1time, Kulula & Mango are both highly reputable South African low-cost carriers - but which is the best? Here's our comparison.
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Winner |
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Leg-space |
It is difficult to tell whether 1time or Kulula have the most leg space. At times I have thought 1time has more leg space, but on another occassion I had the misfortune of sitting behind a broken 1time seat which lent back on me. |
Mango has less legspace than 1time or Kulula. |
1time |
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Check-in |
Short queue - in terms of queue length there is not much difference between Kulula and 1time. We have had the inconvenience of having to rearrange luggage because our hand luggage weighed 7kg instead of the maximum of 5kg. |
Short check-in queue, as they allowed check-in through British Airways check-ins as well. Kulula didn't check hand luggage weight. A BA staff member once offered to take a family photo whilst we were in the queue. With Kulula we once had to take our fragile item ourselves to the fragile items depot. |
Queue was short but not as short as the Kulula & 1time queues I've experienced. Mixed experiences with Mango staff members - some friendly and cracking jokes, whilst other serious and moaning about hand luggage weighing 9kg (maximum is 7kg). |
1time
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Flight specials / airline sales |
R391 JNB-CPT |
R399 JNB-CPT |
R545 JNB-CPT |
1time |
Price display |
include all taxes |
Kulula seem to have ended their practice of quoting prices excluding taxes |
include all taxes |
1time |
Baggage handling |
1time sent our luggage on an earlier flight without informing us, we had to search around at the airport to establish this, and eventually found the bag unattended to at the 1time luggage office. |
Never had baggage lost through Kulula Airline or Mango Airline. |
Kulula |
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Courtesy |
A good experience was a 1time host holding up the overhead locker for me, and offered to stir coffee whilst I held my baby. A negative experience was having to ask a hostess thrice to get a kiddies back, and only getting a coherent reply on the 3rd attempt. Then she took so long that I went to get it myself. |
A good experience was BA staff at check-in offering to take a family photo. A negative experience was after cancelling their flights twice, Kulula not making enough effort to get us on an SAA flight leaving on time, and then when it was too late their excuse changed to they would but it was too late. |
At check-in the Mango staff member cracked jokes and was friendly. As a sandwich dropped on the floor, the attendant immediately said she'd replace it. |
Mango |
Free newspapers |
Mango offered us a complimentary Business Day and The Times newspaper. On a Kulula Cape Town - Johannesburg review, we got a free newspaper from Mango :) |
Mango |
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Kiddies Pack |
Free, containing crisps, sweets, a pack of crayons & a colouring-in-sheet. They used to have a juice, but on our latest 1time flight we noticed it had been removed (cost-cutting?). |
Kiddies pack available, but you've got to pay for it. |
Have to pay for the kiddies pack. |
1time |
Travelling with babies |
Both 1time and Kulula have shown consideration to us when travelling with babies, in the form of making sure we sit together, and if there is free space putting us on a 3 seater with the seat in the middle for the little one. I like 1time's 2 seater configuration on the left of their planes, as it means even if the plane is full you don't need to sit next to a stranger. |
Haven't flown with a baby yet. |
1time |
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Marketing |
All of 1time, Kulula & Mango are clueless when it comes to the affiliate marketing of their airline tickets (South African Airlines other than British Airways are way behind the curve in this regard). Overseas competitors like Jet Blue, bmiBaby, BA, Qatar Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France all have fully-fledged affiliate marketing programs. |
tie (all fail) |
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On-plane advertising |
1time have advertising on the outside of some planes (Count Pushkin Vodka), on the overhead lockers (Count Pushkin, 1timeholidays.co.za, Sanlam Liquid) and had advertising on the tray table (DSTV, 1time holidays) and head-rests (Sanlam Liquid). We are not supporters of advertising alcoholic products in areas where there are children. |
Kulula have advertising on the overhead lockers (advertising the Kulula credit card). |
The Times advertising on the serving trays. |
Kulula |
Safety announcement |
Pre-recorded & clinical. |
Live & packed with Kulula humour. A major differentiator. |
Sometimes live, sometimes pre-recorded, but no humour. |
Kulula |
Frequent Flier program |
1time does not have a frequent flier program. |
Kulula has a Jetsetter program, and one can also earn Kulula Moolah with the Kulula Credit Card. |
Mango does not have a frequent flyer program. |
Kulula |
menus |
They accommodate vegeterians with their veggie burgers, and have recently added smoothies to their menu. 1time's menu used to be on laminated paper, meaning they didn't have to print it each flight, saving paper and easier to find. During 2009 they started including the menu at the back of the in-flight magazine. |
Kulula's menu is in their in-flight magazine, meaning they have to reprint it with each monthly magazine, and it's also harder to find for 1st time fliers. No smoothies or veggie burgers (but they do have veggie sarmies). |
Mango's menu is in their in-flight magazine, and requires some looking around to find. Their menu is not as comprehensive as 1time or Kulula's. |
1time |
Travel Insurance |
1time sells AIG Travel Insurance policies. |
Kulula doesn't sell travel insurance together with its flights. |
Mango and AIG offer travel insurance. |
1time |
Planes |
MD82s, which I understand have more manual features for pilots than the Boeings, and therefore more chance of human error (I'm not an expert on this, and stand to be corrected on this matter). |
Boeings, use 26% less fuel than the MD82s, saving a lot in terms of carbon emissions. |
Boeing 737-800, carrying 186 people. |
Kulula |
Boarding the plane |
All airlines allowed front and back boarding of their planes, allowing them to fill up quickly. |
3-way tie |
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Air nozzles and overhead lights |
1time's air nozzles had very little pressure during one flight, but have yet to experience their overhead lights not working. |
Air nozzles and overhead lights have worked well on my Kulula flights so far...touch wood. |
Yet to review Kulula and Mango air nozzles and lights. |
Kulula |
Engine noise |
The noise of the engines of 1time's MD80 engines are rather loud at the back of the plane. It sounds like a mix between a very loud bee or a very noisy washing machine going through a spin cycle. |
Noisy, but not as loud as sitting at the back of a 1time flight. |
Noisy - I was sitting right next to the engines on the wing, but not as loud as sitting at the back of a 1time flight. |
Kulula |
Flexibility |
Very little flexibility. If you miss your flight by a few minutes, 1time put you on standby for the next flight. |
Very little flexibility. |
Mango offers Mango Flex and Mango Plus tickets which are flexible to change. |
Mango |
Cancelling flights |
1time has never cancelled a flight I have booked. |
Two days before a flight from Cape Town to Durban, Kulula emailed me to cancel my flight and change it to a new time (no compensation offered). |
Mango has never cancelled a flight I have booked. |
1time |
4 Dec 2009 |
Kulula Cape Town - Johannesburg flight. |
19 Sep 2009 |
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14 Sep 2009 |
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24 Jul 2009 |
BA cheapest, chose Interlink but eventually fly Mango. |
18 May 2009 |
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27 Apr 2009 |
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28 Jan 2009 |
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24 Dec 2008 |
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31 May 2008 |
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9 Aug 2007 |
Who offers the best full service flights in South Africa - BA vs SAA.
Name |
Comment |
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zakia | plz i need 2 cheap tickets to cape town leaving on the 27march,and returning on thr 7april,plz let me know asap |
jubal | hi there, this information is very useful but some is in-accurate. I fly at least 3 times a week, and only support the local low cost carriers, Mango has the WORST check-in especially on the morning Business flights and their special is miss-leading for it does not include taxes as the other carrier does. Perhaps re-do your survey or get more input from the Public. Thanks |
heleen | we want to fly direct to George from Durban on 21/1209 and return on 27/12/09 also direct. Flight prices between Kulula, BA, Mango, 1Time? Please advise. Thank you. |
Nkanyezi | I have been working at the Airport for 4 years. I worked at Equity Aviation For 2 years and 6 months as a Safety Rep, my duties were: .reporting of arrival flights .monitoring ontime departures of all aircraft handled by Equity Aviation .Inspecting vehicles around the Apron .Key accounts rep for Cathay Pacific. I than was fortunate to find a job at SAA Voyager where i was a Call Centre Agent. I dealt with Airline enquiries, booked reservations and car rentals. I have Galileo, Amadeus and Airline orientation. Traveling has always been my passion. Would you please be so kind to advise me if and when there are any posts available. |
Michelle Maleka | I would like to work as a flight attendent. What do I need to qualify.? |
ce guy | Intresting!the last time i flew was with mango,i remember they had advertising on the tray tables an the mango tv.there menu is pathetic compaired to kulula an 1time.1time wins with leg room.found mango check in long!service wise they all good.In the old days they made aircraft for pax comfort now we all just squashed/cramped in.1time has a 32inche an both mango an kulula have 29inche (leg room must be the same).ill check it out again when i fly kulula.i miss the good old nationwide. |
MARGARET FRASER | I SUPPOSE IT WAS THE GREAT OFFER THEY HAD.NOT OFTEN YOU GET TO FLY AT THOSE PRICES. THE WHOLE OF SOUTH AFRICA MUST HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LOG ON TO 1TIME. I HAVE TO ADMIT I ALWAYS FLY 1TIME AND AM VERY HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING THEY HAVE TO OFFER. ALWAYS FRIENDLY & HELPFUL |
Barbara | I prefer 1Time's policy of allowing flight changes, Kuklula are inflexible on this and I don't find their service to be very good. I fly perhaps once a month. 1Time's seats are more comfortable. |