Dont fly with SAA

With reference to case number ***8 as send to SAA customer service on 12 September 2019.

On 11 September flight SA 203 from Johannesburg to JFK Airport.

Seats 44A and 44C booked in advanced to secure the seats for myself and my wife. (so yes made the additional amount for secure the seats)

After take off and entertainment system activated for use it was found that 44C earphone jack was faulty so no sound available. After the ****py attitude from the flight attendant they later come back and said my wife (sitting in 44C) can move to another open seat. At that point the other passengers moved around in the plane to open seats so no where on the flight any space available for myself and my wife to move to and being an 15 hour flight my wife did not want to sit next to an total stranger. Especially not when we paid the additional amount to secure seats next to each other.

So we had a VERY long 15 hour flight without any entertainment.

We did however ask the flight attendant to take the matter further as we booked a flight back from JFK to Johannesburg on 23 September 2019 and reserved exactly the same seats and we were unsure if it will be the same plane flying back. So after landing the flight attendant confirmed that they lodged the complaint with the ground crew. So after the flight we also followed up with SAA customer service with an email, receiving the case number as stated above.

So for the entire trip we did not receive any feedback other than the email confirming the case number.

23 September checking in at JFK ( SA 204) we explained what happen with the previous flight and asked if it is the same plane, a lady come and ensured us that it is not the same plane and that they have not received any complaints regarding entertainment systems not working.

Getting on the plane and it our seat (44A and 44C), this time I sat in 44C the screen had color stripes on it. All the other screens on the plane showed pictures. So before take off I made the flight attendant aware, I received another ****py attitude and was told they will reset the unit once in the air.

So once in the air she passed my seat and I said the screen is still not working. Again ****py attitude and again she said they will reset give it 20 min. After 30 min still no display and only the lines. After that period people moved around again leaving no open spaces for both of us to change to other seats. So again an 15 hour flight without any entertainment.

What was interesting the flight attendant later mentioned that her previous flight (the Saturday) they had 16 entertainment units not working. Another come to my seat and said sorry for the inconvenient but SAA does not want to spend any money on existing plains as they are waiting for their new planes to arrives.

So I paid +-R2000 extra to secure seats that was totally not worth it. I would have thought SAA will give better service to SA residence but that is certainly not the case.

So to date no feedback from them.

I future i would rather pay more and have an longer lay over and make use of a reputable airline that cares for their customers.