FlySafair’s annual birthday sale caused major buzz online this week, with thousands of South Africans rushing to grab the airline’s much-hyped “R12 flights”.
But for many hopeful travellers, the excitement didn’t last very long.
Instead of walking away with ultra-cheap flights, some customers were left stunned when their final booking totals climbed into the thousands once additional charges were added at checkout.
One booking screenshot that started circulating online showed a trip for one adult and one child travelling in July coming to a total of R3,859.92 — despite the promotional airfare itself costing only R48.
Needless to say, social media had plenty to say about it.
The Fuel Charges Cost More Than The Flights
The screenshot breakdown showed the actual flight portion of the booking was indeed charged at the advertised promotional rate.
The problem came with everything added on afterwards.
The biggest charge by far was a dynamic fuel surcharge of R2,652, along with VAT, passenger service taxes, safety charges and optional extras.
For many South Africans online, that’s where the frustration kicked in.
While most travellers understand that airlines charge taxes and airport-related fees, many users felt the “R12 flight” messaging painted a very different picture from what appeared at checkout.
Long Waits Added To The Frustration
The sale also brought massive traffic to FlySafair’s website, with users reporting long virtual queues and waiting rooms shortly after bookings opened.
Some customers said they spent hours trying to access deals, only to find limited availability or much higher totals than expected once they finally reached payment.
Others joked online that the stress of the queue alone deserved compensation.
FlySafair’s birthday sales have become a yearly event for bargain hunters across the country, often generating huge excitement online. But this year, the conversation quickly shifted from cheap travel wins to screenshots of expensive totals and frustrated reactions.
South Africans Had Mixed Reactions
As the screenshots spread online, reactions were divided.
Some people defended the airline, saying taxes and surcharges are part of air travel and that promotional fares usually apply only to the base ticket price.
Others felt the campaign created unrealistic expectations, especially for families hoping to secure affordable school holiday flights.
One thing that stood out for many people was the size of the fuel surcharge compared to the actual airfare itself.
More Backlash Than Bargains?
There’s no question the campaign got South Africans talking.
Within hours, the FlySafair sale was trending online, with people sharing memes, complaints, jokes and screenshots of their booking totals.
But while the promotion succeeded in grabbing attention, many customers walked away feeling disappointed rather than excited.
For travellers hoping for genuinely low-cost flights, the gap between the advertised R12 airfare and the final amount payable became the real talking point of the sale.
