winnick

We will arrive JNB from Mpumalanga at 4:25PM and our flight to IAD leaves at 9:30PM. SAA says they want you to check in for USA flights 3 hours before. So essentially we'll be stuck in JNB for 5 hours. Is this the way it is? Are there any day rooms on JNB? Seems like the 2 hours may not even be worth worrying about as we still have to pick up the luggage and then get to the international terminal area to recheck it (I assume we won't be able to check it through from Mpumalanga). Any thoughts?

cary999

Done that type of connection several times, from safari camp to JNB, wait around several hours for flight back to USA. Not a lot of fun, but think that is pretty much average. At least pretty much what I expect and accept for todays international flying.

Go have a nice dinner in the main terminal. Or walk (very short) across street to the super swank International Hotel. Have dinner there, hang out for a couple hours. Or, maybe join up for one of the airline JNB lounges (sorry not familiar with any at JNB).

regards - tom

jczinn

I have the same dilemma--even worse though, with an 7-1/2 hour layover (our flight from Upington arrives at around 1:00 and then we depart at 8:30). One option I'm looking into is the Bidvest Premier Lounge.

http://www.premierlounge.co.za/Lounge.aspx?Airport=JNB

Its about $30 per person and open to anyone. Honestly I'm not sure if its worth it--we've been in JNB and as airports go, its not really that bad. Still, its an awfully long time for us.

sdb2

I used the Premier Lounge in JNB in 2009 while laying over about 5-6 hrs on my way to Namibia. I definitely think it's worth it when you've got a long time to wait. The Premier Lounge was fairly spacious and had a good selection of snack items and drinks. Also if you've brought along a netbook or laptop you've got internet access, which would allow you to catch up on emails---it might be one of the last things you want to do on vacation, but at least it kills time.

JC, I think a key for you would be whether your bags are checked through or if you've got to claim them. In the latter case you might have to wait around to check in for your flight back to the US and then Tom's options could be considered. Steve

cary999

As Steve says, your luggage may play a big part in what you can do. Can you check it through to IAD? I'm not sure, but doubt it since your IAD is international flight. Anyone know for sure???

So you collect it at JNB, now what do you do with it while cooling off 4-5 hours? Put it on a wheel cart and take it around with you, even over to the International Hotel? Not unreasonable, there are many many porters there who for a $ will push it all around for you. Or if it is just dirty cloths and you're on the way home, check it into "left luggage"?

regards - tom

DonTopaz

Assuming that you're on an SAA flight to JNB, you can check your bags through to IAD, regardless whether your flight to JNB is domestic or international.

Short answer is that you get to look forward to plenty of boredom, no matter what you do. (Overall, a very modest price to pay, though.)

Don

jeroenvm

Why stay bored at the airport? The new Gautrain railway opened today so after you ditch the luggage you can take the train to Rosebank for a nice meal at Tasha's (just 100m from Rosebank station) or a movie at the cinema, and return in time for the flight. The train will cost about R230 return.

starspinners

We've had long layovers at JNB several times. The most recent was 2 weeks ago when we arrived ( on an AirLink) from Polokwane at 2 PM and departed ( on Delta) for Atlanta at 8:20 pm.
We could have walked to the InterContinental Hotel ,which is directly across the street from the international terminal, for a late lunch at the hotel restaurant, but we weren't particularly hungry .
We bought a cold drink from one of the cafes on the land side of the terminal , found a place to sit, and waited for Delta's check-in counter to open... that happened about 4-ish.
After we checked- in and cleared passport control and security we camped out in the the Air France lounge for a couple of hours.
Then we left the lounge and browsed in some of the many shops.
We headed for our gate about an hour and 15 minutes before our scheduled departure and we're happy we did. There was a secondary screening of all passengers and their carry-ons at the entrance to our gate's seating area (We'd not run into that on our previous JNB departures.) Everyone received a cursory pat-down. Everyone's carry-on was open and inspected. The pat down line for women moved rather quickly, but the men's line backed up.
The lines leading to the table where the hand luggage was inspected backed up, too.

cary999

Air France lounge - you were not flying Air France, how did you get in?

Good point about the secondary screening before boarding. JNB security is very strict, more than any I've ever seen. They will take anything off you that hints of a sharp object, like tiny little nail clippers, small tools, things that the USA TSA has no problems with.

regards - tom

jczinn

Good info, I wasn't sure about checking luggage through from Upington--we are all on one SAA ticket, (UPN-->JNB-->JFK) but with such a long layover I wasn't sure. I guess its best to have it checked through although I've heard that is the time when a lot of the JNB pilfering takes place, while your luggage is just sitting around. Oh well, at least that will be on the way home.

If it is checked through, we look into the Premier lounge situation, and we'll definitely need lunch, so going across to the Intercontinental is a possibility too.

Do they do a secondary screening on domestic flights too, or just international? We'll be connecting through from JNB to Cape Town on our way over. I've got things like jeweler's screwdrivers and hex tools for tightening loosened screws for all my camera equipment. (Something I learned to bring after our last safari!) Right now its in my camera bag but maybe I should move it to checked luggage.

starspinners

Tom, Air France and Delta are SkyTeam Alliance members.
We were flying Delta's business class; so we were invited to use the Air France lounge.
However, anyone who has SkyTeam Elite Plus status can also access the Air France lounge by presenting his/her frequent flyer membership card.

christabir

You are very lucky to have never experienced a long layover. I don't consider 5 hours a long layover - about the minimum I will schedule as delays are common everywhere. Get a little weather and your 5 hours turns into 5 minutes. Welcome to the new normal in air travel. Tons of fun!!

sandi

We also experienced a secondary screening, only to learn there was an El Al flight departing, so apparently the same screening for ALL passengers. No big deal... it was what it was.

And, 5/hrs is also no big deal when it comes to layovers. There are options, whether the Lounge, grab a meal in the terminal or dinner off-premises at the hotel across the way. Have a good book to read or find a comfy place to put your butt till it's time. Again, it is what it is.

egbear

This is great info as we will be facing similar situation in early September (Hoedspruit - JNB - IAD). Our Hoedspruit flight arrives JNB at at 3:15, but we don't depart for IAD until 10:45. (SAA moved our flight back to 10:45 from 6 p.m. AFTER we had already made all our other bookings.)

Has anyone taken the shuttle over to the Emperor's Palace casino to kill time? Sounds like there's a lot to do (movie theater, shops, restaurants, spa), but I just want to be sure this is a reliable shuttle service.

ShayTay

Yes, the Emperors Palace shuttle is reliable and runs often to and from JNB. There are lots of shops and restaurants, as well as the casino. There are also a lot of shops in the JNB international terminal, too, so give yourself some time to check those out, as well. I have similar flights coming up in October, but my IAD departure is showing as 9:30pm... guess I'll look for an update on that.

egbear

Thanks, ShayTay, for the reassurance on the casino shuttle. We're on SAA 207. Maybe your flight won't be affected.

And thanks to all for the reminder to check bags through. Don't know why I didn't think of that since both of our flights are SAA. It will keep us from having to lug non-rolling duffel bags around the terminal until check-in time.

cary999

I've also used the Emperors shuttle numerous times for staying overnight there. It is reliable and runs every 15-20 mins. You catch it at JNB next to the InterContinental Hotel at a stop used by many other hotel shuttles/taxis.

regards - tom

atravelynn

Spend the time looking over the photos you took. With lines, screenings, a meal thrown in there, and assuming you arrive right on time, that's not really so long. Or spend the time planning a return.