SAA Do Suck – Our SAA / MADAGASCAN experience!
Top site. SAA really do suck.
We have a story for you………Details as below;
December 2008
We purchased 2 multi-city tickets flying with South African Airways, from Antananarivo, Madagascar to Johannesburg (13/03/2009), Johannesburg to Cape Town (13/03/2009) and return (19/03/2009). Tickets purchased on my credit card at the South African Airways Head Office in Port Louis, Mauritius (11/12/2008).
Please note that tickets were purchased with Air Mauritius flying Mauritius to Antananarivo, Madagascar (15/02/2009)
January 2009
Outbreak of violence in Antananarivo, Madagascar. British Consulate advise “against all but essential travel to Madagascar”.
February 2009
Escalation of violence resulting in numerous deaths within Antananarivo, Madagascar. British Consulate advice updated recommending “against ALL travel to Madagascar”. Based on this advice we decided to cancel our trip to Antananarivo, Madagascar;
We cancelled our Air Mauritius tickets hassle free, receiving a full refund due to the circumstances being beyond our control.
We cancelled South African Airway tickets and were told we would only receive 50% refund. We were also told we had to return to the Head Office in Port Louis, Mauritius to receive the refund. We travelled to Port Louis (11.02.2009) to complain about not receiving the full ticket amount. Upon arrival at the office we were met by Parveen Mactoom. We explained the situation and asked to speak directly with the manager (Mr Deraval). We were told by Parveen Mactoom, that the manager was in a meeting and to return after lunch. Upon our return after lunch we were told by both Parveen Mactoom and Pravina Beetiarry that we were not entitled to a full refund due to company policy and we were refused permission to see or speak with the manager.
We returned to the office 3 times that day expectant to speak with the manager (as promised twice by the staff – “he will see you after lunch”). We also spent a good 2-3 hours aguing with the customer services staff that we had every right to speak with a manager to no avail.
Fair to say the dealings we’ve had with SAA has been one of complete shambolic nature. They are a money-grabbing, cowboy company, who don’t know the meaning of the word customer service.
Unsurprisingly we have not recieved a full refund from them.
Thanks
Kim Dawson and Pete Smart
Tags: Complaints, SAA
