SAA not taking responsibility, wanting me to pay for their own mistake and giving me a weekend from hell.

<p>I was booked on Flight SA 0535 /30-JUN-2016 scheduled to departing O.R. Thambo at 8h00, I had a 11h00 golf appointment in Durban. The flight was delayed for over 4hrs and 30min. and eventually cancelled. At 10h45 (just before this 8h00 flight was cancelled) I decided to disembark as it made no sense to still continue with my trip. When I requested for my checked in Golf bag, I was told that I will only get my bag once a decision has been made on the flight. I was further informed that I can come later to collect the sport bag or should I make it to Durban, I can call the SAA baggage centre and request that they send my bag to Durban.</p> <p>After repeatedly failing to get hold of my clients over the phone, returned my calls at about 13h30 and after explaining what caused my delay and sending proof that I was in the plane from 07h50 and only left the plane 10h45 which was delayed due to SAA’s flight error, the client gave me a second chance and said I can come see them briefly and informally later that evening at Zimbali and also invited me to a Mayoral Golf game at Durban Country Club the next day for our meeting.</p> <p>I then called the SAA call centre and requested that because I was inconvenienced by them, they should put me on any available flight to Durban that afternoon. The call centre agent understood my reasoning and escalated the matter to her supervisor as there were no economy class seats available but only business class seats. The supervisor advised her (call centre agent) to tell me to pay for the price difference. I didn't take the offer because it didn’t make sense for me to pay more for their mistake.</p> <p>I booked myself a Kulula.com to Durban, I then called SAA to get my bag to Durban, I was then told that the baggage handler that told me I can call in didn’t give me the correct information. I should get to Durban and open a ticket to release my bag at O.R. Thambo and they will then deliver it in Durban. When I got to the Durban airport I opened the ticket and my bag was released but was told that the bag will only be at Durban first thing tomorrow morning round about 8h00. I was at the airport the next day at 8h00 till 9h00 and never got my bag, the lady at baggage centre said I can go and loan golf clubs and keep the receipt and it will be re-funded. I then left for the Mayoral Golf game and loan the clubs as advised for R702.00.</p> <p>My clubs were delivered by the Airline later during the day (Saturday). Before opening my golf bag, I discovered that my Taylormade Golf bag’s clip was broken and upon opening m bag, I realised that my Taylormade Driver was also damaged (This to me was all cause by the bad handling of a golf bag which should be deemed fragile). I reported the matter with the airline (Durban International) on Sunday before flying back to O.R. Thambo.</p> <p>My return ticket was booked using the SAA website purely because sports bags travel for free but for some reason when I got to the airport I discovered that I am booked on a Mango flight not an SAA flight, this resulted in an additional charge of R380.00 for my golf bag which I had to pay for on the spot.</p> <p>I believe that due to the pressures that came with the Durban July, the Airline couldn’t cope. People were complaining about missing bags and some car seats for kids were left behind. The fact that SAA puts profits before customer service is disturbing, how can they let a flight go with an empty seat whilst they know that they frustrated a customer that needs to be on that seat? I even offered that they get someone randomly from the economy class and put them in business class and they give me the economy class seat.</p> <p>SAA made my weekend a weekend from hell…</p>