• Check in
• Baggage
• Lounge
• Cabin details
• Food
• Entertainment
• Seat details

South African Airways
Journey with South African Airways and you are in expert hands. Voted ‘Best Airline to Africa’ from the UK for 17 consecutive years and with over 70 years experience, the largest airline in Africa operates more domestic and regional flights than any other scheduled carrier in Africa. From London Heathrow, SAA offer daily overnight flights to Cape Town and twice daily overnight flights to Johannesburg with connections on to 19 domestic airports and 31 regional cities across the continent. From your UK point of origin Check in is completed, boarding cards issued and bags tagged through to first point of entry in South Africa, thus offering seamless connections through Terminal 1 with their Star Alliance partner bmi. SAA’s unrivalled network means we can devise any itinerary you wish, safe in the knowledge that SAA will smoothly connect you.

Check-in online
Check-in for your flight from the comfort of your own home or office by using the online check-in facility at www.flysaa.com. You can choose your seat and see where it’s located on the aircraft, print your own boarding pass (where available) and check-in for your onward or return flight if it’s within 24 hours.

Baggage Drop
Baggage drop desks are dedicated specifically for passengers with checked baggage who have checked in using www.flysaa.com. Passengers who have printed their own boarding passes can proceed straight to the baggage drop desk at the airport, where their baggage will be tagged and sent to the aircraft. Any passengers unable to print their own boarding passes must proceed to a conventional check-in desk so that they may obtain a boarding pass before going to the Baggage Drop Desk.

Conventional Check In Desks
Conventional check–in desks will remain available at all airports throughout SAA’s network. Passengers must check-in a minimum of 2 hours before departure for Premium Class and a minimum of 3 hours before departure for Economy Class.

Hand Baggage Allowance
Maximum hand baggage weight is 7kg per passenger. Maximum hand baggage dimensions are W56cm + H45cm + L25cm.

Checked In Baggage Allowance

Excess baggage
This is charged at 1.5% of the highest Economy one way fare per kilo(kg) (Currently approx £32 per kilo). This is subject to change at any time. Please contact us for details if this applies to you.

London Heathrow
SAA offer both departure and arrivals lounges at London Heathrow in Terminal 1.

Cape Town
SAA offer a departure lounge at Cape Town International Airport.

Johannesburg

SAA offer both departure and an arrivals* lounges at Johannesburg International Airport.

Cycad Lounge

For Voyager Platinum passengers. Facilities include five luxurious state-of-the-art shower rooms, an elegant soundproof reading room, exclusive dining facilities, a private smokers retreat, and five tranquil, soundproof snooze rooms with CD players. There is also a state of the art Premium centre with international telephone, computer and Internet facilities.

The Baobab Lounge.

For Premium Class passengers and eligible Voyager members.

Facilities include wide-screen TV, bars, café Bars - coffee stations, two private smoking lounges, parents lounge with a colourful children's play area for tiny-tot travellers, revitalising shower facilities and comfortable designer Pago chairs.

* Currently (Apr ’08) the South African Airways Arrivals Lounge at Johannesburg International Airport is closed due to construction by Airports Company South Africa. An alternative airport owned lounge is available a short walking distance from the terminal building.

SAA offers its new Airbus A340-600s alternating with the A340-300e on its London Heathrow routes.

To see a cabin map for the A340-600 click here

To see a cabin Map for the A340-300 click here

Premium Class
The exceptional service starts when you leave home, with a complimentary chauffeur driven transfer to your closest airport, within a 55 driven mile radius.* The exceptional service continues with a warm welcome at the dedicated check-in areas and departure lounges and onboard with African hospitality and award-winning comfort. Features include -

• The 180 degree lie-flat Premium Class seats have been voted 'Best Business Class Seat' by Skytrax in 2004/2005/2006 and offer a 73” seat pitch and articulated armrest which flattens to widen the bed to 24” along its whole length.
• Ultra modern privacy shell separating seat rows with adjustable privacy screen between individual seats – seating configuration 2-2-2.
• Personal 10.4” wide screen video screens offering on-demand in-flight entertainment
• Access to dedicated check-in and African themed Departure and Arrival lounges in the UK and South Africa.
• À la carte menus complimented with the finest handpicked South African wines.
• Amenity kit, full size cotton duvet and pillow.
• Select seat in advance.

*55 driven-mile radius of most UK regional airports and Dublin Airport*. Regional connections are operated by bmi via Terminal 1 and bags can be checked straight through to South Africa. (Conditions Apply).

Economy Class
On A340-300 and A340-600 aircraft, over 80% of seats offer a very generous 33-34 inch seat pitch. Add fine cuisine, complimentary drinks, including award-winning South African wines, and a personal wide-screen video-on-demand entertainment and audio system*, and you really are in for a comfortable flight. Features include -

• Generous leg room with the majority of seats offering an unrivalled seat pitch of 33-34”
• Personal 10.4” wide screen video-on-demand in-flight entertainment & audio system offering you a choice of over 15 blockbuster movies*
• Seating configuration 2-4-2.
• Choice of two main courses and complimentary drinks including a range of award winning South African wines.
• Telephones at every seat
• Amenity kit, snug blanket and pillow.
• Select seat in advance.

South African Airways onboard menus are exceptional with carefully designed dishes covering all the different countries they fly to, giving a truly international flavour.

Since 1986, with the assistance of a panel of local and international independent judges, SAA have selected only the best South African wines to be served on board and in its lounges. Their annual wine judging is widely regarded as the most rigorous wine selection process in South Africa. You are definitely in for a treat!

Premium Class Menus
On all international flights SAA offer a choice of 4 main courses from hearty to healthy, all served on elegant china and fine linen. In addition, enjoy delectable starters and savoury and sweet finales designed by a team of celebrity chefs and the finest selection of South African wines.

Movies and other video or television choices are available on all South African Airways flights longer than 3 hours.

AVOD (Audio and Video on Demand)
Play, pause and rewind as you wish with the Sony P@ssport or the Panasonic 3000 System, available on Airbus A340-600, and A340-300*. These audio and video on demand systems are available at every seat and passengers can select from a library of movies, audio programmes and video games.

* also applies to Premium Class on A340-200

Main Screen
Economy Class passengers travelling on Airbus A340-200 aircraft have the main cabin screen offering feature films, comedies, sitcoms, documentaries and Airshow maps.

Premium Class

• The 180 degree lie-flat Premium Class seats have been voted 'Best Business Class Seat' by Skytrax in 2004/2005/2006 and offer a 73” seat pitch and articulated armrest which flattens to widen the bed to 24” along its whole length.
• Ultra modern privacy shell separating seat rows with adjustable privacy screen between individual seats – seating configuration 2-2-2.
• Personal 10.4” wide screen video screens offering on-demand in-flight entertainment

Economy Class

• Generous leg room with the majority of seats offering an unrivalled seat pitch of 33-34”
• Personal 10.4” wide screen video-on-demand in-flight entertainment & audio system offering you a choice of over 15 blockbuster movies*