I live in the Phoenix area and use U.S. Airways primarily for travel as this is a hub for them. Their FF program is aligned with Star Alliance and so is SAA. I'm planning a trip to RSA next year with my son and possibly another friend of mine. I have enough FF miles to get a ticket to Jo'burg.

However, the reports on SAA are generally not good from what I've read here doing a search. But most of what I've read is somewhat dated. Anyone with any recent experience on SAA to Jo'burg?

I went over in November and had no issues on SAA.

Wife and I went Dulles - J'berg in both 2009 and 2011 on SAA. Absolutely no problems that could be attributed to that airline. We would use SAA again without hesitation.

Hugh

7MM,

I live in Phoenix as well. For us here in the valley, B/A is a real convenient option. Direct to London then Joburg.

The convenience coming home is this, once you go through customs, you are home. No baggage reclaim, just go home.

Besides B/A service blows away SAA.

In my experience, just flying Detroit to Dulles to Joberg then to Bulawayo and Back.
NO problems at all.
My wife decided to buy a 4 foot giraffe carving and we already had 2 bags each, thought we would have to pay for the bag from Africa to Detroit. Nope , no extra baggese fee at all and everything made the trip there and back on time and no issues.

All airlines are competitive in the "race to the bottom". Just because SAA had something of a head start doesn't mean they are still in the lead. You will find legitimate complaints about equal to other carriers.

Don't confuse SAA with the JNB airport itself as they are two different animals. Transiting through JNB on anyone's airline, however undesirable, is often unavoidable.

I used star alliance miles last year on United from LAX to JFK and then SAA from JFK to Jo'burg and then SAA's Interlink (?) from Jo'burg to Bulawayo with no problems.

saa has better food than most of the other airlines i have used. there looking into starting service from houston now too

quote:

Originally posted by Nganga:
7MM,

I live in Phoenix as well. For us here in the valley, B/A is a real convenient option. Direct to London then Joburg.

The convenience coming home is this, once you go through customs, you are home. No baggage reclaim, just go home.

Besides B/A service blows away SAA.

B/A unfortunately is not a Star Alliance member. Saving on at least one ticket to Africa means at least one more animal.

I did look up that schedule though and it certainly has an appeal to break up the flight times a little more evenly.

Based on the rest of the replies I've got, it seems this will be our airline. Thanks gents!

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
I used star alliance miles last year on United from LAX to JFK and then SAA from JFK to Jo'burg and then SAA's Interlink (?) from Jo'burg to Bulawayo with no problems.

So I'm guessing you probably flew on U.S. Airways from LAX to JFK? If so, were you bags and more importantly you gun(s) checked at least to Jo'burg? Or did you have to deal with the Port Authority at JFK?

I have flown to Africa on Delta once and SAA 3 times.

I find the food and the service on SAA, to be better than any other airline I have flown on.

Never any lost luggage.

It seem like a lot of people complain about flying to Africa, the flight is long, the plane is full, we had to stop for fuel... etc.

Think about this, back in the day it took WEEKS/MONTHS to get to Africa, on a boat.

OK, maybe it is because I am always so HAPPY to be going to Africa, That I just do not worry about the "little things"...

Drink a little Scotch, watch a few movies, get a cute flight attendendant in the restroom, join the mile High Club, and Bingo, you are there...

What is not to like...

SAA is certainly up there with the big boys. Emirates probably still my #1 choice, but have no problems flying with SAA internationally.

Best Regards,
Marius Goosen

I flew SAA from JFK to Jo'berg to Bloemfontein in April. Absolutely NO ISSUES what so ever.

I wouldn't hesitate to fly them again.

SAA food and service is at least as good as Delta, but I would choose Delta and the Boeing over SAA and the Airbus.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I have flown to Africa on Delta once and SAA 3 times.

I find the food and the service on SAA, to be better than any other airline I have flown on.

Never any lost luggage.

It seem like a lot of people complain about flying to Africa, the flight is long, the plane is full, we had to stop for fuel... etc.

Think about this, back in the day it took WEEKS/MONTHS to get to Africa, on a boat.

OK, maybe it is because I am always so HAPPY to be going to Africa, That I just do not worry about the "little things"...

Drink a little Scotch, watch a few movies, get a cute flight attendendant in the restroom, join the mile High Club, and Bingo, you are there...

What is not to like...

And what do you do for the other 15 hours?

My wife and I traveled PDX-Dulles-JNB via SAA in 2007, 2009 and again in 2011. No issues with baggage and we used Henry Durheim at www.riflepermits.com to obtain our rifle permits ahead of time. Smooth sailing through the airport police station each time. Wouldn't hesitate to fly SAA again.

I've flown SAA and Delta several times each. I prefer Delta due to the Non-Stop from ATL to JNB. No fuel stop in Dakar. I like the Boeing better as well due to no personal air vents on the ScareBus.

But, I've never had a real issue on either airline. Missed a connection once going over on Delta, missed a connection once coming home on SAA. I usually pick the cheapest flight between the two.