SA Express *G Benefits?
Nov 7, 2016, 8:55 am
#46
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
Programs: COdbaUA 1K MM, AA EXP, Bonbon Gold, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, NEXUS and GE
Posts: 5,839
The worst part of this consistently inconsistent bad service is that SAA seems to have led the Star Alliance to believe they are playing by all the rules, including having franchise partners fully integrated. Indeed, if you check in with SA Express or Airlink, the check in lines always note *G as well as the SAA classifications. Also, on the *A website, they even note how SA Express and Airlink are part of the SAA network.
Nov 8, 2016, 3:45 am
#48
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
Nov 8, 2016, 2:30 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: FB LTPE, BAEC GGL, EK Blue, SK Gold, Marriott Amb+LTT, IHG Diamond Amb, Accorhotels Silver
Posts: 1,954
Feels like a scam to me, as no other airline in the world would consider a franchised flight as not eligible for Alliance benefits.
Nov 10, 2016, 2:21 am
#50
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
Programs: COdbaUA 1K MM, AA EXP, Bonbon Gold, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, NEXUS and GE
Posts: 5,839
Sep 7, 2017, 9:25 am
#51
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Krisflyer
Posts: 588
This devious policy is still ongoing. I was denied access to the SAA lounge because my KFEG status counts for nothing with SA Express. I booked the flight through the SAA website, its flight code was SA, and of course the SA Express logo is the same as SAA, but somehow the airline can claim it is an unrelated, non-*A service? Seems like a sneaky way to get out of *A obligations. Hope I still get the KF miles!
Sep 8, 2017, 6:16 am
#52
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
This devious policy is still ongoing. I was denied access to the SAA lounge because my KFEG status counts for nothing with SA Express. I booked the flight through the SAA website, its flight code was SA, and of course the SA Express logo is the same as SAA, but somehow the airline can claim it is an unrelated, non-*A service? Seems like a sneaky way to get out of *A obligations. Hope I still get the KF miles!
The Kris Flyer website says "Over 1,000 Star Alliance Gold lounges worldwide, together with a guest who is also flying on Singapore Airlines or a Star Alliance airline on the same day." Nowhere on SAA, SA Express or Star Alliance's website does it indicate that SA Express are a Star Alliance member.
It's clearly a codeshare flight with a non-alliance partner. The analogy might be flying on Cathay with an Air Canada codeshare, and expecting Cathay to grant you lounge access for your Kris Flyer status. I don't think people would think it's devious in that circumstance.
While the logos might seem similar since they are both based on the South African flag, they are not the same.
Oct 21, 2017, 1:41 am
#53
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Krisflyer
Posts: 588
I stand by my belief that the distinction between SAA and SA Express is artificial. My flights even used SAA-branded napkins!
(Incidentally I infer that the SAA lounge at Jo'burg must not be up to SQ's standards: when flying JNB-SIN in J with SQ I was given a pass to a privately-operated lounge...)
Oct 23, 2017, 1:04 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
"Minister Gigaba has ... indicated that the process of assessing the viability of a merger between SAA and SA Express is complete, pending a government review."
Source
Johan