Johannesburg to Windhoek

[YancyW]

I am looking at flights to Windhoek, the most convenient flights for me leave from Atlanta. It looks like the time between plane change in Johannesburg is around two hours. Does anyone have any experience with making that connection on to Windhoek? Thank you.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I think I'd be concerned with the short time to get your rifle case transferred to another airline as well as luggage. But you need Lori @Travel Express to chime in here.

 

[MMAL]

I did that transfer. Same airline no need to pick up luggage and barely made the connecting flight. You do need to clear immigration and a new security line. I used bidair to guide me and my family through and it helped. Rifle permits and other firms have a similar service. I would suggest you use them. I would not suggest the turnaround time if you cannot check your luggage all the way to Windhoek.

 

[MarkCZ]

check your luggage and rifles direct through to Windhoek. I think I would still want 2 and a half hours min. as things can be very slow in Jo,berg.
Markcz

 

[Adrian]

I fly from Heathrow to Johannesburg to Windhoek using South African Airways.
The layover in Jo'burg is around two and a half hours and my firearms have always made it to Windhoek.
This time my luggage made it as well!
I always check everything straight through to destination, no need to collect firearms and luggage at Tambo.
Exit your flight, go through immigration and security and wait for your connection. This has always been a quick process for me and I've never had any delays there.
I think firearms are dealt with fairly efficiently due to their nature.

 

[Kowas Adventure Safaris]

Dear YancyW
We recommend that you consult with your travel agent. They know the best since they work with international travels daily.
Our recommendation would be to make provision for at least 2 1/2 hours layover in Johannesburg since travels adds its own stress - do not add stress by not making provision for not enough connecting time.
We recommend that you consider making use of a meet and greet service (Air2000 / Hunters Support) to assist you in this regard ensuring you make your connecting flight.
Save travels and happy hunting...

 

[CAustin]

Yancy I have been on that same Delta flight 200 when it was an hour late getting into JNB. If that happens you have a real problem! I think a lot of folks overnight in Johannesburg then fly out the next morning!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I am looking at flights to Windhoek, the most convenient flights for me leave from Atlanta. It looks like the time between plane change in Johannesburg is around two hours. Does anyone have any experience with making that connection on to Windhoek? Thank you.

I am assuming the flight from Atlanta is the Delta flight, which gets into JNB late afternoon. If you connect to Windhoek, then you are getting in quite late and need to overnight somewhere, JNB or Windhoek. Have you looked at the South African Air options from the US or bypassing JNB altogether? Direct flights from Frankfurt to Windhoek might make for a better arangement.

 

[Kowas Adventure Safaris]

Various airlines fly into Namibia to the Chief Hosea Kutako International Airport, WINDHOEK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

• KLM (KL)
• Qatar Airways (QR)
• South African Airways (SA)
• Air Namibia (SW)
• British Airways (BA)
• Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
• Condor (DE)
• Eurowings (EW)

Consult with your outfitter to determine what recommendation he/she makes.
Make provision for "waiting upon arrival" since we experience that lately, as many as four flights arrive at the "same time" at the Windhoek airport.

 

[Philip Glass]

I am looking at flights to Windhoek, the most convenient flights for me leave from Atlanta. It looks like the time between plane change in Johannesburg is around two hours. Does anyone have any experience with making that connection on to Windhoek? Thank you.

I have done it recently. It was just short of three hours though. I personally would go for it as I hate doing the SAPS paperwork and spending the night in Joberg ($400 approx hotel and paperwork done ahead of time) Two full hours is plenty of time for your bags to get transferred if there are no delays.
I love Namibia when are you going and where?
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

I am assuming the flight from Atlanta is the Delta flight, which gets into JNB late afternoon. If you connect to Windhoek, then you are getting in quite late and need to overnight somewhere, JNB or Windhoek. Have you looked at the South African Air options from the US or bypassing JNB altogether? Direct flights from Frankfurt to Windhoek might make for a better arangement.

I agree and may try to go the Frankfurt route next time.
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

I did that transfer. Same airline no need to pick up luggage and barely made the connecting flight. You do need to clear immigration and a new security line. I used bidair to guide me and my family through and it helped. Rifle permits and other firms have a similar service. I would suggest you use them. I would not suggest the turnaround time if you cannot check your luggage all the way to Windhoek.

You don’t really clear immigration just a passport check and very quick short security line. It is a dark hallway granted but a straight shot and no need for meet and greet.
Agreed you must have luggage checked all the way to WDH!
I’m getting excited and I’m not even the one flying..... its just that feeling of being in Africa after that long flight and then marching on to the next flight! Man...
Philip

 

[YancyW]

I have done it recently. It was just short of three hours though. I personally would go for it as I hate doing the SAPS paperwork and spending the night in Joberg ($400 approx hotel and paperwork done ahead of time) Two full hours is plenty of time for your bags to get transferred if there are no delays.
I love Namibia when are you going and where?
Philip

I don't yet. I am just trying to make the flights work using points and am still looking at options. I wanted to avoid spending the night and traveling again the next day, but that may not be a reality. I'm not sure I can check bags all the way there if I have to change airlines.

Thank you to everyone for the input, I appreciate all of it.

 

[Ryan]

High on my list of rules of long distance travel is 'Don't rely on points'. I didn't even consider using them for my two trips to Namibia, nor will I next year to South Africa. I'm not well off but the added possible grief and time bouncing around instead of straight flights isn't worth it to me. Just collect the miles from that trip and use it on something you're willing to have some more give and take with.

Now that that's off my chest... I'll repeat what others say, look into Frankfurt and a straight shot down and back from there. Done it twice, worked out great. I did have some layover time in Frankfurt, so I checked out Frankfurt once and Heidelberg the other time. Nice diversion.
Good luck.

 

[wesheltonj]

Qatar flies right into Windhoek bypassing JNB completely.

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

Hi YancyW ~ I personally would not recommend a connection time of less than 3 hours in Johannesburg when you have to clear customs, claim bags, get firearm transit permit and recheck and believe that most of the firearm expeditors agree with this as well. There are ways to get Delta and South African Air flights all on one ticket to insure that your bags would check through from Atlanta to Windhoek and then two hours should be fine when you are just "in transit" but I don't believe you would be able to do that on an award reservation. Another option for award travel would be to consider the KLM route via Amsterdam then to Windhoek since KLM is a Delta partner. You would need a firearm transit permit for Amsterdam which is just an email process and then you would avoid Johannesburg completely. There is not daily service on this route but about every other day. Hope this helps!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

The KLM flights from Amsterdam make a brief stop in Luanda, Angola both coming and going. Not a big deal, since you don't get off the plane.

 

[Philip Glass]

High on my list of rules of long distance travel is 'Don't rely on points'. I didn't even consider using them for my two trips to Namibia, nor will I next year to South Africa. I'm not well off but the added possible grief and time bouncing around instead of straight flights isn't worth it to me. Just collect the miles from that trip and use it on something you're willing to have some more give and take with.

Now that that's off my chest... I'll repeat what others say, look into Frankfurt and a straight shot down and back from there. Done it twice, worked out great. I did have some layover time in Frankfurt, so I checked out Frankfurt once and Heidelberg the other time. Nice diversion.
Good luck.

I agree I tried to use a companion pass on a hunting trip to Austria. One flight cancelled and lost it all and had to buy new tickets! $400 savings cost me $4000! Traveling international with guns just buy the ticket.
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

Hi YancyW ~ I personally would not recommend a connection time of less than 3 hours in Johannesburg when you have to clear customs, claim bags, get firearm transit permit and recheck and believe that most of the firearm expeditors agree with this as well. There are ways to get Delta and South African Air flights all on one ticket to insure that your bags would check through from Atlanta to Windhoek and then two hours should be fine when you are just "in transit" but I don't believe you would be able to do that on an award reservation. Another option for award travel would be to consider the KLM route via Amsterdam then to Windhoek since KLM is a Delta partner. You would need a firearm transit permit for Amsterdam which is just an email process and then you would avoid Johannesburg completely. There is not daily service on this route but about every other day. Hope this helps!

Lori
Is the KLM route better than Frankfurt? If so tell us why please.
I am considering doing something different next trip.
Philip

 

[sestoppelman]

As Lori says, as long as you are in transit, no need for all that baloney as if you were staying in RSA or overnighting, not recommended. As noted you have to stay overnight at either Jo or Windhoek. Do it in Windhoek then no worries, you outfitter picks you up in the morning if driving or back to the airport if flying on. I did this in July on flights booked with Lori and it all worked perfect, excepting of course the air time.. which sucks, but unfortunately there is a lot of wet real estate between Africa and anywhere else so flying is a necessary evil.