> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thecontrail.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # I Flew South African Airways as It Rebuilds. The Crew Impressed Me. The Plane Didn't. - URL: https://www.thecontrail.org/south-african-airways-a330-economy-review-johannesburg-cape-town/ - Published: 2026-10-06T16:28:25.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-06T16:28:25.000Z - Description: South African Airways nearly disappeared in 2020. On my flight to Cape Town, a warm crew and a surprise hot breakfast showed what's coming back, while my worn seat showed what isn't yet. - Author: Zachary Benitez - Tags: Flight Review, South African Airways South African Airways nearly disappeared. The country's national airline, a member of Star Alliance alongside United and Lufthansa, ran out of money and stopped flying in 2020\. It came back in 2021 with a fraction of its old network, and it's been rebuilding ever since. I'd wanted to fly it for years, so I finally booked South African Airways' A330 economy from Johannesburg to Cape Town on SA 317 to see how that comeback looks from a seat in the back. This was a domestic flight of about two hours, but it used a widebody Airbus A330-300, a plane normally built for long international routes. The jet was heading to Cape Town to fly on to São Paulo later in the day. At nine years old, it's young for an A330, and it will likely be one of the airline's international workhorses for years. What I found onboard was an airline whose people are clearly ready, on a plane that still needs work. Flight Details ### South African Airways SA 317 JNB Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Intl · Terminal B 08:541m early 2h 4m · 790 mi CPT Cape Town Cape Town Intl 10:5812m early Cabin Economy Aircraft Airbus A330-300 Aircraft age 9 years Registration ZS-SXM Contrail The Verdict · SA 317 Economy **6.4**Overall A tired cabin with screens that never worked, made worthwhile by a hot breakfast nobody expects on a two-hour flight and a genuinely warm crew. Ground experience 5.4 Seat 5.6 Amenities 3.4 Catering 8.0 Service 8.6 #### What worked *✓*Warm, Upbeat Crew *✓*Hot Breakfast on a Two-Hour Flight *✓*Good Recline and Seat Power #### What didn't work *✕*Slow Check-In *✕*Worn, Stained Seats *✕*No Working Entertainment Contrail --- ## Check-In at O.R. Tambo O.R. Tambo International is one of Africa's most important airports, and parts of it feel overdue for a facelift. The check-in hall was a nice surprise, though, with high ceilings and plenty of light. The line looked manageable at first, but it barely moved. Some of that was passengers repacking overstuffed suitcases at the counter, including one family working through a bag full of diapers. The real problem turned out to be a broken baggage belt. An agent told us nobody could be checked in until it was fixed, and it took me 20 to 30 minutes to finally get through. When I did, the agent mentioned that the flight was very empty, which made me even more curious about what was waiting onboard. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1300.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1302.jpg) --- ## The Gate and Boarding The airport swung between feeling polished and feeling like a cramped bus terminal. Our domestic gates in the C area had almost nowhere to sit, just a few seats lined along the walkway, while the D gates next door had much better seating. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1318.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1307.jpg) Boarding started only a minute or two late, and staff did their best to organize everyone. The narrow hallway leading to the plane made it a tight squeeze, though that's more about the building than the airline. Illustrated for Contrail South African Airways Airbus A330-300 · ZS-SXM Drawn by **Caleb St. John** · Caleb's Aviation Every Contrail review carries an original drawing of the aircraft flown, made for us by Caleb St. John, who draws aircraft to raise awareness for young people in aviation living with health conditions. --- ## The Seat My assigned seat was 46H, an aisle seat near the front of economy, which is laid out in pairs by the windows and a row of four in the middle. With the cabin as quiet as promised, I moved over to spread out. Seat Map Economy · 2–4–2 ZS-SXM A C D E F G H K 45 A C D E F G H K 46 A C D E F G H K 47 A C D E F G H K 48 A C D E F G H K 49 A C D E F G H K 50 A C D E F G H K Economy · rows 45–71 · seat 46H Contrail At first the seat felt comfortable and not at all tight, and the recline was genuinely good. Each seat also has a power outlet and a USB port, which isn't a given on a short flight. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1331.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1335.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1344.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1357.jpg) That comfort didn't last long. After a few minutes, I realized the headrest was the hardest I've ever leaned on. It was firmer than anything I've had on a budget airline, which I didn't think was possible. The bigger letdown was the condition of the cabin. Seats were covered in marks, small rips and stains. For a plane that's only nine years old, the upkeep simply wasn't good. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1336.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1353.jpg) --- ## Screens and Wi-Fi The seatback screens looked newer than the rest of the cabin and were bright and sharp, but unfortunately they didn't do anything. Mine only showed a "thank you for flying" message for the whole trip. It told me to press a button on a handheld controller to turn the system back on, but there were no controllers anywhere, which was almost funny. There was no Wi-Fi either, so on this flight, the screens were just decoration. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1338-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1385.jpg) --- ## Breakfast Then the crew started the meal service, and I couldn't believe it. On a flight of under two hours, South African Airways served a full breakfast, with a choice of a hot option or a cold one. I chose the hot plate of sausage, eggs and potatoes, which came with a croissant and an energy bar. It wasn't the most refined breakfast I've had on a plane, but that's beside the point. Most airlines wouldn't even consider serving a hot meal on a flight this short, and it made the trip feel far more generous than the ticket suggested. Drinks oddly came well after the food, but that's a small complaint. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1389.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1387.jpg) --- ## The Crew The crew were the best part of the flight. They were friendly at the door, and I watched them being kind and patient with other passengers as everyone boarded. Service started quickly after takeoff, too. Before taking each order, the flight attendants said good morning and asked passengers how they were doing, and they kept that cheerful energy the whole way to Cape Town. > Love this pre-flight announcement on my South African Airways flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. 🇿🇦 [pic.twitter.com/M6yBDp1Yn3](https://t.co/M6yBDp1Yn3?ref=thecontrail.org) > > — Zachary Benitez (@contrailzach) [October 6, 2026](https://x.com/contrailzach/status/2107507630545477979?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=thecontrail.org) --- ## The Bathrooms The bathrooms were the clearest sign of cost-cutting, with no paper towels or tissues and only toilet paper. The hot water tap didn't work either. I've seen plenty of tired airplane bathrooms, but I can't remember one where only the cold water worked. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1395.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1396.jpg) --- ## Worth Booking? For a short domestic hop, South African Airways delivers more than you'd expect where it counts for many travelers: a real hot breakfast and a crew that seems glad to see you. That combination made the flight feel generous, and it's the part I'll remember. The plane itself tells a different story. Stained seats, a rock-hard headrest, screens that don't work and bare bathrooms all suggest an airline still cutting costs after its comeback. If you're choosing between airlines on this route, book South African Airways for the service and the breakfast, but bring your own entertainment. You can see how South African Airways compares with every other airline I've reviewed in the [Contrail Index](https://www.thecontrail.org/contrail-index/).