Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Help Needed: SAA North America refunds?

In February of this year I purchased a one-way ticket CDG-JNB on SAA in Z-fare C class for approx. 2104 USD via Expedia.com. This was issued as a paper ticket and the rules clearly indicate the following:

Fare Basis Code: ZOWPAR

PENALTIES

CANCELLATIONS

ANY TIME
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED.

CHANGES

ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.
NOTE -
PERMITTED PER TRANSACTION UNTIL THE EXPIRY DATE OF
THE FLIGHT COUPON CONCERNED.



I returned the ticket to Expedia in March and requested a refund as my travel plans changed. They confirmed the ticket was returned and forwarded on to SAA for the refund. That was in March. It is now September, and there is no refund. Expedia have tried in vain to get in touch with someone at SAA to discuss this issue and the number they were given for refunds in Ft Lauderdale just rings - nobody answers, no way to leave a voicemail.

Who should I be contacting? At this point, I am tempted to take SAA to small claims court over this for breach of contract, but would obviously prefer to work it out and just get my d**m refund.

Perhaps you might have some luck if you challenge the charge with your credit card company. I have successfully challenged charges even though several months had passed since the initial purchase.

Sorry to hear of your situation; typical air carrier behaviour nowadays.

Let us know how you make out if you go the credit card challenge route.

Good news to report.

I called SAA in Ft. Lauderdale; of course, nobody answered the phone and it goes straight to voicemail. So I tried e-mailing the refunds department address from their website and it was returned to me undeliverable. Citibank would not budge on the 60-day dispute limit.

I called Expedia back in vain - as they are actually my agent and should be doing it on my behalf - and spoke to a supervisor who forced the refund through and said she would charge it back to SAA via ARC. Now, it's been 3 days and I have not seen a refund hit my account yet but there is still hope.

I learned three important lessons here:
- dispute something within 60 days if you have a feeling something is wrong
- do not buy high-value paper tickets from Expedia or Travelocity
- avoid SAA? Cannot imagine this is a common problem with them though...just one bad experience.

SAA are moronic.

3 years ago I tried to make a redemption booking.

I booked in J, phoned to cancel it and they said u have to wait 7 weeks for the miles to be refunded I want to go F, and so i hung up called later and new person and new story, 3rd time luck and they dude said I will cancel it now and return the miles with in 24 hours so u can make the F booking.

Having my boarding card torn up and just reassigned a new seat because somebody wanted to sit next to his wife, didn't ask me if im cool with it.

- avoid SAA? Cannot imagine this is a common problem with them though...just one bad experience. Yes, avoid SAA, and this IS a common problem, see the post (posted by yours truly) #4 here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=497109&highlight=SAA).
If you're too lazy to look that part up :), go to the news source and see the the paragraph "The chamber contends that the airline is taking three to six months to make the refunds, compared with the industry standard of six to eight weeks, and pays no interest, even when a full cancellation fee has been paid." (http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/TarkArticle.aspx?ID=1801495) here.

Welcome to my world. Avoid SAA if paying money. And they have NOT improved.

Will