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International flights
The tricks to booking cheap international flights from South Africa are (1) to compare all airline prices, (2) to be flexible regarding your departure and return flight dates, (3) to start planning a year in advance, (4) to be patient and (5) to be prepared to fly indirect flights. Most of the time it pays to book well in advance, but sometimes last minute flights are the cheapest. International airlines usualy take bookings a year in advance of their flights.
Latest quotes
Note that the prices below may have changed.
I would like to find cheap return flights from OR Tambo to JFK NewYork I'm looking to travel around October 2012. |
Best price I could find was R8172, with Etihad |
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Looking for the cheapest flight from Johannesburg via London (stop-over 2 weeks) and then to Frankfurt Germany - approximately 01 Aug to 19 September 2012 |
You're looking at R9696 with British Airways, see British Airways |
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2012-02-21 Am looking for a cheap flight from jhb to london mid to end of March one way for one person flxible on dates |
The best quote I found to London is on the 23rd March with Etihad Airways for R3 424. |
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2012-02-07 Need a cheap flight from Jhb to London. 3 people. Depart 1 July return 8 or 9 July? |
The best quote I found for all 3 passengers is with Egyptair for R24 066. Please note price is subject to change and availability. |
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2012-02-06
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Ko Samui has two seasons, sunny and rainy. The best time to visit the island is from December through to June. Visiting the Island from July to November means heavy rains and potentially severe storms. You do not need a visa if you are staying less than 30 days. If you plan to stay for more than 30 days, then you will need a tourist visa. I found a cheap flight on Etihad Airways using dates departing 7 May 2012, returning 21 May 2012 for R7 877, 2 adults. |
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2012-02-02 Looking for flights to Israel for 6-13 September 2012 |
The best quotes I could get are as follows:
NOTE: Click on the link to make the booking. |
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2012-01-31 Please could you give me a comparison of direct flights from Cape Town to London, evening flights for the week 19th March and returning approx.. 4 weeks later. |
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2012-01-27 Can one book flights leaving FROM London Heathrow to Cape Town and back again to London? And secondly, when is one able to book return flight to London in region of 2/3 January 2013? Many thanks (2 adults and a 2/12 year old child). These flights would be for my daughter and son in law and 2/12 but flying from LONDON Heathrow direct to CAPE TOWN Int round about Thursday 20 December 2012 and returning CAPE TOWN to LONDON around 2 January 2013. We need to see if it is going to be cheaper to book from here or if they do their own flights from the UK. As I said not sure if we can book from SA "the other way round" but will be interesting if we can, to see what the flights are going to cost. They dont want to fly via this or that, not with a 2 1/2 year old. |
Having travelled with 2 kids, I heartily agree with flying directly! Best price for a direct flight on your dates for 2 adults & a 2.5 year old I could find was £2,884.97 (prices can change). When paying by credit card, make sure that it is somebody who’s flying who’s credit card is used, so it may be presented. |
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2012-01-25 The best quote I found to London from JHB is using Emirates for R8 025 return. The plane leaves JHB at 14h10 and arrives in London at 07h20, with 1 stop over in Dubai. You then leave London on the 13th at 21h15 and arrive in JHB at 20h50 on the 14th, with 1 stop in Dubai. |
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2012-01-21 I would like a quote on a flight to New Zealand flying out JHB on the 6 Dec and return to JHB on the 10 Dec. 1 adult only. |
Best price I could find was R13867. |
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2012-01-16 I have changed my dates to leave Durban on the 5th. Or 6th. June leaving U.K. on the 12th. Or 13th. June. Still 2 adults. Looking to land at Heathrow or Gatwick or Manchester or Stansted or Norwich which ever is cheaper PLEASE. |
Best price I could find was R6558 each, to London. It’s possible for these, too, to change. See Emirates |
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2012-01-15 Can you check flights from Washington DC to Hawaii, dates: departing Thursday jan 19, returning sunday jan 22. |
Best price is R10,428 from Washington Dulles to Honolulu, see http://goo.gl/zUwj8 |
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2012-01-14. Looking for a cheap DIRECT flight from PE to London around the 21st April returning 8 weeks later |
There are no direct flights from PE to London. Best price I could find is, leaving 21 April and returning 16 June, R7967. |
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2012-01-10. I need the cheapest, cheapest return flight to LAX! Anytime in June for a week. Asseblief, please..... Departing Jozi and I don't mind having 50 stop overs if it will make the flight cheaper. |
Best price is R10,903 (various dates, e.g. leave 8 June, return 15 June). |
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2012-01-07. I want a cheap flight from Nigeria , abjua or Lagos to johannesburg. From 26th January 2012 to 9th of February 2012. |
The best price I could find was from Lagos to Johannesburg with South African Airways, for R5566. |
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2012-01-07. Any specials on return flights from Joburg to Delhi? 08-15 November |
The best price I could find was R5700 with Emirates. |
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2012-01-04. I'm looking for cheap return flight to East London SA, from London Gatwick dates 30/03/2012- 16/04/2012. 1 adult and 4yr old child. |
Best price I could find was R18,846 with Emirates. |
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2012-01-01 Can I get a quote for 2 adults,an eleven year old,2 toddlers and a 5months old infant,return tickets from Abuja - johannesburg in April 2012. We should be there for three weeks,touring South Africa. |
Best price I could find was R17672 with Arik Air. |
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2011-12-26 How much a flight from Cape Town to Dublin? 1st or 2nd week of March. |
you're looking at R3981 for Cape Town to Dublin, leaving on the 5th March and returning on the 12th March. Book at Emirates (prices can change) |
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2011-12-12 Can you tell me how much it will cost to go to china and return.... i think il be going on April 26th then cum back the following week. |
I saw R7446 return. JNB-Beijing. |
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2011-12-08 I am looking for Business class fare on 7 May 2012 Durban - Dubai & back 28th May or 29th May. |
A business class flight on those dates with Emirates costs R31,204 |
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2011-12-07 I am looking for cheap flights/shortest layover time from Cape Town to Phuket. It would have to be between 8th of May returning about 22nd May or round about 8th June to 22nd June. |
Leave on the 9th June, return on the 20th June. Best price is R7215 with Qatar Airways. |
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2011-12-06 What's the cheapest fare from OR Tambo to London for 4 adults and 1 child aged 7. Dep 22/12/11 and return 10/01/12 |
Rather leave on the 24th December. Best price is R37,365 for the 5 of you, with Qatar Airways. |
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2011-12-05 I am actually going to be in South Africa by JAN 05th and during that period I would like to fly to the UK from 10th and return back by 29th of JAN. Kindly get me lowest fare during my planned date. |
The best price I could find was R7262, from Johannesburg to London, leaving on the 15th Jan and returning on the 27th Jan |
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2011-12-01 Could you please urgently find me the cheapest fight to Guangzhou (China) from any airline except Qatar Airways (departure 04/12/2011 return 10/12/2011 alternatively 10/12/2011 to 17/12/2011. |
It’s cheaper to leave on the 4th and return on the 10th December. Best price is R7440 with Emirates. |
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2011-11-28 I am looking for a flight to Zanzibar anytime from Dec to March 2012 for 4 days . |
Best price I could find was R4390 return with Precision Air Services, leaving on the 16th and returning on the 22nd Feb 2012. |
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2011-11-27 What is the price for a flight from windhoek to johannesburg on 13th february 2012? however no return as of yet |
Best price is R1178, in a Kulula codeshare with British Airways. Click here to see your quote. |
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2011-11-23 Kunt U mij een prijs geven voor 3 volwassenen en een kind van 11 jaar voor Amsterdam-Kaapstad? Vertrek 23 of 24 dec , return 6 of 7 jan. |
Het is goedkoper om te vertrekken op 24 December. Beste prijs die ikkon vinden was met € 5,851.72 British Airways. |
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2011-11-23 Please can you supply the cheapest fight available to go to Scotland UK from Johannesburg during June/July 2012. Requirements are to be in Scotland on the 20th June and to stay for a period of +-4wks other than this I am open to any dates of arrival and departure. 1 passenger. |
It’s cheaper to fly to Edinburgh than to Glasgow. Best price I could find was R7838 with Lufthansa, e.g. leaving 4 June and returning 2 July 2012. |
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2011-11-23 Kindly let me know the cheapest Cape Town to Maldives flight price in August 2012. |
Best price I could find was R8706 with Qatar Airways, e.g. leaving 9 August and returning 22 August. |
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2011-11-23 Looking for a flight to London, leaving on the 11th December and returning on the 20th December, 2011. 3 passengers please. Could you help with the cheapest flights please |
Best price I could find was R30,444 with Lufthansa |
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2011-11-23 I am looking for cheap flight from Port Elizabeth South Africa to London travelling on the 5th July 2012 returning 15th July 2012 for 2 please |
For the 2 of you the best price is R20,040 (mostly) with Ethiopian Airlines. |
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Cheap International airlines
When I flew from Johannesburg to New York, it was cheapest to fly with Emirates via Dubai. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad often offer the cheapest flights, even though you first have to stop in the Middle East (Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi). For an irregular flyer this provides the opportunity to sight-see (Dubai, for instance, is home to the tallest building in the world, an indoor ski slope, desert safaris and the famous wild wadi; and Doha is going to be the venue of the Fifa World Cup 2022).
Flights to London
The most popular international flight route from South Africa is from Johannesburg to London (and Cape Town to London). If you want to fly direct, remember to consider Virgin Atlantic and British Airways in addition to SAA. Because of the fierce competition, it is sometimes cheaper to fly to Europe and the USA via London (and if flying onwards to Europe, Ryanair and easyJet offer cheap onward flights).
Popular international flight routes
The most popular international flight routes from South Africa are to London, New York, Atlanta, Paris, Frankfurt, Mumbai, Dubai, Perth, Sydney, Auckland and Singapore.
Africa flights
South Africa is becoming better connected with the rest of Africa via low cost airline routes. Fedair flies from Nelspruit and Johannesburg to Vilanculos. 1time airline now flies from Johannesburg to Maputo (Mozambique), Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Livingstone (Zambia, next to Victoria Falls). Comair (through its Kulula, BA & partner brands) flies to Livingstone, Harare (Zimbabwe), Maputo, Lusaka, Mauritius, Windhoek, Ndola, Dar es Salaam and Gaborone (Botswana).
Meals
Meals on international flights vary widely by airline, by length of flight and by class of ticket. On a low cost carrier flight, like a 1time Johannesburg to Livingstone flight, you'll have to purchase your own food. On a long haul flight with a reputable airline (like Emirates), you'll be able to select meals according to your specific dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian, non-lactose, low-sodium). The standard and choice of meals for first class passengers is far superior to that for economy class passengers. Some airlines allow you to order cake or champagne at the time of making a reservation.
The First class meal menu on an Emirates flight may include cocktails, canapés, caviar, Arabic mezze, tangerine chicken, fresh salad, soup, braised beef, samka harra, glazed duck, aubergine lasagne, vegetables, banana pudding, strawberry cheesecake, an international cheeseboard, fruit, beverages and chocolate.
Getting sick
Cramming stax of pax from various places with exotic germs into a metal can for 10 hours is a recipe for getting ill! Recirculated air containing passengers' respiratory viruses may cross into your system, and crossing time zones can throw their circadian rhythm and natural defense mechanisms into dissaray. This may be aggravated by some people's fear of flying, circulation difficulties if you don't move around and the consumption of alcohol.
Prevention is better than cure, so wear disposable masks, use antiseptic hand gel, take a flu injection well before you travel, move around and pay for a business class seat to ensure you get your sleep in.
Electrical outlets
When travelling internationally it can be frustrating arriving with the wrong adaptors. Here's a handy resource which lists electrical outlets per country.