Jasper2009

I've flown SA a few dozen times over the last few years and have usually been reasonably satisfied, but was shocked how mediocre the catering was on a recent JNB-CPT flight in business class:

After about 45min into the flight I was presented with the following "lunch":

- a tiny, soggy bread roll
- a cheap, processed slice of ham and cheddar
- a few tasteless pieces of fruit

Most airlines would be ashamed to serve that in economy class, let alone business class.

But oh well, I figured I could at least enjoy a glass of champagne or wine. Wrong.

Apparently SA has introduced a (new?) policy whereby it only serves alcoholic beverages on afternoon and evening flights. Or to be more precise: on flights with a scheduled departure time after 11a.m.

I could sort of see the point of not serving hard liquor in the early morning, but refusing to serve a glass of wine with "lunch" at 12p.m. ?!?

Without exaggerating, this was the most mediocre business class catering I've experienced during my last few hundred flights.

johan rebel

I remember the days when they would serve a full hot dinner on BFN-JNB flights. Flying time not even one hour.

Johan

Jasper2009

Well, the sad part is that such service didn't only exist "in the good old days".

It's only 3-4 years ago that I received a hot dinner on DUR-JNB (which is ~10min longer).

I didn't even necessarily expect a hot meal, but something that would at least be comparable to a wrapped sandwich you'd find in many airport news stands.

And the lack of a proper drinks service on a ~2h flight is just inexcusable IMHO.

Flame3601

Yes it is truly dreadful, I have left SAA for good and now fly BA/Comair domestically and boy oh boy what a delight !

NewbieRunner

Interesting. I recently flew JNB-CPT and CPT-JNB in the afternoon and was pleasantly surprised by the hot meals on both flights though beef served on JNB-CPT (the first photo) was a little tough.

Jasper2009

Just out of curiousity: What time did your flights depart?

Food and drinks have generally been reasonably good on dinner flights - it's just the late morning / lunch flights where catering has been absolutely mediocre IME.

NewbieRunner

Not exactly dinner flights.
JNB-CPT 13:55 departure
CPT-JNB 16:45 departure

cooleddie

For 2 hour flight still better food than Air Canada (imo)

Jasper2009

Hm, I would have to strongly disagree with that.

You get a small salad, a choice between two proper hot main courses and a dessert on 2h long flights in AC business class. Along with a full bar service any time of the day.

I don't see how a tiny, soggy role with a slice of processed ham and cheese along with a limited selection of non-alcoholic drinks is better than that.

(On afternoon/evening flights, SA is slightly better than AC IMO, but SA's late morning / lunch offering is just pathetic IMO).