Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - New SAA Voyager Credit Card - Anyone got details?

If you look on SAA's website, on the Voyager page, it says a new Voyager Credit Card is coming soon. Does anyone have details on that? Wouldn't mind having a credit card in my wallet with a nice SAA tail or logo on it.

Right now they are partnered with Diners Club to transfer Diners points into Voyager miles.

Is this a South Africa visa card? Anyone know of a UK card to receive Voyager miles?

On the South Africa (country that is) website there is no detail available yet. I checked and the German site does not show it. So it looks like it will be a South Africa card. Maybe a Visa card - since Nedbank has stopped co-branding their card with Voyager there is only the Diners Club and Mastercard from Standard Bank that are co-branded.

Maybe a Visa card - since Nedbank has stopped co-branding their card with Voyager there is only the Diners Club and Mastercard from Standard Bank that are co-branded.

There is also the Discovery MasterCard from Discovery Health which earns Voyager miles (not co-branded though, and does mean you need Discovery Health to start with). But probably the best way to earn Voyager miles from a credit card -- R7.50 / mile + Bonus depending on your vitality status

There is also the Discovery MasterCard from Discovery Health which earns Voyager miles (not co-branded though, and does mean you need Discovery Health to start with). But probably the best way to earn Voyager miles from a credit card -- R7.50 / mile + Bonus depending on your vitality status

Amex reward points can also be converted into Voyager miles at a ratio of 2:1, effectively R 10.00 / mile.

The new Nedbank Visa reward scheme (Greenbacks) also converts point to Voyager miles. But now the conversion rate is R12.50 per mile rather than the R7.50 it used to be prior to the "enhancement". :mad:

AFAIK, Diners is the only card which still gives 1 mile for R7.50, the others (like Standard bank Master Card) give a mile for R12.50. Also the Diners miles qualify for status (up to 10% of the required miles max). It will be interesting to see what the "Voyager Card" conversion rate is!

Some speculation (http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A252366) in the Business Day newspaper has it that the new card will be a white label with Nedbank.

A banking analyst is quoted as saying: "most Voyager members probably already had credit cards and might not want another." Obviously he has no idea how fanatical some people can be about earning miles. :p

Apparently Nedbank's share of the market declined last year (and they only have 12% of the market). That's what happens when you devalue the mileage earning ability. I for one have transferred as much of my business to Diners as I can. Glad to see that voting with my wallet is having the desired effect. ;)

[QUOTE=Cheetah_SA . I for one have transferred as much of my business to Diners as I can. Glad to see that voting with my wallet is having the desired effect. ;)[/QUOTE]

Yes, I have done the same. The other advantage - as mentioned above - is that the miles earled are reportedly valid as status miles as well (with a max of 10% of the requirement). This may often be immaterial, but at times it may just get one the 'bump' needed to jump to the next elite level.
Assuming that the Voyager card is going to be Visa or MC branded, it should be a good thing as Diners is not as widely accepted as the other 2 (because of the much higher comission payable by the merchants as far as I understand). So I await the Voyager card with interest. Not much of a 'card collector' otherwise.

The details of the Voyager Credit Card (or actually cards) have been announced.

See: http://www.nedbank.co.za/website/content/saavoyager/index.asp

Although the annual fee (for the 'prestige' version) is quite high, it offers 1 mile for R6 and a lot of other benefits (like a free companion ticket annually).

http://www.nedbank.co.za/website/content/saavoyager/index.asp

There we go. Sounds quite interesting. I wonder if I should throw my normal Platinum Amex out and change it to the SAA one.

NEDBANK aimed to grow its credit card customer base significantly by partnering with SAA on its new Voyager credit card as it fought back for market share, CEO Tom Boardman said yesterday.


Speaking at the launch of the card, Boardman said the bank should be able to get 400000 new card customers over the next three to five years — a “very significant uplift” in the bank’s total card base, he said.

The rest here (http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/companies.aspx?ID=BD4A260015).

Will

wow, new card looks quite good actually. fees are a bit high, but best earning rate so far on the amex part of the card. bonus miles, companion tickets - it's starting to sounds more like the British Airways Amex credit card!! if your a serious miles collector it would be good.

delete

It's a pity that the companion ticket you get with the "Premium" version of this card is not upgradable. :td:
I like to use my miles to UG for a holiday with Mrs t, so buying a K fare and getting a free companion every year and then upgrading both would have been ideal :).

I wonder if they will use the sum off all cash spent on the cards (you get Visa + Amex + up to 2extra cards if you want them) to determine the benefits which are linked to spend (like for instance R60K per annum to qualify for the companion ticket). :confused:

It's a pity that the companion ticket you get with the "Premium" version of this card is not upgradable. :td:
I like to use my miles to UG for a holiday with Mrs t, so buying a K fare and getting a free companion every year and then upgrading both would have been ideal :).

I wonder if they will use the sum off all cash spent on the cards (you get Visa + Amex + up to 2extra cards if you want them) to determine the benefits which are linked to spend (like for instance R60K per annum to qualify for the companion ticket). :confused:

I would expect that to happen. My reward points work like that as well. Th ebalance of secondary cards gets transferred to my main card on the day that they work out the monies I own AMEX. So I would be surprised if they don't add all the amounts up at the end.

It won't bother me though as I run up a bill of R 40.000,-- a month on average anyway.

As far as the companion ticket is concerned. A discounted business should also qualify for the companion IIRC.

As far as the companion ticket is concerned. A discounted business should also qualify for the companion IIRC.


Thanks capetonian, that would certainly be the second best option and it looks like it will work. I have applied for the card, so now we wait and see how it works in real life ;)

They were aggressively promoting the card at the Voyager desk at CPT today. Agents were pitching to the people in the queue and accepting application forms. I took the opportunity to fill in one and even though I was missing some info, they took my form and said they will get in contact if anything vital is missing. Considering how much hassle I have had satisfying other financial institutions about my probity, they seemed very relaxed about the money laundering legislation. Methinks the sales folk are rewarded per application received! :rolleyes:

And now the race is on: which FTer will
- be first to get the card?
- be first to get a free companion ticket?
:p

And now the race is on: which FTer will
- be first to get the card?
- be first to get a free companion ticket?
:p

I'm in the race: :) Applied on-line last weekend. Got an SMS to say it had been approved on Tuesday, got a 'phone call to ask where I wanted it delivered on Thursday and am now awaiting a promised SMS that I can come and collect it. Was promised a 4 working day delay. Will post when I have my hands on it. ;)
Will take a bit longer to get the companion ticket: I just bought 2 "K" fares to Europe 10 days ago on my Diners, so that's R 30K that should have been on the new card (imagine, R6 per mile and doubled during the first three months :( ). I did not want to take the risk that those scarce UG's would be gone by the time I got the new card.

I know the feeling thijsseh! There I was filling out the form having just paid for my K-class tickets with Diners and kicking myself for procrastinating about applying for the card. :o

And now the race is on: which FTer will
- be first to get the card?
- be first to get a free companion ticket?
:p

I have got mine. ^ Well, not quite true: Got a 'phone call Saturday am that the card was available at my nominated Nedbank branch, but the 'welcome pack' was not, should they ask to have the card returned so that it could be sent back with the 'welcome pack'????? Said no, please send the welcome pack to my home address, I'll pick up the card. Went to the bank: only one card (the VISA one), no sign of the AMEX or of the set ordered for Mrs t. :confused: :(
I guess this is typical South African 'efficiency' :eek:
So tomorrow. I 'll start phoning them and find out what is happening.

BTW, I tried to use the card....It works.
So am I the first FT'er to receive it?? ;)

So am I the first FT'er to receive it?? ;)
OK, thijsseh, you get the gold :-: for being the first to the finish line. :)

Pity the service is already so problematic! :rolleyes:

Well here I am almost 3 weeks later and still not heard a thing about my application! :mad: Anyone else having trouble?

Well here I am almost 3 weeks later and still not heard a thing about my application! :mad: Anyone else having trouble?

Have you tried 'phoning them? The number is 0861 263 464. The call centre seems quite competent. If you applied for the premium card, they'll give you the number for the premiun call centre. (or you can PM me and I'll give it to you).
I don't think the organisation is fully 'under control'. ;) As mentioned in an earlier post, I got the VISA card first. Then a week later (that was last week), the AMEX one and the welcome pack. The person at the Nedbank branch where I collected it was surprised that they had not arrived together.
Now I am trying to get Mrs. t's cards out of them. Just got off the 'phone, they tell me that the cards are with the courier company and they will be at the branch next week. We'll see. :rolleyes:

Thanks thijsseh, I'll give that a whirl.

And now the race is on: which FTer will
- be first to get a free companion ticket?
:p

About the companion ticket: does anyone understand what the parameters are? If I buy a Z fare bucket ticket (which qualifies for the companion), will the companion ticket be issued as "I" (in other words, an award ticket)? That would make it VERY difficult to get one (as difficult as it is to get an upgrade or milage keeper J cabin award). :td:
The reason I am wondering is that the terms and conditions state something to the effect that the companion ticket is subject to the normal Voyager programme rules.

How did this work when there still were Voyager companion tickets (which were discontinued a few months ago if I remember correctly)?

About the companion ticket: does anyone understand what the parameters are? If I buy a Z fare bucket ticket (which qualifies for the companion), will the companion ticket be issued as "I" (in other words, an award ticket)? That would make it VERY difficult to get one (as difficult as it is to get an upgrade or milage keeper J cabin award). :td:
The reason I am wondering is that the terms and conditions state something to the effect that the companion ticket is subject to the normal Voyager programme rules.

How did this work when there still were Voyager companion tickets (which were discontinued a few months ago if I remember correctly)? The companion awards worked like this: you had to buy full fare F,J or Y and you got another F,J or Y ticket. Net result: it was only ever worth it when there were no cheap fares available. Of course the nice part was that both tickets were fully flexible and you could literally book the last seat on the plane. But expensive and seldom worth the miles.

I was rather hoping (though I must confess I didn't bother to find out) that the new scheme means you get another seat in whatever fare bucket you booked the first one. So if you booked A or Z or Q you got another A, Z or Q ticket subject to the same restrictions as the first. I guess somebody should find out - pity I didn't think about it when I was at the CPT Voyager desk on Sunday.

OK, thijsseh, you get the gold :-: for being the first to the finish line. :)

Pity the service is already so problematic! :rolleyes:

Sorry to disappoint. I received mine on 08.09.2006. I was lucky I received all 4 cards (that is 2 for Mrs. Capetonian) in one go. Although they are still trying to convince me that I actually don't have a VISA card yet and they will send that one to me a.s.a.p. Not even the premium call centre in JNB can be convinced that I do have the VISA card already (strangely enough it is working though).

Sorry to disappoint. I received mine on 08.09.2006. I was lucky I received all 4 cards (that is 2 for Mrs. Capetonian) in one go. Although they are still trying to convince me that I actually don't have a VISA card yet and they will send that one to me a.s.a.p. Not even the premium call centre in JNB can be convinced that I do have the VISA card already (strangely enough it is working though). No such luck here! Following advice from thijsseh I called their helpline. Very friendly, very efficient it seemed. Put me though to the premium desk but they can't trace my application. So they take my number and promise to call back after they've done a trace. That was several days ago and not a peep since! :rolleyes:

Sorry to disappoint. I received mine on 08.09.2006. I was lucky I received all 4 cards (that is 2 for Mrs. Capetonian) in one go. Although they are still trying to convince me that I actually don't have a VISA card yet and they will send that one to me a.s.a.p. Not even the premium call centre in JNB can be convinced that I do have the VISA card already (strangely enough it is working though).

OK, you win! ^ I'll forward you the :-: that Cheetah_SA so kindly awarded me. ;)


I get an SMS this morning, telling me that there is a problem with some of the detail on my application, can I please re-fax the forms. Since I have had the cards for weeks and have cheerfully spent thousands on them, this seems strange. I phone the now familiar helpdesk (know the number by heart :( ). They cant understand what the problem is, please just ignore.

Then enquired after the status of Mrs t's cards (which I applied for together with mine). Last week I was told they were with the courier company, this week, the cards 'have been approved', but they have run out of plasic stock! So I don't know what to believe. :rolleyes:
I have asked Mrs t to go on a 'slow spending advisory' until the new cards arrive (remember the double milage in the first 3 months?). ;)

The lady at the helpline says the demand for the cards way exceeded their projections... :rolleyes:

OK, you win! ^ I'll forward you the :-: that Cheetah_SA so kindly awarded me. ;)




Thanks a lot. :D

I have already clocked up more than R 60.000,-- and bought a ticket (for the 18000 extra-miles) sofar no miles have shown up on my Voyager account though.

I guess they are having some teething problems.

OK, so now - 7 WEEKS after applying :td: - we finally have all 4 cards, AMEX and VISA for Mrs t and myself.

So far, in spite of having received statements, no miles have been credited to my Voyager account (let alone double miles!). :confused: :(
Has anyone seen miles from these cards appear?

OK, so now - 7 WEEKS after applying :td: - we finally have all 4 cards, AMEX and VISA for Mrs t and myself.

So far, in spite of having received statements, no miles have been credited to my Voyager account (let alone double miles!). :confused: :(
Has anyone seen miles from these cards appear?


They appeared on my statetement on the day that the account was sent out including the double miles. The 18000 extra miles for the first ticket bought have not been credited yet.

They appeared on my statetement on the day that the account was sent out including the double miles. The 18000 extra miles for the first ticket bought have not been credited yet.

The 18000 extra miles have credited as well 6 days after the other miles (I haven't checked the account for a couple of days so I wasn't aware).

The 18000 extra miles have credited as well 6 days after the other miles (I haven't checked the account for a couple of days so I wasn't aware).

Ah, I got mine as well now (including the 18000 bonus) :)
Now I need to find out the rules around the companion ticket (is it booked in the same fare bucket as the paid ticket - "Z" for instance - or in an award bucket - "I"). That's important when strategising next year! When I email Voyager, they say it is a credit card question and suggest I call the helpline. When I call the helpline, they say it is a Voyager question :(

And while you all luxuriate in your your miles and other perks, I still get no joy and can just rant and fume. :mad: The latest is that I have faxed additional information (even though I have a Nedbank gold Visa card but "that's a different division") and my application is still "being processed". I am now a regular on the Premium helpline and dear, sweet, ineffectual Nasheena is growing to dread my calls, I fear.

I was in Europe 2 weeks ago and a friend got an sms at breakast. Oh, he says, that is Nedbank to say that the card I applied for as I left Jo'burg last week has been approved and will be delivered in 5 days. :mad:

Given my recent experiences with SAA I don't really know why I'm even persisting with the credit card application which is obviously jinxed. Am I such a slut for miles that I will take any kind of abuse to get them? :rolleyes:

This new SAA Voyager Premium Credit Card SUCKS!!!

Nedbank are appalling at administering this card on behalf of Nedbank.

They lost my ONLINE application 5 times, they then lost my FICA documents TWICE....they "lost" a R22000 payment into my card from Standard Bank 10 days ago, and R60000 of payments into my card have been "lost" this past week....

How can you be a bank, and LOOSE payments into a credit card???

Today I had a R60 Woolworths transaction declined, because I had INSUFICCIENT funds in my account, after paying R60000 into the card a week ago, and actually having a CREDIT balance, which they kindly "forgot" about.

I have NEVER in my life dealt with such INCOMPETENT people as in the SAA Credit Card call centre.

This afternoon, after trying to call the 0861 380 380 call centre, I was on HOLD for 85 MINUTES, and eventually put the phone down.

When I phoned them last week and shouted about them loosing my payment, and my FICA documents, the call centre person I spoke to said they they were in fact not coping with admin AT ALL, and that their admin processes was in shambles - how's that for a Bank, admitting that you're useless at your job!!!!

Guys, take your money and RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm busy closing this NEW card of mine, as I cannot stand such bad service any longer.

Cheers

Rob

This new SAA Voyager Premium Credit Card SUCKS!!! I've just given up with my application - I assume they've lost it or something. :rolleyes: But life is too short to keep phoning, being told that they will get back to me, then hearing nothing. :mad:

Luckily I don't have any problems at all. The miles are posting regularly including the welcome bonus miles for the first three month. I deposited excess cash into the card account as well no problems there neither (sofar).

Bet you're suprised at me resurrecting this thread! :p But I have to share the bizarre developments of late.

I had literally given up on Voyager's card. When I went to the Voyager desk at CPT to pay for taxes on an award ticket I was again solicited to apply. I politely told the nice lady that although I was tempted to start again if I had the same experience as last time my blood pressure couldn't handle it so I thought it wiser not to go there again. That was in November.

Then 5 days ago I get an SMS (I happened to be in SIN which made it even more surreal somehow) to say my application is being processed. What?! That process went dormant in somewhere around October!? Then another SMS to say it's been approved. By now I was in London as it happened. Today (I'm at home again) I get the phone call asking for a delivery address.

This is so wierd I don't know what to think. Is it possible that the nice lady at CPT followed up? I didn't give her any details but she could have noted my name or even asked the desk for details. Or is this just the inefficient wheels of Nedbank turning in their own mysterious way? Baffling.

I must say I have mixed feelings. Not least because I have already bought more than R100k worth of airline tickets this year and am not planning on spending much more. Plus I dread further experiences of their incompetence (such as globalstar66 has had.)

Hi I just joined, looking for more info on the credit cards. I have also gone through the credit card jungle with these cards. I first applied a week after it was announced. This I did online and faxed documents to the number provided.. 3 Applications later I was told they have no record of my application. I was coming back from Johannesburg and was at Voyager counter to claim missing miles and I was approached to apply for a card which I did once again.. This application was declined because I apparently had not paid a R140 Cell C account except that I dont have a Cell C account and never will. I discovered this on my Credit Profile and immediately disputed it and it was removed within a week, of course their "system" would now automatically decline my application for at least 3 months.. I was so pissed I closed the 3 Amex accounts I had already and settled a Bond account and later moved it to another bank as this was most expedient....

I then waited till two weeks ago and forwarded a new application with a Auditors report and Financials attached. The idiot that called my PA told me I dont qualify as my salary is too low even though it is 3.5 times what is needed for a Premium Card. I called to query and they told me I did not send any attachments with my application form. Where did the 23 pages go?

I re-sent it with a reference number and and today I received my Premium Cards and I am now half way to my Companion Ticket. ( I spend 50-70k per month on a business credit card with no rewards so I might as well use the amex )..

I personally believe that the cock ups are caused by Nedbank and not SAA however the fact that I have had 8 flights so far this year not showing on my statement and the online and telephonic claims procedure being useless is definitely SAA...happened to me at leat a dozen times last year.

The comedy continues! :rolleyes: I admire your patience and tenacity, Sal12345. Yes, it is Nedbank's fault. I have it on excellent authority from someone in the banking business that they were totally swamped with apps and their systems and staff are not coping.

My cards arrived. Of course no sign of the partner cards - guess that would be hoping for too much. I have yet to use my cards so I don't even know if they will be accepted. Especially given they don't have FICA info for me.

But I wondered what the experience has been for those of you who are well into using them. Are your miles posting (including initial double miles)? Have you claimed a partner ticket yet and, if so, what process, hassles rules were there? I guess I'm hoping for reassurance that once you get over the application hump it's all plain sailing. :p

How rude of me...

Welcome to FT, Sal12345! :)

The comedy continues! :rolleyes: I admire your patience and tenacity, Sal12345. Yes, it is Nedbank's fault. I have it on excellent authority from someone in the banking business that they were totally swamped with apps and their systems and staff are not coping.

My cards arrived. Of course no sign of the partner cards - guess that would be hoping for too much. I have yet to use my cards so I don't even know if they will be accepted. Especially given they don't have FICA info for me.

But I wondered what the experience has been for those of you who are well into using them. Are your miles posting (including initial double miles)? Have you claimed a partner ticket yet and, if so, what process, hassles rules were there? I guess I'm hoping for reassurance that once you get over the application hump it's all plain sailing. :p

For the first three month the miles did post including the double miles bonus. The 18.000 miles of the ticket bought posted as well. However, last month (after the first three month) miles did not post. I have not enquired yet what's going on there.

I cannot tell you about the partner ticket as I have not tried to claim one yet.

For the first three month the miles did post including the double miles bonus. The 18.000 miles of the ticket bought posted as well. However, last month (after the first three month) miles did not post. I have not enquired yet what's going on there.

I cannot tell you about the partner ticket as I have not tried to claim one yet.


My experience seems to be the same as capetionian: Milage posted OK for the first 2 and a half months (including the 18000 bonus for the first ticket and the double miles). When I looked at my milage statement after the third month, I thought that the number posted was a bit low, but I had not received a card statement yet. When the card statement arrived, it was clear that not all miles had posted. So I immediately got onto the call centre and after a few days of arguing, we agreed that there were missing miles and that they would be included with the posting for the next period. In the meantime I have received the card statement for that next period, but no miles at all have been posted yet, not the missing miles and not the miles for last month :confused: :( . Their admin is not bad enough to forget charging me the R1650 annual fee after three months :rolleyes: . So next week, it will be on the phone to the call centre again.... Sigh

By the way, Cheetah_SA, don't expect the companion cards to arrive without your intervention. Mine were also missing and when I 'phoned they told me that they were missing because they did not have Mrs t'd ID documents etc. Of course the cards all arrived individually anyway (I had to collect them at the Nedbank branch and was "FICA'ed" four times!

Finally, I would love to hear from someone who has done the companion ticket thing. I am still a bit worried about the bucket used for this ticket: is it the same bucket as the paid ticket (which would be fine) or is it an award bucket (like I or E)? The reason I wonder is that the rules state that 'the usual Voager rules apply' (or words to that efefct). Anyone??

Thanks for the feedback. ^ Used my Amex card for the first time this morning and it worked all 3 times. So I am no longer an Amex or a Voyager card virgin. ;)

For the second month I have had to call the helpdesk to get my Credit card miles sorted out. :td:
In December I noticed that the miles credited looked a bit low and sure enough they were a few thousand short. After talking to the call centre, this was sorted out. In January it seemed fine. Now, the February run is wrong again! Called them and the 'consultant' agreed it was wrong. She had heard that there 'had been a problem' with the milage calculations, she gave me a reference number and I am sure it will be sorted.
Has anyone else had this problem? I have now set up a spreadsheet to calculate my miles (AMEX ./. 6 and VISA ./. 10.5 etc). That should not be necessary. :(

On a different note: has anyone used the 'companion ticket' option yet? To me that is one of the big drawcards of the card programe! What is the procedure?

On a different note: has anyone used the 'companion ticket' option yet? To me that is one of the big drawcards of the card programe! What is the procedure?

I received the following letter from Voyager a couple of days ago:

Dear Mr Shumba

Congratulations! You have spent Rxxxxx.xx on your Voyager Premium Credit Card so you now qualify for your free SAA companion ticket. Why not spoil a friend or family member in need of a break?

How does the Companion ticket work?

You're entitled to a free Companion ticket with any flight of your choice - either local or international - provided that you book on SAA (excluding codeshare flights) in the following classes: Economy classes Y, B, M and K, First or Business class published fares. *

You can fly anywhere in the world, provided that you and your companion are on the same flight. All you need to do now is book your own return flight, and your companion's ticket will be free of charge.

How do I redeem my Companion ticket?

Once you have purchased your own ticket in one of the qualifying classes, call us on 0860 003 145 and we'll reserve your Companion ticket. **

Should you spend R60 000 or more during the next calendar year, you will qualify for yet another free Companion ticket. So keep swiping your Voyager Premium Credit Card, your friends and family will certainly be happy!

Your free Companion ticket will be valid until 16/11/2007, so you'll have ample time to plan an epic trip with your chosen travel partner... But be sure to book and fly before the expiry date!

Kind Regards

Manoj Papa
Head of Voyager
South African Airways


* For all Voyager Programme terms and conditions, please see www.flysaa.com

** All airport taxes, fees and levies as may be applicable to the Companion ticket are for the passenger's account. Companion tickets are not upgradeable.

I received the following letter from Voyager a couple of days ago:

Dear Mr Shumba

...........

.....Your free Companion ticket will be valid until 16/11/2007, so you'll have ample time to plan an epic trip with your chosen travel partner... But be sure to book and fly before the expiry date!



Thanks very much for that information! With my current statement I should exceed the R60K for the year, so I will be expecting a similar letter in the next few weeks. I am a bit concerned about the validity of that ticket though: 16/11/2007? I thought they advertised a validity of a year? Somehow I was expecting that if you earn the ticket in 2007, you could redeem it any time in 2008 :confused:

I am a bit concerned about the validity of that ticket though: 16/11/2007? I thought they advertised a validity of a year? Somehow I was expecting that if you earn the ticket in 2007, you could redeem it any time in 2008 :confused:I picked up on that too. :confused: Roughly 8 months. Seems pretty arbitrary? Surely they haven't linked it to your date of getting the card?

Strange - my letter which I received about a month ago did not mention anything about a validity period. I assumed that it would be valid until the end of 2007. Thinking of it I did not receive the offer for 2006 when I spend over the threshold in the first month. But I guess, nobody did.

BTW: Has anybody ever used the Premium Card for lounge access? Will they allow a family member as a guest, or not? My wife will be flying to JFK with my son in Y. Her being a cardholder will have access but will they allow my 10 yr. old son in with her?

BTW: Has anybody ever used the Premium Card for lounge access? Will they allow a family member as a guest, or not? My wife will be flying to JFK with my son in Y. Her being a cardholder will have access but will they allow my 10 yr. old son in with her?

Officially not, the rules say it is a 'no guest' deal. But I have found them quite relaxed about the rules at CPT when flying with non-elite family members. I suggest you ask at check-in, they have given me a voucher once or twice.
BTW, I once used my Premium Card for lounge access last year, just to see how it worked. It looks sort of similar to a Voyager Platinum card and it was mistaken for one: "Platinum, of course you are welcome Mr thijsseh (<lots of bowing and scraping/>". Was quite funny. I have never been Plat (and not likely to be one either) :( .

Ah, I also got my companion ticket letter. It was dated 1 April and the ticket offer expires 28/03/2008, so it is exactly a year (in my case ;) ).
I would have liked to use it for the holidays in 2008, but that's not going to work, I just spent too quickly :rolleyes: . So it seems a New Year in the Alps may be on the cards :) . But for future years, I would like to use the companion ticket for the Northern hemisphere summer. So the R60K must be reached later. That means one of three things: spend less (not really an option), spend up to R59K on the Voyager card and then move to another card until August and then make up the 60K. Or downgrade to a Gold card, where you need R80K to get the companion ticket (and still use an alternative card for some time, but not quite as long). Since the difference in miles earned between the Premium and the Gold card is small, the latter might be the best option.
Why did others opt for the Premium card? The fee is R1150 per year higher. The milage earning difference is minimal. The free travel insurance is quite a bit better. Overall, I get the feeling that - as long as you are not in the category which spends between R60K and R80K per annum on the card - the Gold version may be a better option! Any thoughts??

Why did others opt for the Premium card? I must confess I just didn't think about it too hard. I was mildly confused by the Gold and Platinum offerings and Gold seemed quite reasonable. I even asked the person soliciting customers why anyone should take the Platinum. Can't recall the discussion. Something swayed me towards Platinum - but it may even have been that (often unwarranted) belief that if it's more expensive it must be better. :o

Coldly analysing it now it seems I am forking out R1150 pa for:

faster mileage accrual (net maybe 1000 miles more per R100,000 spend)
faster companion ticket (but would get it anyway)
additional 8000 miles on first SA ticket bought
use of departure lounges (but I travel J mostly)
another companion card (but I don't have use for that)
more insurance (just looked at the full details, could be useful as it covers delays, lost luggage etc. Worth maybe R100 per international ticket?)

Given my spending patterns it seems I forked out R1150 for about 12000 miles and some insurance. That looks decent value. But the bonus on the SAA ticket doesn't repeat annually (does it?) so the value proposition becomes a bit dodgier next year. Also given the way I travel these days using bits of tickets with trips broken up and interspersed with award tickets, I'm not too sure how well I am covered by that insurance.

By my reasoning the premium card seems to be worth most to people who maximise:

number of international tickets bought annually
travelling in economy and using the business class lounge
rands spent per annum
in that order.

Having qualified for my companion ticket (see post #54), I wanted to find out more about the conditions. This is what I got:

1. The 1 year expiry of the 'ticket' applies to issuing the ticket, NOT using it (that's what the conditions say as well, but the letter I got on qualifying suggests otherwise). So I can book my ticket on 27/3/07 (it "expires" on the 28th of March next year) for use in June / July. ^

2. The companion ticket is booked in the highest booking class of the cabin in which one travels. So if I buy a "Z" fare, the companion ticket is booked in "C". That's good news as well: even if only one "Z" fare is available, I can still get the two tickets. ^ (the same would apply for "Y" and "F" for the other cabins)

The above was confirmed by two seperate sources (the Credit Card people and the Voyager helpdesk itself), so I assume it to be correct.

But if one of you would ask the same questions and post the response, I would feel (even) better. :D

This is excellent news! ^ Hope those rules stick.

Having qualified for my companion ticket (see post #54), I wanted to find out more about the conditions. This is what I got:

1. The 1 year expiry of the 'ticket' applies to issuing the ticket, NOT using it (that's what the conditions say as well, but the letter I got on qualifying suggests otherwise). So I can book my ticket on 27/3/07 (it "expires" on the 28th of March next year) for use in June / July. ^

2. The companion ticket is booked in the highest booking class of the cabin in which one travels. So if I buy a "Z" fare, the companion ticket is booked in "C". That's good news as well: even if only one "Z" fare is available, I can still get the two tickets. ^ (the same would apply for "Y" and "F" for the other cabins)

The above was confirmed by two seperate sources (the Credit Card people and the Voyager helpdesk itself), so I assume it to be correct.

But if one of you would ask the same questions and post the response, I would feel (even) better. :D

Just spoken to Voyager and I can confirm the above. I am going to book a companion ticket to my Z class ticket JNB-IAD this morning, will let you know how it goes once it is done.

Just spoken to Voyager and I can confirm the above. I am going to book a companion ticket to my Z class ticket JNB-IAD this morning, will let you know how it goes once it is done.

I have finally got my companion ticket awarded, relatively hassle free over the phone. Got a full C class companion ticket JNB - IAD and had to pay R1284 in taxes.

I have finally got my companion ticket awarded, relatively hassle free over the phone. Got a full C class companion ticket JNB - IAD and had to pay R1284 in taxes.

Excellent! ^
May I ask if the actual travel date is less or more than 1 year from qualifying for the companion ticket? That is my only outstanding concern (even though I had the assurance from 2 sources.. as per above posts).

Excellent! ^
May I ask if the actual travel date is less or more than 1 year from qualifying for the companion ticket? That is my only outstanding concern (even though I had the assurance from 2 sources.. as per above posts).

No, my travel dates were within a year of qualifying. But from what I understand, an award is generated which is valid for a year, so you are able to travel more than one year afterwards.

The award is generated in the same way as a normal Voyager award, but is debited as 0 miles. The companion ticket is then issued against this award.

Got my letter too! ^ Dated 21 June valid to 13 June 2008 - so they stiffed me with 8 days! ;)

Ironically for the first time in absolutely ages I have no great travel plans in prospect. But we will probably want to go Stateside some time in the next year or two, so I amused myself by looking up the fare from CPT to JFK on arbitrary dates. The smile was wiped right off my face when I saw that the business class fare that came up (J class) for 1 person was over R60k!!! :eek::eek::eek: I'd much rather buy a AONE4 (4 continent RTW in first) for R52k plus taxes. Or, better still, R41.5k ex MRU.

Maybe I'll just use this one for a quickie to Europe for some opera sometime. What routes are you people using yours on?

Got my letter too! ^ Dated 21 June valid to 13 June 2008 - so they stiffed me with 8 days! ;)

Ironically for the first time in absolutely ages I have no great travel plans in prospect. But we will probably want to go Stateside some time in the next year or two, so I amused myself by looking up the fare from CPT to JFK on arbitrary dates. The smile was wiped right off my face when I saw that the business class fare that came up (J class) for 1 person was over R60k!!! :eek::eek::eek: I'd much rather buy a AONE4 (4 continent RTW in first) for R52k plus taxes. Or, better still, R41.5k ex MRU.

Maybe I'll just use this one for a quickie to Europe for some opera sometime. What routes are you people using yours on?

Someting fishy here: When I read your post, I wondered if ANY Z- or D- fares would be available. According to seatcounter, there are: for instance JNB/IAD on 29/11 and IAD/JNB on 29/01 (I just picked those days at random, outside the peak season) sure enough, on both flights, Z and D are available. When I make a dummy bokking on flysaa.com, it gives me a J class at R58K (incl taxes etc). So the website does not give the lowest fare. Or have I made a mistake and Z or D require a stay of less than 2 months?? Anyway, probaably worth playing a bit to get better understanding.

In answer to your question: I'll probably use mine for a CPT/FRA or a CPT/LHR trip. Flew FRA/CPT last night and it was one of the better experiences, so am currently quite well disposed towards SA.

Someting fishy here: When I read your post, I wondered if ANY Z- or D- fares would be available. According to seatcounter, there are: for instance JNB/IAD on 29/11 and IAD/JNB on 29/01 (I just picked those days at random, outside the peak season) sure enough, on both flights, Z and D are available. When I make a dummy bokking on flysaa.com, it gives me a J class at R58K (incl taxes etc). So the website does not give the lowest fare. Or have I made a mistake and Z or D require a stay of less than 2 months?? Anyway, probaably worth playing a bit to get better understanding.Nope, can't get flysaa.com to show Z or D fares for any dates I have tried. No luck on ITA either. KL/NW goes for under R30k and Qatar and IB for just over. Can the monopoly on the quickest route warrant such a premium?

In answer to your question: I'll probably use mine for a CPT/FRA or a CPT/LHR trip.There isn't a rule that the ticket has to be ex-RSA, is there? I will most probably want to use mine to break up a RTW trip, maybe ex LHR or HKG. The letter I have doesn't give any specifics. Could it even be multi-legged?

Does anyone know if companion tickets can be used for itineraries originating in the USA, and whether the cardholder has to be one of the travellers? (I'm in the US and was wondering whether my wife and I could visit SA if one of our friends who live there offered this to us...)

Does anyone know if companion tickets can be used for itineraries originating in the USA, and whether the cardholder has to be one of the travellers? (I'm in the US and was wondering whether my wife and I could visit SA if one of our friends who live there offered this to us...)This is all so new it is unlikely that too many of the permutations have yet been explored. I think we're at the stage where we need people to ask SAA and report back on their experiences so that we can build up a database of actual experiences.

Welcome to FT, BTW. :)

Edited to add: Looked up the rules on flysaa.com (http://www.nedbank.co.za/website/content/saavoyager/Benefits_TCs.pdf)and they state that the companion ticket "is only available to the Card account holder when purchasing or travelling on an SAA published fare revenue ticket in first, business or economy class..."

So doesn't look too promising... but you never know.

There isn't a rule that the ticket has to be ex-RSA, is there? I will most probably want to use mine to break up a RTW trip, maybe ex LHR or HKG. The letter I have doesn't give any specifics. Could it even be multi-legged?

*bump*
Anyone tried this yet?

Just had a reminder that I only have 6 months to use my freebie. (Nice touch that - instead of just hoping I'd forget.) But the only practical use I have for it in that time space is to get from the USA or Asia and back to resume a RTW itinerary.

So has anyone actually used their companion ticket yet? My first ticket I got last year December expires in a little over a week (31 Dec) and my second one at the end of January. I was planning to do a trip just for the sake of using the companion ticket. I wonder how many people actually travel somewhere they werent planning on going to, simply to avoid having a "free" companion ticket expire?

What really makes me mad, was in Jan this year I flew full fare Fclass JNB-LHR and used 135000 miles for a companion to travel with, to add insult to injury in August I again traded 270 000 miles to take my parents with me to LHR F Class (i bought my ticket so couldve used the companion) and on both occassions the voyager call center didnt remind me about the free companion. Although I admit I am the moron for not remembering, however it wouldve been nice if they had reminded me.

Thought I'd add to this thread rather than start a new one so that the information can be kept together.

I can confirm some information with my own experience and add something new:

bought my companion ticket before expiry date, and no problem that both the outbound and inbound are after the expiry date on the letter
my ticket was bought in Z but the companion ticket is in C
the ticket is a return HKG/CPT/HKG, so no problem originating outside of South Africa
neither booking is accessible via "manage my booking" on flysaa.com; is that always the case with these?


Does anyone know if the companion ticket earns miles? Seems a bit cheeky, I know, but it is in C class after all. ;)

Thought I'd add to this thread rather than start a new one so that the information can be kept together.

I can confirm some information with my own experience and add something new:

bought my companion ticket before expiry date, and no problem that both the outbound and inbound are after the expiry date on the letter
my ticket was bought in Z but the companion ticket is in C
the ticket is a return HKG/CPT/HKG, so no problem originating outside of South Africa
neither booking is accessible via "manage my booking" on flysaa.com; is that always the case with these?


Does anyone know if the companion ticket earns miles? Seems a bit cheeky, I know, but it is in C class after all. ;)

I have (almost) the same experience:

1. I am also travelling outside the validity as per the letter (and booked inside it).
2. Ticket booked in D ^, companion booked as C
3. That's where I differ: CPT/LHR/CPT
4. I can see my own (D class) ticket, but not the companion one on 'manage my booking'. I think that this is because it was not booked through flysaa.com but through the call centre. But it is visible through 'checkmytrip', including the seat allocation (which I had to do seperately as there are two PNR's) so I am not worried.

It would be nice to get miles (CPT/LHR return in C is 15K plus status - which Mrs t does not have:(), but that seems too cheeky indeed :rolleyes:. If you check the fare basis it says 'CBP00" (at least mine does), I bet that the 'BP00' bit disqualifies one from miles.

4. I can see my own (D class) ticket, but not the companion one on 'manage my booking'. I think that this is because it was not booked through flysaa.com but through the call centre. But it is visible through 'checkmytrip', including the seat allocation (which I had to do seperately as there are two PNR's) so I am not worried.Hmm.... I thought it was compulsory to book through flysaa.com? And an online booking seems more likely to show up on Manage Your Booking, surely? Anyway mine doesn't show. Maybe because booked on the HKG website? Or are they just pissed with me for putting a bmi FF number on the booking? :p

Still going to try for the miles, though - I'll try to get SO's FF number put on the booking at the airport. Currently it has my Voyager number on it (presumably as I am the account holder who "earned" the companion ticket).

Hmm.... I thought it was compulsory to book through flysaa.com? And an online booking seems more likely to show up on Manage Your Booking, surely? Anyway mine doesn't show. Maybe because booked on the HKG website? Or are they just pissed with me for putting a bmi FF number on the booking? :p

Still going to try for the miles, though - I'll try to get SO's FF number put on the booking at the airport. Currently it has my Voyager number on it (presumably as I am the account holder who "earned" the companion ticket).

Sorry, I obviously did not make myself clear. My OWN ticket was bought through flysaa.com (and I can see it on 'Manage your Booking'). The companion ticket was booked through the call centre by giving them the PNR for the paid ticket and asking for the companion award (is there any other way :confused: ) and that one is only visible on checkmytrip.

As far as the miles go: absoloutely! Mrs t's booking also still has my FF number in it and I will have that changed at check in!

Sorry, I obviously did not make myself clear. My OWN ticket was bought through flysaa.com (and I can see it on 'Manage your Booking'). The companion ticket was booked through the call centre by giving them the PNR for the paid ticket and asking for the companion award (is there any other way :confused: ) and that one is only visible on checkmytrip.

As far as the miles go: absoloutely! Mrs t's booking also still has my FF number in it and I will have that changed at check in!

I have used two companion tickets in the past 3months, the first ticket was booked in C, the second in Z, on both flights pax using the companion didnt get miles even though we added their voyager number to the ticket. Not that any reasonable person would actually expect to get miles on these tickets, it was nice to have someone come along, paying only the taxes, without having to look for mileage keeper tickets.

the system works well.

the system works well.I will be more than satisfied with just that. :)

..... Not that any reasonable person would actually expect to get miles on these tickets, it was nice to have someone come along, paying only the taxes, without having to look for mileage keeper tickets.



Agree wholeheartedly. But we would not be FT'ers if we did not (silently or otherwise) hope to be awarded miles which we did not really deserve...;)