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South African Airways customer travel guide
		South African Airways Passenger Trip Reviews		South African Airways Economy class seat reviews
		South African Airways 4-Star Airline ranking		South African Airways Business class seat reviews
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South African Airways customer review :  11 July 2011 by Ricardo Sfeir   (Brazil)

The seats are so tight that it is practically impossible to open your legs while seated, and so close together with the seat in front of you that you can't stretch your leg. There were no individual TV's, only one TV at the start of the aisle with the worst quality I have ever seen. The fight attendants were rude, impersonal and didn't care if people called them or not. The food was bland; tasteless.

South African Airways customer review :  7 July 2011 by J Gray   (Myanmar)

JNB-LUN and LLW-JNB in Economy. Overall, a very mediocre experience. FA's on both legs were rushed and abrupt, and service lacked any warmth or personal attention. There was no recognition of Star Alliance Gold Card holders; no priority boarding in either JNB or LLW, no priority luggage tags, and no lounge access in LLW. Flights were very expensive (admittedly you don't have much choice), and service did not meet expectations.

South African Airways customer review :  1 July 2011 by S Walker   (USA)

Where do I start? I fly business to South Africa and SAA is the worst. The flight crew was horrible, and on every leg you had to beg them for service. From JFK-JNB I sat next to a SAA rep, who noticed my lack of attention from the flight crew. It gets worse. I tried to return early back to the USA, and no one over the phone will help you in South Africa. I was told to go to the airport, which I did for 8 hrs. I was finally put on a flight from JNB back to JFK about 30 mins before flight after waiting and being extorted to pay almost 700 in fees. Who can you complain to in JNB? No one was willing to help. I got my boarding pass then noticed I was given a coach seat. My bags were pulled from the plane as I refused to fly coach on nearly a $10k ticket. They put me on a flight for the next day (my original flight).

South African Airways customer review :  1 July 2011 by T Smith   (UK)

My 2 year old son and I flew SAA in April 2011, they put us on a flight that had no TV screens in the back of the seats! Therefore a nightmare to keep a 2year old in a seat and entertained! TV's in the aisles is for the 80's not for the millennium! I'm not impressed at all and didn't feel that the food was kid appropriate either. Without having PTV screens I would rather have flown via DOHA than pay for a direct flight from London-CPT without TV for a 2year old! Staff were poor and uninterested, food tasteless. The entire journey left a bad taste in my mouth. SAA has definitely deteriorated!

South African Airways customer review :  30 June 2011 by Annelize Kidd   (UK)

We flew to JHB Economy class overnight from LHR during Easter and had a superb experience. We liked the tasteful interior of the plane, the multi-choice entertainment available on your own screen, the air stewards' outfits and friendliness, and the food, much better than previous journeys to South Africa using KLM, Air France or Emirates. The best part was we were upgraded to Business Class on our return journey -- what a wonderful experience that was for all of us, lying flat down in bed overnight flying the length of Africa! I was probably the only one in Biz class taking pictures for keepsakes. Well done SAA and thank you!

South African Airways customer review :  26 June 2011 by C Jones   (Namibia)

Flew Business Class from Windhoek-Johannesburg on their new Airbus A330. The interior looks and feels quite new and all works great. They have full lie down beds, which we didn't use as the flight was only 2 hours. The seats are very comfortable though, with various seating possibilities. Service and food was 10 out of 10, but I wouldn't expect any less for Business Class. Would love to fly on Business Class on the A330 again for a long haul flight and I can only recommend it.

South African Airways customer review :  9 June 2011 by M Sadiki   (Australia)

JNB-PER. No PTV screen, general screens provided but with poor resolution for screens. Service after dinner was very haphazard. Food choices were limited.

South African Airways customer review :  4 June 2011 by Gavin Slater   (UK)

Domestic flights JNB/CPT return. The connecting flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town after a long haul from Frankfurt was fine. As it was midday, a hot meal was served and the staff were very friendly and responsive. Drinks were good. SAA has a well earned reputation for hospitality but I think this depends on the crew. On return, check in staff very good and facilities at Cape Town International are excellent. Also snack and drinks served. Really no competition for their European counterparts on domestic flights - so much better.

South African Airways customer review :  30 May 2011 by Mark Roberts   (UK)

CPT-JNB-LHR Business. Domestic lounge in CPT poor food and drink offers. Flights all running at least an hour late, no information as to why, or even boarding when it had started. CPT-JNB staff friendly and motivated, but the cabin was unclean. Time consuming transfer Domestic to International at JNB. A346 to LHR was full, food and wine selection very good, well presented, and the service pretty by interested crew, not especially welcoming. Seat seemed to have a dip in the centre of the cushion when into flat bed leg space, rather old fashioned seat.

South African Airways customer review :  29 May 2011 by K Franklin   (Australia)

PER-JNB-PER many times and SAA mainly uses an A340-200 or A340-300 on this route. This means main screen movies rather than inseat screens with VOD. This week I had two bulkhead seats to myself at the front of economy. The TV above me was so washed out I couldn't see the movies but they were not the latest releases so I tried to sleep instead. The legroom for the bulkhead was less than many economy class cabins. The service was OK. Overall I think SAA is a good airline but not a great airline.

South African Airways customer review :  27 May 2011 by M Macaluso   (UK)

LHR-CPT on A340-200. Seats rock hard, the recline didn't work on my seat, no PTV screens, just one big screen for 40 people. Food tasteless and it was hard to get a drink when you wanted one.

South African Airways customer review :  22 May 2011 by B Klug   (Germany)

JNB-FRA. Nice lounge in JNB. Very good meal quality and service. Exceptional staff in my opinion. They were always trying to provide attentive and personal service. Would choose SAA again.

South African Airways customer review :  20 May 2011 by Gary Rumbold   (UK)

LHR-JNB return. Won't comment on delays or economy class space as all much of a muchness whoever you travel with. I found cabin crew to be uninterested in passengers and apart from serving the meals service non existent. Saw a number of people press the button and were not attended. When looking at the route map on the IFE, I dont want to spend 4 in every 5 minutes being forced to look at leg exercises.

South African Airways customer review :  19 May 2011 by Francois Koenig   (South Africa)

CPT-Nelspruit . Check in agent very friendly. Through security in no time. BA-146 was very comfortable. 2 flight attendants smiling and professional. Meal was choice of smoked chicken or beef salad - the freshest salad ever eaten aboard. Free booze, 2 x drinks run, dessert etc. Pleasant 2hr flight.

South African Airways customer review :  15 May 2011 by David Dun   (Australia)

Shocking A343 aircraft being used between Perth and Johannesburg - all signs are in Spanish and English. Broke down on take-off from JNB resulting in 3.5 hr delay with no disembarkation allowed. Very poor space between seats. Poor and limited entertainment system.

South African Airways customer review :  12 May 2011 by Thomas Echter   (Germany)

Munich to Jo'burg. Friendly check-in, small welcome gifts for the night. Good entertainment, food and wine. Water at a bar to take whenever you want. Very friendly stewardess.

South African Airways customer review :  12 May 2011 by B Whittingham   (Australia)

PER-JNB. After initially booked to fly on a Friday night, they cancelled Friday night flights. The aircraft was an old A340, economy class had no seat back entertainment and movies had to be viewed on screens at the front of the cabin. Only one of the screens worked and service after the meal was non existent.

South African Airways customer review :  8 May 2011 by Simon Smith   (UK)

LHR-JNB-LLW return. Really impressed. Economy cabin compares very favourably to British Airways, good seat width and leg room and the food was perfectly adequate. Return flight from JNB on a 2 day old A340. Short flights to Lilongwe were fine. All flights were more or less on time and crew professional.

South African Airways customer review :  8 May 2011 by Bryan Duggan   (UK)

LHR to Jo'burg and back. Both trips had exceptional cabin service in Business Class and good food and wine. Seat allows a full flat bed and almost any other combination of seat shape you would like. Curiously the bed in the older airbus outbound seemed slightly more comfortable than in the new plane on the return trip. Businesselounges good, if a little crowded at Jo'burg but the additional arrivals side lounge at Heathrow was small but very nice with good quality showers available. Highly recommended.

South African Airways customer review :  25 April 2011 by A Cotrim   (Portugal)

JNB-MPM return. EMB190 (LAM) and A319 (SAA). In first flight was a LAM (Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique) a codeshare SAA/. The plane was new, staff was very kindly. The food was good (snack). SAA flight the A319 was new too. Very good the colors of the interior of the plane. The crew was Kindly too.