Based on recent customer reviews, SAA is struggling across nearly every dimension of the travel experience. Customers describe punitive name-change and cancellation policies, refunds delayed for months, damaged or pilfered luggage with no accountability, flight delays without communication, and rude frontline staff. Occasional praise for individual agents like Ntombi, Sharon, and Annelize stands out as exceptions in an otherwise deeply frustrated customer base.
TrustIndex
2
Jul '25 - Jun '26
Based on recent customer reviews, SAA is struggling across nearly every dimension of the travel experience. Customers describe punitive name-change and cancellation policies, refunds delayed for months, damaged or pilfered luggage with no accountability, flight delays without communication, and rude frontline staff. Occasional praise for individual agents like Ntombi, Sharon, and Annelize stands out as exceptions in an otherwise deeply frustrated customer base.
The most common complaint about SAA, based on Hellopeter's AI analysis of recent customer reviews, is Refunds, Pricing & Value. Refunds (1.8) is the most damaging theme. Customers wait months or beyond the 60-day window with no communication. Name-change typos trigger full ticket repurchases, duplicate debits occur without authorisation, and cancelled flights yield partial or no refunds despite SAA being at fault.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SAA promotes Flight Pass (purchase of multiple flights upfront to be used during a period). I purchased this and none of the 15 routings I've attempted to book, including dates 8 weeks in advance was available as part of the Pass. Every single routing required a pay in. This feels like a ****. I've reached out to SAA, Case Number: 00026811 over 8 days ago and no one has contacted me to date. Do not even consider purchasing this false advertising campaign.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SAA promotes Flight Pass (purchase of multiple flights upfront to be used during a period). I purchased this and none of the 15 routings I've attempted to book, including dates 8 weeks in advance was available as part of the Pass. Every single routing required a pay in. This feels like a ****. I've reached out to SAA, Case Number: 00026811 over 8 days ago and no one has contacted me to date. Do not even consider purchasing this false advertising campaign.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
They charged my children as adults and when I'm informing them l, they giving me the run around that it wasn't indicated initially. If you over charge someone and they brought it to your attention, you rectify that and give them their refund and charge them appropriately. Have they forgotten the Consumer act? The customer protection act? Or they just want to ***** innocent people money? Their service is really going to the dogs. Guess the lawyers are going to get involved in this.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
They charged my children as adults and when I'm informing them l, they giving me the run around that it wasn't indicated initially. If you over charge someone and they brought it to your attention, you rectify that and give them their refund and charge them appropriately. Have they forgotten the Consumer act? The customer protection act? Or they just want to ***** innocent people money? Their service is really going to the dogs. Guess the lawyers are going to get involved in this.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
They canceled my return leg because I missed a one leg flight. The air line did not have the professionalism to notify me and I only find out when I was about to fly at the airport. I was asked to pay 2500 to rebook a flight that I am on schedule for, so unprofessional. How is that equitable?
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
They canceled my return leg because I missed a one leg flight. The air line did not have the professionalism to notify me and I only find out when I was about to fly at the airport. I was asked to pay 2500 to rebook a flight that I am on schedule for, so unprofessional. How is that equitable?
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I travelled from Capetown to Johannesburg on the 31st of December 2025. On arrival at OR Tambo airport my suitcase was damaged. Spent an extra hour sorting out paper work reporting this issue with SAA baggage control and I was requested to return the bag the next day emptied so that I can be assisted further. I had no issues with that as my family and I had taken an evening flight. I have logged the necessary calls and followed the necessary procedure and yet here we are today I have not been compensated or received a new bag. When I follow up telephonically I am sent from pillar to post this is unacceptable. Staff are supposed to handle our property with care and it is unfair to be expected to keep making trips to the airport for follow ups.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I travelled from Capetown to Johannesburg on the 31st of December 2025. On arrival at OR Tambo airport my suitcase was damaged. Spent an extra hour sorting out paper work reporting this issue with SAA baggage control and I was requested to return the bag the next day emptied so that I can be assisted further. I had no issues with that as my family and I had taken an evening flight. I have logged the necessary calls and followed the necessary procedure and yet here we are today I have not been compensated or received a new bag. When I follow up telephonically I am sent from pillar to post this is unacceptable. Staff are supposed to handle our property with care and it is unfair to be expected to keep making trips to the airport for follow ups.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
My Voyager account reflects suspicious activity, mileage spent through third-party on 30 March 2026. I did not spend any mileage or approve any transaction on my voyager account on the said date. In fact, I was out of the country from 30 March 2026 until 2 April 2026. I called your call centre this morning and spoke with SAA agents who told me to send this email to the Voyager back office for investigation. Not very helpful and completely annoying. I have never even visited the site that that the claim was placed on - so annoyed! The transaction details are: Date: 30 March 2026 Certificate Number: #1001174600 Spend Details: AVO Dynamic Reward - Partner AVO Miles Redeemed: -142600 There seem to be some *****sters at Avo SuperShop! Regards, Siya
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
My Voyager account reflects suspicious activity, mileage spent through third-party on 30 March 2026. I did not spend any mileage or approve any transaction on my voyager account on the said date. In fact, I was out of the country from 30 March 2026 until 2 April 2026. I called your call centre this morning and spoke with SAA agents who told me to send this email to the Voyager back office for investigation. Not very helpful and completely annoying. I have never even visited the site that that the claim was placed on - so annoyed! The transaction details are: Date: 30 March 2026 Certificate Number: #1001174600 Spend Details: AVO Dynamic Reward - Partner AVO Miles Redeemed: -142600 There seem to be some *****sters at Avo SuperShop! Regards, Siya
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I need proper feedback on a *****case that happened on 25Oct2025. South African Airways Case Reference Number: 202600009147 I want to know what was done from SAA side on their App so that other clients don't fall in the same trap when booking a flight and select to recieve the Promo Code. A "consultant" then phoned and helped me to "register". Hugh amount of money was withdrawn out of different accounts at different banks. I read in newspaper about another case aswell. I sent several emails to Customer Services and was referred to SAPDS. They are doing their own investigation. SAA must tell me what was done to prevent this from happenning again to someone else before I will do a booking at SAA
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I need proper feedback on a *****case that happened on 25Oct2025. South African Airways Case Reference Number: 202600009147 I want to know what was done from SAA side on their App so that other clients don't fall in the same trap when booking a flight and select to recieve the Promo Code. A "consultant" then phoned and helped me to "register". Hugh amount of money was withdrawn out of different accounts at different banks. I read in newspaper about another case aswell. I sent several emails to Customer Services and was referred to SAPDS. They are doing their own investigation. SAA must tell me what was done to prevent this from happenning again to someone else before I will do a booking at SAA
SAA has a TrustIndex of 2 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 120 reviews in the last 12 months. Hellopeter has tracked SAA across 1,944 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →