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.
#856
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 639
Iberia transfer desk
Hi,
My mum and my friend will be transiting through JNB in a couple of days. They will be coming from LVI on BA and then traveling on IB to MAD (2 separate tickets / HBO). Although they have a 5h layover they would prefer to stay airside in JNB the whole time. If they are not able to get their boarding passes in LVI for the IB flight to Madrid, does IB have a counter in the transfers' desk? Anything else they should be mindful of? Thanks in advance.
My mum and my friend will be transiting through JNB in a couple of days. They will be coming from LVI on BA and then traveling on IB to MAD (2 separate tickets / HBO). Although they have a 5h layover they would prefer to stay airside in JNB the whole time. If they are not able to get their boarding passes in LVI for the IB flight to Madrid, does IB have a counter in the transfers' desk? Anything else they should be mindful of? Thanks in advance.
#857
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
Arriving on BA57 at 10:15AM on Wed 6 Nov. Solo, hand bag only, in J. Considering taking ET21 (JNB to BLZ) at 12:20PM, giving me a 2hr 5min "connection". Separate tickets, naturally.
Is this sensible or am I silly to consider it? If I arrange for a VIP transfer, does that make this substantially less risky?
Is this sensible or am I silly to consider it? If I arrange for a VIP transfer, does that make this substantially less risky?
#858
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
2 hours would usually be a safe connection without checked bags but you are at the mercy of your inbound flight arriving on time. I can't see any real benefit in booking a "VIP" service as the international transit channel is not usually a bottleneck.
#859
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 1
Connection JNB International/domestic
Good mornind,
I am going to South Africa in October, my international flight is landing in Johannesburg airport (JNB) and then I would like to book an domestic flight to join Cape Town.
My flight is landing on Saturday morning at 10:20am and there is a domestic flight avaible at 12:40.
Do you think it would be possible to make knowing that I would have to take my luggage go through immigration check in again my luggage and go through security?
Thanks a lot in advance
Best regards
I am going to South Africa in October, my international flight is landing in Johannesburg airport (JNB) and then I would like to book an domestic flight to join Cape Town.
My flight is landing on Saturday morning at 10:20am and there is a domestic flight avaible at 12:40.
Do you think it would be possible to make knowing that I would have to take my luggage go through immigration check in again my luggage and go through security?
Thanks a lot in advance
Best regards
#861
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3
QR to BA Interline Check in
Just a final check what to do for interline check-in from QR to BA.
This Monday, I’ll fly from BKK via DOH and arrive JNB on QR1363 at 9:50 and I have a flight to WDH on BA6275 (on a separate tickets) at 12:00. That gives 2:10 hours connecting time.
After read on flyer talk, i should be able to interline through check-in my bags all the way to WDH, am i correct?
Once arrive at JNB, i have to go through international transfer gate, If i already have a BA boarding pass printed out from BKK, do i still need to go to BA international transfer counter to confirm my luggage tag?
Is there any more concern or recommendation on the transit procedure would be appreciated.
thank you in advanced
This Monday, I’ll fly from BKK via DOH and arrive JNB on QR1363 at 9:50 and I have a flight to WDH on BA6275 (on a separate tickets) at 12:00. That gives 2:10 hours connecting time.
After read on flyer talk, i should be able to interline through check-in my bags all the way to WDH, am i correct?
Once arrive at JNB, i have to go through international transfer gate, If i already have a BA boarding pass printed out from BKK, do i still need to go to BA international transfer counter to confirm my luggage tag?
Is there any more concern or recommendation on the transit procedure would be appreciated.
thank you in advanced
#862
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Just a final check what to do for interline check-in from QR to BA.
This Monday, I’ll fly from BKK via DOH and arrive JNB on QR1363 at 9:50 and I have a flight to WDH on BA6275 (on a separate tickets) at 12:00. That gives 2:10 hours connecting time.
After read on flyer talk, i should be able to interline through check-in my bags all the way to WDH, am i correct?
Once arrive at JNB, i have to go through international transfer gate, If i already have a BA boarding pass printed out from BKK, do i still need to go to BA international transfer counter to confirm my luggage tag?
Is there any more concern or recommendation on the transit procedure would be appreciated.
thank you in advanced
This Monday, I’ll fly from BKK via DOH and arrive JNB on QR1363 at 9:50 and I have a flight to WDH on BA6275 (on a separate tickets) at 12:00. That gives 2:10 hours connecting time.
After read on flyer talk, i should be able to interline through check-in my bags all the way to WDH, am i correct?
Once arrive at JNB, i have to go through international transfer gate, If i already have a BA boarding pass printed out from BKK, do i still need to go to BA international transfer counter to confirm my luggage tag?
Is there any more concern or recommendation on the transit procedure would be appreciated.
thank you in advanced
Assuming you do get your bags interlined and you have your BP printed, I would advise to go to the gate agents to verify your bag has been loaded, it's always a good practice in case of 'odd connections'
#863
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
Qatar have a policy to interline onto another Oneworld carrier where separate tickets are involved. Hopefully the check-in agent at BKK is able to do this for you but you may need to be firm and ask for a supervisor if needed.
However, customers should note that through check may not be possible on their return journey if there trip starts with another airline that does not provide the same level of service.
https://www.qatarairways.com/en-us/a.../oneworld.html -> Seamless Serivce
Note that through check-in does mean a protected connection so delays or schedule changes could still be an issue.
Through check-in
Qatar Airways is pleased to offer passengers the courtesy of through check of themselves and their bags to their final destination when travelling on multi-sector journeys involving connections onto other oneworld member airlines, even when the trip is booked using separate tickets.However, customers should note that through check may not be possible on their return journey if there trip starts with another airline that does not provide the same level of service.
Note that through check-in does mean a protected connection so delays or schedule changes could still be an issue.
#864
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGK/LAX
Programs: KF,JMB, OZ, SPG,AA,UA,AS
Posts: 1,163
Question for the JNB experts. How bad is the immigration wait at night at JNB? I am arriving at 9:10 P.M. from Singapore (SQ482). It looks like KLM and Emirates each have a flight landing around the same time.
#865
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,375
starting to put together a ZA trip for Jul/Aug 2020; looking for feedback as to whether these are reasonable ways to transit JNB:
- inbound is Alaska Airlines --> BA, arriving ~0900, thence SAA AirLink to either Hoedspruit (HDS) or Nelspruit (MQP) on a separate ticket ~1200 ... if I read the thread correctly, international arrivals at JNB are similar to the US, in that we'll have to collect checked bags prior to customs/immigration, but will not have to re-check them with SA if AS tags them all the way through
- outbound is also separate tix: as-yet-undetermined airline CPT-JNB, thence CX to HKG (~1230 departure) ... guessing that the LCCs (Mango, Safair) probably don't have interline agreements, so SA mainline (perhaps Comair?) arriving ~1030 would seem to be a good choice
#866
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGK/LAX
Programs: KF,JMB, OZ, SPG,AA,UA,AS
Posts: 1,163
Just ended up doing this last week and we beat the EK and KLM flights into JNB and there was no line at immigration. I was from plane to curb in less than 15 minutes.
#867
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
starting to put together a ZA trip for Jul/Aug 2020; looking for feedback as to whether these are reasonable ways to transit JNB:
- inbound is Alaska Airlines --> BA, arriving ~0900, thence SAA AirLink to either Hoedspruit (HDS) or Nelspruit (MQP) on a separate ticket ~1200 ... if I read the thread correctly, international arrivals at JNB are similar to the US, in that we'll have to collect checked bags prior to customs/immigration, but will not have to re-check them with SA if AS tags them all the way through
- outbound is also separate tix: as-yet-undetermined airline CPT-JNB, thence CX to HKG (~1230 departure) ... guessing that the LCCs (Mango, Safair) probably don't have interline agreements, so SA mainline (perhaps Comair?) arriving ~1030 would seem to be a good choice
#868
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
starting to put together a ZA trip for Jul/Aug 2020; looking for feedback as to whether these are reasonable ways to transit JNB:
- inbound is Alaska Airlines --> BA, arriving ~0900, thence SAA AirLink to either Hoedspruit (HDS) or Nelspruit (MQP) on a separate ticket ~1200 ... if I read the thread correctly, international arrivals at JNB are similar to the US, in that we'll have to collect checked bags prior to customs/immigration, but will not have to re-check them with SA if AS tags them all the way through
- outbound is also separate tix: as-yet-undetermined airline CPT-JNB, thence CX to HKG (~1230 departure) ... guessing that the LCCs (Mango, Safair) probably don't have interline agreements, so SA mainline (perhaps Comair?) arriving ~1030 would seem to be a good choice
#869
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
#870
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,375
of course if CX opens award space on CPT-HKG this will be moot