Find cheap FlySafair flights

Low-cost South African airline FlySafair commenced operations in 2014 and has grown exponentially ever since. The company started with just two planes flying a single route between Cape Town and Johannesburg; now, FlySafair has more than 20 aircraft flying to nine destinations across South Africa and six more across Southern and East Africa.

Its vision is to become South Africa’s favorite airline 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. It has been named the Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa by Skytrax as well as the Most Punctual Airline in Africa and the Second Most Punctual Airline in the World by OAG. It has a reputation for being on time and prides itself on the percentage of flights that depart and arrive as expected (well over 90% each month).

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

This affordability is due mostly to FlySafair’s transparent and flexible fare structure, which allows you to 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 fee-free flight changes and the option to purchase priority boarding at a discount.

Then there’s Business. Make no mistake – all fare classes sit in the same averagely sized seats (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) and priority boarding and baggage handling. You’ll also get a snack voucher and unlimited fee-free changes.

Most importantly, Business tickets include free seat selection and automatic Blocked Seat reservations on both domestic and regional flights. 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.

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. For example, whenever my family and I travel with FlySafair we book Standard tickets, but opt to pay for priority boarding and seat reservation. That’s because with small children, settling in early and sitting together is a lifesaver.

Other add-ons include snack vouchers, 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 costs less than half the price of waiting to do so at the airport, 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. 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.

Additional luggage rules

All fare classes include a 7 kilogram (15 lbs) cabin bag and one personal item. Examples of the latter include 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, it’s 23 kilograms (50 lbs).

Anything over that and you’ll be charged a flat overweight fee equivalent to the cost of booking an extra bag at the airport, so it’s well worth weighing your luggage at home. If you can’t stay within your included weight allowance, it’s actually cheaper to book another bag online than to pay for one overweight bag at check-in. 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 under 3 years to bring a foldable pram and/or car seat free of charge applies to all fare classes, even Lite.

Onboard entertainment

Since FlySafair exclusively offers short-haul flights, onboard entertainment is limited. There are no seat-back screens, so be sure to bring a book or your own device with downloaded content. Failing that, you can browse the airline’s InFlight magazine for articles on South African destinations and celebrities. Currently, FlySafair does not offer Wi-Fi; however, the word is that newer technologies are being reviewed and may be implemented in the near future.

Food and drink

Although the airline does not offer a proper meal service, there is a menu of light snacks available for purchase. Think sandwiches, crisps, nuts, biltong and candy bars accompanied by a range of hot, soft and alcoholic beverages. I can recommend the South African wine selection but remember – you won’t be able to use up any leftover rand, because FlySafair is now cashless. Use a card or a pre-paid voucher.

Lounge and car hire partnerships

Although FlySafair doesn’t have any lounges of its own, you can still opt in for pre-flight relaxation thanks to 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. Vouchers are sent via email and entitle you 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 Hire 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 of South Africa’s top rewards programs including Sanlam Reality, eBucks Rewards, Momentum Multiply, Discovery Vitality, Edgars Club and Vodacom Red Rewards. Depending on the status, members of these programs may be eligible for discounts of between 20 and 75% on FlySafair flights. Investec Private Banking clients can also redeem rewards points with the airline.

Change and cancellation policies

FlySafair’s cancellation policy states that if you choose to cancel a flight 45 days or more before departure you’re eligible for a 50% refund. After that point, the full fare will be forfeited. However, you can change the date, time, route and name of the person traveling for an administrative fee plus any difference in fare. The fee will be waived if you’re on a fare that includes fee-free changes.

If you’re worried about this fairly limited cancellation policy, I’d recommend purchasing Cancellation Upgrade protection at the time of booking. This will entitle you to an 80% refund if you alert the airline more than three days before departure (although the refund takes the form of a voucher valid for six months rather than cash, so it’s probably only worth it for those likely to fly with the airline again).

Refunds can be applied for using an online form or by calling the 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.

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 used within 12 months 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.