Travelblog

Here are some changes to the SAA voyager program:

BENEFITS

COMPANION CARDS

As a Lifetime Platinum member, we would like to reward you for your ongoing support. You can now nominate a companion – who will automatically achieve Gold status, on condition that you maintain at least the equivalent of Gold Card status yourself, in terms of miles & sectors flown. This will mean that you and your companion can fly together, both have access to Voyager lounges & enjoy other special benefits for a whole year.

CHAUFFEUR SERVICE

The chauffeur service is still available to all Lifetime Platinum members. Platinum members will now only be able to call for a car when flying on First Class, Business Class or upgradeable Y, B, M and K Economy classes.

LOUNGE ACCESS

Silver Voyager members will in future only have full access to South African Airways operated lounges.

MILEAGE PURCHASE OPTIONS

If you don’t have enough Voyager miles banked, you can now buy up to half of the total miles needed to redeem a flight.

BOOK BY MILES

As a further enhancement on our website functionality, all members will be able to redeem awards, make Voyager award reservations and issue Voyager redemption tickets online. This is just another way we are making your award request process easier.

EARNING MILES

SECTOR TIERING

Sector tiering has been reviewed. This enhancement will benefit our members and will now also enable members travelling on regional routes to obtain a higher tier status.

THRESHOLD BONUS MILES

To allow our valued elite members to obtain additional bonus miles, every time you up-tier you will receive increased bonus miles.

SPENDING MILES

UPGRADING FROM ECONOMY TO BUSINESS CLASS

To improve seat availability for all Voyager members, only Y, B, M & K classes of Economy ticket can now be upgraded to Business Class.

USING VOYAGER MILES FOR VOYAGER SERVICES

All members can now use Voyager miles to pay for more than just a plane ticket. You can use your miles to redeem for car hire, health spa treatments or for a stay at Sabi Sabi Lodge.

UPGRADE AT THE AIRPORT

As a further benefit for our Lifetime Platinum & Platinum members, airport upgrades for Business Class can be done at the airport prior to departure, depending on space availability. This is valid for regional & international flights out of OR Tambo International Airport on a one-way basis only.

CHARITY DONATIONS

For those times when you’re feeling generous towards your fellow man, you can now donate Voyager miles to certain charity organisations.

BOOKING FEES

Members are advised to plan their trips and book earlier, as the expediting fees for Voyager late bookings have been adjusted. For bookings within 14 days of departure, R175 will be charged; within seven days R300, and within 24 hours R500. If you book online or do a telephonic award ticket there is no charge. Note: These charges are waived for Lifetime Platinum & Platinum members.

ONE-WAY AWARDS

To ensure that your miles can be used more easily, we will be implementing one-way awards.

SAA AWARD CHART

Certain changes have been effected on SAA awards with regard to the Miles required for redemption. Details of this will be available on www.flysaa.com and will be included in the Member Programme Guide.

COMPANION AWARDS

As this award has not generated significant interest, it has now been discontinued.

COMPANION TICKETS

This benefit is allowed to Voyager credit cardholders who reach the prescribed annual threshold of R80 000 and R60 000 on their Gold and Premium credit card respectively. Although this is a Voyager benefit it does not have any link with the above “companion award”. Visit www.flysaa.com and click on the Voyager Credit Card for more info on this benefit and classes that qualify for such bookings.