Questions about travel to South Africa

[akenne21]

Hi AFFers - a couple of questions as someone who has never travelled to South Africa before.

Headed to SA in December, travelling with my 17 year old daughter who will be heading home ahead of me as I am staying on for work. Her flight from JNB-SYD is a points booking in J, on QF64. I need to get her a separate ticket from Cape Town to JNB. There are two SAA flights earlier that day - one at 11am (arrives JNB1pm) or one at 12:20pm (arrives 2:20pm). Having never been to SA before, I'm wondering which of these options would be best for getting from Cape Town to JNB with plenty of time for her to collect luggage and re-check in with QF. Her first time flying solo internationally.

As she is travelling in J from JNB to SYD, I assume she will have access to the BA lounge in JNB? Are there any others she could access (she otherwise has no status).
I travel on QF64 a week later - is the lounge access situation the same for me as a WP/OWE? Am also hoping for upgrade to F (mine is a paid J ticket) but not holding out a lot of hope given the time of year!

 

[muppet]

Are under 18s allowed in lounges with self-serve alcohol?

In terms of timing, I’d go earlier … expecting things to run on time in SA is not ideal, always complications.

 

[akenne21]

Are under 18s allowed in lounges with self-serve alcohol?

In terms of timing, I’d go earlier … expecting things to run on time in SA is not ideal, always complications.

Thanks - good to know! And actually... I am not sure about the lounge access LOL! She will be 8 days off turning 18 which is a bummer for her...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi AFFers - a couple of questions as someone who has never travelled to South Africa before.

Headed to SA in December, travelling with my 17 year old daughter who will be heading home ahead of me as I am staying on for work. Her flight from JNB-SYD is a points booking in J, on QF64. I need to get her a separate ticket from Cape Town to JNB. There are two SAA flights earlier that day - one at 11am (arrives JNB1pm) or one at 12:20pm (arrives 2:20pm). Having never been to SA before, I'm wondering which of these options would be best for getting from Cape Town to JNB with plenty of time for her to collect luggage and re-check in with QF. Her first time flying solo internationally.

As she is travelling in J from JNB to SYD, I assume she will have access to the BA lounge in JNB? Are there any others she could access (she otherwise has no status).
I travel on QF64 a week later - is the lounge access situation the same for me as a WP/OWE? Am also hoping for upgrade to F (mine is a paid J ticket) but not holding out a lot of hope given the time of year!

What time is the Qf64 departure?

Today it’s at 645pm, is it the same in december?

I’d reckon 4 hours is long enough? Check the flight stats for both flights you’re looking at to see their on time performance.

What time does check in open at JNB?

 

[akenne21]

What time is the Qf64 departure?

Today it’s at 645pm, is it the same in december?

I’d reckon 4 hours is long enough? Check the flight stats for both flights you’re looking at to see their on time performance.

What time does check in open at JNB?

It's a 5:55pm departure in December. Am assuming check in opens 3 hours beforehand.
The later flight leaves a smidge over 3 hours, the earlier flight leaves more like 5 hours. I have heard multiple times though to allow for chaos...

And yes, I now realise as under 18 she is unlikely to get into the lounge unaccompanied. Oh well!