South African

General   |   Contact Info   |   Baggage Info   |   Traveling with Children   |   Traveling with Pets

Baggage information

Carry on baggage
Economy class - only one piece
Business class -  two bags.
Maximum dimensions should not exceed: Length: 115cm (Length + Height + Width)
Maximum weight up to 8 Kg.

Free baggage allowance
Maximum Baggage per Piece is 32kg.
Free Checked Baggage Allowance
- First Class 40kg (88lb)
- Business Class 30kg (66lb)
- Economy Class 20kg (44lb)
- Star Alliance gold customers on Star-operated flights: additional 20kg (44lb)
- South African Airways Voyager card holders on SA operated flights:
      Platinum & Platinum elect: additional 30kg (66lb)
      Gold & Gold elect: additional 20kg (44lb)
      Silver & Silver elect: additional 10kg (22lb)
      Blue: No additional

Passengers traveling to/from Canada and the U.S.:
Baggage Allowance: 2 pieces
Maximum Dimensions: 62 linear inches/157 cm (length + width + height)
Maximum Weight for Economy Class passengers: 50 lb/23 kg
Maximum Weight for First and Business Class passengers: 70 lb/32 kg
Star Alliance Gold and Voyager members are allowed additional baggage.

Excess, Overweight, Oversize Baggage Fees
If you have more bags than the permitted allowance or your bags exceed the weight or linear restrictions, you will be charged additional fees. Contact South African Airways directly for more information as this will vary by destination and departing airport.

Children information

Travelling with Infants
In order to qualify for lower fares, reservations and payment for an infant, booking is required on the same day that your flysaa.com booking is made.

- Each infant under 2 years must be accompanied by an adult
- If one adult is traveling with more than one infant under two years of age, a seat will have to be purchased for each additional infant.
- Children over 2 years must occupy a separate seat
- Infants turning two en-route must be seated on their own chair. The applicable ½ infant and ½ child fare will be raised. Flight reservations of this nature must be booked through your local South African Airways office.

Seating
SAA provides skycradles and you should request one when you make your flight reservation.
- Only infants up to the age of 6 months are allowed to occupy a skycradle
- Maximum weight allowed: 10kgs
- Maximum length must not exceed 75cm
- No one (adults, children or infants) is permitted to sleep on the cabin floor - due to oxygen availability / accessibility in the event of a decompression.

Car seat restraints for infants
Passengers wishing to use these types of seats will have to purchase an additional aircraft seat and pay the appropriate child fare.
The seats must be designed to be secured by means of a single lap strap facing the same direction as the aircraft seat on which it will rest
The seats must be fitted with a single release type harness, which at least secures the infant’s lap, torso and shoulders. Harness straps must be a minimum of an inch (approximately 25 mm) wide, and any metal lift-type adjustment devices must require a positive angular lift to operate. The harness single release device must not be unreasonably easy to release by the occupant
Children older than 36 months may not make use of this device

Meals
Special child and baby meals are available on request.

Baggage
Infants are permitted 10 kg of checked baggage and one collapsible buggy/pram. Infants paying 50% of the adult fare are entitled to the same allowance as adults.
Infant Cabin Baggage Allowance
Infants are entitled to 1 carrying basket including bedding, napkins, feeding bottles and sufficient food for the journey may be carried, free of charge, provided the total mass excluding the infant does not exceed 8 kg.

Pets

Can my pet travel with me?
Only guide dogs for blind or deaf passengers may travel in the cabin of the aircraft free of charge.
Domestic pets are accepted as checked baggage or as cargo for storage in the cargo compartment of the aircraft. In instances when they are carried as excess baggage, the applicable excess baggage charges will apply. Note this does not form part of your free baggage allowance.

Due to infrastructure problems at OR Tambo International Airport, live animals will no longer be accepted as excess baggage on all international flights with immediate effect.

Passengers travelling with their pets should make arrangements with cargo department on +27 (0)11 978 3366.

The following countries do not permit live animals to be conveyed as checked baggage (manifested cargo only):
• Hong Kong - Hong Kong
• London - United Kingdom
• Manchester - United Kingdom
• Lusaka - Zambia
• Maputo - Mozambique
• Perth - Australia
• Luanda - Angola

In terms of existing legislation, all animals destined for the Republic of South Africa on an international flight must be carried as cargo. All domestic pets must be loaded in the cargo compartment of the aircraft.

Pets regulation for transportation to South Africa
All dogs, cats, reptiles and primates imported into South Africa need to have microchip implants for identification. The Health Certificate for AVI imports have been altered to include a clause requiring a microchip number and the location of the microchip for identification of the animal. If animals arrive in South Africa without the microchip, they will be placed under quarantine at the port of entry.
For more information please make contact with the Directorate Animal Health, Private Bag X138, Pretoria, 0001. Tel +27 12 319 6000.