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-   -   JNB / Johannesburg Airport - Connections, Facilities, Layovers, etc. (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/africa/1009900-jnb-johannesburg-airport-connections-facilities-layovers-etc.html)

Cheetah_SA Aug 4, 2014 5:43 am


Originally Posted by ViaJoburg1 (Post 23305742)
1)

Firstly I'm going from Singapore to Harare (via Johannesburg).
Singapore to Jo'burg is on Singapore Airlines, Jo'burg to Harare is on SAA. I've got 3hr45 transit in Jo'burg.

My itinerary says I arrive in Terminal A and depart from Terminal B (I have read in earlier messages that all international flights leave from Terminal A anyway and Terminal B is just where the check-in is though). Will I need to go through passport control at all in Johannesburg even though I am making an international connection?

Also, what is the procedure for checked baggage? In Singapore can they tag it directly through to Harare?
Or will I need to pick up my checked baggage in Johannesburg and then check it in again?

As Singapore and South African are both Star Alliance members I can't think of any reason why SQ in Singapore will not check your luggage through to Harare - even if those flights are on separate tickets.

So the procedure in Jo'burg is: Follow the signs for International Connections. (Do not pass through immigration or collect any luggage.) Your passport will be stamped (for reasons I don't understand) as you go through the International Connections area. If you do not yet have your onward boarding pass - although SQ could give it to you and you could also get it on line - you can get it there too.


Originally Posted by ViaJoburg1 (Post 23305742)
2)

A later leg is Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) to Cape Town (via Johannesburg).
Victoria Falls to Johannesburg and Johannesburg to Cape Town are both on SAA. I've got 2hr05 transit in Jo'burg.

Will I need to go through passport control in Johannesburg for this part of the journey?
And like before, can my checked baggage be tagged in Victoria Falls to go straight through to Cape Town? Or must I collect and re-check the baggage in Johannesburg?

For this trip you must clear immigration and collect bags in Johannesburg. Then re-check the bags after clearing customs - even if they have tags for CPT already.

Cheetah_SA Aug 4, 2014 5:58 am


Originally Posted by zedski (Post 23303563)
In a couple of days I'm flying with BA (with a piece of checked hold luggage) LHR-JNB then Comair JNB-WDH and understand from this thread I will be able to go straight through International Connections without having to do anything with my luggage.

However, on return I am travelling Air Namibia WDH-JNB then BA from JNB-LHR. I only have 1 hour 30 minutes for this change and so got a bit worried when it appears my luggage wouldn't be automatically transferred with such a tight transfer.

All the flights are under one booking reference booked through BA.com. I spoke to BA on the phone and they said that if the Air Namibia flight is delayed, it will be their duty to arrange new flights for me home (which wouldn't be the end of the world).. Does anyone know what happens if the Air Namibia flight is on time and I miss the BA flight because of immigration/re-checking in??

I'm also unsure what I am to do with baggage - by the looks of things, I need to collect my checked luggage after the Air Namibia flight, and then re-go through security, immigration and re-check in my baggage with BA in JNB?

Can anyone enlighten me/have any tips to try and achieve this in 1 hour 30?

Also, the BA customer services rep was saying something about the WDH check in staff being able to "check in both flights at their discretion" which would help the process - can anyone enlighten me about what she meant?

You are correct about your inbound flights.

For the return I am not at all sure. Air Namibia does have an interline agreement with BA. So I'm surprised BA's rep didn't say that Air Namibia should check the luggage through given it's on one booking. I would contact Air Namibia directly and ask what their rules are for flights on a single itinerary booked via BA.

90 minutes is the official Minimum Connection Time at JNB so you should be fine. The only tip I have if you find that your bags are not checked through and you are running late identify yourself to an official at immigration and they may push you through the crew/diplomat counters and save you some time.

Cheetah_SA Aug 4, 2014 8:13 am

Apologies for my bad manners... Welcome to FlyerTalk, zedski and ViaJoburg1!

And zedski you may want to run your question past the people on the BA board - it is very active and someone there is bound to have done an Air Namibia to BA connection before.

(Officially it is against FT rules to cross-post - but I am sure the mods will allow you some latitude if you make your question there specific to the fact that you have a BA issued ticket.)

ViaJoburg1 Aug 20, 2014 1:37 am


Originally Posted by Cheetah_SA
Apologies for my bad manners... Welcome to FlyerTalk, zedski and ViaJoburg1!

Thank you, and thank you very much for the information regarding the airport in Johannesburg.

mileagerunner Sep 14, 2014 9:10 am

Two data point
 
Flew CPT-JNB-FRA-IST, bags were checked all the way through and were among the first off the belt in IST. Bags had Star Alliance priority tags.

Flew SAA CPT-JNB with a 110 minute connection in JNB followed by LH and TK. Had simple locks on my suitcase and duffel bag. Didn't wrap in plastic, although I observed the locals using packing tape to seal their luggage instead of paying something like USD6 or USD 8 to wrap it at the airport.

I flew via JNB to PLZ when I arrived in South Africa. It was a two hour connection but my flight was delayed. There was an airline representative who escorted me from the jet bridge to the domestic terminal. Fortunately, I didn't check any bags on the outbound and had no problem checking in my bags, going to the lounge, and making my connection.

drdavidge Sep 19, 2014 10:14 am

Connection time at JNB: Domestic to Intl? CPT->JNB->AUH
 
Hey guys - whats the minimum safe connection time I can use for a connection at JNB coming from Cape Town and going to Abu Dhabi? I am checking bags. The flight from Cape Town is supposed to arrive at 7:45am and flight to AUH leaves at 9:25am. Flying Biz on the JNB->AUH segment. Too close?

TheFerret Sep 19, 2014 10:57 am

It's doable, might have to rush a bit, you won't have time for the lounge I would think. I've done 1hr 40min connection on CPT-JNB-IAD.

jiaotze Sep 20, 2014 7:21 pm

I've done CPT-JNB-HKG on BA Comair domestically and CX internationally a couple of times with a 1.5-hour connection. Each time the Comair flight has parked at the absolute farthest gate in the domestic section. We've made the connection both times, but with little time to spare.

We only took carry-on bags to avoid the stress of wondering if our bags would make it. We were in F the whole way, but there were others on the Comair flight in Y making the same connection, with checked luggage. The early morning CPT-JNB flights typically seem to be quite on time, but you are going to be very pressed if your incoming flight is late. Legal minimum connection time I'm pretty sure is 60 mins, but a connection that short would really be tempting fate.

I'd second TheFerret in that your time in the JNB lounge may be extremely short if you decide you want to pop in.

flying_pig Sep 25, 2014 5:20 am

CPT-JNB / JNB-NBO-JRO on separate tickets?
 
Dear all,

I only have a couple of experiences connecting in JNB, so would really appreciate some advice... I need to fly from CPT to JRO and flying via NBO on Kenya Airways seems the best option. They offer a code-share on the CPT-JNB leg, but for some reason it really pushes up the fare (ie: double it). It would be substantially cheaper for me to get CPT-JNB tickets with BA avios, and then buy the JNB-NBO-JRO on Kenya Airways. This is a leisure trip and I will have 6 people travelling with me... and I'm the one paying, so this would save me >4,000 GBP.

I am however wondering how risky is a 160min connection in JNB (again, bearing in mind the two separate tix). The itinerary would be:

Ticket #1 (BA/Comair)
CPT-JNB 6:15-8:15

Ticket #2 (Kenya Airways)
JNB-NBO 10:55-16:05
NBO-JRO 17:40-18:40

This would be in December, and all in business class. No checked luggage.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your input-

fincastle84 Sep 26, 2014 10:41 am

At that time of the morning that will be plenty of time, particularly in Business. Comair's punctuality is good.

Enjoy Kenya, we always do.

CFFrost Sep 27, 2014 9:31 am

I just want to quickly post that, after reading this thread I was fairly concerned about our two JNB transfers. One of them was LHR-JNB-CPT and the other PLZ-JNB-IAD. In both instances, "follow the signs!" was the only necessary mantra. It was a larger airport than expected, but we did not experience any difficulties even on fairly short connections. Both of our checked bags made it without issue, too! Thanks to all who contribute to this thread, but don't let the horror stories scare you!

CO FF Oct 1, 2014 10:41 am

Interline Baggage -- LH to Comair

Hi all -- we are flying LAX-FRA-JNB on LH (2 in biz, 2 in Premium Economy), and continuing (with a 2 hour connection) to LVI (Livingstone, Zambia). We can book JNB-LVI on BA/Comair (which allows an extra 20 mins to transfer) or on SA.

I would expect that LH will interline baggage to SA, since they're both Star. Does LH interline baggage to BA/Comair for international transfer at JNB?

Cheetah_SA Oct 4, 2014 8:10 am


Originally Posted by CO FF (Post 23609997)
Interline Baggage -- LH to Comair

Hi all -- we are flying LAX-FRA-JNB on LH (2 in biz, 2 in Premium Economy), and continuing (with a 2 hour connection) to LVI (Livingstone, Zambia). We can book JNB-LVI on BA/Comair (which allows an extra 20 mins to transfer) or on SA.

I would expect that LH will interline baggage to SA, since they're both Star. Does LH interline baggage to BA/Comair for international transfer at JNB?

According to KVS, BA and LH do have an interline agreement.

What this means in practice someone with more knowledge will have to answer. AIUI this does not mean they are obliged to through check your bags - unless all flights are on one ticket. But please don't take that as gospel.

Lucentis Oct 8, 2014 12:36 pm

Connection LH FRA-JNB and SA Airlink JNB-MQP
 
Hello!
We are flying mentioned route FRA-JNB-MQP on two separate PNRs (LH J and SA Airlink Y) with just 90 minutes connection time in JNB.

Does LH interline luggage with SA Airlink?
If yes, can we use Baggage Re-Check counters?

Thanks a lot!

Cheetah_SA Oct 9, 2014 3:28 am


Originally Posted by Lucentis (Post 23646086)
Hello!
We are flying mentioned route FRA-JNB-MQP on two separate PNRs (LH J and SA Airlink Y) with just 90 minutes connection time in JNB.

Does LH interline luggage with SA Airlink?
If yes, can we use Baggage Re-Check counters?

Thanks a lot!

According to KVS, Airlink (4Z) has no interline agreements with anyone. (And even if they did, as I mentioned above, I don't believe they are required to book your luggage through if flights are on seperate tickets.)

All Airlink flights have codes hares with SAA - are you booked on an SAA flight number? If so, I believe there would be a higher likelihood of your baggage getting through checked.

Although it meets the MCT that's a tight connection. Arriving on an A380 in the thick of the morning rush often means long immigrations queues, especially for foreigners. On separate tickets you would be entitled to no protection from Airlink. So unless your ticket is flexible (you did say Y - but I'm not sure if you were referring to the booking class) you might have to buy up to a more expensive fare if you miss the connection and the aircraft are small and could be full.


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