Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Voyager Awards Validity Period

From Flysaa.com:

"New Voyager awards validity period

Non-airline partners - 3 months
Airline partners (including SAA) - 6 months
All Awards are non-refundable. "

Is this a prelude to changing award values?

This makes me very worried, I dont like changes for the worse (from pax point of view, still p'd off that they took preflight drinks away on domestic).

Although as a frequent flyer program, frequent being the key word most should travel at least 5000 miles a year. Thus taking out last minute "long term" awards to avoid expiry of miles should be negated.

With thats said would you be able to book award flights more than 6months in advance?

Availability is bit of a joke, too

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With thats said would you be able to book award flights more than 6months in advance?

My understanding is that you must use the award within 6 months, that is to say 'book a flight' within 6 months after redeeming the award. You can then book a flight 330 days out, so i effect you have almost 18 months before you have to travel.
I agree that availability (in C at least) is a joke! :td: and yes, I also worry about the next 'change'.....:(

I see this as a very serious devaluation of the program. The last bit is the most concerning: if you can't find an award within the time frame allowed or your plans change there is no refund of your miles!

On 30 March I checked at the SAA/Voyager counter at JNB International and was assured that award validity is 12 months and that you can book up to 12 months in advance (well technically 330 days as thijsseh says). The awards I issued later that morning have an expiry date 1 year out. Now, no longer.

Oh well, I guess SAA has to do something to manage the R1bn Voyager liability. I too expect the bad news to continue. :(

I see this as a very serious devaluation of the program. The last bit is the most concerning: if you can't find an award within the time frame allowed or your plans change there is no refund of your miles!

....snip.....

Oh well, I guess SAA has to do something to manage the R1bn Voyager liability. I too expect the bad news to continue. :(

Oh dear, I had not even thought about that: change of plans too late and your miles evaporate...
I have started to redeem my Voyager miles on *A awards where there is better availability (LH F :D)

Oh dear, I had not even thought about that: change of plans too late and your miles evaporate...
I have started to redeem my Voyager miles on *A awards where there is better availability (LH F :D)One precaution is to use one-way awards where possible. Not available for *A awards, though.