Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Transiting Johannesburg and F arrivals lounge

Hi,

I will be flying into Johannesburg next week in F from LHR. I have an onward flight to Phalaborwa.

Can I check my luggage to PHB after luggage collection, before going to the F arrivals lounge, or will I have to go through to the domestic section.

I have about 4 hours in JHB and would like to try the F lounge and the domestic C lounge..

Info on the SAA site is thin on the ground, or hard to find !

Thanks for any advice

Can I check my luggage to PHB after luggage collection, before going to the F arrivals lounge, or will I have to go through to the domestic section.

I have about 4 hours in JHB and would like to try the F lounge and the domestic C lounge..

You will probably have to take your luggage to the domestic terminal. There used to be a check in desk for domestic flights in the international terminal but it has been closed for a long time due to renovation. Someone here may be able to tell you whether it has re-opened yet or not.

No, that facility is closed for good. You will have to get your luggage to the domestic terminal and re-check there. The only lounge you will be able to use is the C lounge in the domestic terminal provided your onward flight is in C.

No, that facility is closed for good. You will have to get your luggage to the domestic terminal and re-check there. The only lounge you will be able to use is the C lounge in the domestic terminal provided your onward flight is in C.Just want to check I understand your post correctly... You're saying the international to domestic transfer desk facility is closed for good, not the F arrivals lounge?

If so, nothing stops the OP from taking his luggage with him to the F lounge for a few hours before hiking over to terminal B, checking in and trying the domestic J lounge.

Thanks,

That is what I think we will do. Go to the F lounge with the luggage for a time then go along to domestic.
I will only be Y to Phalaborwa but am *G so should get in the domestic lounge.

Thanks.

Thanks,

That is what I think we will do. Go to the F lounge with the luggage for a time then go along to domestic.
I will only be Y to Phalaborwa but am *G so should get in the domestic lounge.

Thanks.

Correct. Note that the arrivals lounge (on the mezzanine floor of the arrivals terminal) is not "F", but "F & J". And the JNB domestic lounge is not bad, I like the view of the airfield from there. The showers are good!

Correct. Note that the arrivals lounge (on the mezzanine floor of the arrivals terminal) is not "F", but "F & J". And the JNB domestic lounge is not bad, I like the view of the airfield from there. The showers are good!Very true - as is the coffee! And you don't have to worry about how much time to leave for the check-in. On the other hand they have a pressing service and a much better food offering in the F lounge.

I think the domestic lounge is actually a bit nicer than the arrivals lounge, but the services are better in arrivals. It seems smaller to me, but the folks there are nice and helpful (IME). Trying both makes good sense to me.

Just want to check I understand your post correctly... You're saying the international to domestic transfer desk facility is closed for good, not the F arrivals lounge?


Sorry, wasn't clear. The transfer check-in possibilities are gone and have so for some time. I have been told that they are not planning on re-opening these - which actually is a shame.

Sorry, wasn't clear. The transfer check-in possibilities are gone and have so for some time. I have been told that they are not planning on re-opening these - which actually is a shame.It is (was) a useful facility except that it was small and cramped and couldn't cope with the hoards arriving on the morning flights from Europe. So I often felt it was quicker to schlep the luggage across to domestic. I hope they plan to build a similar (bigger) one at some stage as part of the ongoing construction.

A related transit question.

Will I have to clear immigrations in JNB if I am transferring out to MRU? Both flights are on SAA.

I know in some countries this is mandatory.

A related transit question.

Will I have to clear immigrations in JNB if I am transferring out to MRU? Both flights are on SAA.

I know in some countries this is mandatory.

Yes, if you are coming into JNB from outside SA. Clear immigrations first then transfer onto wherever. I guess it depends on the day, but the wait was minimal (about 15 minutes), less for every other line but ours! Our immigrations officer kept yawning and looked half awake, I asked him if he had a long night! 4 groups went thru the line to our left in the time it took ours to process us thru! Still relatively easy.

Thanks again for your comments.

Will arrive Wednesday morning and try out the arrivals lounge and the C domestic lounge. Looking forward to it.

Yes, if you are coming into JNB from outside SA. Clear immigrations first then transfer onto wherever.Why? MRU is an international destination, so it should be a simple matter of clearing security next to the transfer desks and then going upstairs to international departures.

Johan

Why? MRU is an international destination, so it should be a simple matter of clearing security next to the transfer desks and then going upstairs to international departures.

Johan

Indeed, this changes everything. No arrivals lounge (as this is landside) and also no domestic C lounge (a different terminal). MRU is obviously an international destination, so that would be the '(international) Baobob lounge', which unfortunately is not nearly as nice as the domestic one (admittedly I have managed to avoid transferring out through JNB for over a year, so things may have changed.

Why? MRU is an international destination, so it should be a simple matter of clearing security next to the transfer desks and then going upstairs to international departures.

Johan

Yes ex LHR onto MRU. Thanks for the clarification.

Indeed, this changes everything. No arrivals lounge (as this is landside) and also no domestic C lounge (a different terminal). MRU is obviously an international destination, so that would be the '(international) Baobob lounge', which unfortunately is not nearly as nice as the domestic one (admittedly I have managed to avoid transferring out through JNB for over a year, so things may have changed.

Sorry for causing confusion I hijacked GWH's thread as I thought they had been given a definitive answer.