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.
Apr 6, 2017, 11:26 pm
#556
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 5
Since transit visas are no more issued and we can transit at OR Tambo JNB, emirates should not have issue. i am thinking what if i only carry, carryon baggage and move to transit area, get a boarding pass issued by air namibia at their help desk.
Will it be possible.
Ofcourse i shall have to arrange all clothes etc at Windhoek then.
Will it be possible.
Ofcourse i shall have to arrange all clothes etc at Windhoek then.
Essentially you are not in transit as you will have to pass immigration to collect your luggage and then check it again for your Air Namibia flight. Emirates will most likely want to make sure that you meet the entry requirements for SA before they let you board.
According to TIMATIC Indian passport holders ae allowed to transit without a visa in SA but I don't know what the rules are for this (suspect that it doesn't include going landside to sort out luggage) - I would recommend that you contact your closest SA High Commission or Consulate to get a clear answer.
According to TIMATIC Indian passport holders ae allowed to transit without a visa in SA but I don't know what the rules are for this (suspect that it doesn't include going landside to sort out luggage) - I would recommend that you contact your closest SA High Commission or Consulate to get a clear answer.
Apr 7, 2017, 2:01 am
#557
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,235
Since transit visas are no more issued and we can transit at OR Tambo JNB, emirates should not have issue. i am thinking what if i only carry, carryon baggage and move to transit area, get a boarding pass issued by air namibia at their help desk.
Will it be possible.
Ofcourse i shall have to arrange all clothes etc at Windhoek then.
Will it be possible.
Ofcourse i shall have to arrange all clothes etc at Windhoek then.
Apr 7, 2017, 5:03 am
#558
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Since transit visas are no more issued and we can transit at OR Tambo JNB, emirates should not have issue. i am thinking what if i only carry, carryon baggage and move to transit area, get a boarding pass issued by air namibia at their help desk.
Will it be possible.
Ofcourse i shall have to arrange all clothes etc at Windhoek then.
Will it be possible.
Ofcourse i shall have to arrange all clothes etc at Windhoek then.
As such, they will be within their rights to deny you boarding altogether if you cannot prove that you can enter SA.
Apr 7, 2017, 7:00 pm
#559
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 5
Do bear in mind that as far as emirates care, your final destination is JNB, and should you have any issues transiting in JNB (Due to, say, Air Namibia cancelling the flight) it will their responsibility to fly you back to your origin since you will not be able to enter SA.
As such, they will be within their rights to deny you boarding altogether if you cannot prove that you can enter SA.
As such, they will be within their rights to deny you boarding altogether if you cannot prove that you can enter SA.
Or should i cancel this ticlet altogether and book a single pnr ticket with say ethipoian airlines which bypasses joburg altogether.
Apr 8, 2017, 5:16 am
#560
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Is my case so unique. Iam sure there would be many journeys with two different tickets and pnr. What is the norm. Many flights have code share agreement and dont fly directly. So technically do they transfer passengers back to origin if connecting flight is cancelled and when transit visas are not required so a traveller need not worry about it.
Or should i cancel this ticlet altogether and book a single pnr ticket with say ethipoian airlines which bypasses joburg altogether.
Or should i cancel this ticlet altogether and book a single pnr ticket with say ethipoian airlines which bypasses joburg altogether.
Last edited by Ditto; Apr 8, 2017 at 7:34 am
Apr 8, 2017, 7:25 am
#561
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,235
Do bear in mind that as far as emirates care, your final destination is JNB, and should you have any issues transiting in JNB (Due to, say, Air Namibia cancelling the flight) it will their responsibility to fly you back to your origin since you will not be able to enter SA.
As such, they will be within their rights to deny you boarding altogether if you cannot prove that you can enter SA.
As such, they will be within their rights to deny you boarding altogether if you cannot prove that you can enter SA.
Apr 8, 2017, 7:37 am
#562
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Some airlines are more flexible indeed, but in many cases it might also boil down to the ground stuff handling the OP...
May 9, 2017, 7:53 am
#563
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Diamond/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,201
If I book an SAA flight that arrives into JNB at 1755, and take an AF flight (separate reservation) that departs at 1950, is that enough time to connect (assuming I'd need to gather bags, clear customs, and re-check in)? Do SAA and AF have an interline agreement for separate reservations where I could check my bags straight through? Thanks for any insight; would prefer not having to book a 5 hour layover when I can have a 2 hour layover.
May 9, 2017, 8:56 am
#564
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
If I book an SAA flight that arrives into JNB at 1755, and take an AF flight (separate reservation) that departs at 1950, is that enough time to connect (assuming I'd need to gather bags, clear customs, and re-check in)? Do SAA and AF have an interline agreement for separate reservations where I could check my bags straight through? Thanks for any insight; would prefer not having to book a 5 hour layover when I can have a 2 hour layover.
SAA might allow you to check your bags through, but if not then it becomes very tight and risky, especially for a Intl-Intl connection where you will have to queue for immigration to get your bags, which might make you miss the check-in deadline, and later on queue again for security/immigration which is normally quite busy that time of the day.
May 9, 2017, 9:59 am
#565
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Diamond/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,201
It'd be Intl-Intl (coming from LUN). That was my concern with immigration queues but I know I can't count on having my bags interlined. If I had a 5 hour layover, is there anywhere to kill the extra time in the airport or nearby?
May 9, 2017, 10:52 am
#566
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Alternatively if you can make it with hand luggage only then 2 hours would be enough.
May 15, 2017, 7:07 am
#568
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
If I book an SAA flight that arrives into JNB at 1755, and take an AF flight (separate reservation) that departs at 1950, is that enough time to connect (assuming I'd need to gather bags, clear customs, and re-check in)? Do SAA and AF have an interline agreement for separate reservations where I could check my bags straight through? Thanks for any insight; would prefer not having to book a 5 hour layover when I can have a 2 hour layover.
May 17, 2017, 9:34 pm
#569
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 9
Hopefully this is the right place to post this.
I have an 11 hour layover in JNB in a few days. It's the middle of the day, so I don't really need to find a place to sleep in the airport (which is what most posts I've seen are looking for). Rather, I'm hoping to find a comfortable place where I can get some work done. Basically, I need a power outlet and ideally a coffee shop nearby to refuel. I don't even really need wifi, though I know the airport has it free for a fairly good time period.
I'll be coming in on a LAM flight from Mozambique and departing on a Delta flight. They are separate tickets, so I guess I'll have to clear immigration + customs, collect my bags, then re-check in at the Delta counter and clear security again.
Any suggestions for where I should go to get some work done? I have the lowest level of status on Delta, which basically entitles me to nothing, FWIW.
I have an 11 hour layover in JNB in a few days. It's the middle of the day, so I don't really need to find a place to sleep in the airport (which is what most posts I've seen are looking for). Rather, I'm hoping to find a comfortable place where I can get some work done. Basically, I need a power outlet and ideally a coffee shop nearby to refuel. I don't even really need wifi, though I know the airport has it free for a fairly good time period.
I'll be coming in on a LAM flight from Mozambique and departing on a Delta flight. They are separate tickets, so I guess I'll have to clear immigration + customs, collect my bags, then re-check in at the Delta counter and clear security again.
Any suggestions for where I should go to get some work done? I have the lowest level of status on Delta, which basically entitles me to nothing, FWIW.
May 18, 2017, 2:45 am
#570
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Hopefully this is the right place to post this.
I have an 11 hour layover in JNB in a few days. It's the middle of the day, so I don't really need to find a place to sleep in the airport (which is what most posts I've seen are looking for). Rather, I'm hoping to find a comfortable place where I can get some work done. Basically, I need a power outlet and ideally a coffee shop nearby to refuel. I don't even really need wifi, though I know the airport has it free for a fairly good time period.
I'll be coming in on a LAM flight from Mozambique and departing on a Delta flight. They are separate tickets, so I guess I'll have to clear immigration + customs, collect my bags, then re-check in at the Delta counter and clear security again.
Any suggestions for where I should go to get some work done? I have the lowest level of status on Delta, which basically entitles me to nothing, FWIW.
I have an 11 hour layover in JNB in a few days. It's the middle of the day, so I don't really need to find a place to sleep in the airport (which is what most posts I've seen are looking for). Rather, I'm hoping to find a comfortable place where I can get some work done. Basically, I need a power outlet and ideally a coffee shop nearby to refuel. I don't even really need wifi, though I know the airport has it free for a fairly good time period.
I'll be coming in on a LAM flight from Mozambique and departing on a Delta flight. They are separate tickets, so I guess I'll have to clear immigration + customs, collect my bags, then re-check in at the Delta counter and clear security again.
Any suggestions for where I should go to get some work done? I have the lowest level of status on Delta, which basically entitles me to nothing, FWIW.
That being said there are several hotels which offers day rooms, and plenty of cafes you can sit in and find a place near a power plug.