South African Airways Flights, Routes & Travel Guide
Explore the latest South African Airways (SA) fleet and aircraft seat maps. Compare amenities, baggage, check-in, children and pet travel rules.
Last updated: October 2026
IATA: SAStar AllianceFounded 1929HQ: Airways Park, O. R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
About South African Airways
Explore the latest South African Airways (SA) fleet and aircraft seat maps. Compare amenities, baggage, check-in, children and pet travel rules.
South African Airways was founded on February 1, 1934. It is South Africa's flagship airline and a member of the Star Alliance. The company is headquartered in Johannesburg. The company's main hub is the O. R. Tambo International Airport. South African Airways operates domestic and international scheduled flights. In total, the company serves 35 destinations. South African Airways has a fleet of 47 aircraft. In addition, the company provides a frequent-flyer program - Voyager.
Fees and allowances vary by route, fare and status.
Baggage
In addition to personal items (coat, laptop, wallet), passengers are allowed one piece of hand baggage that meets the following requirements: maximum dimensions of hand baggage: 115 cm (length + width + height); maximum weight of hand baggage: 8 kg. Maximum weight of checked-in baggage: for Economy class passengers - 20 kg; for Business class passengers - 30 kg; for First class passengers - 40 kg; for Star Alliance Gold and Voyager members, extra baggage is allowed.
South African Airways does not accept ordinary pets in the passenger cabin. Domestic pet transport and international animal transport have different conditions. International pets must be arranged as manifested cargo under an Air Waybill. Assistance dogs are subject to separate rules. Confirm animal acceptance, carrier dimensions, weight limits, documentation and routing with SAA before booking.
Infants are defined as children under two years of age. Infants may fly without a seat on the plane or the lap of an accompanying adult. If you wish, you can buy a seat for an infant at the infant fare. Children over two years of age must have their seat on the plane. If one adult travels with two infants, one seat must be purchased for one infant, and the other may be held on the lap.
Online check-in opens 24 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. Online check-in closes four hours for USA flights, three hours for international/regional flights, and two hours for all domestic flights. For domestic travel, passengers are required to check in at least one and a half hours before departure of the flight. For international travel, Passengers are required to check in at least two and a half hours before departure of the flight. Domestic flights close 30 minutes before departure. Regional and international flights close 50 minutes before departure for all travel classes.
Children over five years old can travel alone. The airline provides an escort service for minors. The service is mandatory for children ages 5-11 traveling without an adult. Children ages 12-15 years are not required to travel as unaccompanied minors, but the service is also optional for this age group.
Find quick answers to the most common questions about flying with South African Airways.
What cabin-baggage allowance does South African Airways provide?
Economy: one piece; Business: two, each at most 8 kg and 56×36×23 cm, plus a small 30×40×10 cm handbag or slim laptop bag. Bulkier laptop bags count as regular cabin baggage.
Does SAA allow a separate cabin bag for infant essentials?
Yes. The page allows one free infant bag containing essentials such as bedding, nappies, bottles and food, totaling no more than 8 kg.
Can I use a folding stroller to the gate on SAA?
Generally yes, but some airports do not permit it. Ask the check-in agent before keeping it to the gate, where staff take it for hold transport.
Does SAA accept a power bank exceeding 100 Wh?
No. Its cabin-baggage page prohibits power banks over 100 Wh in both cabin and checked baggage. Do not apply another airline’s higher limits.
Does a small instrument use SAA’s normal cabin-bag allowance?
Yes. Including its case it must fit underseat or overhead, total at most 115 cm and weigh 8 kg. It counts as one item; Economy cannot add another regular cabin bag.
Can I place a cello on an empty SAA seat?
Not without paying. Provide dimensions and weight to the Call Centre and book an approved extra seat. Maximum 75 kg per seat; it adds no free checked-baggage allowance.
Can an ordinary pet travel in SAA’s cabin?
No; service dogs have separate rules. Ordinary pets require cargo or accepted hold arrangements, and the animal/container is charged outside the free allowance. Contact SAA Cargo for international transport.
Who can use SAA’s unaccompanied-minor service, and can it be booked online?
It covers ages 5–11; children under five are not accepted. A parent or legal guardian must obtain authorisation through a local SAA office, not online. Partner rules may differ.
Can a parent leave immediately after checking in an SAA unaccompanied child?
Remain until departure. The authorised receiving adult must show identification. If flights change, confirm that the UM request transfers to the new flight.
Can I use a home-printed or wallet boarding pass on SAA from Johannesburg/Cape Town to São Paulo?
No. The page permits online check-in but requires collecting the boarding pass at the airport counter; home-printed and wallet passes are excluded on these routes.
South African Airways Flights, Routes & Travel Guide
Explore the latest South African Airways (SA) fleet and aircraft seat maps. Compare amenities, baggage, check-in, children and pet travel rules.
Last updated: October 2026
IATA: SAStar AllianceFounded 1929HQ: Airways Park, O. R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
About South African Airways
Explore the latest South African Airways (SA) fleet and aircraft seat maps. Compare amenities, baggage, check-in, children and pet travel rules.
South African Airways was founded on February 1, 1934. It is South Africa's flagship airline and a member of the Star Alliance. The company is headquartered in Johannesburg. The company's main hub is the O. R. Tambo International Airport. South African Airways operates domestic and international scheduled flights. In total, the company serves 35 destinations. South African Airways has a fleet of 47 aircraft. In addition, the company provides a frequent-flyer program - Voyager.
Fees and allowances vary by route, fare and status.
Baggage
In addition to personal items (coat, laptop, wallet), passengers are allowed one piece of hand baggage that meets the following requirements: maximum dimensions of hand baggage: 115 cm (length + width + height); maximum weight of hand baggage: 8 kg. Maximum weight of checked-in baggage: for Economy class passengers - 20 kg; for Business class passengers - 30 kg; for First class passengers - 40 kg; for Star Alliance Gold and Voyager members, extra baggage is allowed.
South African Airways does not accept ordinary pets in the passenger cabin. Domestic pet transport and international animal transport have different conditions. International pets must be arranged as manifested cargo under an Air Waybill. Assistance dogs are subject to separate rules. Confirm animal acceptance, carrier dimensions, weight limits, documentation and routing with SAA before booking.
Infants are defined as children under two years of age. Infants may fly without a seat on the plane or the lap of an accompanying adult. If you wish, you can buy a seat for an infant at the infant fare. Children over two years of age must have their seat on the plane. If one adult travels with two infants, one seat must be purchased for one infant, and the other may be held on the lap.
Online check-in opens 24 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. Online check-in closes four hours for USA flights, three hours for international/regional flights, and two hours for all domestic flights. For domestic travel, passengers are required to check in at least one and a half hours before departure of the flight. For international travel, Passengers are required to check in at least two and a half hours before departure of the flight. Domestic flights close 30 minutes before departure. Regional and international flights close 50 minutes before departure for all travel classes.
Children over five years old can travel alone. The airline provides an escort service for minors. The service is mandatory for children ages 5-11 traveling without an adult. Children ages 12-15 years are not required to travel as unaccompanied minors, but the service is also optional for this age group.
Find quick answers to the most common questions about flying with South African Airways.
What cabin-baggage allowance does South African Airways provide?
Economy: one piece; Business: two, each at most 8 kg and 56×36×23 cm, plus a small 30×40×10 cm handbag or slim laptop bag. Bulkier laptop bags count as regular cabin baggage.
Does SAA allow a separate cabin bag for infant essentials?
Yes. The page allows one free infant bag containing essentials such as bedding, nappies, bottles and food, totaling no more than 8 kg.
Can I use a folding stroller to the gate on SAA?
Generally yes, but some airports do not permit it. Ask the check-in agent before keeping it to the gate, where staff take it for hold transport.
Does SAA accept a power bank exceeding 100 Wh?
No. Its cabin-baggage page prohibits power banks over 100 Wh in both cabin and checked baggage. Do not apply another airline’s higher limits.
Does a small instrument use SAA’s normal cabin-bag allowance?
Yes. Including its case it must fit underseat or overhead, total at most 115 cm and weigh 8 kg. It counts as one item; Economy cannot add another regular cabin bag.
Can I place a cello on an empty SAA seat?
Not without paying. Provide dimensions and weight to the Call Centre and book an approved extra seat. Maximum 75 kg per seat; it adds no free checked-baggage allowance.
Can an ordinary pet travel in SAA’s cabin?
No; service dogs have separate rules. Ordinary pets require cargo or accepted hold arrangements, and the animal/container is charged outside the free allowance. Contact SAA Cargo for international transport.
Who can use SAA’s unaccompanied-minor service, and can it be booked online?
It covers ages 5–11; children under five are not accepted. A parent or legal guardian must obtain authorisation through a local SAA office, not online. Partner rules may differ.
Can a parent leave immediately after checking in an SAA unaccompanied child?
Remain until departure. The authorised receiving adult must show identification. If flights change, confirm that the UM request transfers to the new flight.
Can I use a home-printed or wallet boarding pass on SAA from Johannesburg/Cape Town to São Paulo?
No. The page permits online check-in but requires collecting the boarding pass at the airport counter; home-printed and wallet passes are excluded on these routes.
