I'll try and be brief You will think I'm kidding, but this really did all happen in one day.

OR Tambo International - Johannesburg, South Africa

Flight SA 190 - Johannesburg - Mauritius

1. My stolen baggage report (A GPS and Braai Tongs were stolen) from a month earlier had not been handled yet and I was told to come back in a week's time.

2. At the check in, I walked up to check in as there was nothing going on at one of the counters. I was told that "she is not ready". As I walked back she muttered "that's why you wait until you are told to move!". There was literally no-one in sight to tell me or anyone anything.

3. When I got to a different counter I greeted a gentleman, back-sliding on his chair who barely acknowledged my presence. While he handled my passport and credit card he spent most of the time smiling at the lady on his right and speaking to the man on his left. I understand and speak 3 African languages, so I knew that his conversation certainly wasn't work related. He was being deliberately slow.

4. There was no special assistance ready for an elderly wheel-chair bound Mauritian lady.

5. As I fell asleep on the plane the woman behind me started blaring Afrikaans dance music through a speaker so the whole cabin could hear every word and beat loudly.

6. The 1st hostess smiled and said it was fine.

7. The 2nd hostess asked that it be switched off.

8. The 1st hostess said turn it back up again, the 1st hostess will get over it.

9. The woman was part of a large "work" group going on a trip. Nashua if I'm not mistaken.

10. The group was given their first "legal" alcoholic beverage by the hostess.

11. With the promise of a tip, the hostess continued to supply liquor to the group.

12. They became increasingly intoxicated and started shouting, singing and swearing (cussing) while the music was blaring.

13. They gave a sizeable tip/bribe to the hostesses.

14. Upon arrival I saw that my zip lock had been cut off.

15. My toiletry bag was wide open inside.

16. There is no sticker on my case saying that my bag was searched.

17. SAA will be charging up to R10 000 for one way domestic trips in June/July 2010.

18. I fly more than twice a month on SAA.

Just yesterday I had my return flight to New York via South African Airways. About two hours into the flight, I was served a vegetarian meal with vegetables and some sort of macaroni cole slaw. I felt fine, until just after I ate the food. I had uncontrollable gas for the entire 15 hours remaining. Then once I got back into the states, I vomited 3 times on the car ride back and later had diarrhea. It is now the day after, and I still feel really crappy - feverish, light-headed, really tired, just been sleeping all day. To sum it up, I'm mad that I trusted SAA's food!!! It didn't even taste good.

On 21st March, at midday, the team of 12 Managers from Eastern Province Caterers checked into Cape Town International airport. We were boarding flight SA 1389 back to Port Elizabeth. Approx 12.30

Since we were traveling as a group, we checked in together, and I, as the Regional Manager for Eastern Cape, took possession of the Identity books, and queued for check-in.

When I reached the front of the queue, your employee Elias ( check in clerk – domestic departures) stated that I had to join the queue, which I advised him I had already done, and now reached the front of the queue.

He would not serve me or my colleague Mrs de Lange, and called for the person behind me to come forward.
Despite me stating I had already joined the queue and reached him, he would not serve me, and instructed me to rejoin the queue.

I asked for his name, which he refused, and camouflaged his name tag in his pocket.

I proceeded to rejoin the queue, re-waited my turn and then was served by the assistant to his side.

I asked the assistant what his name was, and all they were able to provide was “Elias”.
I asked the surname, they didn’t know.?
I asked for the supervisor, who seemed to be protecting him. The lady called Maureen also didn’t know Elias surname.

I again asked Elias for his surname, and attempted to take his badge out of “hiding” in his pocket, so I could review his name.
He grabbed hold of it, preventing me .

In frustration I then took out my cell phone camera and took a photo of the individual. I told him I would report him to his seniors.
I then proceed to go through security x- ray machine, to board my plane that was being called.

Ellias then jumped over the counter and alerted security. The security officers stopped processing my bags and confiscated my boarding pass, preventing me from boarding my flight. They were calling my name to urgently board. I was ushered to go back to check- in and explain why I took a photo. Another man who was security, did not get his name either, insisted that I erase the picture. I said I would not until I get the mans ID from his card. I was told that its confidential to look at his name card, and that I was illegally taking a picture. I requested more than a dozen times to have his name and show his card, he refused. His superior also asked for him to comply, and he refused out right at least 4 times. I was adamant that I was not going to loose my flight so I took back my boarding pass from his superior and went through security checks and ran to board the plane. The plane was upheld because of me and your security antics. The culprit was your Mr Ellias. It will be on camera, if you care to look at it.

This incident caused major embarrassment and humiliation in front of all my Managers.

The employee had no right to demand that I rejoin a queue I had already joined to checkin.

He had no means to determine that I had not queued, and did not follow strict common code of discipline, that the “customer is always right”

Once I advised that I had queued, he could have merely served me (after all, I had to get served by someone, in order to board the flight, whether it was him or someone else, it would have to be an SAA employee).

He purposefully denied me my right to take his name.

He purposefully hid his name tag.

He purposefully didn’t advise his surname to his supervisor when asked.

Only when I took the photograph of him, did he jump into action and spring forward and try and grab my cell phone.

I did offer to delete the photo, in exchange for his name, which he refused.

I believe such treatment of passengers is unacceptable.

He requires disciplinary action, and to be fired.

I require to be updated on the progress of these developments, when the date of disciplinary has been set.

Our company makes regular use of SAA as it’s preferred air partner, but I believe such poor quality personnel do not deserve to be employed by SAA, and tarnish their good name.

I await your further feedback.

Yours faithfully

Robert Buck
0727676020

as usual SAA does it again, and it seems nothing will happen to the thieves either.On a trip from PE to Zambia i had to book my luggage in and then requested to collect and re book my luggage at JHB Airport myself, as i wanted to make sure it all arrives safely.well on my arival in JHB all my bags were there, so i re booked them for my trip to Lusaka.on arival at Lusaka i was told that 1 of my bags stayed behind in JHB and will be on the next flight arriving.Next morning went back to airport and my bag was there but it was opened and i discovered some of my personal items missing.Now i wonder how this could happen when all my bags are taken at the same time but then 1 mysteriously cannot be put on the same flight.Is there such a huge syndicate operational at SAA that they keep bags behind to pilfer, or maybe the management of SAA allows there staff to keep a certain amount of bags to steal from?is this the way SAA give out ther xmas bonusses to staff?anyway my complaint is in and will have to wait for 21 days to get an answer on if they are going to compensate me for the loss i had.does anyone know of an institution where i can lay a complaint on this issue, or is it just my loss ans SAA and there staff get away with this once again?

I am complaining about the total disregard demonstrated by SAA, I booked a return flight from Seoul, South Korea to Durban, South Africa via SAA(I am a SA citizen and was trying to support your proudly SA company).

To my dismay a week before my flight I was hospitalised with a threatened abortion and placed on strict bed-rest for 1, 5 weeks and warned by my ob/gyn that flying is out of the question.
He put together a letter for SAA, so I was given a refund.However you have penalised me KRW200 000 ie. approx R1560.

I understand you run a business and a total refund is unlikely but what about a credit that I can use at a later stage.

I am appalled by your disregard for unexpected illnesses that arises and your lack of customer service.


The Executive office of customer care responded with:
I am sorry to hear of your health and wish you a speedy recovery. South African Airways has a terms and conditions for all their fares, you were booked on a discounted fare. The discretion is on the Manager to give you a full refund, I have also noted that your booking was made a travel agent. Whilst we sympathise with you, we cannot assist you any further.

So not only did I not make the mgt discretion list but I am especially penalised because I booked in advance and got a discount and I went through a travel agent vs. going direct!