Air Botswana from Kasane to JNB
 

I was wondering if anyone has flown from Kasane to JNB on Air Botswana lately. If so, what were the procedures upon arrival at JNB if you were flying on to an international destination such as the USA. Do you stay "airside" and use the recheck counters, or do you have to go through Passport Control, pick up your luggage, go through Customs, then proceed to the SAA check-in counters in Terminal A? I have friends who are doing this and are flying on to the USA on the evening SAA flight to IAD. I'm meeting them once they get "airside" in the international terminal, so I'm trying to help them out and also judge how long it will take them to get in there.

Same procedure as when flying Air Bots from Maun, though slightly subject to African whims:

Air Botswana has an interline agreement with SAA, which should mean that your friends can check their bags through to IAD from BBK (Kasane). On arriving at JNB, take the bus with everyone else from the plane to the terminal, but then follow the signs to International Transfer and not to Immigration/Baggage Claim. There will be a passport check (but no immigration formalities) and a security check. Once through security, they'll be in the departure hall.


Don
Owner ... Don Topaz Travel
You can figure it will take 20-30 minutes after the aircraft is parked: 15 minutes to load the bus and drive to the terminal, 5-15 minutes for security.

Thanks, Don. As you point out, things can be rather "fluid" in Africa, but this will help a lot!

Don is exactly right. The biggest hiccup is when the Air Botswana agents in Maun "deny" or act like they have no idea about the interline agreement. In this case, be prepared for your friend to collect bags, enter South Africa, and recheck onto the evening SAA flight.

Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond

If they do it in Maun, it could happen in Kasane, too. I've warned them that it could be either way.

Actually was surprised in June when flying out of Maun to the states, through JNB and was offered the check through to LAX. Of course that's Maun, and it was in June(there's my disclaimer). We took it and had the most pleasant time in Johannesburg getting through to the departure hall. Best thing for me was a bookstore, first thing on the right - got to pick up two of Tony's books I'd been looking for.

Air Bots can thru check in the bags to your final destination with any airline that you are flying. When you walk thru the transit area of the JNB airport, you can collect your boarding passes for your international connecting flights at the booth of your airline in the transit area. You show them your bag tags and they ensure that they get it loaded on your flights.

Does anyone know if yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required when entering South Africa from Botswana??

Thanks~~~

Not required.

AKR1 - Thanks. How about if clients are ariving to Johannesburg from Zimbabwe? Will they need to present a yellow fever certficate to Soluth African authorities??

Thank you again.

no