Originally Posted by
bobdablob
Hi folks! First-timer here...similar questions...
Flying JFK-JNB on SAA on Nov 1 arriving 8am on Nov 2, then flying onward JNB-BBK, also on SAA, but via a separate, independent booking.
Our departure from JNB is 11:45am...so theoretically almost 4 hours.
Traveling with a dozen all on same flights, some checking bags, some not.
Some friends have read the "horror stories" and are freaking out and wanting to hire a "guide" to get us thru Immigration (Transit Immigration, as I'm reading thru posts) to our connection flight. Seems this may cost 50-100 USD per person.
Obviously, no one wants to miss safari day 1, and there are no other flights JNB-BBK that day.
Anyone think this is worth our while?
Thanks in advance...
Bob
Bob
*If* SAA can thru-check the bags JFK-JNB-BBK, then this is a very very straightforward connection. I think that they should be able to do so, but it might be worth actually checking with SAA staff at JFK, as they are the ones who will have to do it [in other words, getting someone in a callcentre to say they will means nothing when you're standing at checkin at JFK].
Honestly, even if you can't thru-check, 4 hours is an easy connection. Last time I was down (3 weeks ago), immigration was a nightmare, an hour wait, and I still had time to have a shower in the lounge and make an onward (dom) connection with a 2 hour window.
The only way that you'll miss the BBK flight is if your inbound is severely delayed, and if that happens then even the 'guide' won't help.
TL;DR. You'll be fine, but check with SAA at JFK that they will thru-check bags.