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.
Jul 31, 2012, 2:34 am
#91
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
SAA's check-in for all flights lies in Terminal B (right at the boundary between the terminals). All international flights however leave physically from Terminal A.
If you are connecting flights, just follow the signs for International Transfers. You do not need to clear immigration/customs or collect your bags.
If you are connecting flights, just follow the signs for International Transfers. You do not need to clear immigration/customs or collect your bags.
Jul 31, 2012, 11:34 am
#92
Ambassador
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Frankfurt
Posts: 1,755
I'm sorry to be so dense but can you plase help me.
We arrive in JNB from JFK at 8:15 in Terminal A. We depart for Windhoek, Namibia at 9:30 from Terminal B. This should be an internatioal departure but my my ticketing info does have us departing from Terminal B which I believe is the domestic terminal. Is this enough time? Do we clear customs? Thanks in advance.
We arrive in JNB from JFK at 8:15 in Terminal A. We depart for Windhoek, Namibia at 9:30 from Terminal B. This should be an internatioal departure but my my ticketing info does have us departing from Terminal B which I believe is the domestic terminal. Is this enough time? Do we clear customs? Thanks in advance.
Aug 5, 2012, 1:51 am
#94
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: BD*G, BA*S, LH*S, VS, Marriott*G, Hilton*G, SPG*G
Posts: 119
Yes this is sufficient time although when arriving at passport control if you go to the crew desk and say you have a tight connection they will process you there saving over 20 mins in the normal passport queues!
Aug 11, 2012, 11:10 am
#96
Ambassador
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Frankfurt
Posts: 1,755
Have you had a look at the first post under International to Domestic connections? There are also some photos further down the page.
Aug 16, 2012, 5:17 am
#97
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
For those who like to have a mental map of what their route inside the airport looks like the site for ACSA (Airports Company of SA) has heaps of useful information including terminal maps.
BA304, you have done a sterling job.^ For completeness it would be great if you included sections for all types of connections - especially Domestic-International connections as this isn't just the reverse of the International-Domestic ones.
BA304, you have done a sterling job.^ For completeness it would be great if you included sections for all types of connections - especially Domestic-International connections as this isn't just the reverse of the International-Domestic ones.
Nov 3, 2012, 6:45 am
#98
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2
Just returned from Namibia with a connection in JNB. All international transfers DO go throught a separate customs checkpoint with a stamp in yor passport and there was a line. With a 1 hour 15 minute connection we barely made it.
The return through JNB (on SAA) was worse yet as all flights to JFK were canceled due to Sandy. SAA would not reroute us and after 3 extra nights in JNB we bought new tickets through Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific. We wanted to get to San Francisco. SAA put us up in a hotel the first night but after that we were on our own. The worst part was the lack of information. They asked us to come back to the airport every few hours for updates. What a pain! Now we are waiting to see if/how much they will refund us.
The return through JNB (on SAA) was worse yet as all flights to JFK were canceled due to Sandy. SAA would not reroute us and after 3 extra nights in JNB we bought new tickets through Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific. We wanted to get to San Francisco. SAA put us up in a hotel the first night but after that we were on our own. The worst part was the lack of information. They asked us to come back to the airport every few hours for updates. What a pain! Now we are waiting to see if/how much they will refund us.
Dec 4, 2012, 9:17 am
#99
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2
BHM-JBG-CPT
Hi, we are flying to Cape Town from Birmingham (uk), via Jo'burg, next Thursday..
Our Air France flight arrives in Jo'Burg (Terminal A) at 11:00
Our British Airways flight departs Jo'Burg (Term B) at 12:50
We will have two items of checked baggage, will we need to collect these and re-check them? and will we have enough time?
Our Air France flight arrives in Jo'Burg (Terminal A) at 11:00
Our British Airways flight departs Jo'Burg (Term B) at 12:50
We will have two items of checked baggage, will we need to collect these and re-check them? and will we have enough time?
Last edited by djb1984; Dec 4, 2012 at 9:18 am Reason: spell check
Dec 4, 2012, 12:25 pm
#100
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ORD, MKE
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 710
Hi, we are flying to Cape Town from Birmingham (uk), via Jo'burg, next Thursday..
Our Air France flight arrives in Jo'Burg (Terminal A) at 11:00
Our British Airways flight departs Jo'Burg (Term B) at 12:50
We will have two items of checked baggage, will we need to collect these and re-check them? and will we have enough time?
Our Air France flight arrives in Jo'Burg (Terminal A) at 11:00
Our British Airways flight departs Jo'Burg (Term B) at 12:50
We will have two items of checked baggage, will we need to collect these and re-check them? and will we have enough time?
Last week I connected in Jo'burg from Cairo (via EgyptAir) to Cape Town (via South African). Everyone has to collect their bags and re-check them. It took me less than an hour, including a long line at the SA counter. There was no line at security (~9:30 am), so overall about a 5 min walk from bag re-check to my gate. If all is normal you'll make it in plenty of time.
Dec 4, 2012, 3:53 pm
#101
Ambassador
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Frankfurt
Posts: 1,755
Hi, we are flying to Cape Town from Birmingham (uk), via Jo'burg, next Thursday..
Our Air France flight arrives in Jo'Burg (Terminal A) at 11:00
Our British Airways flight departs Jo'Burg (Term B) at 12:50
We will have two items of checked baggage, will we need to collect these and re-check them? and will we have enough time?
Our Air France flight arrives in Jo'Burg (Terminal A) at 11:00
Our British Airways flight departs Jo'Burg (Term B) at 12:50
We will have two items of checked baggage, will we need to collect these and re-check them? and will we have enough time?
You will have to re-check your bags as detailed in the first post of this thread but your connection time looks OK.
Dec 17, 2012, 6:26 pm
#103
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 148
I am planning to visit Cape Town next year and will likely take Cathay Pacific which flies to JNB and connects with Comair to Cape Town.
My questions is when I depart from Cape Town, do I need to claim lugguage and recheck-in lugguage and then go through immigrations (for departing south africa) at JNB? or can I just go through immigrations at JNB without claiming lugguage?
My questions is when I depart from Cape Town, do I need to claim lugguage and recheck-in lugguage and then go through immigrations (for departing south africa) at JNB? or can I just go through immigrations at JNB without claiming lugguage?
Dec 17, 2012, 8:31 pm
#104
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
We flew tlv to on ELAL and on to victoria falls on BA/Comair two weeks ago. Bags were tagged all the way through. We did not need to collect and recheck the baggagein JNB we went through customs needed to wait for BA to open st the transfer desk We did need to check in with BA in JNB to get boarding passes and have the baggage tags scanned. It was very smooth process.
Dec 18, 2012, 1:56 am
#105
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
I am planning to visit Cape Town next year and will likely take Cathay Pacific which flies to JNB and connects with Comair to Cape Town.
My questions is when I depart from Cape Town, do I need to claim lugguage and recheck-in lugguage and then go through immigrations (for departing south africa) at JNB? or can I just go through immigrations at JNB without claiming lugguage?
My questions is when I depart from Cape Town, do I need to claim lugguage and recheck-in lugguage and then go through immigrations (for departing south africa) at JNB? or can I just go through immigrations at JNB without claiming lugguage?
Make sure it is well secured though, especially if you have a longish layover - bags routinely get broken into at JNB.