http://www.caa.co.za/press_files/2008/CAA%20Media%20Sta...0Audit%20Results.pdf

Found this on the net and thought it is worth reading.

Interesting. I'll still take a pass and use American/European carriers, though.

In June, If flying Delta to Jo'burg. I'm supposed to fly SAA from Jo'burg to Pietersburg. Are there any better alternatives than SAA for this last leg of my trip?

I don't believe Delta flys to Pietersburg

basically, there are no other alternatives THAN SAA once you get to Joburg. the other regional RSA carriers are all affiliates of SAA.

Okay, I just finished a trip where most of my time was on South African Airways. Went Dulles to Johannesburg nonstop, then JNB to Windhoek. Returned Windhoek to Jo'burg, JNB to IAD via Dakar.

It seems to me that the flight crews of SAA are making a great effort to win back their passengers' respect. Their inflight service, especially in the short trips between JNB and WDH, would merit my commendation. The SAA flight attendants were very efficient and courteous, dispensing meals and drinks for all passengers in the less-than-two-hour flight between JNB and WDH (United did not provide any meals to Y-class for the 5-plus-hour flight between IAD and PDX). During the long transatlantic flights, the crews provided easy and immediate access to drinks and snacks between meals at the asking.

On the down side - the ground APUs that should have provided power for airconditioning while on the ground at Johannesburg, and also at Dakar, did not function and we had to sit in our sweat for over an hour at each location. Also one of my gun cases was battered badly but SAA immediately owned up to it and provided me the documents and means for compensation, no questions asked, no hassle.

Would I fly SAA again? Not over the same route - I'd rather go Lufthansa and Air Namibia via Frankfurt and skip Johannesburg. But if I absolutely had to go the same route I would not hesitate about going SAA.

quote:

Originally posted by a11en:
In June, If flying Delta to Jo'burg. I'm supposed to fly SAA from Jo'burg to Pietersburg. Are there any better alternatives than SAA for this last leg of my trip?

I don't believe Delta flys to Pietersburg

Nope, you have only one carrier, Air Link
(SAA) I've taken it several times, and works just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:

It seems to me that the flight crews of SAA are making a great effort to win back their passengers' respect. Their inflight service, especially in the short trips between JNB and WDH, would merit my commendation. The SAA flight attendants were very efficient and courteous, dispensing meals and drinks for all passengers in the less-than-two-hour flight between JNB and WDH (United did not provide any meals to Y-class for the 5-plus-hour flight between IAD and PDX). During the long transatlantic flights, the crews provided easy and immediate access to drinks and snacks between meals at the asking.

This was my experience as well. IMO the SAA segments of my trip were way better than the Delta segments.