DH and I leave in a few weeks for our long awaited Africa trip. Everything is in place, but I have one more concern. We will be flying on SAA via Johannesburg three times: JFK/JNB/NBO, NBO/JNB/CPT and CPT/JNB/JFK. Yea, I know it's not the ideal itinerary, but we got a hot deal on the airfare. My concern it that I have heard that JNB has the highest incidence of pilfering by baggage handlers during connecting flights. I don't take items that are expensive. I'm not sure what the baggage handlers are looking for. Flyer Talk suggests having your bags wrapped if transiting JNB. I will probably have a bottle of wine and school supplies in my check in bag. What are your thoughts on this matter?

Electronics are the target & zipped holdalls are the preferred. Easy to break into via the zip locks are immaterial.
Baggage wrapping is a deterrent, intact anything you can do to make it more than a quick "Zip dip & run" will help.

I have not had a problem since 2006, a broken camcorder was stolen, I have passed through JNB a number of times since then without a problem.
Two months after my bag was pilfered there were 18 arrests.

We've been through JNB and CPT several times over the past few years. We have not had our bags wrapped and have not had any issues with anything stolen. But there are many who do have their bags wrapped, it is probably prudent to do so.

I had small camera stolen from my bag in 2007. Also heard of other electronic devices being stolen. I'd not put anything electronic or camera in checked luggage. And probably true for many airports.

regards - tom

Never wrapped, nothing ever taken. Anything of value is with me. Nothing electronic is in my bag.

My one & only time wrapping was last June flying out of JNB only to be told after the fact my bag was a few kilos over weight so I had to claw thru all that wrapping to re-arrange some heavier items into my carry on. What a nightmare without scissors! Never again!!

Just don't put anything valuable in your checked in bag.

Doubt you will be able to carry a bottle of wine in your check in luggage. Biggest advice would be to carry all of your electronic items with your carry on luggage and maybe a spare set of clothes or 2 and any medication so if there is any unwanted shopping happening from your bags or they get lost in transit at least you have your valuables etc close to hand

I've carried wine in my checked luggage several times including flying from CPT.

Thanks for all the advise. We will be on safari for two weeks in Kenya, so my carry-on will have all the necessary clothes, etc. for that portion. I always carry any electronics or cameras with me in the cabin of the aircraft.

AfricaSecrets: I have carried wine in my checked luggage many times, all over the world. We live in one of the wine areas of California. I can't remember the last time I flew somewhere without a bottle of wine or two in my checked luggage. I am looking forward to visiting the winelands outside of Cape Town.

Doubt if anyone is interested in taking the wine.....I have had my bag shrink wrapped before storing it in the lower level storage depot...there are several threads on this forum about that experience..from myself and others..I passed through JNB recently and am happy to try to assist with questions..

I read your trip report ekscrunchy. It inspired me! We are so excited about this trip.

Barb that makes me happy. I just returned from a second trip to SA that was equal to the first in excitement and all-aroud fabulous-ness!