Jburg Airport quandry
 

Hi All,

In October I am traveling from Maputo to Dulles.

This requires a connection at the Jburg airport.

I have 2 choices:
- a 45 minute layover in Jburg
- a 5 hour layover in Jburg

A 45 minute connection seems very tight, although this is offered on the SAA website.

Anyone with any experience at the Jburg airport think 45 minutes for an international connection is reasonable?

Thanks -

You will make a 45 minute connection as long as your incoming flight lands within 15-20 minutes of its scheduled arrival time. You don't have to clear customs or immigration, and JNB is not one of those airports where it takes a long time to get from one gate to another (for an international-to-international transfer).

That said, if you're prone to fretting, you might find that you'd be more comfortable with the long connection. The long connection would give you time to freshen up and do some shopping -- there are actually a couple of interesting places in the duty-free. Also, if you have checked baggage, the longer connection increases the likelihood that your checked luggage will make the flight.

Hello,

I'd go with the longer layover -- I've transferred through JNB many, many times and 45 minutes is, IMO, far too small a window. If one little thing goes wrong, you are stuck.

Cheers,
Julian

I'd definitely do the 5 hour. Personally, I'd be worried the whole trip if I only had 45 minutes.

Even when I have over an hour or two layover, I ask if there is an option that can increase that amount of time.

If this is a through ticket, wouldn't SAA protect you on the later flight if you misconnect? It looks like you have a back up option available so as long as taking the later flight wouldn't mess up your plans for the rest of the day, I'd probably go for it.

Thanks so much for the input - I just purchased my ticket.
Since I'm a worrier, I took the 5 hour layover.

BTW, when I was on the phone with SAA to purchase the ticket, I was told that 45 minutes was not a legal connection.

When I mentioned that it was the routing that came up on their website, I was told it would not have gone through. How strange!

I guess that in itself answers my query.

You made the right choice. The planes that land in JNB land a long was out and one has to take a bus to the terminal. This has taken a while in the instances that we have been there.

45 minutes is not lonmg, the planes land a fair way out and then you have to bus in - customs can be slow as well, then you will have to negotiate the guys who want to carry your bags - my suggestion, have really portable luggage on wheels and don't make eye contact - easy stroll between terminals irrespective of what time of the day

I would have to vote for the 5 hour layover. Maybe I am a masochist, but I kind of like the Johannesburg Airport. There are nice shopping opportunities, nice newsstands, Wi-Fi access for those traveling with a laptop and some decent restaurants.

Also great bookshops to add to Rocco's list.....good opportunity to buy Africa centred reading material that may be hard to buy elsewhere.

Hari

Hello,

Decent restaurants? In JNB? Where? I've always provisioned myself with a lunch box from my hotel or lodge (CCA does very nice lunch boxes!) when I had a long layover there. Or maybe I'm just picky.

Cheers,
Julian