JNB ticketing experiences
 

I have read through the relevant threads on buying RTW tickets in JNB, and have a few questions below:

1) Any difference from buying RTW tickets from SQ/LH or through travel agents? Last thing I want is to run into any potential problems in Africa.

2) If I arrive on SQ at 545am, will there be enough time to get the tickets and fly out the same day for the LH flight to FRA at 715pm? If not, any suggestions as to accomodations?

3) I have heard that it is unsafe in JNB, so appreciate any travelling tips while in JNB. Also, I assume there are foreign exchange tellers at the airport?

Cannot comment on safety. There are approved taxis that are best to use. There are several foreign exchange services on the lower level of the terminal, on both the right and left as you exit the baggage claim area and enter the arrivals hall.


Drop me an email with further questions.

there are tellers and when leaving the arrival hall, go into the building opposite left hand site and buy a ticket for "the magic bus" ( micro busses), a much safer way to go to any of the bigger hotels ( book one at sandton square , it is a nice area away from the center) then by taxi.
anyway, like in every major city, be cautious, not paranoid.

Check the advance purchase regulations - some tickets need 7 days or so advance purchase.

SA travel agents can't take credit card bookings in advance - they need to physically have your card to carry out the transaction. This means that if you book in advance, you may need to wire the money over or get a local contact to pay.

But, as always, check!

A couple of alternatives with the seven day advance purchase:

1.) You can book the ticket ahead of time and then give the credit card imprint in person on the day of (arrival/)departure.

2.) You can send your credit card to the travel agent, have them take the imprint, then they return the credit card and tickets. (I did this.) Edited to add: then I airmailed the signed credit card slip back to the travel agent.

[This message has been edited by transpac (edited 08-06-2002).]

I was told I couldn't do Option 1. They needed the card 7 days ahead. I guess for a regular client, that could be negotiable.

I hadn't thought about Option 2. I would need to think about using a card I don't normally use (and forget about miles for the card).

I FedExed my card, and included a return FedEx. (I used my United Mileage Plus credit card.) It took less than seven calendar days total.

There are reputable travel agents that do not require you to send your credit card to them. The rules do state that they physically need to swipe the credit card (and they are putting themselves at some degree of risk by not following those rules), but I have ticketed in SA (from the US) without ever having had my credit card swiped. Perhaps this was because my TA got to know me through a local acquaintance...and therefore knew that I'd be a lower risk (in terms of contesting charges and thereby possibly revealing the fact that the rules were not followed 100%). Whatever the case, see if you can simply send a credit card authorization charge form, and then perhaps they can run the "Speedpoint" transaction and send the credit charge slip for you to sign and send back later. Otherwise, you can send your credit card back and forth as others have noted.

You can issue the RTW ticket with a Canadian based agency.

For Star tickets, you normally do not need the 7 days advance purchase. You may book the LH portion with LH directly and have your ticket issued in JNB by LH themselves.

Joburg is safe. Just don't go wandering around downtown core at night alone.

Well, there's always Capetown... (which is where I am at today BTW).

be aware of one problem:

when i was entering S.A. last week in CPT I was standing in line for customs behind a lady who had purchased in S.A. and was arriving on a one-way ticket. the customs officer went wild as the lady had no return tickets!
so please make sure to either have a fax from the S.A. travel agency that you have a ticket waiting for you or have a return ticket with you (might be fully refundable) to avoid questions ...

As far as I know, you cannot enter SA without proof that you are going to leave within 3 months of entering (ie rtn ticket).

Good advice. While in my experience this requirement has been laxly enforced at least in JNB (never been asked in a couple dozen or more entries), I have seen others pulled aside for this "infraction". JNB immigration are not the sharpest tools in the toolshed, but they can take a lot of time out of your day if they want to.

I had absolutely no problems with my JNB TA. They emailed me a proforma authorising the charges that I had to fax back to them. I also had to fax or email a copy of the picuture page of my passport.

Try www.renniestravel.co.za

They are one of the biggest TA's in SA and are the Thomas Cook franchisee.

Edited to add that I have been to JNB may times and while I would not class it as "safe", if you take sensible precautions and do not walk around downtown at night then you will be fine. Staying in Sandton is your best bet.

[This message has been edited by Gaza (edited 08-08-2002).]

I would just do what Guy Betsy said...find a Canadian TA and get your ticket before you get there. It is a whole lot easier.

You can then go out and enjoy yourself instead of looking around for an agent while you are there.

I did some checking while I was there and got the same answer as another poster. They indicated that I must present my card there and that they couldnt Fedex it to me in advance because of some law there prohibiting that.

For something to do if you have a couple of days...buy a ticket from JNB to SZK. It is about $200 round-trip and a 55 minute flight and go on a two night safari. You will see the Big Five in those two days.

I have been there twice already this year on RTW's.