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.
Feb 29, 2016, 1:08 am
#436
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
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)?
Worst case scenario if you can't go HBO then you may not make it.
On the other hand everything might go smoothly (which would be helped by flying in a premium cabin or status with EK) then you could be through immigration and up to the check-in desk with your bags 30 minutes after the doors open. Which is what happened to me this past December, I've also waited over 2 hours for bags in the past.
Feb 29, 2016, 4:35 am
#437
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: LEJ
Posts: 35
Your issue here is that your luggage cannot be checked through the same airport twice (DXB in your case) so you will need to collect it in JNB or go hand baggage only. The possible combination of a slightly late arrival, long immigration queue and slow baggage delivery could easily eat that 1:55 margin you have to get up to EK check-in.
Worst case scenario if you can't go HBO then you may not make it.
On the other hand everything might go smoothly (which would be helped by flying in a premium cabin or status with EK) then you could be through immigration and up to the check-in desk with your bags 30 minutes after the doors open. Which is what happened to me this past December, I've also waited over 2 hours for bags in the past.
Worst case scenario if you can't go HBO then you may not make it.
On the other hand everything might go smoothly (which would be helped by flying in a premium cabin or status with EK) then you could be through immigration and up to the check-in desk with your bags 30 minutes after the doors open. Which is what happened to me this past December, I've also waited over 2 hours for bags in the past.
Mar 15, 2016, 9:10 pm
#438
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 3
Enough connection time to Gabarone?
My husband and two kids (8 and 11) will be traveling from ATL to JNB, arriving at 5:50 pm. Because we are traveling using miles, we have to book our flight to Gabarone on Air Botswana. The last flight of the night leaves at 8 pm. Couple of questions --
1. Since we will be flying on a different ticket from JNB to GBE, will we need to exit the terminal, collect our bags and check-in?
2. Would 2 hours be enough time to do all of this, or should we plan on spending the night and fly out the next morning?
Thanks! First time traveling like this with the kids and I want to avoid hiccups if possible!
1. Since we will be flying on a different ticket from JNB to GBE, will we need to exit the terminal, collect our bags and check-in?
2. Would 2 hours be enough time to do all of this, or should we plan on spending the night and fly out the next morning?
Thanks! First time traveling like this with the kids and I want to avoid hiccups if possible!
Mar 16, 2016, 1:07 am
#439
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
My husband and two kids (8 and 11) will be traveling from ATL to JNB, arriving at 5:50 pm. Because we are traveling using miles, we have to book our flight to Gabarone on Air Botswana. The last flight of the night leaves at 8 pm. Couple of questions --
1. Since we will be flying on a different ticket from JNB to GBE, will we need to exit the terminal, collect our bags and check-in?
2. Would 2 hours be enough time to do all of this, or should we plan on spending the night and fly out the next morning?
Thanks! First time traveling like this with the kids and I want to avoid hiccups if possible!
1. Since we will be flying on a different ticket from JNB to GBE, will we need to exit the terminal, collect our bags and check-in?
2. Would 2 hours be enough time to do all of this, or should we plan on spending the night and fly out the next morning?
Thanks! First time traveling like this with the kids and I want to avoid hiccups if possible!
If your luggage is checked through you should have plenty of time for the connection. If not, I wouldn't risk it. Arrival formalities may or may not take a long time but you will be leaving in the thick of the evening bank of flights to Europe and the lines at immigration can be horrible. At the very least it will be quite stressful and with kids in tow (probably grumpy and/or groggy after such a long flight) I would be inclined to stop over at the airport and spend the night adjusting to the new time zone in relative calm.
PS Don't forget the birth certificates!
Mar 16, 2016, 4:45 am
#440
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: British Airways Silver
Posts: 23
Agree with Cheetah_ZA. If luggage is not checked through it is a risk. The one security and customs area in Terminal A is closed at the moment so everyone is using the one closer to Terminal B, this makes the process slower especially with the bulk of evening flights.
If you do sleep over there are a few flights in the mornings, (think around 7h00) which will be fine as the mornings tend to be more quite at security and customs. Also, its only a 50 min flight so you should be in Gaborone just after 8h00. Much better option imo than arriving there at 9h00 at night, probably only getting to the hotel at 10.
If you do sleep over there are a few flights in the mornings, (think around 7h00) which will be fine as the mornings tend to be more quite at security and customs. Also, its only a 50 min flight so you should be in Gaborone just after 8h00. Much better option imo than arriving there at 9h00 at night, probably only getting to the hotel at 10.
Mar 16, 2016, 7:03 am
#441
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 3
Agree with Cheetah_ZA. If luggage is not checked through it is a risk. The one security and customs area in Terminal A is closed at the moment so everyone is using the one closer to Terminal B, this makes the process slower especially with the bulk of evening flights.
If you do sleep over there are a few flights in the mornings, (think around 7h00) which will be fine as the mornings tend to be more quite at security and customs. Also, its only a 50 min flight so you should be in Gaborone just after 8h00. Much better option imo than arriving there at 9h00 at night, probably only getting to the hotel at 10.
If you do sleep over there are a few flights in the mornings, (think around 7h00) which will be fine as the mornings tend to be more quite at security and customs. Also, its only a 50 min flight so you should be in Gaborone just after 8h00. Much better option imo than arriving there at 9h00 at night, probably only getting to the hotel at 10.
Mar 16, 2016, 7:05 am
#442
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 3
Everything depends on whether Delta will check your luggage through to Gaberone. You need to get them to confirm that. [According to KVS, BW (Air Botswana) does have an interline agreement with DL - but, confusingly it says DL doesn't have one with BW! Either way, it doesn't mean they have to through-check luggage for separate tickets. Only Delta can give you the answer to that.]
If your luggage is checked through you should have plenty of time for the connection. If not, I wouldn't risk it. Arrival formalities may or may not take a long time but you will be leaving in the thick of the evening bank of flights to Europe and the lines at immigration can be horrible. At the very least it will be quite stressful and with kids in tow (probably grumpy and/or groggy after such a long flight) I would be inclined to stop over at the airport and spend the night adjusting to the new time zone in relative calm.
PS Don't forget the birth certificates!
If your luggage is checked through you should have plenty of time for the connection. If not, I wouldn't risk it. Arrival formalities may or may not take a long time but you will be leaving in the thick of the evening bank of flights to Europe and the lines at immigration can be horrible. At the very least it will be quite stressful and with kids in tow (probably grumpy and/or groggy after such a long flight) I would be inclined to stop over at the airport and spend the night adjusting to the new time zone in relative calm.
PS Don't forget the birth certificates!
Mar 16, 2016, 9:03 am
#443
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Our government seems to be having trouble stepping away conclusively from its ridiculous requirements regarding children. But the thread on the topic is here.
Mar 16, 2016, 10:46 am
#444
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
If your airline stick to the rules as they are today then they shouldn't let you board without birth certificates, so you should make sure you have them just in case. For avoidance of doubt the certificates need to show both parents full names as they are in your passports.
Mar 17, 2016, 2:43 am
#445
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
Mar 19, 2016, 11:48 am
#446
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Flying out last week, I made it through security during the rush hour in 16 minutes, and then had to wait another ten or so at immigrations. Even though it was the busiest time of day, and even though A security was out of service, at least four security checkpoints were closed. Several immigrations checkpoints were closed too, but that seemed to be due to computer issues. Agents tried desperately to reboot the PC, but had no luck.
Johan
Mar 24, 2016, 5:43 am
#447
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: British Airways Silver
Posts: 23
I walked past Terminal B security early one evening last month. The lines were horrendous, extending way past KFC into terminal A. Fortunately, I was not flying that evening.
Flying out last week, I made it through security during the rush hour in 16 minutes, and then had to wait another ten or so at immigrations. Even though it was the busiest time of day, and even though A security was out of service, at least four security checkpoints were closed. Several immigrations checkpoints were closed too, but that seemed to be due to computer issues. Agents tried desperately to reboot the PC, but had no luck.
Johan
Flying out last week, I made it through security during the rush hour in 16 minutes, and then had to wait another ten or so at immigrations. Even though it was the busiest time of day, and even though A security was out of service, at least four security checkpoints were closed. Several immigrations checkpoints were closed too, but that seemed to be due to computer issues. Agents tried desperately to reboot the PC, but had no luck.
Johan
Apr 3, 2016, 4:06 pm
#449
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Thinking of booking Mango Airlines that gets into JNB at either 1345 or 1510. My connection is AF at 1850. Would I be ok to get in on the 1510? If its delayed by say 2hrs I would still get in at 1710 which gives me 1hr 40 mins to make my connection.
Mango wouldn't tag my luggage to CDG on separate tickets right?
Mango wouldn't tag my luggage to CDG on separate tickets right?
Apr 4, 2016, 12:22 am
#450
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Thinking of booking Mango Airlines that gets into JNB at either 1345 or 1510. My connection is AF at 1850. Would I be ok to get in on the 1510? If its delayed by say 2hrs I would still get in at 1710 which gives me 1hr 40 mins to make my connection.
Mango wouldn't tag my luggage to CDG on separate tickets right?
Mango wouldn't tag my luggage to CDG on separate tickets right?
Can't say for sure about the through-checking of luggage - but it does seem very unlikely.