Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Immigration/Transit times at JNB

I'll be arriving with a UK passport, no visa, on an international flight 4:30pm on a Monday.... not sure how long I need to allow to go though immigration and hence which flight should I book to CPT (was thinking of the 6:10pm)?

From my experience I'd recommend you allow longer.....

Last December we (party of four on UK passports) arrived on an international flight at JNB at approx 15:30 on a Sunday, with a JNB-CPT connection at 17:00. There was a very long queue at immigration and by the time we'd cleared immigration, collected our bags, gone from the international to the domestic terminal and re-checked our bags for the onward connection, we missed the JNB-CPT flight. As we were on a single through ticket, SA put us standby on a later flight (on which we were eventually confirmed) but of course, as a result of being on standby, our luggage didn't make it until the following day.

So I'd allow at least two to two and a half hours if I was doing the same thing again. Maybe we were just unlucky but I'd rather spend an extra hour at JNB than have the hassle of missed connection and potentially lost luggage (particularly at JNB which has a reputation for losing luggage).

Thanks, I'll take your advice and allow 2.5 hours. I won't have any baggage, at least.

Thanks, I'll take your advice and allow 2.5 hours. I won't have any baggage, at least.

I have never missed a connection with 2 hours+, but I would not try < 2 hours. Not having baggage certainly helps, not only because you dont have to wait for it, but also because the transfer from the International to the Domestic terminal (you have to walk, no other option) will be quicker. Especially if you have the onward BP, you should be OK with the 18:40 (SA 365).

I take it that early morning arrivals are even worse? Currently scheduled to arrive at 7.10am on SQ478 connecting to BA/Comair to CPT at 10.30am. This, I assume, leaves a very comfortable margin, but the odds of making it to the earlier 8.55am are low (flying in C, if that makes any significant difference)?

I take it that early morning arrivals are even worse? Currently scheduled to arrive at 7.10am on SQ478 connecting to BA/Comair to CPT at 10.30am. This, I assume, leaves a very comfortable margin, but the odds of making it to the earlier 8.55am are low (flying in C, if that makes any significant difference)?

Even travelling in C, I wouldn't assume that you'll be able to catch the 8.55am flight. With a little luck, you are off the plane earlier as a C passenger which may (or may not) give you a head start at immigration.

But never has the priority baggage tag worked for me in JNB.

Play it safe.

I take it that early morning arrivals are even worse? Currently scheduled to arrive at 7.10am on SQ478 connecting to BA/Comair to CPT at 10.30am. This, I assume, leaves a very comfortable margin, but the odds of making it to the earlier 8.55am are low (flying in C, if that makes any significant difference)?

Agree, 10h30 should be OK, 8h55 is unlikely but you may be lucky.

So should I be worried as well with a 10am arrivel departing for CPT at 12pm?


Thanks.

I have never missed a connection with 2 hours+, but I would not try < 2 hours. Not having baggage certainly helps, not only because you dont have to wait for it, but also because the transfer from the International to the Domestic terminal (you have to walk, no other option) will be quicker. Especially if you have the onward BP, you should be OK with the 18:40 (SA 365).

How long would you recommend going from domestic CPT-JNB to international JNB-DXB - 2 hours? Is the domestic baggage claim fast , and/or can it be checked through from SA flight to EK flight? plenty ?
Thanks for your advice.

We flew LHR-JNB-CPT, and barely made a 2:30 connection early in the morning, and we were flying in J. I would seriously leave more time than less.

Thanks to y'all. So, I will plan on the basis of getting the 10.30, and if it is my lucky day, I might just about make it standby on the 8.55 :).

Just another quick question. My parents are flying MUC-JNB-WDH (all on SA). I take it that international-to-international connections can be made airside without the hassle of going through immigration?

My parents are flying MUC-JNB-WDH (all on SA). I take it that international-to-international connections can be made airside without the hassle of going through immigration?

Correct.

What I meant was, how long do you need in the OUTbound direction, to transfer from a domestic flight to an intl flight that's leaving SA? Is the check-in and outbound passport control very slow? Any takers?

outbound is fast.. don't sweat that..

outbound is fast.. don't sweat that..

Thanks - and re. your signature line, you might like this one: "Some days you're the statue, some days your the pigeon"

Even travelling in C, I wouldn't assume that you'll be able to catch the 8.55am flight. With a little luck, you are off the plane earlier as a C passenger which may (or may not) give you a head start at immigration.

But never has the priority baggage tag worked for me in JNB.

Play it safe.Immigration was an absolute dream this morning at 7am: SQ478 landed a little early at 7am, and by 7.30am I was in the BA domestic lounge, having been through immigration, the longish walk to domestic terminal, the BA ticketing desk to change my booking to the earlier flight and domestic security control (was traveling with hand luggage only). No queue to speak of at immigration. We seem to have arrived more or less at the same time as a BA LHR flight, which was the only other long-haul for immigration control our side.

outbound is fast.. don't sweat that..I think that statement is only true at certain times of day. During the evening rush when all the flights leave for Europe the queues for security and passport control can be horrendous. But they clear much more quickly than the inbound queues do.

I think that statement is only true at certain times of day. During the evening rush when all the flights leave for Europe the queues for security and passport control can be horrendous. But they clear much more quickly than the inbound queues do.

Thanks, Cheetah_SA. How many minutes/hours is horrendous, and does it help if you have an F class ticket?

Thanks, Cheetah_SA. How many minutes/hours is horrendous, and does it help if you have an F class ticket?Embarrassing admission: I don't actually know. :o BA offers F pax an escort that uses crew lanes to bypass the hordes. And I was glad of it when I saw the long queues! But I can't honestly say how long they take to clear. Not aware of any other airline's arrangements but there is no general fast track for F pax AFAIK.