Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - SAA Qantas code share ends

http://www.theage.com.au/business/qantas-saa-deal-ends-this-year-20120302-1u89n.html

Might be a good thing, wouldnt mind seeing SAA flying to Sydney and then on to Auckland and connect with the STAR partner there.

Emirates flights from Australia to Akl are usually full, with people preferring to fly on an international product.

http://www.theage.com.au/business/qantas-saa-deal-ends-this-year-20120302-1u89n.html

Might be a good thing, wouldnt mind seeing SAA flying to Sydney and then on to Auckland and connect with the STAR partner there.

Emirates flights from Australia to Akl are usually full, with people preferring to fly on an international product.

Would not mind either, but I think this is quite unlikely, seeing SA's emphasis for (and profit on!) flights into Africa. With equipment tied up into the PEK route (anyone know what the load factors are there?), I would be surprised if they can serve SYD (and AKL even less).

... (anyone know what the load factors are there?)...
There are award seats all over the place on this route - so I'm guessing loads are not high yet.

With their cosy duopoly ended I can see this going one of two ways. Either QF will throw everything they can at the route to see if they can scare SA off and then be left with a monopoly on direct flights, or QF will retreat from yet another market and leave SA with a monopoly on direct flights.

Now I know that technically JNB is a OW hub because of Comair's BA branded ops, but the reality is Star are pretty dominant at JNB and OW are small fry. Given QF's tendency in the last few years to retreat and retreat and retreat a bit more I would not be surprised to see SA outlast QF on this route. The question is whether we would then see SA step up to offer JNB-SYD services.

There are award seats all over the place on this route - so I'm guessing loads are not high yet.

By using 'yet', you seem to imply that you expect them to increase. I would be surprised if they ever became commercially viable, using a 346!

gufferment wants the PEK route... it will stay in place no matter what.

In fairness though, I guess it does take time to build some volume on a route.

Very keen to see how the Australia chapter unfolds.

gufferment wants the PEK route... it will stay in place no matter what.



Quite, commercial considerations will never stop gufferment......:(

Quite, commercial considerations will never stop gufferment......:(

Its their airline I guess, and whilst we paying and voting why change the status quo?

I had a short discussion with some colleagues based in Perth. All of them say they would rather fly through DXB to get into Africa (South and East), as they don't really like SAA J class. I personally prefer SAA to EK in J class.

Now Qatar start flights in June and Etihad later in the year, there are more ways (cheaper, better service, etc.) to get to Africa then on QF/SA.

There are award seats all over the place on this route - so I'm guessing loads are not high yet.

I travelled on SA289 middle Feb and we were only 8 in C. I overheard the crew saying that there were 140 passengers on board.

Upgrade awards are freely availlable but look at the J fares before you redeem an award. In March and May I am travelling JNB-HKG and return PEK-JNB for R26700 in J.

It also seems as if the HKG loads are still very good as I am struggling more than ever to find upgrade awards on this route.