Don't expect easy and free special assistance

Shocking experience. Using SAA after many years, I tried to book wheelchair meet and assist which on other airlines I can do myself, online, in seconds.

SAA requires you to: - Download a form - Consult a medical practitioner- which, of course, comes at a cost - Submit the firm for consideration; and then - Wait for them to decide if you're worthy of assistance

This is AFTER I had called a WEEK ahead of time to book the assistance needed. I had been told by the agent that it's not a problem and would receive confirmation with 2 days.

Needless to say no confirmation was received 4 days later, and I followed it up with an email. This resulted in a response 2 days later that requires a doctor's visit??? All too late for my flight the day after tomorrow. And why should I incur this cost when other airlines trust me to decide for myself whether I need assistance?

SAA has reminded me of one of the reasons I stopped flying with them. Bureaucracy and nonsense.

Even my international travel does not require me to "jump through hoops and provide blood tests" to book assistance.

I travel every 6 to 8 weeks and certainly cannot incur these kind of costs, let alone the inefficiency and frustration.

Let's hope for their sake I travel safely and without injury on this, my last trip with them.