Anyone able to book South African
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Programs: Air Krapistan Poop Points "Scooper Level"
Posts: 248
Anyone able to book South African
I have been trying to use SAA via lifemiles with no luck. I tried many bookings but nothing. Just looking at JNB to CPT (which they 10 fly 10 times a day) and there is nothing available from Sept 20 thru Oct 20. Has anyone booked SAA lately? I am looking to use them from JFK to JNB next year.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,070
Sure, recently booked a MUC-JNB on SAA in Business Class... I suspect JFK-JNB might be a great deal more difficult though...
JNB-CPT can't really be a high value award. Why not Avios on Comair?
JNB-CPT can't really be a high value award. Why not Avios on Comair?
#3
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
Same. I've booked MUC-JNB-DUR in the past (flew last month) and I've seen LHR-JNB availability quite a bit recently.
I wouldn't think JNB-CPT would be worth the points.
I wouldn't think JNB-CPT would be worth the points.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Programs: Air Krapistan Poop Points "Scooper Level"
Posts: 248
I just used JNB -CPT to test dummy bookings today and zero available. I am SJO based and there is no availability from here. In the past a routing of SJO-PTY-GRU-JNB used to appear, but no luck now.
Thanks
Thanks
#5
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: YYC, SFO, OAK
Programs: AS MVP 75K, AA Platinum, IHG Platinum, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 734
If you know the segments are available and you can get them to appear individually on lifemiles.com, then you should take screenshots and then email them to Lifemiles, including your name, DOB, the flights and dates, and they will manually hold the award for you. They'll then call you for payment details.
If the segments don't show up at all, well, I've never tried to proceed in that case, but I would email them if the segments are showing up on UA or AC but not AV's site.
If the segments don't show up at all, well, I've never tried to proceed in that case, but I would email them if the segments are showing up on UA or AC but not AV's site.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
I was looking at PER<>JNB. Nothing shows up regardless of search parameters. Availability is there on united.com. So I guess no screenshot = no manual booking.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Definitely something wrong with SA availability on LifeMiles.
It is highly improbable that UA is showing phantom availability on multiple routes (even those that usually have some seats most of the time) and both classes.
Unfortunately these days you can't even check up on availability on their native FFP because every seat is available for redemption - at a price.
It is highly improbable that UA is showing phantom availability on multiple routes (even those that usually have some seats most of the time) and both classes.
Unfortunately these days you can't even check up on availability on their native FFP because every seat is available for redemption - at a price.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: SYD
Programs: QF PS and spouse of QP Senior Lifer PS, UA, AA, DL, AS, AV
Posts: 762
I have been trying to use SAA via lifemiles with no luck. I tried many bookings but nothing. Just looking at JNB to CPT (which they 10 fly 10 times a day) and there is nothing available from Sept 20 thru Oct 20. Has anyone booked SAA lately? I am looking to use them from JFK to JNB next year.
Thanks
Thanks
#12
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 4,648
I can see flights on SAA from GRU to JNB, just having a quick look
Nov 11 in C on SA223
Three more flights on the same day on SA235 after connecting to LHR on LH
Nov 10 in C on SA223
Nov 10 in Y on SA223
Nov 11 in Y on SA204 after connecting to NYC on UA
Nov 12 in Y on SA204 after connecting to NYC on UA
Nov 11 in C on SA223
Three more flights on the same day on SA235 after connecting to LHR on LH
Nov 10 in C on SA223
Nov 10 in Y on SA223
Nov 11 in Y on SA204 after connecting to NYC on UA
Nov 12 in Y on SA204 after connecting to NYC on UA
#15
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP, BA Bronze, TK Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold, Fairmont Premiere, IHG Ambas
Posts: 180
Adding a datapoint to this:
I see 2 seats on SAA that are available on UA, AP and ANA, but of course they aren't showing up on LM. I've now written to LM support will see where it goes. This seems like another silent devaluation by LM, between the lack of mixed cabin awards, no LH F, no long connections and now this, it is just so risky with LM. Quite disappointing.
I see 2 seats on SAA that are available on UA, AP and ANA, but of course they aren't showing up on LM. I've now written to LM support will see where it goes. This seems like another silent devaluation by LM, between the lack of mixed cabin awards, no LH F, no long connections and now this, it is just so risky with LM. Quite disappointing.