SAA is determined to empower travel agents. That’s why the airline has created a special policy in which travel agents who have several small SMME corporate clients can ticket them on SAA and the value of all their bookings grouped together will be amalgamated into one corporate agreement with the airline.
“This way we allow many more members of our highly valued retail travel community to benefit from this value proposition that they couldn’t otherwise receive by offering value to their clients with the flexibility of a corporate agreement,” says Carla da Silva, SAA’s GM Sales, Marketing, eCommerce & Distribution. “This is our way of empowering agents and allowing them to give their clients the best possible flight solution with a full-service offering.”
SAA values its relationships with the local trade and likes to work with corporate TMCs by offering them great value built on good relationships. For larger corporate clients where a corporate deal is appropriate, Da Silva says the airline works hand in hand with the travel agency. “We will go into the corporate client along with the agency and that way, ensure transparency and partnership.”
Da Silva says SAA’s business-class offering is instantly recognisable, being very similar to what it was pre-business rescue.
On international flights, business-class passengers have a lie-flat seat and excellent cuisine, served along with fine South African wines. Priority Boarding and Priority Check-in are also included. SAA’s flights to São Paulo, conducted on an A330-300, have 46 business-class seats. Those to Perth (newly launched) are flown on an A340-300 with 38 seats in business class.
On domestic flights, a generous seat-pitch, a hot meal service, and Priority Boarding and Priority Check-in are all included.
The airline has plush, exclusive business-class lounges under the brand ‘The Lounge’ at OR Tambo and Cape Town. These are owned by SAA and operated in partnership with Discovery and Investec.
“Don’t forget SAA’s arrivals lounge on the mezzanine level, “says Da Silva. Here, passengers who need to freshen up after a long flight into South Africa are offered refreshing showers, a clothes-pressing service and an enclosed smokers’ lounge.
