SA744 From South Africa, joined Nov 2005, 201 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2873 times:
Hello all
I write this topic after seeing letters in a leading South African newspaper over the past month, absolutely annihilating SAA and there service from check in to landing at destination, the letters had nothing good to say...... If this be the case and with SAA now a Star member they will have to pick up the Game in order to survive.. This is not a SAA bashing topic just can they be rescued, ie is is time for a new CEO..
It is really sad to see all this hate mail in the newspapers and i tell you they USED to be one of the best airlines
Tu154m From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 667 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2769 times:
I would take SAA's service over all US carriers and most others. I have really enjoyed all flights I've had on them, both within South Africa and long-haul. Also, I woud choose them on routes they compete with other carriers.
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, RR: 73 Reply 2, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2769 times:
Hmm... my last flight with SAA was last June, and given the chance, I'd fly them again without even a single second of hesitation.
Either they must have really dropped in service in these last 10 months, or it's just the usual whining of people who remember the "good old days" when "everything was much better" (while omitting the fact that the fares were also much higher).
From personal experience, given the choice between, say, SA and SQ, I'd fly SA.
I guess you can imagine what my response to the "can they be rescued" part of your question is...
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, RR: 73 Reply 4, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2736 times:
Quoting Blast (Reply 3): Same here, however, that CEO seems not competent.
That, unfortunately, seems only too true.
I still have some hope that, at some point, SAA will again have a CEO that was actually selected for his (or her) skills and knowledge - and perhaps track-record - instead of other, purely political, reasons.
Going from political selections to ability-based selections of CEOs hasn't hurt other airlines... so it should also work for SAA.
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11 Reply 5, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2736 times:
The best person that SAA could have had as CEO recently was driven out by the tyrant at the top. When Kyrl Acton was appointed as chief operating office almost a year ago to the day many airline insiders felt that here was someone with real airline experience who could guide SAA.... but no. By October he was out.
Where did this Ngqula character come from anyway?
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
Reggaebird From Jamaica, joined Nov 1999, 1169 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2681 times:
I flew SAA's business class from Washington to Jo'burg in August and I believe that it was the best business class I have ever experienced. I also flew their domestic economy service and it was better than anything I have experienced in Europe or North America.
Could the criticism of the new SAA leadership have something to do with the fact that the CEO is "different" than those who have preceded him. He is the "first of his kind" to hold such a position and many people are not happy about that.
ZSOFN From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 1391 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2662 times:
Quoting Reggaebird (Reply 6):
Could the criticism of the new SAA leadership have something to do with the fact that the CEO is "different" than those who have preceded him. He is the "first of his kind" to hold such a position and many people are not happy about that.
I think you're way off there - just search previous threads about him and it should start making sense why he gets bashed so often.
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2654 times:
Quoting Reggaebird (Reply 6): Could the criticism of the new SAA leadership have something to do with the fact that the CEO is "different" than those who have preceded him. He is the "first of his kind" to hold such a position and many people are not happy about that.
Just a thought.
Many of the contributors to this board either work for SAA or like me are closely associated with someone who does. They make weird decisions, they waste money on crap (for instance everyone in the airline.... that's EVERYONE... got a little souvenir cooler with Star Alliance on it last week). When some people even say bring back Coleman Andrews then you know things are not right there. To say this has anything to do with race is preposterous, and in itself a racist statement. He just knows nothing about running an airline.
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
Shankly From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2000, 1470 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 2593 times:
Did my usual LHR_CPT return with SAA Dec/Jan in Business and nothing but the usual high service standards both on the ground and in the air, particularly as we flew with our 7 month old son who was well looked after.
My only criticism of the whole experience was the size of the Business Class cabin on the A346 which is far too large for the number of toilet stations. Just love those mini cabins on the SAA 744's.
Springbok295 From South Africa, joined Feb 2006, 59 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 2582 times:
Quoting Andz (Reply 10): Would you mind explaining the logic behind your username?
It my dedication to those who lost were lost that tragic day, but I guess few people won't realize that. I have wanted to changed it but I don't think I can.
Springbok 295, the flight that never made it home, 28 November 1987, may they rest in peace.
SA7700 From South Africa, joined Dec 2003, 2916 posts, RR: 20 Reply 13, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 2544 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD MODERATOR
Quoting SA744 (Thread starter): I write this topic after seeing letters in a leading South African newspaper over the past month, absolutely annihilating SAA and there service from check in to landing at destination, the letters had nothing good to say......
That is absolute BS. While check-in (domestic anyway) is taking longer as usual, due to staff still getting aquainted to the newest version of Amadeus, after they have moved from Atrixis, there is nothing wrong with their onboard service levels.
I flew SA203 (JNB-JFK) on April 13, 2006. Both crews that handled the fully packed flight from JNB-DKR and DKR-JNB respectively, were truly excellent. Even though I was in Y-class, service was extremely efficient. The only gripe I had was the fact that the seats seems quite hard - it feels as if you are sitting on a rock, after about 3 hours. Other than that, nothing to moan or bitch about - even though we were delayed in JNB for more than an hour.
Quoting Andz (Reply 5): Where did this Ngqula character come from anyway?
The "wiz kid" was imported from the IDC (Industrial Development Corporation South Africa), after he got the boot there. It got so bad at the IDC that employees actually pleaded that he had to leave.
Rgds
SA7700
When you are doing stuff that nobody has done before, there is no manual – Kevin McCloud
Don't shoot the messenger, SA744 is absolutely right, SAA is getting a lot of bad press at the moment. I agree that their onboard service is excellent, I have flown domestic and international Y and C recently and had absolutely nothing to complain about. The C class product on the 346 right now is the best I have ever experienced.
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
SA7700 From South Africa, joined Dec 2003, 2916 posts, RR: 20 Reply 15, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 2516 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD MODERATOR
Quoting Andz (Reply 14): Don't shoot the messenger, SA744 is absolutely right
Hi Andz, I was not referring to SA744 per se, just all the bad press - I had no intention of shooting the messenger Some of the gripes may be true, but some people are just plain and simple, uninformed.
Rgds
SA7700
When you are doing stuff that nobody has done before, there is no manual – Kevin McCloud
CXA330300 From South Africa, joined May 2004, 1500 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2487 times:
Strange, Ive always thought of SA as a top-notch carrier.....
Quoting Leskova (Reply 4): I still have some hope that, at some point, SAA will again have a CEO that was actually selected for his (or her) skills and knowledge - and perhaps track-record - instead of other, purely political, reasons.
With a government-owned airline, thats not going to happen. Seriously they should get a woman to run this, from what many have noticed, women often do a much better job than men.
Quoting Reggaebird (Reply 6): Could the criticism of the new SAA leadership have something to do with the fact that the CEO is "different" than those who have preceded him. He is the "first of his kind" to hold such a position and many people are not happy about that.
Arguably a lot of the criticism will stem from that. Remember that much of the press is still owned by white people. But even after that, there are many more people of all races in South Africa better qualified than Mr. Ngqula.
The sky is the limit as long as you can stay there
JoKeR From Serbia, joined Nov 2004, 2151 posts, RR: 9 Reply 17, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2357 times:
Quoting Tu154m (Reply 1): I would take SAA's service over all US carriers and most others.
I'll second that any day and still believe that SA is one of the best around, EK, BA et all, take a back seat!
At the same time, the SA Management leave all to be desired; the top dude needs one long, nice, permanent vacation before SA and its pax really start feeling his stupidity any further. I really hope he decides to take a hike sometime soon!
Aviationwiz From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 953 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (7 years 1 month 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1667 times:
Quoting Tu154m (Reply 1): I would take SAA's service over all US carriers and most others.
Absolutely, the in-flight service is the best I've seen, and they are really a top notch carrier!
Quoting Andz (Reply 8): To say this has anything to do with race is preposterous, and in itself a racist statement. He just knows nothing about running an airline.
Note how no one called him bad *BECAUSE* of his race, rather, he's bad, and was put in the position he's in because of his race. It seems to me he was put there because of BEE, and it just shows one of the flaws in BEE (which I don't agree with the implementation in full, but now's not the time nor place for that discussion.)
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Some of the gripes may be true, but some people are just plain and simple, uninformed.
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