South African Airways rejoins QF FF

[Flying Fox]

Does anyone know if SCs can/will be earned on SA flights (non-code share)?

 

[notzac]

Does anyone know if SCs can/will be earned on SA flights (non-code share)?

They won't. You'd need to be flying on an eligible flight number and metal combination.

 

[Dee Thom]

A thought to ponder:- How will this QF/SA union effect SA's ongoing alliance with DJ for onwards travel inside Aus ??????

Cheers Dee

 

[oz_mark]

Does anyone know if SCs can/will be earned on SA flights (non-code share)?

Just the points on the eligible flights.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Will be interesting to see them take off from Perth while the main North/South runway is closed for six weeks next year.

Yes, especially in the heat. What is the length on the north south and the alternative runway?

I took off one day, very full, very hot and I swear we were almost quite out of pavement. I miss the cruise climb as it is a lot easier on my ears.

Cheers

SPRUCE

 

[mannej]

Runway 06/24 measures in at 2,163m while the longer Runway 03/21 comes in at 3,444m currently

 

[Ms Lucy]

Does anyone know if SCs can/will be earned on SA flights (non-code share)?

SCs are only earned on (eligible) oneworld fllights. While SA have rejoined the QF Frequent Flyer program, they're not part of oneworld, so IF the flight is eligible, it's points only.

 

[serfty]

SCs are only earned on (eligible) oneworld fllights. While SA have rejoined the QF Frequent Flyer program, they're not part of oneworld, so IF the flight is eligible, it's points only.

Aside from oneworld, SC's can also be earned on the following carriers:

• Air Pacific (FJ)
• Jetstar (JQ)

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

 

[Danger]

I've booked a J QFF award flying JNB-PER. There were not seats available on the QF codeshare so I'm booked on the SA service, SA280.


A couple of questions:

1. I assume my QF Platinum status will mean nothing for lounge access so will I only have access to the SA J lounge? No BA Galleries? No SA F?
2. Baggage allowance. I can't quite work it out from the SA site. It indicates 30kg but I can't determine whether this is two pieces at 30kg (32kg max). Surely it would be 2 x 30kg for J, yeah?

 

[Danger]

I've booked a J QFF award flying JNB-PER. There were not seats available on the QF codeshare so I'm booked on the SA service, SA280.




A couple of questions:

1. I assume my QF Platinum status will mean nothing for lounge access so will I only have access to the SA J lounge? No BA Galleries? No SA F?
2. Baggage allowance. I can't quite work it out from the SA site. It indicates 30kg but I can't determine whether this is two pieces at 30kg (32kg max). Surely it would be 2 x 30kg for J, yeah?

Well, Danger. I can help.

I'm at JNB airport now where I went up to the SA J Lounge and was politely told that as my ticket was sold by QF, I should use their lounge, which in JNB is the shared Shongololo Lounge. The SA lounge staffer referred to the presence of "081" on my ticket and even though I pointed out that I was flying on SA280 in J, not the codeshare QF304, she still politely said no. So I thought well, if that's the case, I should be able to use the BA F Lounge. Over I went (about 25 metres around the corner) and was allowed in and to the F Lounge. I find all of this interesting. I was flying on an SA ticket (purchased using QF points; the QF codeshare wasn't available with points at the time I booked) where oneworld status means nothing but I was still permitted to use the BA Lounge and the F Lounge at that.

On your second point, well . . . I can confirm that SA Is very strict when it comes to the measly 30kg bag allowance in J. I entered the check-in queue with 44kgs and was politey told I'd need to pay excess baggage. I enquired how much to which I was told it would be ZAR240 per kilo. For me, that equated to AUD499, well over half the cost of a one-way JNB-PER. So I did some repacking. I unloaded some more items to my carry on (in which you're permitted 2 x 8kgs) and discarded a couple of magazines and a small piece of Budapest pottery that had broken.

I lined up again and was now down to 39kgs. I was again told I'd need to pay 9kgs of excess baggage. I politely said I wouldn't be paying excess baggage because I thought 30kgs for J was ridiculous. My intention was to simply go to plan B (more on that later) but the check-in agent called over a supervisor. We had a polite exchange before I said - and I will admit this was somewhat childish and petulant - that I "may go to your lounge and find the most expensive liquor I can put my hands on and pour it down the drain" adding "my point is it will end up costing you more in the long run". Yes, again, petulant and childish to which I'm somewhat embarrassed.


Well, what followed was hillarious. The supervisor said "that is up to you, sir. As long as what you do is ethical" to which I said "well it may not be ethical . . ." And then came this gem from the supervisor "But you do no know what ethical is as you are not from Africa". I laughed hysterically. I couldn't believe it.

Long story short, I went downstairs to the baggage storage facility, stored roughly 8kgs of baggage for about 15 minutes, went back upstairs to check in with 31.2kgs (permitted), went back downstairs to pay ZAR30 (less than AUD6) for my stored baggage, moved that to hand luggage and went through security.

Amazing.

For the record, as much as it might make me mad, I'll pay excess baggage when I'm required to but I really find 30kg in international J a joke. And, thinking about it now, if I was denied entry to the SA J Lounge because I was on a QF ticket, then I should have claimed QF baggage rules.

Update: I just went for a walk out of the lounge and thought I'd try again at the SA J Lounge. Guess what? I was allowed in, no questions.

Why, why, why can't lounge access rules be simple?

 

[samh004]

For the record, as much as it might make me mad, I'll pay excess baggage when I'm required to but I really find 30kg in international J a joke.

Sorry no one could answer your questions before your trip, but on the baggage question/statement, QF appears to be heading down that road for most destinations now…

Fly - Baggage - Checked Baggage

As in, your allowance would be 1 bag at 30kg in J!

 

[Flying Fox]

I have played this silly lounge game with SA in JNB.

I had a QF304 flight in J operated by SA. Tried using the Shongololo Lounge but was denied. Showed my J ticket and then my QF Gold card and still denied. Tried the SA lounge and no problems at all (the showers there were great).

Got back to ADL and called QF. It was confirmed that I should have been allowed into the Shongololo Lounge because I was booked on QF304. I recommended to the call centre staff nicely that someone needs to get this sorted out with the JNB team/outsource company and she agreed.