SAA flights |
Hierdie blad is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar. Sien SAL. |
British Airways v SAA |
SAA (South African Airways) is South Africa's government owned national carrier (it owns the other government carrier, Mango airline). It offers the most comprehensive coverage of routes within South Africa, to and from South Africa. Flights are full service. SAA is a full service carrier, so do not expect the cheap flight prices one would get with the low cost carriers.
SAA flight reviews
6 Feb 2012: South African Airways review of a flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg - they were far from cheapest, but we decided to fly with them anyway, as it's been too long since we last did a review |
31 Jan 2010: On this SAA Cape Town - Durban flight they provide proof that Kulula do not have the monopoly on in-flight humour. |
19 Jan 2008: I fly SAA from CPT to JNB en-route to Mumbai, India. |
18 Nov 2007: Aw, we didn't get seats next to each other - see our SAA flight review. |
22 Jun 2007: Impressed with automated check-ins for my SAA flight to Cape Town. |
20 Jun 2007: No queues for me on this SAA flight to Johannesburg. |
SAA flight reservations
Call centre |
Reservations |
Email enquiries |
Online bookings |
0861 FLY SAA |
+27 11 978 1111 |
flysaa |
Be sure to compare flight prices before you making a reservation.
SAA flight specials
Here's the latest SAA special (unless you're booking on the actual day of the special, it's likely it's sold out by now):
|
|
JNB-CPT |
JNB-DUR |
JNB-ELS |
JNB-LON |
JNB-PLZ |
CPT-DUR |
|
25 Jan 2012 |
South African Airways flight prices in March 2012 |
R1012 |
R727 |
R932 |
- |
R898 |
R1160 |
- |
ª = return flights
SAA flight review
25 Jul 2010. "Country Gourmet Traveller" caught a South African Airways flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg to Dakar to New York, which he describes as one of his "favourite airlines": "What I like already is that there is more leg space than in many other airlines which makes long hauls a lot easier. I was flying from Cape Town to Johannesburg and then via Dakar to New York which is a 17 hour long trip, so it is very much appreciated to have these couple of extra centimetres... The service was outstanding, the food was good, ok the sandwich was a little weak, some sloppy wrap with beef inside, nothing to write about, but then the hot meal was very good and nicely presented. The choice of course the usual beef or chicken and I opted for the chicken, very tasty and good, no complaints. The movie choice could have been a bit better, but I guess if one doesn’t fly too often it is perfectly fine. I slept quite a bit on the way so it didn’t matter too much. The service passes often with refreshments, so one is very well looked after." |
SAA flight routes
South African flights
SAA schedules flights between Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and all the other major centres in South Africa.
International flights
SAA operates international flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg to many major cities in the world.
Frequent flyer program
SAA Voyager frequent flyer program.
SAA's aircraft
Boeing 747-400 |
4 (all to be grounded end Nov 2007) |
Boeing 737-800 |
17 (4 are leased to Mango airline) |
Airbus A-319 |
11 |
Airbus A340 399 Extended Range |
6 |
Airbus A340-200 |
6 |
Airbus A340-600 |
9 |
Callsign & IATA code
Callsign: SPRINGBOK
IATA code: SA
ICAO code: SAA
Delayed SAA flights
From the 1st January 2005 to the 31st January 2007, 24% of SAA's international flights were delayed and 23% of domestic flights were delayed.
Overbooking on SAA flights
Historically, SAA have compensated passengers who couldn't board an South African Airways flight as a result of overbooking. However, since the 14th October 2006 South African Airways no longer compensate their passengers who miss a flight as a result of overbooking.
SAA pilots
SAA is busy with a program aiming to increase the number of black pilots, through its accelerated programme for black cadets. Other domestic South African airlines have not shown as great an urgency to increasing the percentage of blacks amongst their crew, as South African Airways.
SAA safety
From 1970 to 2000 South African Airways flew some 1.6 million flights with 1 fatal accident (0.6 fatal events per million flights). SAA's sole fatal flight occured on the 28th November 1987; when a South African Airways 747- 200 Combi (the Helderberg), flying from Chiang Kai Shek International Airport to to Johannesburg via Mauritius, crashed during flight over the Indian Ocean, between Taiwan and South Africa, apparently as a result of a fire in the main deck cargo area. All 19 crew and 141 passengers were killed.
SAA's Skytrax ratings
SAA has a 4 star rating with Skytrax. In 2007, SAA flights were voted the best in Africa, by Skytrax.
SAA's marketing
Airline tickets are mostly sold online. Unlike major competitors like British Airways, Air France, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and KLM; SAA has not set up affiliate marketing agreements to leverage sales on the internet. South Africans Airways' offline marketing effort has not had as much impact with members of SouthAfrica.to, as other airlines like British Airways.
Sawubona magazine
Sawubona means 'greetings' in Nguni. Sawubona is the name of South African Airways' in-flight magazine, carried on all SAA flights - international and domestic.
SAA's board
SAA's board members are much in demand by other companies! South African Airways' CEO (Khaya Ngqula) sits on 23 boards whilst their chairman (Jakes Gerwel) holds 26 directorships . In total the 10 South African Airways board members hold 136 directorships. Clearly the SAA board spend a fair chunk of their time solving other companies' problems.
British Airways versus South African Airways
In SouthAfrica.TO's experience British Airways offers superior service in terms of aircraft design, meals, check-in queues and marketing. Here's our analysis of British Airways versus South African Airways.
South African Airways' web traffic
The graph below provides an indication of the percentage of total web traffic which South African Airways is reaching through its website.
Legal entity
South African Airways (Proprietary) Limited Reg. No. 1997/0022444/07.
Subsidiaries of South African Airways
Airchefs (Pty) Ltd
Airchefs International (Pty) Ltd
SAA City Centre (Pty) Ltd
SAA Technical (Pty) Ltd
International Aviation Personnel (Pty) Ltd
Air Tanzania (Pty) Ltd (Tanzania)
Latest SAA news
From 31 January 2012, SAA commences flights between Johannesburg & Beijing, China, using an Airbus A340-600. Flying time is some 15 hours, and the flight leaves JNB at 08h00 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The return flight leaves Beijing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 06h40 (arriving at JNB at 15h40 the following day).