Airline Profile: South African Airways

The Facts:

Analysis:

4 Things You Need To Know About South African Airways

• Flights from Johannesburg to Washington Dulles operate via Accra, Ghana. Passengers may travel direct from Washington to Accra or may connect on to Johannesburg.
• South African Airways has a codeshare partnership with Airlink, a region in South Africa, which flies to many smaller destinations around and outside of South Africa. South African also has a smaller regional subsidiary, Airlink, that it uses on some other regional routes. Using aircraft from Airlink, South African operates flights from Johannesburg to Saint Helena via Windhoek for a fuel stop on an Embraer E190.
• South African Airways has a low-cost subsidiary, Mango, which operates flights within South Africa and also to some destinations outside of it in other countries in southern and central Africa.
• South African Airways’ main hub is at Johannesburg International Airport. They use their fleet of A319s, A320s, A330s, and A340s to fly to destinations around southern Africa and every other inhabited continent of the world. Their long-haul destinations include Abidjan (via Accra), Lagos, Accra, Perth, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Munich, Frankfurt, London, Sao Paulo, Washington (via Accra), and New York JFK.

What to Fly:

Airbus A330-300 Business Class: South African Airways features flat bed seats with all aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration. The seat uses the Thompson Vantage XL seat, which is the same seat on Qantas’ 787s and A330s, SAS’ long haul aircraft, and is similar to the seat on Delta’s A350s. The seat is a huge upgrade over business class on the A330-200s and A340s, as business class on those aircraft features flat bed or angle flat seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. While they are no Qatar Airways Qsuites, the seat is easily the best business class seat of any African airline and is a very competitive business class product.

Travel Classes:

Economy Class:

In economy, there are personal entertainment screens with personal on-demand entertainment on all Airbus A330s and Airbus A340s (all long haul aircraft). Economy class is either in a 3-3 configuration (A319/A320) or in a 2-4-2 configuration (Airbus A330/A340). On long haul flights, economy class passengers receive light amenity kits with socks, eye masks, toothbrushes and toothpaste. On longer flights, complimentary meals are available for economy class passengers while on shorter flights, only snacks are available. Power outlets are available on the Airbus A330-300 and on the Airbus A320. There is no inflight entertainment on short-haul aircraft (A319/A320) besides overhead screens showing either the flight map or a movie. All economy class passengers are able to check one 23 kg (50 lbs) on flights.

Business Class:

On the Airbus A340, business class features pretty dated fully flat bed seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. South African features angle flat seats in a 2-2-2 configuration on the Airbus A330-200. Please note that while South African labels these seats as being fully flat, they are at a slight angle. However, having flown in the seats, the angle is not that noticable and is only at the footrest; while the seat is not fully flat, it’s not so bad that you should completely avoid the seat. On the Airbus A330-300, South African features flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration using the Thompson Vantage XL seat model. The A319 features a pretty odd configuration in business class on South African. It is in a 2-3 configuration, which is very rare for A320s/737s. If possible, avoid the A319 in business class as a 2-3 configuration is not as spacious as a 2-2 configuration in business class. On the A320, South African has its new short-haul business class product in a 2-2 configuration and seatback video screens.

Passengers receive full warm meals on all long haul flights and may receive small meals on shorter flights. Passengers also receive amenity kits and may also check two 23 kg (50 lbs) bags on board all flights. Also, business class passengers have access to the South African Platinum or Premium lounges and to partnering Star Alliance Lounges at select airports. Power outlets are available on all aircraft in business class. 

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