South African Airways

The process was fairly simple from check in to arrival. I paid extra for seating however not positive if extra made a difference since the flight was fairly lengthy. Great selection of entertainment (Movies/Music). I probably would recommend the non-stop experience again.

South Africa Airlines canceled my flight New York to Polokwane via Johannesburg and has refused to refund my money I paid. According to the Department of Transportation they are required to refund my money because they canceled my flight due to Covid19.

Booked with British Airways (thankfully) to fly to Johannesburg in October then on 10th flying with South African Airlines to St Helena Island for a 2 week "bucket list" holiday. This is the only way to get to St Helena Island. My flight has now been cancelled by SAA and no chance of speaking to anyone about a refund. All phonelines to SAA not working. Website to claim a voucher/credit not working. Have lost £800 and a dream holiday that I was so looking forward to. Will keep trying but I do not hold out any hope of getting anything back from these crooks. I also have an unwanted flight now to Johannesburg with British Airways.

The flight is not operating, and yet with only 2 weeks to go, SAA have sent me no communication to say that it is, or is not, operating. Their call centres are shut, and via social media and email, I have been told that no refund is available. This is not legal, as the service provided has not been delivered. COVID19 is causing mayhem for everyone and everything, yet the response from SAA is the worst that I have experienced by a mile. Book with someone else, or risk losing your money.

Attempted to return to the U.S. in March using this airline. Was stranded in JHB due to cancilation of flights with the virus. They refused to allow us to have our baggage while stuck in the international portion of the airport for 2 days while trying to arrange another flight out. No refund of the JHB to CPT flight. And our checked baggage which included professional equipment and gear from a year long stay in Zambia working in wildlife conservation has been lost. Phone calls result in an endless loop of recordings. Probably an average type airline in a more normal time, however very third world performace now.

I was expecting a bad flight, but was surprised, the flight was good, the seats were comfortable, the food leaving JHB was great, the crew were friendly, the flight was very smooth, Flew on the A330, would love to fly on the A350! The overall experience was much better than another big name middle eastern airlines. The Platinum check inn at ORT was amazing and quick, with very friendly staff. The IFE was good, enough to keep me entertained for the flight!

I bought my round-trip ticket in December 2019. I always buy at least 6 - 9 months in advance. Well, CoronaVirus is here and many of us are not getting refunds on the money which we spent on tickets. South African Airways was bailed out with over US$50 million this year to keep it afloat. It has now gone in to liquidation. I would like a refund. But between SAA, Bank of America, and Justfly.com, I am unable to contact them, speak to them, nor do they care. Has anyone else out there have a similar story with the airlines who have received millions in assistance in their pockets?

I arrived to Johannesburg on an international flight on 26 March 2020, which was the last day before lockdown in South Africa. Due to the lockdown, most domestic airlines already stopped flying on the 25th. This seat in Business Class on SAA was the only option I had to get back to Cape Town, as US$275 one way for the 2 hour flight. When I arrived at the Business check in counters it was like the airline had already shut down. I went over to the Economy check in area and again there were no passengers and no staff. I turned to walk away, and that is when I saw 3 check in agents dragging themselves back to checkin. The explanation offered was that things were quiet, so they all decided to take a lunch break together. After I was checked in, I enquired about the lounge, as this was a business class ticket, however I was informed that the SAA lounge was closed due to the lockdown. Fine, I understand that they need some time to shut things down, but how about offering a voucher for a coffee and a sandwich like any respectable airline would do? I did pay full fare after all. I enquired about this at the ticket counter, but the very agent told me that "there are no contingencies in place for the lounge. When I stated that normally a voucher would be offered, he became defensive and started telling me that he was about to lose his job. The flight boarded on time. This was probably the only thing they did right. After everyone was on board, we waited for a good 30 minutes while the crew kept telling us that "there were more passengers on the way", and that we needed to wait for them. No boarding refreshments were offered in Business. Eventually the person we were waiting for boarded the aircraft, and no, this was not a passenger at all it was a cabin crew. The business cabin on this A320 showed serious signs or wear. On my seat, the cover for the lifejacket in the central armrest would not stay shut as the catch was broken. We took off about 45 minutes late. Shortly after take off, the crew made an announcement: "due to the Coronavirus, we will not be serving lunch today. Instead you will each find juice in your seat pocket." That was it for the service.

My wife and I along with another family were supposed going to Zimbabwe Victoria Falls from NYC on April 2, 2020. We have paid about $3000 for our tickets. The airline grounded all the international flights at that time. When we asked for refund or a voucher for future travel all they offered us was to use our tickets for the same trip until June 29 2020 which was too close, and impossible for us to use. So in a nutshell they basically stole &3000 from us. Please, by all means avoid doing any business with these crooks!

Average aircraft, better than average service. Flight regularly on time. 15 minutes departure time arrival late but often take this flight so it's usually on time.

After booking a refundable ticket I was told that they would only offer credit !! The reason people purchase a refundable ticket is refund!! The ticket was cancelled with 5 months notice but refused to refund. They feel due to corona they can just make there own rules,even though the international law has condemned airlines offering credit and not refunding when requested. Legal against the law !! My advise avoid at all cost , this company is not trustworthy use other companies who are !!

Excellent check-in and security service; very good lounge; business class seating a proper four abreast so there was plenty of room. Not too expensive, with attentive staff even on this short flight.

Very poor customer service. I could talk to a real person. And the one time I did, I was given a number that goes straight to voicemail, don’t even bother leaving a message because they don’t return calls and reply to your emails.

Took my money £450 then cancelled flight 2 days later when SA border closed. Remonstrated with SA rep. as I wanted money back. Turkish Airlines had done so with cancelled flight few days earlier. Explained my mobile phone had been stolen and I had no way of contacting anyone for flight home. Rep. merely shrugged her shoulder - couldn't give a damn. Told me to contact 'customer services' which I did when returned home eventually. What a joke - offering a credit flight within 2 years but can't actually speak to anyone. Some customer service.. I WANT MY MONEY BACK AS I AM ENTITLED TO. I will continue to discredit you until this happens. Such a shame as SA people were fantastic - this shambolic and untrustworthy airline has tainted my experience of a great country.

- SEAT: Wide w.\ Touchable Entertainment Screen incl, Different Options … MEAL: Medium Qty. w.\ Lamb Option … DEP. /ARR. In Time … Bus fr. Airport to Plane was Full. - The Worst is CHECK IN: The Young Responsible Man in MU stay along time about 30 min.! to search my Docs. To enter TZ in spite of having Official E-Visa! With the same Data even ask me questions don’t demand before from TZ Government itself & When finished then remember something ask again & Go to Manager to consult? … I tried to avoid this queue due its clearly delaying but no option? …My Opinion; This due the Nature of People living in isolated Isls. but here come the rule of Mgmt. trying to choose a suitable Employee far as possible than Hesitating & Doubting then make a Training. - INTERNET Serv.: For a Technical Reason, I don’t directly receive the e-mail containing Ticket from my Famous Web Agent. Then, asking them to send a Copy. They delayed Replied mentioning ask your Agent instead simple Sending in spite of directly collecting the Fee from Credit not via Agent … After, before departure sent a Unique Offer to Promote the Class determining the Fee by Myself! then collect after Approval (New). - JNB AirPort: Use as a long Stop Over about 15hr. but No Free Ht. or Meal + Many Big TV illustrate Airp. Channel + Fulfill w.\ Shops & Cafe + V.G. Bath + Check Passenger Heat for “Corona” & Fill Health Form = 8.0/10

I booked an upcoming flight. I had to cancelled because of the covid 19 craze. After being on the phone for 45 mins, someone answered. Two days later I found out from the ticket they put in the wrong date. I called back to get the date right and these crooks are charging me extra $300 to change date on something which is not my fault even though flight is scheduled to leave months from now. Very dishonest people and money hungry folks. This will be first and last time I will use South African Airways. Fraudulent and inhumane of this airline during this difficult times. I don't recommend using them.

Bulawayo to London via Johannesburg. Had a terrible journey trying to get back to London. I understand that there is a Health pandemic, but a little courtesy and information goes a long way. My flight was cancelled whilst I was in transit. No warning or information given. Instead they told us that it was non of their business what we did next and not their responsibility to cater for the passengers. I was absolutely disgusted by the Customer service. I was stranded for 48hrs at the airport. No water, no food provided. Slept on the floor at the airport, not even a blanket provided. Now trying to claim my refund back and am being told I have to claim via my travel insurance or choose to use it for another day. I don’t think I will be using this airline in the near future. AMake matters worse, my luggage was lost and there is nothing they can do about it.

Washington to Accra. I'm scheduled to fly in September 2020. I haven't flown with them yet and I'm already having a terrible experience with their customer service. I reschedule my flight amid the covid 19 craze. The guy schedule me on a wrong time. Two days later I found out and try to call to reschedule on the best date. After being on the phone for 45 mins, this agent came up on the phone to tell me about an extra $300 charge for me changing my ticket which is not my fault. This will be the first and the last time I will use this airline.

Perth to Nairobi via Johannesburg. This was the first and last time to fly with the airline. We get to Johannesburg only to be informed that the last part of the journey i.e. to Nairobi had been cancelled. The day before I received an email asking me to upgrade my ticket and clearly the fact that the flight had been cancelled was more important. Then the staff at the airport tell me there's nothing they can do yet there were other airlines plying that route. My agent goes to the Perth office and gets other tickets with another airline. Then they forget to load my baggage into the KQ flight, something they said they would do.

Absolutely terrible experience - where other companies are doing their best in the times we are living in - South African Airways cancelled all their international flights without warning. The airline knew this was happening but still allowed me to board a flight from Mauritius to Johannesburg - knowing that my onward flight to London was cancelled. Once in Johannesburg was told flight was cancelled, and then told you are on your own. Transit lounge filled with passengers trying to get other flights. SAA did not assist any passenger. There was no water available or food. My inbound flight - the plane should have been sanitised but when I opened my tray table it had scraps of food from the previous passenger. Only curry food options. Saying that the staff in the SLOW lounge were great. The KLM/Air France transit staff were also excellent - and thank you KLM for getting me home.