South African Airways Reviews

I flew South African Airways for 5 years. I've spend not less than 55000 US with them. Despite some acceptable service on board. The rest forget about this company. Non polite, luggage arrive days later, damaged, etc. I’ve travelled because I didn’t have options flying in the south hemisphere unless you go to Europe or middle east and from there to your destination.
Prices in routes without competency are abusive, definitely higher in this company. If you need to make any change in your travel they'll charge you 3, 4 times or more than other companies. In South Africa they'll be almost always impolite. In the other country they'll say that they don't know or they need to ask to South Africa. Customer care is just a lie. They don't care about you. After been a very frequent traveler for many years, this year only I've spent 23000 US travelling with them. I needed to travel with my wife and kids because she was diagnosed with cancer and her treatment was a urgent paramount. After explaining the problem, presenting the evidence and begging some support to be able to travel with them, even with 13 days different dates, they offered a seat for me at a price 1500 U$ more expensive than the standard price in the same economy class. Finally I’ve used an European company with much more flying distance but the price was 1300 U$ less than what they offered. When I’ve informed that I’ve already paid the ticket in other company and I was disappointed with them, because they didn’t facilitate the option of travelling with my sick wife they offered another ticket 550 dollar more expensive than the standard. Knowing that I’ve already paid in other company and in these circumstances I couldn’t spoil the money I need for my wife treatment. They didn’t care about how desperate I was and the suffering of my family. They didn’t care about for how long I flew with them or even the customer they’ll be losing. They saw a good business in my disgrace. Just do like me, flight this company in there is not any other option or the price by any other company is much more expensive. Or soon or later you’ll pay the consequences. But remember if you have a problem this company will take as much as possible from you for any change. They don't care the customer, they're not ethical and they don't care any customer loyalty. They are in Africa to take from Africans and traveler as much as possible given them as less as possible abusing that they are in Africa. SAA is an abuser company. I hope will appear many other companies operation in the southern hemisphere and we'll never again be forced to use them. Even paying more or flying longer distance I'll do my best to not use them.
If you are flying with them, don't say later that you didn't know. When you need them more, they'll not be there. Invest in becoming a loyal customer of a serious company. I couldn’t imagine how I was ignored by this people. Don’t believe it will be different with you.

Sydney-Johannesburg return. Flight was on time FA's very friendly and offered great service check in was quick with no waiting around, no lost baggage leg room in Business was what you would expect and in Flight entertainment was good on the A340-300. Overall best airline ever flown and will certainly fly again.

I recently flew Heathrow to Johannesburg and back again on SAA. I thoroughly enjoyed the flights and found the crew to be courteous and helpful.