Transit at JNB

So after checking about 10 times per day since the booking window opened we finally struck gold and booked a couple of UC reward flights to JNB.

We are planning on flying onward to Cape Town and will now have to book these internal flights separately. Do any v-flyers have experience in transiting through JNB in this way and able to offer any advice on how much time to leave between arriving on the 601 and our onward flight?

Thanks in advance

Congrats on the UC, we are going in December. Still waiting for another UC to come up. We have a 5 hour transit but have booked a VIP meet and greet with bidair who meet you off the flight and fast track you through immigration, help you check in and then fast track you back through departures. Cost about £70 for two of us but I believe it can get pretty busy in the mornings when there are a number of flights landing. Will be our first time in SA and also first time on the 787 so really looking forward to it now!

[honey lamb]

Transit in JNB is easy-peasy.

When you exit the plane you will go to Immigration where there will be someone to direct you to the next available kiosk - and as you will be in UC, you should be one of the first there unless there is another international flight just before yours. Earlier this year I flew in on BA but the week after next I shall be flying in on VS so can let you know if this is so. You will have to collect your bag and go through customs and then go to the domestic terminal to re-check your bags for your onward flight which is a short walk away.

With regard how long to leave between flights, a lot will depend on availability and also flight times. In South Africa between the major cities of JNB to both Cape Town and Durban, the major companies block-book a significant number of seats on these routes for their staff and availability can be limited, especially on SAA. Look and see what is available and I would recommend at least a 90 minute gap between flights.

Thanks pmramsay and HL.
I guess we will go for SAA flights for the mileage and TP benefits, availability is looking fine for now. Based on your advice HL we should be ok for a 12noon flight. Id be nervous to go for anything much earlier than that!
Might even try our chances at asking VS to check the bags through!

[honey lamb]

Thanks pmramsay and HL.
I guess we will go for SAA flights for the mileage and TP benefits, availability is looking fine for now. Based on your advice HL we should be ok for a 12noon flight. Id be nervous to go for anything much earlier than that!
Might even try our chances at asking VS to check the bags through!

I have a 12.10 pm flight to Durban and I haven't had a problem with that connection to date. I doubt that VS will through-check your bags, though when you are not on the same PNR.

Thanks HL. Appreciate the advice based on your experience. As for through-checking I understand that we would have to collect and re-check anyway like the USA system so it's not that much of a big deal walking through to SAA check-in desk.

P.s. since you're a South Africa guru do you have any advice/insight into domestic flights? Do you use SAA? Much point going for business class? I notice one of our legs potentially on a A346 with flat bed.

How long will you spend on Durban? Bet you're on countdown now!!

Before deciding how long to give take a look at vs601 arrival record in terms of being on time and also check out some of the threads on flyer talk. Apparently the new rules on under 18s has caused big lines in immigration. Check out the Twitter link within this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south-african-airways-voyager/1691388-international-domestic-transit-advice-jnb.html

I travel 2 or 3 times a year LHR/JNB/DUR. So, a bit more info for you.
AS HL says the connections at JNB are easy.
If you are travelling on SAA domestic, as you exit the customs hall, there is a baggage re-check area just through the exit doors to the left...this will save you lugging your bags to the domestic terminal. Its only a few minutes walk but the re-check area makes it a lot less hassle with your bags
I usually take the 12:10 SA551 flight to Durban with absolutely no connection time issues when coming off the 601.

Hope this helps
Paul (Only 19 days until my next trip ...1st time on B789)

[honey lamb]

P.s. since you're a South Africa guru do you have any advice/insight into domestic flights? Do you use SAA? Much point going for business class? I notice one of our legs potentially on a A346 with flat bed.

How long will you spend on Durban? Bet you're on countdown now!!

cooperman is more of a guru than me as he goes 2-3 times a year. Unusually this will be my second trip this year and the one before that was 2 years ago. I've flown on SAA, Comair and Kulula.

The Comair one was because I had flown BA to JNB earlier this year because the fare was unmissable. Because my flights were First/CW on BA, I was in Business. There was a hot breakfast on the flight to Durban which looked like a solidified frittata and a salad on the return flight. I refused both. For these flights, I got Avios points.

I have flown SAA on many occasions, JNB-DUR and Durban to Port Elizabeth. On each occasion I have flown economy as they have been flights of about an hour or less. Food offerings have been sandwiches/snack boxes and wine has been available as a beverage all free of charge together with VS miles ( but I don't think TPs)

I flew Kulula from CPT to DUR a couple of years ago and it was fun! OK, it was Buy on Board but knowing it was a low-cost airline, I expected it. Don't think of it in terms of Ryanair or Easyjet. Any company that can paint its planes like this has to be fun! I flew on the "This Way Up" one