Early checkin at Johannesburg for BA to London

[pyffii]

Does anyone know if Comair can or will check you in early for a flight from JNB to LHR on BA....We are arriving from Sydney on a seperate PNR on Wednesday and not flying out until the early evening of Thursday ( on a DONE4 ) so do we stay at the Intercontinental at the Airport until 3 hours before BA checkin opens or can we checkin earlier with Comair and go straight to the Lounge ??

 

[Shan Man]

Given its a oneworld flight, maybe qantas can check you straight through to LHR and print your boarding passes for you in SYD?. Could be wrong though as its a seperate PNR and not operated by them...

 

[docjames]

Is it within or greater than 24hr connection?

 

[pyffii]

Time between arrival and departure is 27 hours so probably unable to get Qantas to print boarding passes and check through to our final destination, Venice.....So really need to see if its possible for Comair to process checkin outside of the 3 hour before departure window.

 

[docjames]

Time between arrival and departure is 27 hours so probably unable to get Qantas to print boarding passes and check through to our final destination, Venice.....So really need to see if its possible for Comair to process checkin outside of the 3 hour before departure window.

Sorry I cant help with Comair question, but the international departures are separate so i'd be surprised if Comair would check you in. I think you'd be better at the hotel.

Also sorry to say QF won't (be able to) check you through with that 27hr connection.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I'll have to say honestly i'm not 100% on the answer to your Question regarding checking through luggage all the way to LHR, but Comair only operate & manage the short haul services domestically within South Africa & neighbouring nations which are all BA Branded.

For the Long-haul Route JNB > LHR this is operated/managed by the main BA operation, if that makes sense (Not the Comair Franchise)

Take for example (It's a bit confusing i know) at the International Terminal of JNB, Comair has a Lounge for it's routes (Ie Flights to Namibia/Zambia/Mozambique/Zimbabwe branded as BA ) whilst mainline BA itself also has a seperate lounge for the JNB > LHR leg...... somewhat confusing.

 

[pyffii]

So it's seems that as Comair only operates from the domestic terminal then we might just have to suffer the intercontinental for a few more hours

 

[docjames]

So it's seems that as Comair only operates from the domestic terminal then we might just have to suffer the intercontinental for a few more hours

I think you'll find that's the case. I'd also think the IC was a better "hang out" than the lounges at JNB.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

So it's seems that as Comair only operates from the domestic terminal then we might just have to suffer the intercontinental for a few more hours ����

So to clarify Comair operates all Domestic BA flights within South Africa.

Comair also operate BA International short-haul flights to Destinations such as Windoek, Livingstone, Harare, Maputo, but Comair don't operate the Main Long-haul flight JNB > LHR.

When i checked in at JNB to go to LHR last year, i also had a seperate PNR to take an additional flight from LHR to MAN (Basically i did this so that i could check out BA's flagship T5 Lounge)...... when i did this upon check in at JNB they issued both boarding passes for me & checked luggage through to MAN even with the two seperate tickets i had purchased.

With SYD check-in i suspect Qantas may do it for a short stop-over, but i would be surprised for a long stop over.

But would love to know how you get along .

 

[docjames]

So to clarify Comair operates all Domestic BA flights within South Africa.

Comair also operate BA International short-haul flights to Destinations such as Windoek, Livingstone, Harare, Maputo, but Comair don't operate the Main Long-haul flight JNB > LHR.

Correct.

When i checked in at JNB to go to LHR last year, i also had a seperate PNR to take an additional flight from LHR to MAN (Basically i did this so that i could check out BA's flagship T5 Lounge)...... when i did this upon check in at JNB they issued both boarding passes for me & checked luggage through to MAN even with the two seperate tickets i had purchased.

With SYD check-in i suspect Qantas may do it for a short stop-over, but i would be surprised for a long stop over.

But would love to know how you get along .

The pnrs aren't the problem for the OP, it's the 27hr "transit" so QF won't be able to through check or issue BPs.

The only way around it I can think of would be on line checkin (prior to T-3) and that'll only work if there's snag drop or you're hand luggage only. And even then, it would also rely on security letting you through - likely but not certain depending on how far in advance you arrive.

Again, I'd hang at the IC.

JNB isn't that great an airport and the lounges certainly went anything special that I'd want 3hr there. I had a 2hr connection that became 3hr due to storms. Was bored inside an hour. With window seat in lounge.

YMMV.

 

[pyffii]

Thanks all for your comments and as previously mentioned think that it might just be easier to arrange for a late checkout from the IHG and then endure a 2-3 hour lounge visit until departure on the BA 380

 

[vetrade]

Wouldn't check-in bags early at JNB even if it was possible - I have a son who lives there and he flies at least weekly. Neither he nor any of his workmates would fly in or out of JNB without getting their checked luggage wrapped. The longer your bags are in a back room at JNB the bigger your risk.

 

[pyffii]

Great tip about the luggage thanks

 

[Flying mermaid]

BA claim to have done a lot of work to make sure their luggage areas are secure. We have flown through JNB last year and the year before. Both times checked in in Durban and then had quite a long time between arrival in JNB and departure - 7 hours the first time I think. we were flying to LHR that time and had to sit and wait for the BA lounge to open. We didn't have any trouble with our luggage or anything being stolen and didn't shrink wrap. I think just carry anything of value with you e.g Mr FM even carried his tripod, rather than packing it in checked luggage,