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 5, 2020, 12:22 pm
#916
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
So if I am flying from JNB to Maun, Botswana, and the international terminal line is long, can I go through the domestic entrance instead and then transfer to the international terminal?
Feb 6, 2020, 2:29 am
#917
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,272
No, when you depart on an international flight (which Maun is), you need to pass immigration and that can only be done in the international terminal. I have not been there for quite a while, but there used to be an entrance to the immigration 'section' on the side, sort of facing the domestic section. The queues there used to be much shorter that at the 'main' entrance near the check in desks. Others should be able to give you better and much more up to date advice.
Feb 6, 2020, 3:53 am
#918
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
No, when you depart on an international flight (which Maun is), you need to pass immigration and that can only be done in the international terminal. I have not been there for quite a while, but there used to be an entrance to the immigration 'section' on the side, sort of facing the domestic section. The queues there used to be much shorter that at the 'main' entrance near the check in desks. Others should be able to give you better and much more up to date advice.
The red box is the location of the usually busier channel:
Feb 6, 2020, 3:53 am
#919
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,232
thijsseh has it spot on - there is no way to go from dom-intl airside, and normally the line for emigration is much shorter on the entrance by the main atrium, facing domestic, rather than behind the checkin desks.... although outside of the big evening back of long-hauls, the checkin desks emigration is often not too bad anyway.
PS - awesome map Steve_ZA!
PS - awesome map Steve_ZA!
Feb 6, 2020, 3:57 am
#920
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
No, when you depart on an international flight (which Maun is), you need to pass immigration and that can only be done in the international terminal. I have not been there for quite a while, but there used to be an entrance to the immigration 'section' on the side, sort of facing the domestic section. The queues there used to be much shorter that at the 'main' entrance near the check in desks. Others should be able to give you better and much more up to date advice.
Feb 6, 2020, 3:29 pm
#921
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: 21,371
1+45 Intl-to-Intl
arriving BA from SEA/LAS/LHR, departing Comair (BA codeshare) to LVI; one ticket so bags will be checked thru ... I'm guessing this should be a very routine airside transit
Feb 7, 2020, 1:01 am
#923
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
Yes, with an on-time arrival from LHR there should be no problem with that connection. Follow the signs for international transfer and not the crowd going down to the immigration hall.
Feb 12, 2020, 6:15 am
#924
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 108
Hi there - Just ditched a Far East holiday for ''ob-virus'' reasons lol (was a trip of a lifetime, damn it) where I was flying SQ in J BKK-SIN-CPT
So a rehash trip, and I managed to get LHR-JNB with VS FC miles for me and my sister in J.
We are on the VS flight landing JNB at 07.55
We had Kulula tickets JNB-CPT to tie in with the SQ flight.
Trying to change those to now tie in with the Virgin 07.55 arrival but I can only get the 10.00 to CPT (next one is 13.25)
So we have 2 hours to do an INTL to a DOM transit...
Or I can chuck them away and get BA Comair at 11.25 and buy new ones.
What do you think? I am retired, ex airline and very savvy (+ we are J class getting off first I hope).......But not been to JNB for donkeys years now....
So a rehash trip, and I managed to get LHR-JNB with VS FC miles for me and my sister in J.
We are on the VS flight landing JNB at 07.55
We had Kulula tickets JNB-CPT to tie in with the SQ flight.
Trying to change those to now tie in with the Virgin 07.55 arrival but I can only get the 10.00 to CPT (next one is 13.25)
So we have 2 hours to do an INTL to a DOM transit...
Or I can chuck them away and get BA Comair at 11.25 and buy new ones.
What do you think? I am retired, ex airline and very savvy (+ we are J class getting off first I hope).......But not been to JNB for donkeys years now....
Feb 12, 2020, 6:29 am
#925
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,232
Rog, if you have no checked bags then that is totally do-able - my standard for int-dom is 2 hours, and that normally gives me time to grab a coffee and a shower in the domestic lounge. However, I do some serious power-walking from the airbridge to immigration, but from somewhere back in Y, so probably you just need to walk directly (no toilet stops). If you have bags then it may not be so calm, but I've never checked bags in 40+ arrivals into JNB - I understand that baggage can be slow at JNB. This obviously is based on a +/- ontime arrival.
In your shoes I'd stick with the prebooked tickets, and then if needed look at booking Avios or cash tickets on the BA/Comair flight from the immigration queue.
In your shoes I'd stick with the prebooked tickets, and then if needed look at booking Avios or cash tickets on the BA/Comair flight from the immigration queue.
Feb 12, 2020, 10:00 pm
#926
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 108
Rog, if you have no checked bags then that is totally do-able - my standard for int-dom is 2 hours, and that normally gives me time to grab a coffee and a shower in the domestic lounge. However, I do some serious power-walking from the airbridge to immigration, but from somewhere back in Y, so probably you just need to walk directly (no toilet stops). If you have bags then it may not be so calm, but I've never checked bags in 40+ arrivals into JNB - I understand that baggage can be slow at JNB. This obviously is based on a +/- ontime arrival.
.
.
Thanks - thing is we have 4 bags to get - Although they SHOULD be priority tagged, we SHOULD get off first, and we SHOULD be on-time, we know nowadays that can all fall apart and the calm disappears LOL
Then I though oh! let's go to Vic Falls for a couple of nights rather than straight to CPT - so got a fab deal at the posh VIC Falls Hotel and free flights on VS FC miles rewards on SAA (good connections too INTL-INTL at JNB)
but now we find there has been a lengthy drought and the Falls and the Zambezi are not very watery right now . No wonder the hotel rooms rates were 25% off LOL
Back to the drawing board UGH.....
Feb 17, 2020, 1:15 pm
#927
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 41
Upcoming itinerary: FRA-JNB-WDH on LH/SAA (both J)
CPT-JNB-FRA on SAA/LH (J/F)
Questions: (1) Will I have to recheck bags in JNB for WDH - 1 hour layover?
(2) In view of luggage pilferage concerns expressed here, should/could I have plastic wrapping applied in FRA (for outbound) and CPT (for return)? If so who does that and where? Do I need it if bags checked through to final destination(s)? Also, just out of curiosity, won't they rip wrapping off in Security?
(3) According to today's scheduling on those itineraries, FRA-JNB arrives at A7 and JNB-WDH leaves at A21, CPT-JNB arrives at A6 and JNB-FRA leaves from A7. Those all sound close and manageable. Are they in fact?
CPT-JNB-FRA on SAA/LH (J/F)
Questions: (1) Will I have to recheck bags in JNB for WDH - 1 hour layover?
(2) In view of luggage pilferage concerns expressed here, should/could I have plastic wrapping applied in FRA (for outbound) and CPT (for return)? If so who does that and where? Do I need it if bags checked through to final destination(s)? Also, just out of curiosity, won't they rip wrapping off in Security?
(3) According to today's scheduling on those itineraries, FRA-JNB arrives at A7 and JNB-WDH leaves at A21, CPT-JNB arrives at A6 and JNB-FRA leaves from A7. Those all sound close and manageable. Are they in fact?
Feb 18, 2020, 12:06 am
#928
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,232
1. No, if on one ticket bags will be tagged through and you will collect in wdh
2. Never checked bags through JNB so not sure if process but I believe the consensus opinion is wrap for long transfers, when bags sit around.
3. Int’l side is quite compact so your FRA-WDH transfer will be quite easy, just make sure that you go through int’l transit and don’t go through immigration- don’t go down the stairs! You’ll land from CPT into the domestic side, there’s no airside transit so it’s a five minute walk to int’l security and emigration.
2. Never checked bags through JNB so not sure if process but I believe the consensus opinion is wrap for long transfers, when bags sit around.
3. Int’l side is quite compact so your FRA-WDH transfer will be quite easy, just make sure that you go through int’l transit and don’t go through immigration- don’t go down the stairs! You’ll land from CPT into the domestic side, there’s no airside transit so it’s a five minute walk to int’l security and emigration.