Mango Lanseria - Cape Town flight |
3 Jun 2011 |
Mango only started flying from Lanseria on 1 June, so I was one of the first to try out their new services. The best part of it was that I only paid R320.50 for the flight, as there was a Mango 5-seat sale on the go (the young lady from SAAF next to me was pleased with the R450 she'd paid!).
Lanseria Airport
If I had to get stuck at an airport like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, in South Africa I'd choose Lanseria Airport. Its Wiesenhof restaurant (partially owned by Kobus Wiese) has fantastic unimpeded views of the runway (a photographer's delight), TV screens to watch the Super Rugby and a couple of powerpoints to charge up your equipment. There are no business class lounges at the departures at Lanseria, so everybody is treated equally - a good feeling.
The check-in queue for Mango at Lanseria Airport was short, but you do actually have to check-in with a person - they don't yet have the automated check-in machines like at Cape Town International Airport.
Car rental temporary offices
Lanseria Airport is being reconstructed, and here's some photos of the cute temporary offices for the car rental agencies. First First Car Rental:
And here's Hertz's rental box:
Choose your seat as you book
I was quite impressed that you can choose your seats on a Mango flight at the point of reservation. I paid R20 extra to get the seat behind the wing and next to the window, so that I could take better photos from the aircraft (the first 2 rows and the rows next to the wings were all booked up, presumably for Mango Flex and Mango Plus ticket-holders). By contrast, on my Kulula Cape Town - Lanseria flight, they didn't charge for choosing your seats, but you could only choose seats 24 hours before the flight.
I did duff up with the window seat though, as it turned out that it was too dark to take photographs...aisle seat is a better bet on the 17h50 flight down from Lanseria to Cape Town. Finally, I cant give an honest review without saying, Mango, I love you, and I love your prices, and I love your marketing, but your seats are just too close together for a guy my size to be comfortable.
Reservation details
Shortly after booking my flight, Mango sent me an email with the following details in it:
Thank you for booking with Mango! This email confirmation is your itinerary and receipt. Please print this page and keep it available on your journey, along with the ID used to make the booking. The ID is required in order to obtain a boarding pass.
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Your booking confirmation has been received:
This serves as confirmation for booking made against the following Credit card in use. Merely go directly to check-in, present the credit card used in this transaction and receive a boarding pass.
Note: the boarding pass will not be issued unless the Credit card is presented.
Please remember
1 |
Proof of identity (a valid passport, RSA ID book or valid driver's license) will be required when checking in. We do not accept copies of temporary travel documents, whether certified copies or not, as proof of identity. Children and infants must travel with their birth certificates as identification or RSA ID book. A reservation is only valid until full payment has been received. |
2 |
Check-in desks open at least 90 minutes and close 40 minutes prior to your scheduled flight departure time. Present proof of Identity (and credit card) if applicable at check-in. Boarding gates close 15 minutes prior to your scheduled flight departure time. Not being present or having the necessary documentation at Check-in or at the Boarding gates, as per the above timings will results on your seat being forfeited without refund or credit given. |
3 |
Mango does not accept firearms or dangerous goods as baggage. Mango will not provide storage for such items under any circumstances. |
4 |
Checked baggage is limited to 20 kg per person, and no single item may weigh more than 32 kg. Infants have a 10 kg baggage allowance but have no seat allocation. Sporting equipment, inclusive of Golf bags, but excluding bicycles are included in the checked baggage allowance of 20 kg. Pets and bicycles are not included in the checked baggage allowance of 20 kg per paying guest. Excess baggage charges will be raised, irrespective of the weight of any other checked baggage. |
5 |
Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an individual 16 years in age or older. Reservations are not refundable. Certain items will only be carried subject to availability of space. A handling fee may be charged for such items, see our terms and conditions for more information. |
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See Mango terms and conditions. For special requirement information, click here. |
7 |
Mango Guests are advised not to include valuables such as cell phones, laptop computers, iPods, jewellery, money, personal documentation or similar items in their check-in baggage. It is recommended that such high-value items be carried on your person or packed securely in your carry-on luggage. |
Extras
Seating R20.00
You've chosen your seat(s) for your flight(s).
Kindly note that the flight closes 40 min prior to departure. Please ensure that you have checked in before the flight closes to secure your seating. To check in early, please use our online check in. Or alternatively use our self service check in kiosks at our major airports.
SMS R2.50
A SMS with your booking details will follow shortly.
Total Amount: R22.50
A tale of 3 Kululas at Lanseria Airport
On the left we have the commercial side of Kulula with its Europcar-branded plane, on the right we have a wannabe Kulula plane, without comics or branding or interesting items, if there's consistency on the inside then jokes would have been banned!
And then finally, the notoriously funny Kulula flying 101 plane:
