South African Airways Flights
Search and compare cheap South African Airways tickets from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban, Lagos, London and beyond — only on FareOptic.
About South African Airways
South African Airways (IATA: SA), commonly known as SAA, is the state-owned flag carrier of South Africa, headquartered at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg (JNB). SAA underwent a severe financial crisis beginning in December 2019, entering a formal business rescue process — a South African legal restructuring mechanism comparable to bankruptcy protection — that led to a suspension of most operations in 2020 and a significant downsizing of its fleet and route network.
SAA exited business rescue in 2021 under a restructured ownership arrangement and has since been gradually rebuilding scheduled service from its Johannesburg hub, connecting South Africa's major domestic cities with Cape Town and Durban, regional African destinations such as Lagos, and select long-haul international routes including London. While SAA continues to operate and expand cautiously, its current network remains considerably smaller than its pre-2019 scale. FareOptic compares South African Airways fares across its current network to help you find the best SA ticket price.
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Popular South African Airways Routes
Most searched SAA domestic and international flights from Johannesburg
Domestic Routes
International Routes
*All above fares are one way/round trip. Fares incl. all fuel surcharges, taxes & fees and our service fees. Displayed fares are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking. See all booking terms and conditions.
South African Airways Hub Airport
SAA operates its network from a single primary hub at OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.
South African Airways Cabin Classes
SAA offers Economy and Business Class across its current domestic and regional network.
Economy
- ✓Available on all domestic and regional SAA routes
- ✓Complimentary meal or snack service on longer sectors
- ✓Standard checked baggage allowance included
- ✓Earn Voyager miles on eligible fares
- ✓Modern narrow-body fleet on core routes
Business
- ✓Priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling
- ✓Enhanced meal and beverage service
- ✓Increased checked baggage allowance
- ✓Voyager lounge access at OR Tambo (where available)
- ✓Available on select domestic and regional routes
Voyager Program
Voyager is South African Airways' frequent flyer program, allowing members to earn miles on eligible SAA flights and redeem them for flight rewards and upgrades. The program continued through SAA's business rescue restructuring, though redemption options reflect the airline's current, smaller network.
Earn Miles on SAA Flights
Voyager members earn miles on eligible South African Airways domestic and regional fares, redeemable for future flight rewards.
Status Tiers
Voyager offers tiered membership levels that unlock benefits such as priority check-in and additional baggage allowance.
Lounge Access
Eligible Voyager members and Business Class passengers can access airport lounges at OR Tambo, subject to current availability.
Rebuilding Partner Network
As SAA rebuilds post-restructuring, Voyager's airline partner redemption options continue to be reassessed — check current terms before booking award travel.
South African Airways Baggage Policy
Fees and allowances vary by route and fare type. Always verify at time of booking.
| Bag / Policy | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bag | 8 kg | 8 kg |
| 1st checked bag | 23 kg | 32 kg |
| 2nd checked bag | Fee | 23 kg |
| Excess baggage | Fee applies, weight-based | Fee applies, weight-based |
Baggage allowances vary by fare class and route. Voyager elite members may receive enhanced allowances. Always verify at flysaa.com.
Check-In Options & Boarding
Online Check-In
Opens 24 hours before departure at flysaa.com. Web check-in closes 90 minutes before scheduled departure.
Mobile Check-In
Check in via the SAA website on your mobile browser and access your boarding pass digitally where available.
Airport Check-In
Counters at OR Tambo and other served airports. Arrive at least 2 hours before domestic and 3 hours before international departure.
Cancellation & Change Policy
24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation
All FaresSAA tickets booked directly can typically be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund, provided the flight departs at least 7 days away.
Change Policy
Fare DependentFlexible fares allow changes for a fee plus fare difference; restricted fares may not permit changes at all. Rules vary since SAA's restructured fare families.
Non-Refundable Ticket Credit
Non-RefundableCancelling a non-refundable SAA ticket outside the 24-hour window typically results in a future travel credit rather than a cash refund.
Refundable Fares
Flex FaresFully refundable fare types are available at a premium for travelers who need maximum flexibility.
In-Flight Experience on South African Airways
Onboard Meal Service
Complimentary meals or snacks are served on SAA's regional and long-haul routes, with South African-inspired menu options.
Entertainment Availability
Inflight entertainment varies by aircraft type given SAA's current, smaller fleet — check availability for your specific flight.
Standard Cabin Baggage
Overhead bin space follows standard narrow-body and regional jet configurations across SAA's current route network.
Rebuilt Network Focus
SAA's inflight product reflects an airline in active rebuilding mode post-restructuring, with steady incremental improvements as the network grows.
Tips to Book Cheap South African Airways Flights
- 1.JNB–CPT and JNB–DUR are SAA's core domestic routes — compare against FlySafair and Airlink for the best fare.
- 2.Book JNB–LOS and other regional African routes several weeks ahead, as regional frequencies remain limited post-restructuring.
- 3.Check current baggage and change policies carefully, since SAA's fare rules have evolved since its 2019-2020 business rescue.
- 4.Business Class on SAA's regional routes can be a relatively affordable way to add comfort on shorter domestic hops.
- 5.Confirm your Voyager mileage and any partner airline redemption options directly with SAA, as its alliance status has been in flux.
- 6.Long-haul international routes like JNB–LHR are a good gauge of SAA's ongoing network rebuild — verify current schedule and frequency before booking.
- 7.Sign up for SAA fare alerts as the airline continues to add capacity and destinations post-restructuring.
- 8.Use FareOptic to compare South African Airways against other Southern Africa carriers for your route.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking South African Airways flights on FareOptic
What happened to South African Airways?
South African Airways (SAA) entered a severe financial crisis and was placed into business rescue — a formal South African restructuring process similar to bankruptcy protection — starting in December 2019. The airline suspended most operations in 2020, significantly downsized its fleet and route network, and emerged from business rescue in 2021 under new ownership and a much smaller operating footprint than its historical peak.
Is South African Airways still part of Star Alliance?
SAA's relationship with Star Alliance has been affected by its restructuring, and its alliance status has been in flux since the 2019-2020 business rescue process. Travelers should verify current alliance benefits and partner redemption options directly with SAA or Star Alliance before relying on them.
Where does South African Airways fly today?
Post-restructuring, SAA operates a smaller network centered on its Johannesburg (OR Tambo) hub, with domestic routes to Cape Town and Durban, regional African routes including Lagos, and select long-haul international routes such as London Heathrow. The network remains considerably reduced compared to SAA's pre-2019 scale.
What is the Voyager program?
Voyager is South African Airways' frequent flyer program. Members earn miles on eligible SAA flights and can redeem them for flight rewards, upgrades, and other benefits. Voyager continued operating through SAA's restructuring, though the range of redemption options reflects the airline's smaller current network.
Is South African Airways safe to book with today?
Yes. SAA has resumed and stabilized scheduled operations since exiting business rescue in 2021 under a new ownership structure. As with any airline that has undergone major restructuring, it's worth confirming your specific route and schedule directly, but SAA operates normal commercial passenger service today.
What cabin classes does South African Airways offer?
South African Airways offers Economy and Business Class on its domestic and regional African routes, with Business available on select flights from Johannesburg. Cabin availability depends on route and aircraft type given the airline's current, smaller fleet.