely the Portuguese influence!  
I personally have delt with some excellent central african flight attendants on EK and Flydubai , they deserve a TR don't they Thanks again for the stunning Trip Report
They do deserve a TR  
and an EK should come next!
Cheers,
Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:07 am
Hey Roni,
Another fantastic TR of uet another exotic airline, it's great to see so many of these unique flights and airlines popping up! Superb detailed photos again, as usual. Thoroughly enjoyed.
The initial plan was based around a Hellenic Imperial Airways B747-200 flight from Johannesburg to Athens
Well, I'm sure you could get around to it another time.. Always nice to get these classics!
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 1 ):
I can't remember when the last time I flew on B743 was, but decades ago on Singapore Airlines' Mega Top between SIN and HKG comes to mind!
Sorry to be a nitpick - Mega Top refers to only the 744s.. They used Big Top on their 743s.  
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 2 ):
As expected, the aircraft interior was definitely shabby. The cabin was also slightly dirty, with the carpeting in a dire need of some vacuuming. Who cares though, I wasn't on board this bird for an audit of cleanliness standards. I was hoping for this aircraft to have the classic 747 window designs however, that was not the case. Though the overhead bins were purely 747-style, and so were the overhead screens which were the classic projector-type. This aircraft seemed like it was almost untouched since Swissair.
Not a very good impression! Maybe because it was one of the last 743s built before the 744 came online that it features the normal window designs..
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 2 ):
She approached my seat, and was frowning ever so angrily; she was pissed and I was scared! Her sharp features can really elaborate on her anger and it was clearly vibrating across towards me. She uttered a few struggling English words in the midst of all the Portuguese and ever so firmly mentioned that photography is strictly prohibited. I smiled and apologized, and even after this she shot me with one more vibrating frown before proceeding down the aisle to assist a fellow passenger who had boarded.
Haha. Thanks for risking it all by taking photos!
Since the angry lady was on the other side of the trolley, I could feel her firing away at me with those angry looks. I did not dare look back at her, though I did continue taking pictures.
LOL.
Quoting ronerone ( Reply 2 ):
Overall, the meal was awful. The salad had too many onions and the main course was absolutely tasteless. The chicken was too tangy and the sauce far too creamy. Also, the potatoes and the rest of the vegetables were undercooked. The dessert however wasn't too bad, but rather generic.
During the meal service, the crew walked around the aisle with cases of juice to offer seconds to the passengers. I thought this was a rather unique touch that I had not seen before. This was followed by the standard coffee/tea service which was conducted by the angry lady.
What a pity the meal was awful because the size certainly looked generous. Maybe they should swap quantity for quality.
"You move somewhere else?"
"Didn't you pay for Economy Class?"
Before she responded, a crew had already appeared to take her aside and have a word with her in Portuguese. I was a revenue passenger in Business Class and I was getting what I wanted. Rightfully so, the teenage girl flocked away from my seat afterwards and I was able to fall asleep.
Gosh, what a horrible experience. That's so rude! Good to see the FA was there to sort things out.
Anyone can do this, only never forget the word 'Transito' !
The following is an extensive show of all the TAAG souvenirs I gained after this trip
Great advice!
Wow, you really collected a lot from the flights! Nice going.
Looking forward to the next ones!
Cheers,
#48
Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:21 pm
I can not believe how fantastic your reports are, each one gets better and better. I would have absolutely shat myself if I was told to stop taking photos and given a look as you describe, i'm glad that you continued!! 
I'm a bit disappointed with TAAG based on your review, for some reason I always expected them to be on par with some European airlines that serve Africa. The meal in Y class looks ok but in C Class it looks abysmal and the service doesn't really seem that much better. The lounge in LAD and the seat on the other hand look very sleek and modern.
The first thing I do onboard is checking the content of seat pocket. Prior to landing, I use all the tricks to "liberate" those things   Now, you gave me an idea about blankets, too.
Haha ...i do that too.
I will send you links for some offers on Facebook  
Thanks for the links! they are great!
nother fantastic TR of uet another exotic airline, it's great to see so many of these unique flights and airlines popping up! Superb detailed photos again, as usual. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks Nicholas! Hope all is well!
Quoting NZ107 ( Reply 46 ):
Sorry to be a nitpick - Mega Top refers to only the 744s.. They used Big Top on their 743s.  
You are so right! In that case, my SIN-HKG flight was on a 744 Megatop .. it was AUH-BOM-SIN that i got Big Top.
Nice compromise! How does your own match up to CX?  
Well, on the ground, i make a killer Bloody Mary  
CX does it better at 35,000  
Quoting tk747 ( Reply 47 ):
I would have absolutely shat myself if I was told to stop taking photos and given a look as you describe, i'm glad that you continued!! 
LOLOL .. I may have stopped if it was on a more common airline, but since this was TAAG, i wasn't  
Quoting tk747 ( Reply 47 ):
I'm a bit disappointed with TAAG based on your review, for some reason I always expected them to be on par with some European airlines that serve Africa. The meal in Y class looks ok but in C Class it looks abysmal and the service doesn't really seem that much better. The lounge in LAD and the seat on the other hand look very sleek and modern.
I think they will improve eventually. They seem keen, and while patchy, the product isn't so bad especially in Y.
Cheers,