IATASA
ICAOSAA
South African Airways Delayed or Cancelled Flight compensation and refund
You had South African Airways flight delay or cancellation and you don’t know what to do.
Well, read below information about passenger rights all in one place, prepared by our professional experts.
You may have the right to claim South African Airways compensation up to €600 (£540) as per EU law, as explained below.
How it works
It only takes minutes to finish it! That way you’ll find out your preliminary eligibility – and the size of the compensation.
Our experts will be checking your eligibility in depth, contacting the airlines, working with the authorities and so on.
Once we receive the compensation, we will transfer the money to you.
South African Airways Delayed or Cancelled Flight compensation and refund
It's everyone's dreaded travel scenario: you buy a ticket from South African Airways, show up, and discover that your flight is delayed, cancelled, or worse. Or you find that the flight is fine, but you or an immediate family member are denied boarding. What are your rights? Are you due compensation?
You could receive up to €600 from South African Airways. We here at AirAdvisor make claiming compensation easy.
We work on a No-Win, No-Fee basis
AirAdvisor is happy to help with your claim, so you can avoid the stress of dealing with airlines and complicated laws.
If you've had a cancelled or delayed flight and are looking for information about a refund or South African Airways flight compensation, we are here to help. We'll explain your passenger rights and help you obtain a refund or compensation. Submit a complaint to South African Airways and receive as much as €600 per passenger. Use our free Compensation Calculator to find out much you are owed and to start your South African Airways claim. You don't need to be an expert on South African Airways refund policy or cancellation policy to receive your money back.
What Are My Passenger Rights in Case my South African Airways Flight Was Cancelled or Delayed?
According to EU law your rights include:
- up to €600 compensation which is not reliant on ticket price
- Includes disrupted South African Airways flights up to 3 years old
- Covers flights that were delayed at least 3 hours, cancelled, or overbooked
What Should I Do in Case of Cancellations or a South African Airways Delayed Flight?
- Confirm the reason for the delay or cancellation.
- Collect proof: photos, receipts of expenses, South African Airways booking number, vouchers, etc.
- Insist on your basic benefits and services at the airport.
- Check your eligibility for compensation with our free online compensation calculator.
South African Airways Flight Compensation Claims
As a passenger, you may be entitled to compensation if the following have occurred:
- Flight delay: If your flight arrived 3+ hours late at your final destination.
- South African Airways Cancel Flight: if South African Airways cancelled your flight and informed you less than 14 days before departure.
- Overbooking: If you have been denied boarding due to overbooking.
- Missed connecting flight: If you missed a connecting flight due to a delay in one of the legs and you arrived at your destination 3+ hours late.
South African Airways Flight Cancellations: When are they Liable?
When South African Airways can escape liability: South African Airways claims if a flight was cancelled due to events outside of its control; for example bad weather, or issues at the airport. Such events are typically called extraordinary circumstances and in such cases, you are not entitled to a South African Airways missed flight refund.
All airlines will generally try to book you on the next available flight at no additional charge, in the case of cancelled flights. You may agree to the proposed flight or request another replacement flight, or demand reimbursement if you are not happy with any of the options proposed.
Note: If your rebooked scheduled departure arrives at a similar time to your original departure time, you're not entitled compensation. The law is fair and allows airlines not to pay compensation if you can reach your destination with minimum inconvenience. In most cases, passengers who have a cancelled flight will have valid claims for a South African Airways flight compensation.
An airport employees’ strike is beyond anyone's control. Learn more about cancellation compensation.
When South African Airways cannot escape liability: When South African Airways cancel flights, EU 261 Regulation on air passenger rights are clear: You must be put on an alternative flight or provided with a full flight refund.
Also, if you were notified about the flight cancellation less than 14 days before your date of departure, you may be able to receive up to €600 per person in compensation. Additionally, you may receive South African Airways flight delay compensation if you arrived 3+ hours later than the scheduled arrival time of your initial flight.
South African Airways Flight Refund policy
A flight compensation and a refund are two different things. Regulations allow you to receive both: a cancellation refund and compensation.
In case of a cancellation, an airline will try to re-book you on the similar flight, but if that becomes impossible, a cancellation refund will be a full cash refund. Generally, your claim would succeed, providing there were no extraordinary circumstances beyond airline control.
If South African Airways cancels your flight to extraordinary circumstances (such as Covid travel restrictions or a serious illness) and you were offered no replacement flight, you can obtain a ticket refund in full, since your flights booked were not available.
Types of ticket refunds: A full refund must be in cash or credit. Vouchers are allowed only if you specifically agree to it. We do not recommend accepting vouchers due to short expiry dates and potential restrictions on redemption.
Note: If South African Airways offers a replacement flight with approximately the same arrival time and you decide not to take it, there is a possibility of you losing the right to get both compensation and a ticket refund.
Rule of thumb: you can generally reject alternative flights and receive a refund in full, if a new replacement flight arrives 3+ hours later from your initial scheduled arrival time.
South African Airways Refund problems? Let our team help you.
Together we can fight back to get the justice you deserve
Our team can help you achieve justice because we've been in the same situation ourselves.
South African Airways Flight Delay Compensation
While all airlines attempt to operate on time, sometimes delays happen. EU regulation 261 (EU 261) protects passengers in cases of flight delays.
According to EC 261, if your flight arrives later than 3 hours at your final destination, you may be eligible to file a South African Airways delayed flight compensation claim form to receive up to €600 as a flight refund.
Exclusions: South African Airways delayed flight compensation will not be enforceable in case of extraordinary circumstances. If the flight departure time is delayed because of bad weather or any airport related disruption, that is considered an extraordinary circumstance. Technical problems, airline staff strike, or operational problems are not valid reasons for rejected compensation claims.
Tip: accepting vouchers or signing release paperwork will result in losing the right to compensation.
Learn more about passenger rights to South African Airways delay compensation and how to demand South African Airways claim compensation.
What is the Time Limit for Compensation Claims?
You have up to six years to contact South African Airways and collect your compensation and ticket refunds.
How to Claim Compensation for a delayed flight South African Airways?
We advise you to use our free flight delay compensation calculator for further information. It takes only a couple of minutes to input basic information about your flight. Our calculator will inform you if you are eligible for compensation and exactly how much.
EU 261 Compensation Claim: How Much Can You Get?
Distance Compensation: All flights under 1,500 km Up to €250 per person
South African Airways Internal flights over 1,500 km Up to €400 per person
Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km Up to €400 per person
South African Airways international flights over 3,500 km Up to €600 per person
Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261. To get calculate how much compensation is owed to you, please use our free compensation check.
Claim your compensation with AirAdvisor and get up to €600. Find out how much you’re owed today.
Let AirAdvisor Help You Claim Flight Delay Compensation
Free Instant Check
No Win, No Fee
98% Success Rate
Common questions: Compensation Claims and Refunds
What to do when your South African Airways flight is cancelled?
Confirm the reason for a flight cancellation with the airline ticket desk. Also, collect receipts for any additional expenses for reimbursement later. Ask the airline to provide food and refreshments for a delay of 3 hours or more. If your replacement flight is departing the next day, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and transportation. Finally, use our free online compensation calculator to check if you are eligible for compensation and submit a South African Airways refund for cancellation.
What if I cancel my South African Airways flight? Can I get a refund?
If South African Airways cancels the flight, they must refund the price of ticket to passengers. But if you decide to voluntarily cancel your scheduled flight, you are not entitled to a refund. South African Airways cancellation policy is restrictive, unless you have a flexible fare, which allows you to reschedule your flight to a later date with minimal cost.
Note: regardless of ticket type, passengers have the right to request a refund amount for airport taxes and fees as part of a cancellation refund.
Do I also get my money back for the South African Airways cancelled a flight due to Covid-19?
If South African Airways cancelled a flight due to Covid-19, passengers are entitled to a reimbursement as part of flight cancellation rights. If South African Airways attempts to reimburse your cancelled flight with a voucher, we do not recommend taking it. Instead, apply for a refund. If your refund claim is rejected, AirAdvisor can help enforce your claim through our external lawyers.
Can I Get a South African Airways Refund?
If you cancel your flight without selecting a refundable, flexible fare option, than your rights to refund are limited only to airport taxes and fees. In case South African Airways cancels your flight, you can demand airline to honor your rightful request for a full refund of the ticket price.
How many hours for flight delay to be eligible for South African Airways compensation?
As per EU Regulation EC261, a delay of three hours or more is the minimum requirement for a flight to be eligible for compensation. Determining compensation can be a tricky process, and the amount you may be entitled to may depend on distance of your flight and other factors. But don't worry, checking your South African Airways flight's eligibility for compensation is easy and fast. Head to the AirAdvisor website and complete the process in just a few minutes.
How long does it take to get South African Airways flight delay compensation?
EU Reg. 261-EC mandates that compensation should be paid within 30 days. You should expect South African Airways to take 2-3 months to process and reply. In some cases South African Airways may try to postpone or ignore payment requests, assuming many passengers will stop pursuing their claims. AirAdvisor does know what to do to make sure airline will pay compensation.
How to claim Flight Delay Compensation with South African Airways?
At AirAdvisor, we are here to ensure you receive the delay and cancellation compensation that is rightfully yours from this airline. Our team has expertise since 2017 and understands well how best to navigate the process for successful results. Reach out today to see what assistance we can provide!
How much compensation for South African Airways delayed flight can you get?
If you fly within the European Union (EU) for a distance of 1,500 kilometers or less, you can receive up to €250 (£205) per person in compensation. If your flight is more than 1,500 km and still with the EU boundaries, the compensations are up to you €400 (£330) each. For flights that are farther away but have their destination inside the EU area and cover between 1,500-3,500 km distance – they can give passengers up to €400 (£330) in compensation. At lastly if it's longer international voyage - over 3 500 kilometers - expecting to get €600 compensation per passenger!
How Much Time Do I Have to Make My Claim againt South African Airways?
The statute of limitations for filing a compensation claim can vary depending on the laws of the country of initial departure or final destination. While it's common to have a time frame of up to three years from the flight date to take action, some countries may have a shorter time frame to bring an action for compensation (e.g., one or two years). AirAdvisor website will help you check if your South African Airways claim is time barred or not. So that you don't miss out on any potential compensation.
Flight Delay Compensation Calculator:
Check if you are entitled to flight delay compensation in just 3 minutes.
