SAA ...

blunomore

blunomore

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You know, I try.

I really do try not to be one of those South Africans who perpetually run down anything South African. Local should be lekker, not an easy target, and wherever I go I sing the praises of travelling in South Africa.

I spent last weekend at the annual Tourism Indaba in Durban and, as always, it was awesome to see the enthusiasm and excitement for, and from, our local travel industry. Which made my experiences with our so-called national carrier all the more infuriating.

SAA is a popular punching back for disgruntled travellers, but up until now I've never had much cause for complaint. Until now.

After making a simple flight change at SAA's Indaba desk I was told that it would cost me R171 at the airport. No problem. Arrive at the airport... Ah, someone conveniently forgot to mention that R200 service fee. Then what on earth is the R171 for?! So R371 to change seats. That is nearly three times the cost of what kulula.com, 1time and Mango charge. Nice.

Fine, whatever, I made the change. While I'm at the desk, I thought I'd also quickly pay the taxes for a trip I've got planned to Botswana and Vic Falls in October.

"No problem Sir, but there will be a R500 service fee," said the disinterested desk clerk.
A FIVE HUNDRED RAND fee to use their credit card machine!? To pay the taxes for one of their own flights? By now any patience I had for the national carrier was well and truly finished, so I stomped off into the (admittedly very nice) departures area at the new King Shaka International Airport.
And the cherry on top of this whole SAA experience? Dinner on board my 6pm flight back to Cape Town consisted of two small slices of cheese-and-tomato wrap. Four bites and it's gone. C'mon SAA, you call yourself a full-service airline and that's what you serve hungry travellers at dinnertime? Not acceptable.

And so ends my sorry tale of dealing with SAA. With that level of customer and on-board service it's little wonder that the airline is losing customers and cash, and running to parliament for a hand-out. As for me, I will — sadly — be avoiding SAA where I can in the future. In a world where I can choose where to spend my travelling rands... it won't be with SAA if I can help it.

Am I over-reacting, or do we deserve better from our flag-carrier? I'd love to hear what you think...

Richard Holmes, Travel Editor
[email protected]
Click to expand...

http://travel.iafrica.com/hidden/newsletter/?iframe=true&width=100%&height=100%
 
And the sad thing is that all those charges are seen as pure profit by SAA since the tax payer is already covering all the other costs of the airline.

Seriously, if you fly SAA I hope you crash and burn. Luckily they seem to have a few Airbus A330's on order so soon my hopes might be realized.
 
Rouxenator said:
And the sad thing is that all those charges are seen as pure profit by SAA since the tax payer is already covering all the other costs of the airline.

Seriously, if you fly SAA I hope you crash and burn. Luckily they seem to have a few Airbus A330's on order so soon my hopes might be realized.
Click to expand...

Nice guy!
 
12 days ago I had to urgently book a return ticket to fly to Switzerland. SAA's site gives me a list of flight options to pick from, only to be told that the flight is not available. Huh? I picked it from the list! Eventually, after trying about half a dozen times, I got a combination that worked. Price around R21k - economy.
I do some further searching, Swiss International about R16k, BA about R12k. Then I find Emirates, less than 6k. BA's airport taxes amounted to R3.5k, with Emirates it was less than R600.
Guess who I flew with and who I will use in future, not only because they seem to be amongst the cheapest but for some reason I found the flights much less strenuous than others via JHB/London.
 
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And the cherry on top of this whole SAA experience? Dinner on board my 6pm flight back to Cape Town consisted of two small slices of cheese-and-tomato wrap. Four bites and it's gone. C'mon SAA, you call yourself a full-service airline and that's what you serve hungry travellers at dinnertime? Not acceptable.
Click to expand...

And it has been the same for at least the last 14 months... I have that flippin' wrap on each of my 24 flights home so far. And don't forget the little cocktail tomato and piece of limp lettuce that is included in the plastic container - are we meant to eat it????
 
All tickets issued at the SAA offices and at the airport incur service fees. Moral of the story - Book online and get eticketed to avoid paying service fees and don't make changes. And nobody flys for the food. Oh. Wait. A travel Editor. They live for Free Things.
 
Why is SAA so expensive? Every time i check they have the most expensive flights, their only advantage is they have much more convenient flight times.
 
markings said:
12 days ago I had to urgently book a return ticket to fly to Switzerland. SAA's site gives me a list of flight options to pick from, only to be told that the flight is not available. Huh? I picked it from the list! Eventually, after trying about half a dozen times, I got a combination that worked. Price around R21k - economy.
I do some further searching, Swiss International about R16k, BA about R12k. Then I find Emirates, less than 6k. BA's airport taxes amounted to R3.5k, with Emirates it was less than R600.
Guess who I flew with and who I will use in future, not only because they seem to be amongst the cheapest but for some reason I found the flights much less strenuous than others via JHB/London.
Click to expand...

Did you check Etihad Airlines?
 
Voltorr said:
Why is SAA so expensive? Every time i check they have the most expensive flights, their only advantage is they have much more convenient flight times.
Click to expand...

Not always. Depends on the times and days you fly and also the routes. If you can snag supersaver fares they are often cheaper than the other carriers. This is only SA domestic. What I just said.
Africa Flights are horiffic expensive because of supply and demand and International prices make no sense at all. Other carriers beat them every time. But if you have Voyager and your Company pays for flights why worry.
 
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AirWolf said:
Did you check Etihad Airlines?
Click to expand...
Out of curiosity I did just now for a similar flight arrangement shifted by 2 weeks.
Emirates 604 GBP, 1 stop
KLM 740 GBP, 1 stop
Others more expensive and some with 2 stops
SAA third most expensive, 837 GBP

Nice and easy site to compare flights, (a google search for Etihad brought me to opodo.co.uk) I wasn't aware of it. Thanks.
 
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Hosehead said:
Not always. Depends on the times and days you fly and also the routes. If you can snag supersaver fares they are often cheaper than the other carriers. This is only SA domestic. What I just said.
Africa Flights are horiffic expensive because of supply and demand and International prices make no sense at all. Other carriers beat them every time. But if you have Voyager and your Company pays for flights why worry.
Click to expand...

Or you plan your travels well in advance and book your tickets early...
 
So SAA is cutting costs by shafting their customers, as opposed to cutting down on the obscene salaries paid to the company's useless management? Sounds about right.
 
Hosehead said:
Not always. Depends on the times and days you fly and also the routes. If you can snag supersaver fares they are often cheaper than the other carriers. This is only SA domestic. What I just said.
Africa Flights are horiffic expensive because of supply and demand and International prices make no sense at all. Other carriers beat them every time. But if you have Voyager and your Company pays for flights why worry.
Click to expand...

Your company might go bankrupt and then you'd be unemployed?:whistle:
 
Hosehead said:
All tickets issued at the SAA offices and at the airport incur service fees. Moral of the story - Book online and get eticketed to avoid paying service fees and don't make changes. And nobody flys for the food. Oh. Wait. A travel Editor. They live for Free Things.
Click to expand...

BS. Why are SA'ns so willing to get the shaft when it comes to services? Eskom, Telkom, hell, most Municipal services, All love to charge heavily but give very little in return. SAA charge a price for full services but give you a F'ing sandwich and the finger. And who said free, the guy paid for the trip which includes dinner, again at a premium price.:rolleyes:

Why are SA'ns so eager to get the shaft by service providers?ou payed for those services, you know? The reason that services are not up to international standards but cost similarly are because providers know that they don't have to do much as SA'ns don't mind getting raped.
 
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