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SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS Passenger Reviews and Passenger Trip Reports |
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SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 26 June 2009 : by S Gregg (Spain)
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Trip Rating : 8/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
JNB-DUR-JNB, JNB-CPT-JNB, ELS-JNB. Exactly the same experience as Lufthansa in Europe: clean
planes, bland food and professional FAs. A340-200 feels cramped, A340-600 has good legroom
but very uncomfy seats. ELS is a really funny airport, tho it will be extended now. If you go
to JNB luggage wrap is a must! Overall SAA is good value for your money to travel within SA,
it definitely worth the extra over the no frills carriers there.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 23 June 2009 : by A Buitendag (South Africa)
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Trip Rating : 9/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
JNB-DKR-JFK and IAD-DKR-JNB. The service and friendliness of the crew, something I will
remember for a long time. A crew changeover take place at Dakar where the plane is also
refueled and the cabins serviced. Crews for both flights were friendly, and frequently walked
around with extra juice and bottled water. The bar service also remained open through most of
the journey. The food service is good, entertainment system was also adequate with a good
selection of movies and programmes.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 23 June 2009 : by M Preston (UK)
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Trip Rating : 8/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
I wrote a very positive review of an SAX flight JNB-GRJ on 21 MAR. I subsequently have reason
to complain about SAA's billing and accounting procedures. I bought 3 tickets on flysaa.com
for ths flight. They charged my card 4 times. After I'd queried this with them they refunded
the non-existent fourth ticket (causing me a small exchange rate loss). I would have left it
there, but they didn't. Weeks later they refunded the value another 2 tickets, and then weeks
after that they charged them again. Each time the exchange rate and bank charges meant that I
was out of pocket. I have emailed them and had no response, and I have made several calls to
customer care. Each person at customer care has been charming and friendly and promised that
they would look into it and have someone phone me back. Not one person has so far fulfilled
this promise. I have warned them that if they make further unauthorised debits to my account
my bank will treat it as fraudulent, and I am requesting a refund of the amount that their
inefficiency has cost me. They may be a good airline to fly with most of the time but their
follow-up is atrocious, despite the obvious good intentions of the staff.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 23 June 2009 : by Mahul Shah (Kenya)
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Trip Rating : 5/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Business |
JNB-CPT. Check in for both International and Domestic SAA flights is in Terminal B. You still
have to walk a distance to the departure security area. Checkin was very quick. The SAA
Domestic lounge has adequate seating areas, but poor service and poor choice of food (white
bread sandwiches, crisps) and drinks (all served by bored staff). Aircraft was a 737-800 with
2-3 seating. Small seats with little recline. No pre-departure drink. No service with a smile.
No towel service. Flight was 2 hours. They showed videos on the overhead screens, but no
headphones. Lunch was a chicken and cheese toasted sandwich - plain, boring and tasteless. The
drinks service was good, and the wine glass was kept topped up. Overall a very poor J class
experience, not worth the money paid.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 21 June 2009 : by H Hofmeister (South Africa)
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Trip Rating : 5/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
JNB to Hong Kong return. Though the business class seat remains one of the best in its class
I wish SAA will start looking at the quality of service on board. The cabin crew remained
incredibly unfriendly on both legs of the journey. Everything seemed to be too much trouble -
at one stage I asked for water and the attended promptly asked sarcastically "Another one?".
The quality of the food is standard with most other airlines economy offering. I used to love
flying this airline but would much rather spend my money with other airlines.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 21 June 2009 : by G Davis (USA)
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Trip Rating : 5/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
LHR-Cape Town return. From reading previous reviews and given my own experience, quality of
trip depends on the type of airplane you get. On the outbound we had an A340-300, which had
personal entertainment systems, good leg room, and a happy cabin crew. The return was on an
A340-200, which was torture. Seat pitch very tight, only one movie on an overhead TV and then
no more entertainment for the whole night, and a crabby flight crew. Also no soap in some
bathrooms, few water runs, no choices on meal by the time they got to our row (which was about
the middle of the plane). I would rate the outbound trip an 8, and the inbound a 2. Because of
this inconsistency I would not recommend SAA.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 12 May 2009 : by Erland Kristensen (Denmark)
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Trip Rating : 3/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
Frankfurt - JNB Economy:. Bad service and attitude from cabin staff. Limited movie choice, the
headset was missing and they took a long time to find a set for me.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 5 May 2009 : by Andrew Mortimer (New Zealand)
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Trip Rating : 9/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
JNB-GRU on A340-600 return. Brilliant flights in 2-4-2 comfort. Seats appeared to be lower
than on other carriers so able to plant feet on the floor or stretch out as necessary. Food
excellent on outbound. Good service with a smile from staff. Just one 'downer' I wanted some
duty free but wasn't woken in time and it had been re-sealed for SA customs, otherwise
faultless.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 23 April 2009 : by Cora Botha (South Africa)
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Trip Rating : 8/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
Cape Town to London on A340. Both the outbound and inbound flights were fine. The seating was
comfortable, food as good as it comes in the economy section and the cabin staff were actually
helpful & friendly. Both flights were on time, the air quality in the cabin was good and it
could not have been better for a 12 hour flight.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 22 April 2009 : by H Stewart (UK)
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Trip Rating : 8/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Business |
LHR-JNB-PLZ return in Business class, 5 adults plus a baby. Star Alliance Gold lounge at LHR,
used by SAA business class passengers is excellent. Quiet, good range of food, several seating
areas. First long-haul flight excellent on A340-600, with one surly cabin crew member being
the exception. Lie flat seats good, plus attractive amenity kit. Domestic legs just ok, but
short flight so no issues. As a previous reviewer said, lounge in JNB for international
customers is not adequate - crowded, basic facilities. Have to go to 1st class lounge for
toilets! Hope the refurbished one is better. Big let-down was final long-haul on A340-200
where bassinet not provided for baby despite both myself and travel agent confirming this and
ensuring correct assignment. Senior cabin services person was curt and actually rude about
this. Largely negates point of paying for business class if a parent has to share seat for 11
hours
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 8 April 2009 : by S Weller (South Africa)
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Trip Rating : 5/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Business |
JNB-PER Business Class A340-600. The refurbishment of the central terminal at JNB is now
complete and the design is bizarre. Terminal A check in was much easier. You now check in
upstairs at Terminal B then have to go back downstairs to clear security. After a long walk
you end up back at Terminal A near the old check in area. The SAA Premium Lounge is still
being upgraded. The lounge in current use is very substandard. The toilets are a long walk and
the selection of food and beverages is very poor. I was looking forward to a few glasses of
chilled Moet on boarding but we were told no Moet was loaded even with a late departure. There
were problems throughout the night with the AVOD & the cabin temperature was hot. The lie flat
beds are hard but the duvet and pillows are great. Meals were excellent and flight arrived on
time.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS review : 6 April 2009 : by Philip Schmidt (Denmark)
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Trip Rating : 8/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
Frankfurt-Johannesburg-Cape Town return. Both the outbound and inbound flight to and from
Johannesburg, was with one of SAA new Airbus 340-600. Speedy check in, the FA's where kind
and attentive. There where two choices for dinner, chicken and beef. I chose beef both ways,
complimented by a small bowl of cold rice, som fruit, candy and free drinks. For breakfast
you had to choose between Continental and Sausage. The continental was a great disappointment,
a piece of cold beef, a slice of cheese and bread with juice and coffee. And some fruit. Thats
it. For the connecting flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town and return, a sandwich and fresh
water was served. Despite the poor continental breakfast, the overall food experience was
above average. The seats on the Airbus 346 have a lot legroom, and good recline. IFE was good,
video on demand, touchscreen and what follows. The selection of movies and TV-Shows was great.
Overall I had a very pleasant experience with SAA. And I would fly with them again.
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