T8191

Good luck, CaptainElizabeth! 😀

simons1

To be honest I don't think 'seeing planes' is a guide to much. Airlines have been operating into JNB throughout carrying cargo.

Goldaviator

captainmargaret

And I’m on board BA057 to JNB!

So I was transferring through LHR from BA. Couldn’t check in online so went to the BA desks before security - they check the PCR paperwork then looked over the letter from SA DHA, incorrect name and all. He briefly checked with his supervisor, I think it was the first he’d seen, she waved it through.

One point I was expecting - at the gate, the staff were repeatedly telling passengers that valid travel insurance was required, and may be checked on arrival JNB. I’d assume folks would have that anyway, but flagging here.

Will update with the process in SA!

dfwrob

Wanting to go to HRE in December from USA. I know I can't enter SA, but are transit passengers allowed to pass through? Haven't been able to find an answer.

Thank you!!!!

signol

Likely that because of the FCO status of SA as "Advise against all but essential travel", most "regular" travel insurance is invalid. As upthread, our annual policy wouldn't cover it, so my wife bought a single trip policy from another provider.

signol

T8191

Insurance is proving to be a killer for us, in the face of FCO travel advice. I looked at Battleface, mentioned quite often around here, but ...
Bugger!!

https://www.battleface.com/en/2019/0...t-gbp-non-eea/

The_Bouncer

Insurance is going to be a bugger for many people. I am covered by Bupa Global for medical expenses everywhere except USA.

captainmargaret

So just to round this off, I've arrived in JNB.

BA staff handed out locator forms onboard for passengers to fill in on before landing (this *didn't* happen flying into FRA two days previous, and the locator form/border control was an utter shitshow at Frankfurt).

It was a completely painless experience at OR Tambo; a dozen nurses were on the airbridge to check passports and PCR tests. At border control, the locator form was taken, and temperature taken by the existing thermal cameras (they've been present in the 5 years I've been travelling to JNB, assume they're a hangover from SARS?). At the desk, again presented my PCR test and my letter of approval for business travel (spelling errors and all). And it took no longer than the usual time.

Arrivals is completely closed to everyone except arrivals and staff; the public can't get any closer than pick-up or the parking lots (and there are apparently plenty of problems with pick-up ATM).

So full of unknowns, but the tl;dr for LHR > JNB is:

- Online checkin is currently disabled to allow for manual document checks
- PCR test checked 4 times in total; twice at LHR, twice at JNB
- Boarding times are signficantly longer because of the socially-distanced boarding by row number from the rear of the craft
- DHA letter approving business travel is a manually edited shambles and took two weeks from emailing to receiving, but staff in both LHR and JNB seem accepting of this
- Big emphasis on valid insurance being in place, although this wasn't checked in JNB (I imagine they're keen to see it if you fail the temperature check or display symptoms)

The only criticism of BA, was that the Club World fit out on last night's BA57 was the creakiest I've seen in my time; US power sockets only, no USB, ancient screens for the inflight entertainment, power to the seats kept cutting out - I think there's been at least two refits/remodels of CW since, and the lack of UK sockets makes me wonder where they've dragged this plane from. I've never flown in such an elderly CW cabin before.

Steve_ZA

Looks like you were on G-YMML which is still sporting the 2000/2001 interior. Due to be refurbished next September, assuming that program is still going ahead. See the wiki: LGW & LHR selected 777s go 10-abreast (3-4-3) in Y 2018 onwards

jsnydcsa

14 December 2020 DL starts (resumes?) ATL-JNB-CPT-ATL service...
https://www.tourismupdate.co.za/arti...eturn-december
Unanswered questions, elephant in the room is current restrictions for US travelers to SA. They seem to discuss (in video at about 3:00 into video) what pax may start using service. But, they never answer the question about what DL is doing/plans to do in light of restrictions on US travelers to SA.

sds1493

We flew JNB-DUR the other day. Masks on plane was relatively strictly enforced. Form checking in JNB was fairly lax, although in DUR on the return they were much more stringent. DUR as an airport is a ghost town, which is a shame because there has clearly been a lot of recent investment in the airport. Umhlanga was quite busy, and masks out in the open felt optional. Was quite a contrast to Gauteng.

littlefish

Just to note Western Cape's 14 day / 100,000 rate was 36.2 on entering Level 1 on 20th September and dropping. It went down to 27 but has since been climbing and today is at 38.6.

I can't see how, as yet, this could be attributed to imported cases (post the 1st October border re-openings). Rather this looks another example of the pendulum swinging when restrictions are eased; in this case Level 2 to Level 1 etc.
As far as I've been made aware the compliance with the current restrictions is high.
Positive cases have recently gone back over 10% of tests.

So, all-in-all, not a bad situation but not necessarily continually improving as Summer arrives. Worth keeping an eye on for those of us waiting for the opportunity to make the trip down from Europe.

Ditto

One reason is that the 24th of Sept is a public holiday, weekends and public holidays in SA typically results in less tests, and since it was a Thursday it seemed to have also affected Friday testing.
Given the requirements for international travel at the moment, I don't expect there will be many imported cases, but of course it remains to be seen when the 2nd wave hits.

thijsseh

Mrs t and I will be flying LHR/CPT in November. She is a SA citizen, I am a PR, so I presume our proof of South African 'Medical Aid' will be enough (if required at all). We have booked our Covid test here in the UK for 2 days before departure (24 hour return service). Using the recent BA Avios sale and flying CW, will be interesting to experience (we usually fly Emirates J). We left SA on a BA repatriation flight early June (normally resident in Canterbury), so first time in the air since then. Return to UK (including quarantine) after Christmas.