JNBHEL
Aug 11, 06, 1:45 pm
The worst piece of SAA incompetence I had so far:
Was supposed to fly this evening, Friday, from Ndola back to JNB with SAA Airlink. Was initially booked on the flight on Saturday. Through our travel agent arranged for change of ticket and was in Ndola (that is a very small regional airport in Zambia) at about 16:30. Flight was to depart at 18:20. Wenn to the SAA Airlink office, had the ticket rewritten (had to pay another USD 103,- of course for an 'upgrade' as they call it (the plane is all Y, but of course has different fare structures).
SAA airlink agent was pretty incompetent. Told me that my CC is not valid until I figured out that she forgot to put in the last four numbers.
Anyway, got the ticket changed and went to check-in and got my bording pass. There was still ample time (17:25) and I went to the airport bar. I fly this route regularly and know the procedure very well. (NLA is a very small airport, it is 50 meters from the bar to immigration and check-in right behind.)
Had a drink and by 18:00 (bording time on the boarding pass) went from the bar to security check and wanted to go to immigration. Then a guy comes (the airport is empty) and asked me where I want to go to. I told him that I want to go to JNB and he shows me the plane on the apron with doors closed and tells me it is to late. Nobody from SAA Airlink around as the lady is at the plane. She comes back. The plane starts the engines and departs.
The lady never figured that they had a passenger missing. No call made. The passenger mainfest showed 26 pax - with me on it. According to the lady they had an additional passenger which wasn't on the mainfest. They counted bording passes and off the plane went. Not to forget to say that the plane started the engines at 18:05 (scheduled departure was 18:20).
Discussions went nowhere. The SAA Airlink lady acknowledged the mistake with the manifest but then stalled. SAA Airlink would not pay for transport to a hotel or the hotel itself.
SAA at its best :mad: :mad: :mad:
Was supposed to fly this evening, Friday, from Ndola back to JNB with SAA Airlink. Was initially booked on the flight on Saturday. Through our travel agent arranged for change of ticket and was in Ndola (that is a very small regional airport in Zambia) at about 16:30. Flight was to depart at 18:20. Wenn to the SAA Airlink office, had the ticket rewritten (had to pay another USD 103,- of course for an 'upgrade' as they call it (the plane is all Y, but of course has different fare structures).
SAA airlink agent was pretty incompetent. Told me that my CC is not valid until I figured out that she forgot to put in the last four numbers.
Anyway, got the ticket changed and went to check-in and got my bording pass. There was still ample time (17:25) and I went to the airport bar. I fly this route regularly and know the procedure very well. (NLA is a very small airport, it is 50 meters from the bar to immigration and check-in right behind.)
Had a drink and by 18:00 (bording time on the boarding pass) went from the bar to security check and wanted to go to immigration. Then a guy comes (the airport is empty) and asked me where I want to go to. I told him that I want to go to JNB and he shows me the plane on the apron with doors closed and tells me it is to late. Nobody from SAA Airlink around as the lady is at the plane. She comes back. The plane starts the engines and departs.
The lady never figured that they had a passenger missing. No call made. The passenger mainfest showed 26 pax - with me on it. According to the lady they had an additional passenger which wasn't on the mainfest. They counted bording passes and off the plane went. Not to forget to say that the plane started the engines at 18:05 (scheduled departure was 18:20).
Discussions went nowhere. The SAA Airlink lady acknowledged the mistake with the manifest but then stalled. SAA Airlink would not pay for transport to a hotel or the hotel itself.
SAA at its best :mad: :mad: :mad: