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Taken July 2001 from Cape Town to Johannesburg

South African Airways have bought new Boeing 737-800's, and configured them in what must be the worst seat spacing in the world.

The plane left 20 minutes late, and arrival in the Johannesburg International Airport was 35 minutes late (seems that the late arrival cost the slot at the terminal and the plane had to part maybe 2 kilometers in the middle of a barren slab of concrete.

Then there was the bus wait.

The cabin staff were doing favours by even serving soft drinks. The food was first rate (by pig food standards).

In spite of asking for a seat which had a back that went down and with leg room (I am 6 ft 4 inches, unfortunately) I was put in a seat that the back could not go down and right up against the divider (sold wall) between Business Class and (Full Price) Economy Class. There were no spare seats in Economy, BUT there were several in Business. But NO. In spite of pleading and asking and using a mobile phone to the SAA local Managre at the Cape Town Airport, I was not allowed to move (not policy ).

Maybe I should make it my policy not to choose to fly SAA.

Well done SAA team on reinforcing the ethic of low service as a corporate objective !