Mango SA
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My issue however is that Kulula do not seem to have the ability to depart on time ever in my experience traveling with them
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I just drive now. I don't consider any of the 'survivors' worthy of my hard earned cash.
With Kulula you need to pack away your watch and wear a calendar on your wrist. If you have to be anywhere on time, or do anything official, forget about it - you will end up having to make excuses. Not once, not twice : every time. Never an on time departure yet in over 30 flights, not to mention the ones they just cancel or reroute and leave you to sort yourself out. Many times bitten, thrice shy.
Mango is SAA - both of which I only support once - via tax - like a good little sheeple (for now). While I have nothing bad to say about the service I have received the twice I've flown Mango in the past, the legroom is ridiculous (although you can double it by removing the safety briefing card from the seat-bag), plus they are part of the evil alliance, so out of principal, je refuse.
The less said about the 'flag carrier' the better.
Who else is still out there again?
Comair? No thanks. Failed an interview with them 12 years ago because I laughed when they asked me about 'island holding' - guess I didn't know just how wide the Zambezi was....
> Thus I bought a decent cabbie, and enjoy my time on the road. My pace, my time, my music.
Wish we could get a decent high-speed rail network running countrywide. That would be awesome.
With Kulula you need to pack away your watch and wear a calendar on your wrist. If you have to be anywhere on time, or do anything official, forget about it - you will end up having to make excuses. Not once, not twice : every time. Never an on time departure yet in over 30 flights, not to mention the ones they just cancel or reroute and leave you to sort yourself out. Many times bitten, thrice shy.
Mango is SAA - both of which I only support once - via tax - like a good little sheeple (for now). While I have nothing bad to say about the service I have received the twice I've flown Mango in the past, the legroom is ridiculous (although you can double it by removing the safety briefing card from the seat-bag), plus they are part of the evil alliance, so out of principal, je refuse.
The less said about the 'flag carrier' the better.
Who else is still out there again?
Comair? No thanks. Failed an interview with them 12 years ago because I laughed when they asked me about 'island holding' - guess I didn't know just how wide the Zambezi was....
> Thus I bought a decent cabbie, and enjoy my time on the road. My pace, my time, my music.
Wish we could get a decent high-speed rail network running countrywide. That would be awesome.
Last edited by I.R.PIRATE; 30th Nov 2012 at 22:16.
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Comair? No thanks. Failed an interview with them 12 years ago because I laughed when they asked me about 'island holding' - guess I didn't know just how wide the Zambezi was....
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Oh get a sense of humor. And try find a sector that doesn't average 1800 rand on them, plus they are just as tardy as their green bastard child.
Comair=Kulula
SAA=Mango
We are so screwed.
Comair=Kulula
SAA=Mango
We are so screwed.
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And try find a sector that doesn't average 1800 rand on them,
for a start ........ picked these dates at random, flying tomorrow and returning 20 DEC
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I must say, a decent high speed rail system between Jhb and Durbs for example would destroy the airlines on that route. Aviation is actually a giant PITA in SA, mainly because you're screwed no matter who you choose: SAA/Mango/SAX means you support the failure, and Comair means BA (Expensive) or Kulula (late and often expensive anyway). Fail.
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I was talking about Comair prices. They are generally in the R 1800 range for a DBN or CPT return.
> or at least when I still used to fly rather than drive.
> or at least when I still used to fly rather than drive.
Last edited by I.R.PIRATE; 1st Dec 2012 at 13:42.
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Ok, so I see they are even more expensive than what I remembered. And here are no axes to grind. When comparing prices, and one company is way more than another, that's just how it is. I'm not I interested in the fee breakdown, purely in the end price the consumer needs to pay.
There are no good options left. Fact.
A luta continua.
There are no good options left. Fact.
A luta continua.
Last edited by I.R.PIRATE; 1st Dec 2012 at 21:14.
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And try find a sector that doesn't average 1800 rand on them
They are generally in the R 1800 range for a DBN or CPT return.
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IR Pirate
"Comair? No thanks. Failed an interview with them 12 years ago because I laughed when they asked me about 'island holding' - guess I didn't know just how wide the Zambezi was...."
I'm sure you would agree , they asked you that question not because it was company related , it was asked just as a matter of general knowledge ! I'm sure you know that Comair has been flying to Mauritius since 2007 as a BA schedule so maybe the question wasn't so far fetched after all !
Pity you didn't get in - Comair is a great company to work for considering the limited choice of Airlines in SA.
"Comair? No thanks. Failed an interview with them 12 years ago because I laughed when they asked me about 'island holding' - guess I didn't know just how wide the Zambezi was...."
I'm sure you would agree , they asked you that question not because it was company related , it was asked just as a matter of general knowledge ! I'm sure you know that Comair has been flying to Mauritius since 2007 as a BA schedule so maybe the question wasn't so far fetched after all !
Pity you didn't get in - Comair is a great company to work for considering the limited choice of Airlines in SA.
Last edited by Ghost_Rider737; 2nd Dec 2012 at 07:28.
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I totally agree Ghost Rider. I Just found it funny at the time when the biggest water mass they flew over was the Zambezi (at that time) - got another callback from them a few months later, so no harm no foul. 
> and come on, you really think anyone would use that as a serious reason not to fly with an airline? I put that here to lighten up the mood a little > notice the emoticon?
Many mates at Comair, many acquaintances in management at Comair, and while they have the lion's share of my respect in terms of the local operators, I just dont find them good value for money from a pax perspective. Nothing more, nothing less. Their aeries also feel old inside, and rightfully so.
Tableview:
When I was still flying about three times a week between JNB, DUR and CPT (circa 2006), I could never find a ticket for less than 1800 bucks on Comair. So our company stopped using them, because there were on average, double the price per sector compared to the greens, reds, and oranges that plied the same routes. Thats all - nothing more, nothing less...nothing sinister. Forensically analyze this however many times you see fit.
Now please excuse me, while I go and make a coffee in the forward galley and wait for my pax, I have a movie to watch.
> and come on, you really think anyone would use that as a serious reason not to fly with an airline? I put that here to lighten up the mood a little > notice the emoticon?
Many mates at Comair, many acquaintances in management at Comair, and while they have the lion's share of my respect in terms of the local operators, I just dont find them good value for money from a pax perspective. Nothing more, nothing less. Their aeries also feel old inside, and rightfully so.
Tableview:
When I was still flying about three times a week between JNB, DUR and CPT (circa 2006), I could never find a ticket for less than 1800 bucks on Comair. So our company stopped using them, because there were on average, double the price per sector compared to the greens, reds, and oranges that plied the same routes. Thats all - nothing more, nothing less...nothing sinister. Forensically analyze this however many times you see fit.
Now please excuse me, while I go and make a coffee in the forward galley and wait for my pax, I have a movie to watch.
Last edited by I.R.PIRATE; 2nd Dec 2012 at 14:36.
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I R Pirate, I check the Prune about once a week because guys like you still post and it brightens my dreary day. The other boat anchors wothout a sense of humour that take themselves so seriously because they got a job flying to Cape Town and back is the reason I need the 6 day break.
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I R Pirate : If you don't know the difference between a 'sector' and a 'return', and the implications thereof, then I'm not equipped to have a rational discussion with you.
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Ok, you win then.
I guess Comair flights will be cheaper and on newer machines then as of today, n'est pas?
..and the orange alliance will no longer be using tax dollars
...and the green machines will land on time...
> thought not.
Squabble on then old fruit.
and PS: I just use big words like 'sector' and 'return' to sound like an airline guy. I have no idea what they really mean.
In my head, those sentences containing those big words, sound like this:
"Comair...expensive. Others...cheap. Beer now..."
Flew all of two 'legs' yesterday. Im tired now.
I guess Comair flights will be cheaper and on newer machines then as of today, n'est pas?
..and the orange alliance will no longer be using tax dollars
...and the green machines will land on time...
> thought not.
Squabble on then old fruit.
and PS: I just use big words like 'sector' and 'return' to sound like an airline guy. I have no idea what they really mean.
In my head, those sentences containing those big words, sound like this:
"Comair...expensive. Others...cheap. Beer now..."
Flew all of two 'legs' yesterday. Im tired now.
Last edited by I.R.PIRATE; 3rd Dec 2012 at 09:28.
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This may herald some competition for the JNB-CPT route. It will be interesting to see if it happens and if so, how long it lasts. I wish them luck.
Aircraft leasing and management company Safair has been granted approval by South Africa’s Air Service Licensing Council to launch their own domestic scheduled operation, FlySafair.
Offering up to 10 daily flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town, FlySafair will be utilising two Boeing 737-400 aircraft to service the route. The low cost carrier is set to officially launch ticket sales in September and be fully operational by the last quarter of 2013.
"We are extremely excited about this new chapter in Safair’s history and we look forward to further being of service to South Africa’s flying public," says Dave Andrew, CEO of Safair. "Having close to 50 years of aviation experience, along with our proven track record of excellence within the aviation industry, the launch of FlySafair represents a natural evolution of our business."
Safair has years of expertise and experience in providing aircraft leasing, maintenance, special operations, chartering and training services. Safair has a 75 percent South African shareholding, with the other 25 percent owned by the Irish ASL Aviation Group.
Safair has long served as a commercial support partner for many local airlines. This involves aircraft leasing, and Safair being contracted to operate other airlines' schedules whenever they have an aircraft out of service due to technical reasons or crew shortages.
In these instances, Safair provides their own unbranded aircraft and crew, and operates under the company name of the airline it is assisting.
Andrew concludes that FlySafair has the necessary experience and expertise needed to provide world-class and industry-leading services to the low-cost airline industry in South Africa.
"Although many people have commented that the airline industry is an unfavourable environment for new entrants at the moment, we would like to remind the public that we have been flying commercially for almost half a century already and we have no doubt that FlySafair will only serve to further grow the domestic market.
"Owing to our reputation of success, we assert that our new carrier will operate proficiently, and offer the highest standards of excellence and service to our customers - all at a price that they can afford. We look forward to welcoming you onboard again."
Offering up to 10 daily flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town, FlySafair will be utilising two Boeing 737-400 aircraft to service the route. The low cost carrier is set to officially launch ticket sales in September and be fully operational by the last quarter of 2013.
"We are extremely excited about this new chapter in Safair’s history and we look forward to further being of service to South Africa’s flying public," says Dave Andrew, CEO of Safair. "Having close to 50 years of aviation experience, along with our proven track record of excellence within the aviation industry, the launch of FlySafair represents a natural evolution of our business."
Safair has years of expertise and experience in providing aircraft leasing, maintenance, special operations, chartering and training services. Safair has a 75 percent South African shareholding, with the other 25 percent owned by the Irish ASL Aviation Group.
Safair has long served as a commercial support partner for many local airlines. This involves aircraft leasing, and Safair being contracted to operate other airlines' schedules whenever they have an aircraft out of service due to technical reasons or crew shortages.
In these instances, Safair provides their own unbranded aircraft and crew, and operates under the company name of the airline it is assisting.
Andrew concludes that FlySafair has the necessary experience and expertise needed to provide world-class and industry-leading services to the low-cost airline industry in South Africa.
"Although many people have commented that the airline industry is an unfavourable environment for new entrants at the moment, we would like to remind the public that we have been flying commercially for almost half a century already and we have no doubt that FlySafair will only serve to further grow the domestic market.
"Owing to our reputation of success, we assert that our new carrier will operate proficiently, and offer the highest standards of excellence and service to our customers - all at a price that they can afford. We look forward to welcoming you onboard again."