Whose National Carrier Carries SA's National Teams?

[Teignmouth]

Just got back from seeing friends off at Joburg International.

The SA cricket team was leaving for its tour of the West Indies....being carried by British Airways.

That's on top of the SA Rugby team!

Oh, and guess what...the SA Gymnastics team was also leaving SA....being carried on British Airways.

Hello, SAA...anyone there?!!

[Goldfish Jack]

MMM Yes

Well thinking about it - it is much easier flying to the WI via London than via Atlanta. Daily connecting (convenient) flights from LHR to the West Indies.

IN fact I doubt if there are any direct flights from ATL to West INdies

[Teignmouth]

True, GJ.

However, SAA also flies to London!!

If I were SAA, there's no way I would stand by and allow any representative sports team, wearing their national colours, to leave or arrive in South Africa other than on one of my aircraft.

Maybe I'm being unbusinessslike, but it made for a wonderful PR coup for British Airways (who, in my opinion, thoroughly deserve whatever accolades they receive).

[farmpilot]

And now SAA codeshare with VS there's no excuse!

[Pistol Pete]

Yup the Bok's switched over to BA a couple of years ago I think as they weren't getting the deal they wanted from SAA.

As for the cricket that's news to me but it seems SAA might have pissed a few people off.

[Airforce1]

Maybe with all of SAA black empowerment scheme,SAA will only take the teams when they more of a representation of the population.
Or is it the other way around-The sports teams just feel a better service on other airlines?
Remember SAA took the Olympic team in "Ndizani",now that plane is rotting up the JIA grounds and the Gymnasts are flying on BA.....hmmmm-So much for our National carrier!
Next the Boks official carrier will be QUANTAS-gulp

[Pistol Pete]

AFAIK they do use QANTAS for their trips to Oz and NZ flying out from JNB because it is part of One World.

I could stand corrected so if anyone in the know knows.......

PP

[flyboy2]

Bafana-Bafana soccer team have been flown on a chartered DC9
into Africa .
So SAA indeed lost more that time too !

[B Sousa]

A subsidized Airline could care less, they have an open check book to make up for their mistakes...

[Gunship]

Yup the Bok's switched over to BA a couple of years ago I think as they weren't getting the deal they wanted from SAA. As for the cricket that's news to me but it seems SAA might have pissed a few people off.

Gunship also took the plunge and changed to BA (ont he London - CT route).

Why ?

1. My son applied for the national carrier and race was an issue.
2. Afrikaans is / was and always will be a South African language still spoken by the MOST people in SA. For the National Carrier to drop it ... f... them.
3. The Pilots has / will be rated as maybe some of the best in the World. The " new cabin crew" some of the worst I have experienced in the world beating a racist Icelandic hostess who I eventually got fired after refusing blacks a blanket on a " African National Carrier" flight.
4. RIP SAA or get real.

PS: Mail shortened due the fact that I just came back from leave and still is in a good mood ;)