Nov 16, 2015, 3:09 pm
Last edit by: B747-437B
Guide to JNB (Oliver R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa)
Welcome to the guide to JNB.
If your have any further questions that have not been answered after reading through, please do not hesitate to ask.
Bear in mind that the minimum connection times given below are the shortest connections allowed for tickets on a single PNR. It would be advisable to leave more time than this, particularly if you are arriving during the busy morning period. If you are travelling on two separate PNRs, add on at least an extra hour to the MCTs to allow for whatever delays the Travel Gods may throw at you.
Do note that procedures can change so this guide may not be accurate. If you notice anything has changed or there are any errors, just let me know.
International-Domestic Connection
Minimum connection time: 90 minutes
Once you have deplaned, simply follow the crowd to the immigration hall.
After going through passport control, you will need to collect your luggage and pass through customs irrespective of whether your bags have been tagged through to your final destination.
Exit into the public area and proceed up to departures level by way of the escalators which are opposite and to the left. The escalator can take trolleys.
If your bags have already been tagged through to your destination and you have your boarding passes for the onward domestic flight, you can use fast bag drop.
Otherwise you will need to check-in as normal.
Alternatively, you can use the baggage re-check desks on the left before exiting to the public area (NOTE : These are permanently closed now - Oct 2022).
If you would prefer to avoid the porters and taxi touts in the arrivals halls, there are escalators to the left of these desks which will take you to level 1. From there you will need to go up one more level to reach domestic departures. (NOTE : These escalators are out of service now - Oct 2022).
The domestic terminal is designated as a separate terminal (Terminal B) but do not be confused by this. All the terminals at JNB are under one roof so you barely notice that you are transferring between them.
Domestic-International Connection
If you can interline baggage, you can check it through from your initial departure point to your international destination. Once you land at JNB walk out to exit (ignore signs to go downstairs to baggage reclaim), keep walking through the shops/past the food court, around the atrium and there is a security/emigration point on your front right.
Please see post #106 for an illustrated guide.
[although there is no need to go up the moving walkway and then back down again - just come out of the domestic exit and keep walking straight on that level, which will bring you to the security/emigration point]
International-International Connection
Minimum connection time: 60 minutes
This is where things become a little more tricky.
If you arrive at a jetway, you will see a corridor heading towards International Transfers on the left just before the escalators down to passport control.
If you arrive at a remote stand and are bussed to the terminal, you will see the escalators on the left heading up to International Transfers as you enter the building.
Both these paths are well signposted and there is usually a staff member shouting out "International transit" and waving a sign to direct passengers.
When you go down the corridor, there is a transit immigration point before the transfer desks. Typically the wait here is 1-3 minutes, very much quicker than 'normal' immigration.
Your passport will be stamped with a "TRANSIT" stamp here even though you do not enter the country, and you must ensure that you have the required blank pages otherwise you may not be permitted to continue your transit and instead sent back to your originating point.
A few meters beyond the immigration checkpoint is the main transit information area which have desks for all the international airlines and handling agents.
If your bags have already been tagged through to your final destination, ensure that you give your connecting airline the tag numbers at this time so that they can verify them in their system.
If the tag numbers are not re-verified, they will not be loaded without manual intervention. This is not required if connecting from SAA to SAA flights however.
If your bags have not been tagged through, you will need to find a member of staff in International Transfers from your arriving airline.
Ask them to get one of their baggage services staff to pull your bags off the belt manually and coordinate with staff from your onward airline to retag them to your final destination.
This is a rather convoluted process and can take a long time.
Therefore, if your bags cannot be tagged all the way through, it is advisable to pass through immigration, collect your bags at baggage reclaim and clear customs.
After you clear customs but before you exit to the public area (the exit is a set of sliding doors on your right), you will see a series of baggage re-check desks on your left.
Proceed to these desks since they often have smaller queues and have your bags re-tagged.
Then head up the escalators to your left (do not exit the main doors into the public area) which emerge on the departures level.
Turn right when facing the Vodacom store and the departures security checkpoint is right in front of you.
You can do the entire transit and enter/exit South Africa in less than 5 minutes if your bags come out quickly.
If time permits, the safest option is to clear customs and re-check your bags as described above rather than rely on the interlining system at JNB.
Have a look at post #9 of this thread for pictures.
Originally posted by Ambassador BA304.
Luggage storage
This is taken from the whyjoburg.com web site (April 2016):
Welcome to the guide to JNB.
If your have any further questions that have not been answered after reading through, please do not hesitate to ask.
Bear in mind that the minimum connection times given below are the shortest connections allowed for tickets on a single PNR. It would be advisable to leave more time than this, particularly if you are arriving during the busy morning period. If you are travelling on two separate PNRs, add on at least an extra hour to the MCTs to allow for whatever delays the Travel Gods may throw at you.
Do note that procedures can change so this guide may not be accurate. If you notice anything has changed or there are any errors, just let me know.
International-Domestic Connection
Minimum connection time: 90 minutes
Once you have deplaned, simply follow the crowd to the immigration hall.
After going through passport control, you will need to collect your luggage and pass through customs irrespective of whether your bags have been tagged through to your final destination.
Exit into the public area and proceed up to departures level by way of the escalators which are opposite and to the left. The escalator can take trolleys.
If your bags have already been tagged through to your destination and you have your boarding passes for the onward domestic flight, you can use fast bag drop.
Otherwise you will need to check-in as normal.
Alternatively, you can use the baggage re-check desks on the left before exiting to the public area (NOTE : These are permanently closed now - Oct 2022).
If you would prefer to avoid the porters and taxi touts in the arrivals halls, there are escalators to the left of these desks which will take you to level 1. From there you will need to go up one more level to reach domestic departures. (NOTE : These escalators are out of service now - Oct 2022).
The domestic terminal is designated as a separate terminal (Terminal B) but do not be confused by this. All the terminals at JNB are under one roof so you barely notice that you are transferring between them.
Domestic-International Connection
If you can interline baggage, you can check it through from your initial departure point to your international destination. Once you land at JNB walk out to exit (ignore signs to go downstairs to baggage reclaim), keep walking through the shops/past the food court, around the atrium and there is a security/emigration point on your front right.
Please see post #106 for an illustrated guide.
[although there is no need to go up the moving walkway and then back down again - just come out of the domestic exit and keep walking straight on that level, which will bring you to the security/emigration point]
International-International Connection
Minimum connection time: 60 minutes
This is where things become a little more tricky.
If you arrive at a jetway, you will see a corridor heading towards International Transfers on the left just before the escalators down to passport control.
If you arrive at a remote stand and are bussed to the terminal, you will see the escalators on the left heading up to International Transfers as you enter the building.
Both these paths are well signposted and there is usually a staff member shouting out "International transit" and waving a sign to direct passengers.
When you go down the corridor, there is a transit immigration point before the transfer desks. Typically the wait here is 1-3 minutes, very much quicker than 'normal' immigration.
Your passport will be stamped with a "TRANSIT" stamp here even though you do not enter the country, and you must ensure that you have the required blank pages otherwise you may not be permitted to continue your transit and instead sent back to your originating point.
A few meters beyond the immigration checkpoint is the main transit information area which have desks for all the international airlines and handling agents.
If your bags have already been tagged through to your final destination, ensure that you give your connecting airline the tag numbers at this time so that they can verify them in their system.
If the tag numbers are not re-verified, they will not be loaded without manual intervention. This is not required if connecting from SAA to SAA flights however.
If your bags have not been tagged through, you will need to find a member of staff in International Transfers from your arriving airline.
Ask them to get one of their baggage services staff to pull your bags off the belt manually and coordinate with staff from your onward airline to retag them to your final destination.
This is a rather convoluted process and can take a long time.
Therefore, if your bags cannot be tagged all the way through, it is advisable to pass through immigration, collect your bags at baggage reclaim and clear customs.
After you clear customs but before you exit to the public area (the exit is a set of sliding doors on your right), you will see a series of baggage re-check desks on your left.
Proceed to these desks since they often have smaller queues and have your bags re-tagged.
Then head up the escalators to your left (do not exit the main doors into the public area) which emerge on the departures level.
Turn right when facing the Vodacom store and the departures security checkpoint is right in front of you.
You can do the entire transit and enter/exit South Africa in less than 5 minutes if your bags come out quickly.
If time permits, the safest option is to clear customs and re-check your bags as described above rather than rely on the interlining system at JNB.
Have a look at post #9 of this thread for pictures.
Originally posted by Ambassador BA304.
Luggage storage
This is taken from the whyjoburg.com web site (April 2016):
BagPort South Africa, the original company that provided a luggage storage service at OR Tambo International Airport, has changed its name.
It now operates as Ateck - from the same premises down the escalators at the main exit of Terminal A arrivals, on Basement Level 1, going towards the Parkade 2 (South).
Costs are : (NB : CASH ONLY! No Cards Accepted.)
0-5 hours: R70.00
6-12 hours: R80.00
12-24 hours: R90.00
24 hours or more: R90.00 per day.
Open 24 hours, every day of the year.
Contact details :
Tel : +27 (11) 390 2689
http://www.a-teck.co.za/or-tambo-airport-store-teck/
It now operates as Ateck - from the same premises down the escalators at the main exit of Terminal A arrivals, on Basement Level 1, going towards the Parkade 2 (South).
Costs are : (NB : CASH ONLY! No Cards Accepted.)
0-5 hours: R70.00
6-12 hours: R80.00
12-24 hours: R90.00
24 hours or more: R90.00 per day.
Open 24 hours, every day of the year.
Contact details :
Tel : +27 (11) 390 2689
http://www.a-teck.co.za/or-tambo-airport-store-teck/
JNB / Johannesburg Airport - Connections, Facilities, Layovers, etc.
Jan 28, 2016, 1:15 am
#421
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,269
Question from a JNB newby,
I have a flight next month arriving 1130 AM arriving in Business class from Europe and my domestic SAA also in business class leaves at 1 PM. Would it be worth it to do the bidvest service to skip the lines? How do I go about ordering this if I do?
I have a flight next month arriving 1130 AM arriving in Business class from Europe and my domestic SAA also in business class leaves at 1 PM. Would it be worth it to do the bidvest service to skip the lines? How do I go about ordering this if I do?
Jan 28, 2016, 5:32 am
#424
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
I arrived on a QR flight last month and from doors open to car park (with checked bags) was 35 minutes - this is JNB on a really good day. I've queued for over an hour just at immigration on a bad day. Remember you still need to get over to the domestic terminal and check in before the flight closes.
Jan 28, 2016, 5:50 am
#425
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,232
Indeed, I would say that is a bit snug for JNB and most large airports. Even without checked bags immigration could ruin your plans and I'm not sure if the paid service could save you.
I arrived on a QR flight last month and from doors open to car park (with checked bags) was 35 minutes - this is JNB on a really good day. I've queued for over an hour just at immigration on a bad day. Remember you still need to get over to the domestic terminal and check in before the flight closes.
I arrived on a QR flight last month and from doors open to car park (with checked bags) was 35 minutes - this is JNB on a really good day. I've queued for over an hour just at immigration on a bad day. Remember you still need to get over to the domestic terminal and check in before the flight closes.
And if the biometric trial has arrived at JNB by then...I would suggest trying to push the dom back by an hour, or crossing fingers.
Jan 28, 2016, 7:38 am
#426
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
I agree with this 100% - if JNB is having a good day, 1:30 is plenty of time, and if it's not, then even the Bidvest service won't save him. Having said that, 11:30 should be after the main bank of European flights have got through; downside is that half the immigration staff then knock off And if the biometric trial has arrived at JNB by then...
I would suggest trying to push the dom back by an hour, or crossing fingers.
And if the biometric trial has arrived at JNB by then...I would suggest trying to push the dom back by an hour, or crossing fingers.
Jan 29, 2016, 3:00 am
#427
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,269
Thanks for the suggestion it sounds like I should just roll the dice and see what happens. I am going to CPT and while I would like to get there earlier I bet there are flights every hour so hopefully they will just put me on the next one so probably not worth paying for a service with such a high frequency of flights.
Assuming both flights are on one PNR, they will put you on the next flight (and you are right, it's an hourly - sometimes more frequent - connection).
Feb 8, 2016, 1:45 pm
#428
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MAN,TLV
Programs: Silver:BA,VX,AB, QF. Gold:A3,RJ,AZ,GF, EY,SPG,Marriott,Choice, Carlson. Dia/Plat:HH,IHG,BW,Accor
Posts: 1,965
So I'm arriving into JNB on QR at 08:55am, then on a separate ticket with BA (Comair) to Livingstone at 11:10. Earlier, I was told that it is not a problem, especially as I have no checked-in luggage.
However, trying to check-in online to retrieve my boarding pass for the Comair flight, it's not allowing me to check in online. What do I have to do? Do I have to exit into Arrivals, then go to the check-in? ( because I assume that transfers is only possible with onward boarding pass) Will I make it?
However, trying to check-in online to retrieve my boarding pass for the Comair flight, it's not allowing me to check in online. What do I have to do? Do I have to exit into Arrivals, then go to the check-in? ( because I assume that transfers is only possible with onward boarding pass) Will I make it?
Feb 9, 2016, 1:17 am
#430
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MAN,TLV
Programs: Silver:BA,VX,AB, QF. Gold:A3,RJ,AZ,GF, EY,SPG,Marriott,Choice, Carlson. Dia/Plat:HH,IHG,BW,Accor
Posts: 1,965
So I'm arriving into JNB on QR at 08:55am, then on a separate ticket with BA (Comair) to Livingstone at 11:10. Earlier, I was told that it is not a problem, especially as I have no checked-in luggage.
However, trying to check-in online to retrieve my boarding pass for the Comair flight, it's not allowing me to check in online. What do I have to do? Do I have to exit into Arrivals, then go to the check-in? ( because I assume that transfers is only possible with onward boarding pass) Will I make it?
However, trying to check-in online to retrieve my boarding pass for the Comair flight, it's not allowing me to check in online. What do I have to do? Do I have to exit into Arrivals, then go to the check-in? ( because I assume that transfers is only possible with onward boarding pass) Will I make it?
Feb 9, 2016, 1:22 am
#431
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,269
So I'm arriving into JNB on QR at 08:55am, then on a separate ticket with BA (Comair) to Livingstone at 11:10. Earlier, I was told that it is not a problem, especially as I have no checked-in luggage.
However, trying to check-in online to retrieve my boarding pass for the Comair flight, it's not allowing me to check in online. What do I have to do? Do I have to exit into Arrivals, then go to the check-in? ( because I assume that transfers is only possible with onward boarding pass) Will I make it?
However, trying to check-in online to retrieve my boarding pass for the Comair flight, it's not allowing me to check in online. What do I have to do? Do I have to exit into Arrivals, then go to the check-in? ( because I assume that transfers is only possible with onward boarding pass) Will I make it?
But 2:15 hours should be OK to go through immigration, customs and check in again. It would just be a hassle, not a disaster.
Edit: Oops, too late. I see you got through without any issues. Great!
Feb 9, 2016, 1:27 am
#432
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,269
and everyone just walks through.
Feb 24, 2016, 4:04 pm
#434
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CLT
Posts: 495
Highly recommend Bidvest
I booked a tight connection (2 separate PNRs) in JNB and our Bidvest guide was the only reason we made our flight. HIGHLY recommended.
Our arrival into JNB from CPT on SA was scheduled for 7:40am. Our departure from JNB to DXB on Emirates was scheduled for 9:15am.
The CPT-JNB flight is the very first flight of the day out of Cape Town, and has something like a 97% on time record, and for the weeks before our flight usually arrived 10-15 minutes early.
However, our flight was late leaving due to a technical issue, and didn't arrive into JNB until 8, at a remote space, so we were bussed to the terminal and didn't get into the terminal until 8:15, where our Bidvest escort met us.
We ran with him to the opposite side of the whole terminal to the Emirates check-in counter (we were unable to check in online), where we discovered an issue with our ticket that took 45 minutes to straighten out. The check-in agent called the gate to see if they could wait for us, and indicated that we had an escort to speed us through. The gate said they'd wait, the boarding pass was finally printed, stamped by a supervisor, we ran with our escort to the "assisted" line through security and then to immigration, he ran ahead to let the gate know we were coming, and we made the flight with no time to spare.
When we discovered the day before our flight that we were not able to check-in online for our Emirates flight (which we knew would add to our connection time in JNB) we called Bidvest and asked if they could try to get our boarding passes from the check-in counter, knowing that was unlikely, but worth a try. The escort had tried unsuccessfully to get the passes, but it helped that Emirates knew we were coming, knew that we might be late and had help to speed us through.
There is simply no way we would have made the flight without Bidvest's earlier interaction with Emirates, the guidance through the airport so we could focus on running, and the access to the "assisted" line through security and immigration.
Our arrival into JNB from CPT on SA was scheduled for 7:40am. Our departure from JNB to DXB on Emirates was scheduled for 9:15am.
The CPT-JNB flight is the very first flight of the day out of Cape Town, and has something like a 97% on time record, and for the weeks before our flight usually arrived 10-15 minutes early.
However, our flight was late leaving due to a technical issue, and didn't arrive into JNB until 8, at a remote space, so we were bussed to the terminal and didn't get into the terminal until 8:15, where our Bidvest escort met us.
We ran with him to the opposite side of the whole terminal to the Emirates check-in counter (we were unable to check in online), where we discovered an issue with our ticket that took 45 minutes to straighten out. The check-in agent called the gate to see if they could wait for us, and indicated that we had an escort to speed us through. The gate said they'd wait, the boarding pass was finally printed, stamped by a supervisor, we ran with our escort to the "assisted" line through security and then to immigration, he ran ahead to let the gate know we were coming, and we made the flight with no time to spare.
When we discovered the day before our flight that we were not able to check-in online for our Emirates flight (which we knew would add to our connection time in JNB) we called Bidvest and asked if they could try to get our boarding passes from the check-in counter, knowing that was unlikely, but worth a try. The escort had tried unsuccessfully to get the passes, but it helped that Emirates knew we were coming, knew that we might be late and had help to speed us through.
There is simply no way we would have made the flight without Bidvest's earlier interaction with Emirates, the guidance through the airport so we could focus on running, and the access to the "assisted" line through security and immigration.
Feb 28, 2016, 2:14 pm
#435
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: LEJ
Posts: 35
I'm considering booking a turn-around on Emirates at JNB from EK763 to EK764 (2:55 between). Thanks to some weird routing (which is why I'm considering this option in the first place), EK764 would be on a separate PNR. Can anyone confirm if this is the same plane (it seems like it is), and if so, has anyone done such a turnaround (same plane, different PNR)? What are the best-case and worst-case scenarios? Also, would Emirates be likely to check my luggage through from the AKL-DXB-JNB ticket to the JNB-DXB-FRA ticket (36 hours between scheduled AKL departure and scheduled JNB departure)? If not, would the luggage transfer cause any issues (US passport, in case it makes any difference for having to pass through immigration with luggage)?