[rui.bashir]

Reference: Y8L3XF

South Airways still has a lot to learn from global carriers and I still don’t understand how they managed to become part of the Star Alliance network…my flight to Accra (SA 052) was just a statement that SAA’s service is of a two star airline and not a four star as they claim to be:

- Check-in-Online: why does SAA offers online check-in if there are no special drop off luggage counters at the airport. I almost missed my flight because even after performing the online check-in procedure I had to be in the same line at the airport as all the other passengers. I asked the attendant why they don’t have special drop off counters as all other airlines and she said that she had no idea that such counters existed.
- Seating: I chose my seat online while checking in (45 K) and confirmed this when I received my boarding pass at the airport; I got to the boarding gate and the attendant told me that the seats were cancelled and no passengers were allowed to seat in the 45 row. I asked the reason and she had no answer. I was allocated a different seat at the back of the aircraft and for my surprise when I boarded the flight I saw passengers seating on the 45 row. Why was I bumped of my seat if I carefully selected 45 K on the online check-in and was confirmed on my boarding pass???
- Special Meal: As usual with all my trips in many different airlines I always request a Moslem Meal (MOML) well in advance. I did for my SA 052 flight as well. The hostess serves everyone a meal and I ask for my special meal and the answer was …no sir, you didn’t request any special meal…I showed the confirmation and she insisted that…no sir you didn’t request a special meal otherwise they would have loaded on this flight… (typical SAA)

Looking forward at SAA's response.