KenBoffard

Just back from LHR to JNB. Delayed flight eventually departed 23:00
T 5 North Galleries is open. Grab n Go snacks and crisps available, as well as all drinks. World of Whisky (!) and Pharmacy open. Not much else.
If you are checking in, First and all fast track closed. All First, Gold, Club check in at Club area.

You will not be allowed to check in or board unless you have an RT-PCR test. Rapid tests and antigen/antibody tests still being evaluated. available many pharmacies with a 24-48 hr turnaround. About £150. Must be within 72 hours of departure. See below.

In flight you will be given an RSA track and trace form to complete.
On disembarkation, your PCR doc will be checked.
at Passport control you will be thermal imaged, or laser checked, and the forms will again be checked and taken in. All very smooth and efficient. Both JNB and CPT working well.
Detailed local region information is available on: Coronavirus SA - Dashboard

See SA Official guidelines below

What are the requirements for the 72 hour PCR test for COVID-19?

Travellers intending to visit the country will be expected to produce a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that is not older than 72 hours from the time of departure from the country of origin to South Africa; and be presented before travelling to South Africa. This test must be conducted by a certified medical practitioner and should have the name and signature of the practitioner who conducted such test.

see
https://www.gov.za/covid-19/models/c...-provincemetro

thijsseh

Oh, T5 North Galleries open? Last week (14/11) all lounges were still closed so that is a big step forward. Did the flight leave from C61 again? Felt like there was social distancing for aircraft themselves....

thijsseh

Is it actually gazetted like that? Is the word 'scheduled' in the gazette?

I would take a late afternoon flight, stay at the M hotel at Schiphol (assuming it is open, bu I think it is) and then get onto the KLM flight without all the stress. I have had enough stress in my life. Don't need more.

thijsseh

I notice that Namibia is now on the UK travel corridor list, which is good news (a 2 week Namibia vacation after visiting SA seems more attractive than self isolation). And it also sort of created a sliver of hope that SA will be added in the next month.... ([/wishful thinking off])

KenBoffard

BA using B and C gates. North Galleries has never been so uncrowded, but definitely open with good staff

EvilDoctorK

Though there's not any way of getting to Namibia that doesn't involve travelling via somewhere that's not currently on the UK travel corridor list - The obvious one would be the Qatar Windhoek-Doha flights but they are not yet restarted ... so the only practical options are going via South Africa which would trigger quarantine ( as things stand currently, but I'm hoping too!)

B747-437B

No, the word "scheduled" is not used. However, the implementing standard is to verify the departure time from an itinerary or e-ticket receipt (which will state the scheduled departure time), so the de-facto standard is indeed scheduled departure time. I doubt SA immigration has access to raw ACARS or ADS-B data to obtain door closure, brakes off or wheels up times for connecting flights in other parts of the world anyway.

People are overthinking this. If you have actually been through the completely lackadaisical enforcement process upon arrival at OR Tambo, you wouldn't even think twice. You'll be out in 15 minutes flat and maybe exchange 3 words with officialdom en route.

jsnydcsa

The problem is getting on the flight in the first place. See, e.g. all the old birth certificate requirements for flying into/out of SA. You literally have 100s of check-in agents around the globe "interpreting" the rules and "reviewing" and passing judgment on paperwork they may have never seen before. When it came to birth certificates (and based on what I'm reading here about Covid-19 test results) the biggest "issues" arose at check-in and I suspect this is where "problems" could occur rather than, as correctly pointed out above, at ORT/JNB.

Davesa

I agree. This was my concern. I'm not worried about SA immigration - they're almost always disinterested in acknowledging you, never mind asking you anything - I've got an entry permit stamp from OR Tambo that is only half a stamp with the date of entry missing! I'd be more concerned about an overzealous gate or check in agent in Europe looking at the date of test v date boarding a delayed flight or missed connection and denying boarding without knowing all these intricate details in the legislation. We regularly were asked to present out childs' birth certificate at MAN, LBA, LHR, AMS, MUC, FRA, CDG despite the requirement being dropped by SA immigration months or even years previous to their request - I still carry it now every time we travel just in case! I also note that some airlines advise children under 5 do not need a PCR test, however there is nothing in the Gazette that I can find about this so for the reasons above, I've booked him a test. Staying at AMS the night before will probably be the safest option!

Ditto

I *think* the part about children under 5 has been gazetted, either way if you are traveling with KLM you can check https://klm.traveldoc.aero/ which indicates it's not needed, it also indicates that a PCR test is "strongly advised". (and therefore not mandatory)
When I travelled with KLM it was mandatory to have a PCR test, but they have now changed their wording, so I suspect you will have no issue at all with them, unless of course this changes by the time you fly.

thijsseh

I went through that process on 15/11.
There were a few disorganised people posted at the entry to the queue for passport control, taking in the Covid test forms. It would have been relatively easy to bypass them when we were there. And they did not seem to scrutinise the forms too closely. But on the other hand, I did see a number of people being escorted to a door with the sign 'port health control' on it, which seems ominous.
Passport control and customs were as uninterested as usual (the 6 or so customs guys were standing next to one another looking like they would soon break out into song).
I know this seems like overthinking this. But I would not want to be the 1% who gets sent into state quarantine at my own expense, thank you very much...

thijsseh

I thought HRE/DXB/LHR would work fine. UAE is on the travel corridor list.
Fly JNB (or CPT, not sure if that's available at the moment)/HRE // 2 weeks //DXB/LHR

Edit:
Oops, serious senior moment! HRE is in Zimbabwe, NOT in Namibia. Please scrap all the above and forget I ever said it.....

B747-437B

I had to arrange quarantine accommodation at the Birchwood for some of our team members who traveled internationally during the border closure period. It was actually cheaper with full board than normal B&B rates and even though they were supposed to do 14 days, they were given an option to test out on day 5 and left on day 7 when the negative results were back. So it's not so bad!

stuarto

Now that we've lost the 747, has anyone made the CPT flight on the 777? I'm half expecting this route to be serviced with older aircraft / IFE etc as many of the 747s were.. Would love to be proved wrong tho!!
​​​​Not that I'm overly bothered this time but it does grate when paying for a j seat...

hkDus

Folks, help required... As mentioned, it says the PCR test needs a doc signature. I've had 2 tests before, both came through electronically, with name of doc, but no signature possible. Did you get a signature?