South Africa · JNB
Flights to Johannesburg from the UK
Johannesburg is flown direct from Heathrow overnight, and at around eleven hours it is the longest direct route we handle regularly. South Africa is only an hour or two ahead of the UK, so there is almost no jet lag — the tiredness is from the flight, not the time change. It is also the main gateway for onward flights to Cape Town, Durban and the safari airstrips.
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Flights from the UK to Johannesburg
We quote every one of these by hand. Pick a departure airport and we will come back with the real fare on your dates.
Departure dates shown are examples and move forward automatically — we are not holding these seats. Prices, where shown, are indicative and change daily.
Airport
O. R. Tambo International (JNB)
Flight time
about 11h direct from London
Best time to go
May to September, dry and best for safari
Currency
South African Rand (ZAR)
Time zone
GMT+2
Country
South Africa
Flight times are approximate and depend on the routing. Ask us for the exact schedule on your dates.
When to go to Johannesburg
Based on the climate and the school and holiday calendar, not on fares. We have no live pricing — ask us for the actual cost on your dates.
Time in Johannesburg
London
—
Johannesburg
—
2 hours ahead of London · GMT+2
How long it takes to Johannesburg
Usually connecting through
The cheapest fare is often the longest journey. Tell us which matters more and we will price both.
Flying to Johannesburg from your airport
Journey length from each UK airport — hours, not fares.
- LHRLondon Heathrow11h
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
- LGWLondon Gatwick14h–18h
via Doha or Dubai
- MANManchester14h–18h
via Doha or Dubai
- BHXBirmingham14h–18h
via Doha or Dubai
- EDIEdinburgh14h–18h
via Doha or Dubai
- GLAGlasgow14h–18h
via Doha or Dubai
Leaving from a regional airport usually means one stop — sometimes cheaper than the train to Heathrow, sometimes not. Ask us and we will price both.
Who flies to Johannesburg
These are the carriers we most often quote on this route. The cheapest is rarely the same one twice, which is the reason to let us check rather than assume.
British Airways
Virgin Atlantic
Qatar Airways
Emirates
Ethiopian AirlinesBefore you travel to Johannesburg
Entry
Entry rules differ by nationality, and several passports including British ones are treated generously for short visits. Confirm your own position on gov.uk, and note that travelling with children under 18 has extra documentation rules in South Africa.
Health
A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from or transiting a country where yellow fever is a risk — connecting through Nairobi or Addis Ababa can trigger this, so check your routing, not just your destination.
How far ahead to start
Real lead times for Johannesburg — the parts that cannot be rushed.
8 weeks before
Vaccinations
Some courses take time to complete, and a yellow fever certificate is only valid from 10 days after the jab.
On the day you book
Travel insurance
Cancellation cover only protects you against what happens after the policy starts, so buying it later leaves a gap.
1 week before
Confirm baggage
Extra allowance bought in advance costs far less than at the airport desk — the usual sting on this route.
24 hours before
Check in
Seats fill fast on busy routes and families get split up. Confirm the schedule at the same time.
Requirements depend on your nationality, not where you live, and they change without notice. Confirm yours at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice before booking anything non-refundable — or just ask us. Our travel guide covers passports, visas and vaccinations in full.
What does Johannesburg cost right now?
Fares on this route move daily and differ by UK departure airport. Tell us your dates and we will come back with a real price — including baggage, which is where these routes usually catch people out.
Flying to Johannesburg — your questions
The things people ask us most about this route. Anything else, just call 020 4618 3838.
The direct flight is about 11h direct from London. With one stop it is typically 14–18 hours depending on the layover, so the cheapest ticket is often the longest day.
EmiratesQatar Airways
Turkish Airlines
Kenya AirwaysEthiopian AirlinesBritish Airways
Saudia
Etihad Airways
KLM
LufthansaVirgin AtlanticEmiratesQatar AirwaysTurkish AirlinesKenya AirwaysEthiopian AirlinesBritish AirwaysSaudiaEtihad AirwaysKLMLufthansaVirgin AtlanticTop flight destinations in Africa
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