Originally Posted by simon stingray
By booking well in advance and by bieng a little flexible I have always been able to get SAA fares between JNB-DUR-CPT for much the same prices as the low cost airlines.
I agree, I found SAA fares to be easily comparable to low cost fares on numerous occasions - even as far out as only 3 weeks.
The only disadvantage with SAA fares is that there one-way fares are generally not as cheap as low cost airlines.
I guess we are heading for less 'proper' SAA flights - and more flights with no free food/drink and other benefits.
A number of airlines around the world are taking this approach now - not necessarily under a new low cost branding, but within the existing brand.