South African Airways carry on baggage
 

We will be using SAA flights from Polokwane to Johannesburg and Johannesburg to Dar Es Salaam and will be carrying photography equipment. Our carry on bags fit under the seats but I see that they have an 18 lb limit on weight. Does anyone know if this is strictly enforced? Can you pay an excess baggage fee if you are over? I really do not want to check those bags.

Just traveled on SAA in Aug/Sept. Our carry-ons were not weighed. As long as they fit under the seat you will be fine.
We also found that you could also have a personal item although their website says no.

Our carry-on bags have been weighed twice at OR Tambo, before flights to Windhoek (Namibia Air) and to Maun (SSA) just last year.

We were careful to have kept our bags slightly underweight. However we were also allowed a small pack each, into which we had stuffed some camera equipment and heavier items. These were not weighed. I took a waterproof canvas shoulder bag and my husband used a lap-top case.

We also carried batteries and chargers in our pockets.

Our carry on was weighed on a JNB-CPT SAA flight

We did SAA from JNB to Maun and return. Our photo equipment was in two backpacks. Neither was weighed.

Hi PHayden
My camera equipment weighs about 15kgs in my carryon, though don't have much else. I have it locked and have never had it checked in, though may at times leave it for collection to go into the luggage compartment but I do this when boarding the plane. My bag does not fit under a seat or above the seat, sometimes if the plane is small enough and not too many people, I pop it in the feet area in the seat next to me. Take two trips twice a year with SAA internal flights, and never been a problem. Paid excess with non-hand luggage, but never with the camera equipment as hand luggage.
Kind regards
Kaye

I've flown SAA four times from JNB to Hoedspruuit (HDS), it is about 1 hour flight (I think). The plane(s) were two engine and seated about 40pax. My camera bag was not weighed (about 25 lb). But as boarding each flight, via stair ramp, they INSISTED I leave the bag on the tarmac and it would be loaded into the baggage hull of the plane. Each time I get upset with them, tell them this was not told to me or I would have flown different airline (Federal Air?). One time I told them it was very $$$$ expensive electronic communications test equipment and if something happened to it I could loose my job. That was the only time they let me take it aboard.

regards - tom
ps - coming back to JNB from HDS I don't argue with them. My camera cards are on me and if the cameras themselves are lost, I still have what I went for - the pictures. And of course the safari memories.

Hi Tom
They have never insisted I do but I often do as too big for under the seat or above the seat, I do lock the zips though as well.
Head over in March so will be paying special attention to what they say to me!
Kind regards
Kaye

Flew SAA JFK-JNB-NBO on Feb.4-5. They weighed my carry-on at JFK and let me carry on. They flight JNB-NBO they insisted that they check it plane side. SAA did lose my luggage enroute and took 24 hours to get it to Nairobi. Had to delay safari by a day because of it. Airport workers told is it is common.

Take as much photo equipment as you can. Presently sitting at Sweetwaters Tented Camp watching warthogs, giraffes, implalas and zebras at the water hole. Fantastic!

Kaye - An attractive personable lady like you can get away with more than a grumpy old man can!!

regards - tom

Yes Tom that would be it! :)

Never get away these days with overweight luggage to Nelspruit! Although so cheap, I am secretly laughing to myself when they tell me what I have to pay for the excess amount!

Kind regards
Kaye