South African Airways Reviews

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SAA has been my preferred travel airline, and it has been my preference for booking my current travel arrangements. However, I would like to register a complaint regarding my last two trips.

Trip 1-London to South Africa

I arrived at the check-in counter and my bag weighed 22kgs-I was told that I was only allowed 20 kgs and removed the 2kgs from my bags which ultimately was only my computer charges. I went through duty free and purchased a few items and added it into my hand luggage and whilst standing in the queue to board the aircraft the same indignant ground staff that was at the check-in desk called me out to re-weigh my bag. He then added that I was 3 kilos overweight and insisted that I pay for the 3 kilos. The way he handled the situation made me feel like I was some poor pheasant when actually the only reason why I wasn't flying business class was I had a last minute ticket change. This service was not only rude it was undignified and disgraceful-pathetic actually.

Trip 2-South Africa to London

I arrived at Durban airport and I was informed that there was a few hours delay with the flight from JHB to London. I did inform the ground staff that I preferred to stay in Durban until confirmation was received when the aircraft would take off.
They then confirmed the flight was delayed out of Washington and the flight would take off at 03.00 am to London.
On arrival in JHB I went to the ticket desk-Bizarrely people booked on the SAME FLIGHT WERE BEING REALLOCATED SEATING ON OTHER aircraft BUT I WAS INFORMED BECAUSE I HAD A CHEAP DISCOUNTED TICKET I needed to wait until the next morning and needed to spend the night in a hotel.
I then called the duty manager and he informed me that because I had a cheap discounted ticket there was absolutely nothing that he could do and was not willing to help me despite my plea to get to London for my brother's engagement party. However, the cherry on the top of this disgrace was the hair found in my breakfast which was brought to the steward's attention immediately!!!!!!

Now you tell me if this is superior worthy service regardless of the amount of money I paid? I don't expect anything for free but this is just unacceptable and I will be publishing this to every individual I know about your inferior service your airline offers and the way it treats 'poor' people. SHOCKING!

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I had a connecting flight coming in from NA to terminal 3 with a 9 hour layover 'given the amount of money that the ticket costs you would think there would be some kind of information provided on lounge access. FOR EXAMPLE IS THE LOUNGE OPEN

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You guys need to review your excess baggage rates. £37/kg is madness. Real madness. I flied BA at £90 for excess baggage of 30kg. You are such an inconvenience. No ways can a bag of 30kg be more than an adult ticket. You are do not have business ethics

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I recently used SAA from Johannesburg to London and i have to admit there flight services are very good. However,i feel very disappointed in the way SAA treated me over my lost luggage!! One of my bags was broken into and a couple of things were stolen,after discovering this,i called the office in London and told them. I was then advised to email them which i did and after weeks,my settlement was given to me at £12!! UNBELIEVABLE!! My items costed way more than this and there reason for th ...

Big Vee's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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Have flown SAA many times and almost dread getting on the flight each time. Have since learned my lesson however.
They are let down badly by their staff who could do with realising that the customer deserves good service as he/she paid alot of money for their ticket.
Many of their systems eg. telephone enquiry system is simply a scam to make money without offering the assistance and advice needed.

gjy8s's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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I flew roundtrip JFK-JNB-CPT on South African Airway. SAA managed to loose my luggage TWICE on the same trip. Once on the way over and again on the way back. The first time they lost my luggage, they managed to find it and deliver it the next day. However, I am still waiting to hear the reults for this latest incident. Calls I ahve made to the airline have been unanswered and despite Swissport (their baggage handler) claims that they woudl contact me to assure me of the staut sof my bags th ...

edtauscher's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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I flew South African Airways 208 from IAD to JNB April 08(A340-600)! An awesome flight in coach class!
Crew was courteous, entertainment system (AVOD) the best in the airline industry! Especially enjoyed the cameras mounted up in the tail and in the nose-- an awesome experience to see the flight in real time! Wish other airlines would offer those cameras!
Food was great and plentiful! Alcoholic drinks were also plentiful. Flight was on time. The best way to get to JNB from the US! Also the q ...

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I'll be back! Can't give South African Airways enough compliments. I was really dreading such a long flight from the USA to SA, but the entertainment system gave so many choices I actually enjoyed the flight. At the end of the trip I had not even looked in any of the magazines or books I had brought on. The crew was super-friendly and tried their best to make the long flight comfortable. Great little snack bar in the back during the whole flight and good choice in meals. Well done!

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Be careful!!! In 2007, I tried booking the South African flights online and was successful. I gave my credit card number and got the confirmation details, yet, when I showed up in the South African airport, I was refused. They said my credit card was faulty. In the end I had to buy another replacement ticket. After only I received my monthly bank statement, then I realized that the airline had charged me for the flights that I did not even fly. If my credit cards are faulty, how can the airlines ...

susanja's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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We flew from Jo'burg to Heathrow and overall I found the standards aboard to be very similar to any other airline. However, what did let them down was the attitude of the cabin crew. I have never met such rudeness before and I was tempted to ask the cabin crew why she was in this job but I was too afraid. It really put me off flying with SAA in the future.

lilalee's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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I flew from New York to Johannesburg in November 2006 and returned in January 2007, and I have to say that I really enjoyed the flight. The staff were very friendly to us, I liked the food (and that there were food choices), and I enjoyed the movies and other entertainment options. The seats were comfy, and I was able to get up and walk around a lot without feeling like I was bugging people or congesting the aisles.

Also, the flight we were on was not at all full, so we were able to stretch ...

dmcdonell's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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I recently went to South Africa with my wife and a group of friends. It is a beautiful country and I would definitely recommend it, as a destination for anyone interested in seeing wildlife. However, I would definitely not recommend flying with South African Airways! This has to be one of the most poorly run airline companies I have ever flown with. They double billed my flight ticket and then only refunded part of it. For the past 6 months they continue to agree that they only refunded part of ...

oconnor's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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The South African Airways lounge at Heathrow Terminal 1 is located near the departure gates, some distance from the shopping area. Having cleared security we went directly to the lounge, then discovered that to get back to the shopping/restaurant area we were diverted back through the flight transfer centre, with a further 40 minute queue and a further full security check. This is enforced every time you move between the shops and the SAA lounge. The staff on reception say this is a new rule, ...

Thomas Whelan's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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I would certainly recommend South African Airlines to anybody travelling to lovely South Africa. It was a very relaxing flight with very good in-flight entertainment and service.

Daudi's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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My South African Airways flight was over-night, and I could not physically sit in my seat when seat backs were down. The distance from my arm-rest to the back of the seat infront was 10cm. This level of discomfort is unforgivable considering that I am just above average, at 1.86m tall & 14 stone, so hardly excessively large. As a result, between (very uncomfortable) take off and landing, I stood at the back. I complained to staff but they claimed the flight was full and no other seat was availab ...