WORST INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE WITH SAA

Item: SAA
Rating: 1
Author: Beverly V

Good Day On the 3rd June 2016 I left South Africa as one of the 20 participants from South Africa on an Operation Phakisa/Oceans Economy Seminar in China ( see attached PDF china purpose doc). It was a pleasant flight, Flight NO SA286 which left at 17h20 and it was my first trip to China. 19 June 2016- Return Flight On the 19th June we retook SA 287 from Hong Kong at 23h55. As I was about to enter the flight, Mr Ashley Barnes a Senior crew member called me very harshly to tell me that my hand luggage was too much I had a ladies hand bag, back pack and a Duffel bag (3 pieces). Some of my colleagues who were already in front of me had more than what I had and they were let in. He then took me to the check in area next to the boarding gate. He said to one of the Chinese guys “look at this woman she has so much luggage, how did you let her in, we have to make her pay”. He dumped me there everyone had gone inside the flught and he went back, I was left woth the Chinese nationals. The Chinese personnel said “Lady three things have to happen: 1. You ned to give up your luggage 2. You stay behind and travel the following day or 3. You need to pay I have never been so scared, I asked him how much do I need to pay as I cannot leave my stuff. He decided on top of his head that its 4000 Hong Kong Dollars (see attached Receipt). I mentioned that you did not even weight my luggage and there is no guide that shows the prices, how did you arrived at such amount, he asked are you paying or not. I had to pay and rush to the flight as it was about to close. Please see attached JPG for the hand luggage I had. I feel I was ****** for the amount I paid compared to the luggage I had in my hand. I also feel Ashley did poor customer service he should have been there to ensure that all is in order. I was there all by myself with 6 Chinese. 20 June 2016 As if that was not enough , when I got to JHB one of the hand luggage was torn apart as you can see in the picture I had to bubble wrap it as I had to take another flight home to Durban, I asked one of the guys who cleans at the airport to give me garbage bag so that I would be able to hold it. The worst was that also my suitcase which was checked in was opened and some of the clothes which I had bought was ****** from the case, even one of the participants we travelled with witnesses that my suitcase was broken in to. I went and report this to your Sales and Baggage Service counters, they said I must send an email to customer care. I regard this as one of the worst trip home after attending such a huge Seminar which will contribute immensely to SA and being treated as such by SAA. To think the stuff that I had bought for my kids was ****** adds salt to the wound. After a number of emails Vaneshree Naidoo responded saying they are investigating from June till Tpday then this month she said she is no longer dealing with my case and handed it over to Judith Toorn who hase never called or emailed.

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