Somizi Mhlongo, the vibrant South African media personality, has voiced his disappointment with South African Airways (SAA) over what he deemed an unsatisfactory business class experience. His concerns, shared on Instagram, have sparked a heated discussion among his followers and industry peers.
Mhlongo posted a photo of his business class seat, drawing attention to its striking similarity to economy class seating despite the significant price difference. He captioned the image: “So this is business class. Seats are the same size as in economy class. But double the price. Pls make it make sense, my dearest @flysaa, coz I really wanna support you.”
His critique reflects a broader sentiment among travelers, many of whom feel that domestic business class offerings often fail to deliver the comfort and luxury expected, especially compared to international flights.
The post drew comments from other celebrities and public figures, who shared their own experiences and insights. Actor Bohang Moeko noted that airlines make most of their money on domestic flights through business class and “premium” economy tickets, which often don’t justify their price. TV presenter Andile Ncube mentioned being misled by similar experiences, explaining that such tickets often only offer perks like fewer seat companions, priority boarding, and quicker deboarding. Activist Yaya RSA humorously criticized airlines for offering minimal enhancements, like serving Johnny Walker and using a curtain to separate classes, and praised Lift Airlines for offering superior service.
The conversation highlights a recurring issue within domestic aviation, where “business class” often means slightly enhanced service rather than a substantial upgrade in comfort. Some followers pointed to airlines like Lift, considered more customer-focused, as better alternatives for domestic travel.
While SAA has long been a symbol of South African pride, incidents like this underscore the importance of aligning customer expectations with service offerings, especially as the airline works to rebuild its reputation in a competitive market.
