Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - FlyerTalk Awards: South African Airways Voyager (Europe/Africa) benefits nominations

This poll will determine which benefit for this rewards program will appear on the January ballot for the FlyerTalk Awards.

Please note that once you have cast a poll vote, it cannot be changed.

If you have a suggestion for a name change for one of the benefits listed, according to your specific knowledge of the program, post it below; for instance, if this program’s “Bonus Points” benefit has a specific name, that specificity will help voters when ballots come out in January.

You may vote in any or all of the nominations polls across FlyerTalk. Simply navigate to your favorite program’s forum and cast your vote!

Polls open Monday November 28, 2011
Polls close Friday December 9, 2011

Happy nominating!

For more information about the 2012 FlyerTalk Awards:
www.flyertalk.com/awards

award seats are almost always available, even if I do have to waitlist. By takeoff time I am always confirmed, to me thats a big plus!

award seats are almost always available, even if I do have to waitlist. By takeoff time I am always confirmed, to me thats a big plus!

Really? In J? I usually struggle. And yes, you can waitlist but you'll have to check back with the call centre every day.. These days I am only a lowly blue (retired), so that may influence things?

Special seating -- does not exist on cheaper fares even if you are gold
Dedicated contact center for all levels -- does not exist
Chaffeur service -- not with SAA????
Extra luggage -- WIth Gold

Special seating -- does not exist on cheaper fares even if you are gold
Dedicated contact center for all levels -- does not exist
Chaffeur service -- not with SAA????
Extra luggage -- WIth Gold

Dedicated call centre for Platinum. Definitely exists, staff are brilliant

Chaffeur service on platinum, great in JNB, works in FRA, NYC, and LHR, although havent used in LHR... Mercedes with Hertz usually in JNB, cadillac escalade at JFK and S Class Mercedes in Fra

Extra 10kg luggage for silver, 20 for golds and 30kg for plats.

They always allow me preseating, but never book anything cheaper than a K, and always get it upgraded with mileage - never a problem.

Really? In J? I usually struggle. And yes, you can waitlist but you'll have to check back with the call centre every day.. These days I am only a lowly blue (retired), so that may influence things?

I waitlisted 10days ago on Saturday and was told no controllers work weekends they will call me Monday. Saturday afternoon (2hrs after I originally called) was confirmed and they did phone me back. (star alliance award on SQ)

Done 5 mileagekeepers this year, all were given in J
Did one upgrade from K to J, no problem
Requested and received SA7700/7701 in F on Qantas also no problem

Each time I was called to tell me successful and of course to collect taxes on my credit card....

Even last year I flew a ton, and never had an issue. I reckon last 5yrs must have got at least 40long haul mileage keepers (all J). The first and only time I was forced into an anyday was a J LHR-JNB (got the outbound as a mileagekeeper) and that was back in May2008. Had a death in family and had to arrange last minute (2hrs notice or so) call centre was closed and had to do online.

Maybe for Platinum --- for gold the only benefit is extra KG luggage and lounge access.......

Maybe for Platinum --- for gold the only benefit is extra KG luggage and lounge access.......

Agreed. Silver is nice because you get the lounge access and use of a premium queue, yet when you double up your flying and reach gold, there isnt anything extra - V. Disappointing. I always felt if you Gold and have confirmed J seat you should get Cycad lounge access. Problem being the new lounge is very small. Poor planning on SAA part.

Also Lufthansa hons get access to the Cycad lounge which is kind of annoying as they seem to be saying that they value LH customers more, than their own passengers.

better solution:

Switch to delta ( they will match your platinum):

- 150% QUALIFYING MILES (50% bonus count towards status as well)
- 4/6 FREE systemwide upgrades for Gld/Plat
- Free status for partner on Plat
- Upgrades on KLM/AirFrance with bothsystemwides AND milage
- UPgades to USA/Euorpe ONLY 25,000 miles one -way
- see upgrades ONLINE
- Local service in SA --Personal and SUPERB.
- Lounge access
- LOTS of extra luggage
- NO extra taxes on upgrade

No-Brainer

Agreed. Silver is nice because you get the lounge access and use of a premium queue, yet when you double up your flying and reach gold, there isnt anything extra - V. Disappointing. I always felt if you Gold and have confirmed J seat you should get Cycad lounge access. Problem being the new lounge is very small. Poor planning on SAA part.

Also Lufthansa hons get access to the Cycad lounge which is kind of annoying as they seem to be saying that they value LH customers more, than their own passengers.

Well, of course Voyager Gold gives you *G as well, which helps a lot with lounge access when flying *A airlines in Y (as one tends to do on short haul intra European routes). And a guest in the lounge. All of this is almost a distant memory as I am now retired and only fly privately, which means one or two longhaul returns per year. So its back to 'blue' from next year :td:. Which probably also explains why my award / upgrade record is so much poorer than yours!

Special seating -- does not exist on cheaper fares even if you are gold
Dedicated contact center for all levels -- does not exist
Chaffeur service -- not with SAA????
Extra luggage -- WIth Gold

Sorry, Petercbm, but I think all of those statemnts are factually incorrect:
Status passengers can reserve 'premium seats' (front rows and emergency exits). Gold more so than Silver.
Dedicated contact centre: certainly for plats.
Chauffeur service: For plats on certain fares (although I think only in JNB and CPT).
Extra luggage: 10Kg for Silver, 20Kg for Gold (I think 30Kg for plat, not sure).

Now I am not saying that Voyager is the greatest programme around, far from that, but we need to be honest and factual here. And there are (much) worse ones (like KL/AF's FB :td:)

@ thijsseh

My statements are factually correct, either in my original post OR later posts:

- Seat allocation (let alone special seats) are NOT available on cheaper fares. Voyager status does not override that.
- Dedicated contact centres are available ONLY for Platinum tier.
- Transport to airport ONLY for platinum tier.
- Extra luggage and lounge access and priority checkin for all tiers.

SO - only benefit for < Platinum:

- Seat allocation (on certain fares)
- Lounge access
- Extra luggage
- Priority checkin


Voyager offers very little in exchange for loyalty -- agreed that FB is at best equally lacking, as an illustration of theother extreme Delta offers tier status at double the speed/ upgade redemption at 1/3 of the mialage/ free international upgrades (on all skymiles partners) -- see previous post for just someof the benefits that EARN my loyalty.

Peter

better solution:

Switch to delta ( they will match your platinum):

- 150% QUALIFYING MILES (50% bonus count towards status as well)
- 4/6 FREE systemwide upgrades for Gld/Plat
- Free status for partner on Plat
- Upgrades on KLM/AirFrance with bothsystemwides AND milage
- UPgades to USA/Euorpe ONLY 25,000 miles one -way
- see upgrades ONLINE
- Local service in SA --Personal and SUPERB.
- Lounge access
- LOTS of extra luggage
- NO extra taxes on upgrade

No-Brainer

two problems A: there is much more to the world than the USA. SAA only real global solution for South Africans. Im not keen on connections. Atlanta no holiday either.

B: I earn 3 or so million miles a year on the 3 credit cards i have, SAA, AMEX and Diners. No decent options that I'm aware of for saffa's with credit card linkups? Not willing to fly BA, no matter what

@SAVOYAGER

Believe earn rate on SAA Amex is 1 mile for ZAR6.5 spend -- you spending 19.5 Million on your cards -- thats US 2.4 million -- Impressive. Not sure if you can but get the Delta Amex -- earn double miles on airline spend.

As for the rest of the world -- Delta=KLM=AF -- so out of Cape Town we have

-AF and KLM to europe
-DL to the USA -- granted this what we fly most
-MH to South america and Asia.

Not sure if you can but get the Delta Amex -- earn double miles on airline spend.

without a social security number no.


R6 per mile on SAA Amex & Diners, R7.50 on Amex

Added Lounge access to the poll.

Insofar as this is a poll to determine the Outstanding Benefit nomination for this program, let's try to keep the discussion focused there as opposed to discussing the general merits for this (or other ) programs; it will help us to tally "write-in" votes if that's all the thread consists of.

Thanks!