saa to charge extra for tickets bought in person
14 July 2007

From August 1 SAA will charge an extra R500 for an overseas or regional flight and R200 for a domestic flight on tickets bought at its airport offices. All bookings made at its city offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban will attract a R200 service fee.

The move is intended to cut costs by encouraging the online purchase of electronic tickets, and to end long queues at SAA's airport offices.

Industry executives said it should not come as a shock to SAA customers. Many carriers have already introduced service fees and the International Air Transport Association is encouraging member airlines to cut costs by abolishing paper tickets by next June 1.   According to a study by World Wide Worx, only 8 percent of South Africans will have access to the internet by the end of the year.

South Africa's three budget airlines sell most of their tickets online. Gidon Novick, the joint chief executive of Comair, said no charge was made for booking with Comair.

A charge of between R20 and R30 was made for booking with low-cost division kulula.com through a call centre or at the airport office.

Travel agents, who will attract travellers without internet access or a credit card, have welcomed the news.


Audrey d'Angelo,  www.busrep.co.za