Find cheap FlySafair flights

FlySafair is a low-cost South African airline that’s grown from two planes flying a single route between Cape Town and Johannesburg to a continually expanding fleet of Boeing 737-400 and 737-800 aircraft serving destinations across South Africa and throughout Southern and East Africa. It’s built its reputation on affordable fares and operational reliability.

Its vision is to become the favorite airline in South Africa and indeed, when I lived and worked in South Africa for nine years it was definitely my preferred choice for domestic flights from our home in the Eastern Cape – both in terms of price and reliability.

Award-winning performance

My high opinion of FlySafair is backed by numerous industry awards. OAG’s latest monthly snapshot ranks the airline 3rd globally with 91.86% on-time performance and 0% cancellations, a track record that’s earned it consistent recognition among the world’s most punctual airlines. Skytrax named it the Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa at the World Airline Awards, backing up my consistently positive experiences with the carrier.

I also like FlySafair for its friendly staff and modern, easy-to-use website. It earns a certain cachet as the official domestic carrier of the Springboks rugby team, and most importantly, it really is budget-friendly. When the airline first launched, it brought the average cost of certain routes down by 32% and today, it remains consistently the cheapest choice whenever I’m looking at domestic flights across South Africa.

Flexible fare classes

FlySafair’s transparent and flexible fare structure drives this affordability and lets you pay for everything you need and nothing you don’t. There are three ticket classes to choose from: Lite, Standard and Business. Lite is the cheapest option and includes hand luggage only. Standard fares add 20 kilograms of checked luggage, two penalty-free flight changes (fare differences may apply) and the option to purchase priority boarding at a discount (R50).

Then there’s Business. Make no mistake—all fare classes sit in the same averagely sized seats, so don’t expect a separate Business Class cabin or fully reclining beds.

But paying for the most expensive fare does get you two 23-kilogram checked bags, up to 32 kilograms of special equipment (sports, music or photography gear), priority boarding, and unlimited penalty-free changes (fare differences may apply).

Most importantly, Business tickets include free seat selection and Blocked Seat reservations. That means you’ll be seated next to the window or on the aisle, with an empty seat in between you and your neighbor for the most space and privacy possible in Economy Class seating.

Additional luggage rules

All fare classes include a 7 kilogram (15 lbs) cabin bag and one personal item. Personal items can be a slimline laptop bag or handbag, which must fit under the seat in front of you. The weight allowance for checked luggage on a Standard fare (or if you pay for a bag on the Lite fare) is 20 kilograms (44 lbs). On a Business fare, you get two bags of 23 kilograms (50 lbs) each.

It’s well worth weighing your luggage at home. If you can’t stay within your included weight allowance, it’s actually the same cost to book another 20kg bag online (R250) as paying the overweight fee (R250) at check-in but both are cheaper than paying for an extra bag at the airport (R350). The maximum weight for any bag, including special equipment, is 32 kilograms (70 lbs).

Good news for parents of babies and toddlers: When we first flew with FlySafair, I was impressed to learn that their policy allowing children to bring a foldable pram free of charge applies to all fare classes, even Lite.

A host of optional add-ons

Regardless of the fare you choose, you can add extras that aren’t already included for a reasonable fee. This means you only pay for the perks that are of value to you.

Whenever my family and I travel with FlySafair, we book Standard tickets but opt to pay for priority boarding and seat reservation. With small children, settling in early and sitting together is a lifesaver.

Other add-ons include Blocked Seat reservations and extra luggage. If you plan to pay for an extra bag, make sure to do so in advance online at the time of booking or subsequently via the FlySafair website. Paying this way (R155 for a 20kg bag) costs less than half the price of waiting to do so at the airport (R350), although either way, I feel that the airline’s luggage fees are very fair.

FlySafair also offers optional travel protection via a partnership with Chubb Insurance South Africa Limited (FSP 27176). There are two choices: Bag Insurance, which covers theft or damage to checked-in items as well as damage to the bag itself; and Travel Protection for cancellation, delay and possessions cover. In South Africa, where bag tampering is unfortunately rife, I absolutely recommend paying the minimal fee for the former at least.

Change and cancellation policies

FlySafair’s cancellation policy varies by fare type and timing. For flight changes, the flexibility depends on your fare type: Lite fares incur an R300 penalty plus any fare difference, Standard fares include two penalty-free changes (though fare differences may apply), and Business fares include unlimited penalty-free changes (fare differences may apply).

If you’re worried about cancellation, I’d recommend considering FlySafair’s Travel Protection offered through Chubb Insurance, which includes cancellation coverage among other benefits.

For refunds or changes, contact FlySafair’s customer care center. Whenever I have had a query in the past, I’ve found the customer service agents at FlySafair to be both friendly and helpful.

Onboard entertainment

Since FlySafair exclusively offers short-haul flights, onboard entertainment is limited, so be sure to bring a book or your own device with downloaded content. Wi-Fi availability may vary, check with FlySafair for the latest onboard connectivity options.

Food and drink

Although the airline does not offer a proper meal service, there is typically a menu of light snacks available for purchase onboard. I can recommend the South African wine selection when available.

Lounge and car hire partnerships

Although FlySafair doesn’t have any lounges of its own, you can still access pre-flight relaxation through the airline’s partnership with Bidvest Premier Lounge. Bidvest lounges are available at most of the domestic airports FlySafair flies from and you can purchase access along with your ticket. Access can be added to your FlySafair booking, and you’ll simply show your boarding pass to enter the lounge up to two hours before departure.

I have spent time in the Bidvest Premier Lounges at several South African airports and consider the investment especially worthwhile at smaller destinations like East London, where there’s little else to do while waiting for your flight. Expect comfortable seating, complimentary snacks and beverages, TVs, charging facilities and free Wi-Fi. Some Bidvest lounges also offer showers and smoking areas.

The airline also partners with First Car Rental to offer its passengers cheaper rental rates. You can add a car during your initial booking process or later on, with the service available at seven out of nine South African airports served by FlySafair. Most First Car Rental airport depots have a dedicated counter for airline passengers and will prepare your car in advance for a seamless start to your vacation.

Loyalty rewards partners

Although the airline doesn’t have its own loyalty program, it does have partnerships with many top rewards programs in South Africa including Sanlam Reality, eBucks Rewards, Momentum Multiply, Discovery Vitality, Edgars Club and Vodacom Red Rewards.

Depending on the program and your status, members may be eligible for discounts of up to 30% with Sanlam Reality and Momentum Multiply, up to 40% with eBucks on selected flights, up to 35% on local flights through Discovery Vitality Travel (with higher discounts on specified international partners), up to 25% with Edgars Club, and up to 10% with Vodacom Red.

Investec Private Banking clients can also redeem rewards points toward travel bookings including FlySafair flights through Investec Travel, with a redemption ratio of 20 points equaling R1.

FlyMore Auction

Lastly, frequent flyers should keep an eye out for FlySafair’s periodic FlyMore Auctions which give you the opportunity to bid on bundles of 10 one-way Lite Fare domestic flight tokens. The tokens must be redeemed for flights within 12 months from the date of purchase and exclude airport taxes and optional extras, but can be used for multiple passengers and allow you to book any time (even last minute) for a potentially very cheap rate.