SAA are thieves - beware

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Abe

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Up the creek without a GB
My sister posted from her phone while she is stuck at the airport (she is still stuck there)

She had to fly up yesterday to pick up her kids for the holiday and is flying back down today.

So, what happened, first, two weeks ago, SAA cancelled her December 26 flight which she booked in March this year. Now, they have refused to let her on the December 27 fight after changing the times from 8:15am to 10:15am because she does not have the original credit card with her that she used to book the flight back in March as her bag was stolen 6 weeks ago. She had to buy new tickets for R5500 and can try and claim back later but there are no guarantees. The worst part is that she is now on standby and not even guaranteed a spot.
 
Last edited:
xrapidx said:
CPA should help here.
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That was my first suggestion. The problem is that she is now stuck at the airport, holding thumbs that she can get back to holiday. One her kids even has very bad earache.

These guys actually don't give a flying hoot about anyone.
 
Yip - SAA is one of the worst when it comes to customer services.

The CPA might not be able to help with the ticket booked in March, but it should be able to help with the most recent ticket.
 
I really really don't understand why anyone flies with SAA anymore when there are so many alternatives. I and many people I know will never ever ever in a million years (did I say ever) fly with SAA (ever!). A more pathetic useless bunch of people you will never find.
 
Sorry but you cannot blame SAA here for the credit card issue as any other airline would have done the same.

We had a similar incident with a low cost airline where my wife lost her credit card the week before we where flying to Durban and her replacement card had a different CC number. Fortunately we had phoned the airline the day before to confirm what documentation we needed to present at checkout else we would have been in the same situation and even then the airline confirmed that they often do not honour the tickets in such a situation.

All I can say is if your buying tickets online then your better off using a dedicated credit card for this.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Sorry but you cannot blame SAA here for the credit card issue as any other airline would have done the same.

We had a similar incident with a low cost airline where my wife lost her credit card the week before we where flying to Durban and her replacement card had a different CC number. Fortunately we had phoned the airline the day before to confirm what documentation we needed to present at checkout else we would have been in the same situation and even then the airline confirmed that they often do not honour the tickets in such a situation.

All I can say is if your buying tickets online then your better off using a dedicated credit card for this.
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Actually the whole situation with presenting the original credit card when you check in is ridiculous. Kulula doesn't require this.

Kulula is making a killing off of this because basically Kulula is the only local airline that allows you to buy a ticket for a third-party and doesn't require the original credit card to be present when checking in.

Prevention of fraud is not a good enough excuse for this requirement. There are plenty of other ways to prevent credit card fraud without inconveniencing legitimate travellers like this.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Sorry but you cannot blame SAA here for the credit card issue as any other airline would have done the same.

We had a similar incident with a low cost airline where my wife lost her credit card the week before we where flying to Durban and her replacement card had a different CC number. Fortunately we had phoned the airline the day before to confirm what documentation we needed to present at checkout else we would have been in the same situation and even then the airline confirmed that they often do not honour the tickets in such a situation.

All I can say is if your buying tickets online then your better off using a dedicated credit card for this.
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Which other airline besides SAA and their cheap associate require credit cards? :confused:

I've only ever had issues with SAA - its the most rediculous policy - if I want to fly someone down from Johannesburg its such a hassle as they obviously won't have my credit card with them, and I'm not comfortable faxing SAA a copy.

Also, SAA used to have a policy that after a certain period the credit card isn't required for booking in, think its six months. (think thats the limit you can log a dispute with your credit card company)
 
I flew on SAA a couple of months ago and I walked straight onto the plane using the boarding pass I printed from the website. No one requested to see my credit card.
 
bwana said:
I flew on SAA a couple of months ago and I walked straight onto the plane using the boarding pass I printed from the website. No one requested to see my credit card.
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strange that its only required when booking in at the airport - it really is a stupid policy.

We had someone recently forget their pre-printed boarding pass - and they weren't allowed on the plane, and couldn't check in at the airport...
 
deweyzeph said:
Actually the whole situation with presenting the original credit card when you check in is ridiculous. Kulula doesn't require this.

Kulula is making a killing off of this because basically Kulula is the only local airline that allows you to buy a ticket for a third-party and doesn't require the original credit card to be present when checking in.

Prevention of fraud is not a good enough excuse for this requirement. There are plenty of other ways to prevent credit card fraud without inconveniencing legitimate travellers like this.
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Things must have changed as this is the airline I was posting about.
 
bwana said:
I flew on SAA a couple of months ago and I walked straight onto the plane using the boarding pass I printed from the website. No one requested to see my credit card.
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Same here. Had to show my ID book at the boarding gate, is all. Simplest it has ever been!
 
If her credit card was stolen along with her bags she should have a police case number and an affidavit detailing what happened. She should also have a bank issued replacement card. Why did she go to the airport without them? It is a well known fact that airlines require you to produce the original card when claiming a pre-booked ticket. It is their protection against accidentally handing over your ticket to the wrong party. Alternatively she should have completed the booking online and printed out her boarding pass from there. Sorry, we know SAA sucks, but she has to share some of the blame here.
 
Kulula definitely does not requrie you to produce the original credit card when checking in. I fly with them several times a year, never had to show the credit card I bought the tickets with.
 
deweyzeph said:
Kulula definitely does not requrie you to produce the original credit card when checking in. I fly with them several times a year, never had to show the credit card I bought the tickets with.
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Then Kulula are the exception. It is an international standard practice.
Besides, her bags were stolen six months ago.
How has she not made contact with SAA in the meantime to confirm the booking?
She was just lazy.
 
I've even had SAA cancel a booking as my CC ain't a SA bank one.
Booking went thru - recieved confirmation email - then a cancellation email.

Dear Mr *****,

Thank you for your booking on flysaa.com and having made South African Airways the carrier of your choice.

Attached, please find a booking confirmation with important details regarding your flights.
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Dear MR ******

Your booking has been cancelled. Please refer to the attachment for details.
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That was the last time i used them

1time you can do 3rd party CC payments with no CC needed at checkin
-
 
Garyvdh said:
Then Kulula are the exception. It is an international standard practice.
Besides, her bags were stolen six months ago.
How has she not made contact with SAA in the meantime to confirm the booking?
She was just lazy.
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I haven't been asked for my credit card on any other airline besides SAA and Mango when flying locally - and I fly frequently on what ever airline most fits in with my timeline.

According to 1time :
1time said:
Ticketless!

1time has its own check-in counters where you will be met by our friendly and professional ground crew.You only need proof of identity and your unique booking reference number in order to check in for your flight. It couldn't be any easier!
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Kulula
Kulula said:
Check-in
Get there early - check-in opens 90 mins before your flight and closes 30 minutes before take off. Please remember to bring your valid ID, driver's licence or passport with you when you check-in and board the plane.
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BAA
BAA said:
Passport or ID check

Your passport or ID will be checked at the airport, before you board your flight.
Click to expand...

etc.
 
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