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Anyone worried about making their connecting flight out of Johannesburg?

MishaW

I've read a few accounts of delayed flights from Victoria Falls to ORT, leading to missed (or nearly-missed) flights home. Is anyone giving themselves extra time to make their flight home? Right now we're booked on a flight back to Seattle leaving at 7:10pm, but I'm considering taking the next flight and then staying in Dubai for a few nights just to see it.

Comments

Michelle5555

We just flew home last Tuesday. The flight from Victoria Falls was slightly delayed, but we made it to Johannesburg before 4 pm. Our flight to Newark, which we were more concerned about, was 9:20 pm. A 7 pm flight should be OK, but I understand the concern.

MishaW

Thanks for the feedback

mil

better and easier than NY.

Cher

Is there a set departure time for the flight from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg? We have the Newark flight at 9:20 as well & are wondering how we will be spending our day. Hopefully not sitting at the airport for hours:)

bucketlist

There are nice lounges at the airport if your fare qualifies. Shopping ok. It is better to get there early. At one point it was a hassle to come back from Victoria and but last fall we were apparently the first group that was able to arrive and stay in the airport without having to check in.

British

We are very fortunate to have been to Victoria Falls three times. It is such a hassle to fly to or from there. We intend to keep going back to Africa so I wish Tauck would do a Southern Africa tour that does not include it.

Smiling Sam

British - I think you’re in a very small group of travelers that have been to Southern Africa so many times that you’re tired of seeing Victoria Falls.

My first trip there will be coming up next year. Victoria Falls was one of the main drivers for the trip. I could be wrong, but the number of travelers that want to see Victoria Falls is why almost all of their tours have it as a component of the tour.

British

Of course, but when you start booking flights you will see what I mean

Smiling Sam

British - the flights are already booked. The arrival time from Victoria Falls back to Johannesburg ruled out a good price from Turkish Airlines. Ended up booking flights* on Emirates. Will be our first time using them. This will be our first trip with two legs longer than 10 hours both coming and going. We’ve had longer legs, but not two of this length going each way.

As is usually the case with airline tickets, when you live in a minor hub like Tucson you have to be creative or else spend big, big money. To save decent money our Emirates flights fly out of LAX and return to SEA. We use miles to get to LAX and home from SEA.

British

We’ve just now managed to book flights to New Zealand on air miles, but like traveling from Vic Falls, the tour finishes in Queenstown which really restricts flight choices. I can’t believe we had enough points, Tauck was quoting $13000 each.

gladysorlando984

When I went to South Africa, the flight from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe and the flight from Zimbabwe to Johannesburg were included in the tour. The flights I booked were from Orlando to Cape Town and Johannesburg to Orlando.

Sam the flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta (where I always have to go with Delta) was 16 hours.

Smiling Sam

Gladys - We’ve had some long single legs before as well - Seattle to Singapore and LAX to Melbourne come to mind. Both were in the 15-16 hours length. The thing about the SA flights is that it will be a 10+ hour leg, then a bit of a layover, and then another 10+ hour leg.

I hope I survive! 😂

gladysorlando984

Sam - Those are 2 long ones, at least after the 16 hour one I had a short flight to Orlando. Hope you have enough room to spread out or a flat bed.

British

We flew to South Africa on Economy in the past, same with Kenya and Tanzania. We flew to Australia and then New Zealand on separate tours on Premium economy then too. My tip was always that if we could not afford upgrades on flights to arrive two days early to help recover and certainly an extra night in an hotel is much cheaper than a flight upgrade.

cherylszczesniak

Leaving Victoria Falls what time is a good time to plan for a flight home?

Goddess

If you are on the South Africa: An Elegant Adventure tour, the flight from Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) to Johannesburg in an included flight as part of the tour. You don't pick the departure time, Tauck arranges the flight.

British

Not when we took the tour many years ago, I guess they changed it to reduce difficulties going forward.

Mary Margaret McClure

Never had any issues with connecting flights departing Jo'burg. Took the nonstop from Jo'burg back to Newark on our return to the US on United. Safe travels to all, Africa was fabulous!

Smiling Sam

cherylszczesniak - Leaving Victoria Falls what time is a good time to plan for a flight home?

If you are referring to your flight home from Johannesburg after the included flight from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg (as part of the South Africa and Elegant Adventure), then I'd recommend an evening flight (after 7 PM). I'm sure Tauck can advise you as to the earliest departure out of Johannesburg you should schedule.

We went on that tour this last April. I forget the exact time we got back to Johannesburg, but my recollection was it was in the mid-afternoon 3-4 PM.

Allowing 3-4 hours to gather your bags, clear customs, and check-in to your next flight seems like a minimum amount that I'd want to consider.

It seems like we had about a 45 minute wait to clear customs and then another 30 minutes to gather bags, but that is likely variable day-to-day.

TravellinTracey

In 2027, Tauck no longer includes the flight from the Falls back to Johannesburg.

buonviaggio

Wow, really? That’s a bummer!

Mary Margaret McClure

All air travel within South Africa (Airlink Airlines) was arranged, and included, in our Tauck South Africa Elegant Adventure tour. Has the air travel itinerary changed?

We returned from Victoria Falls to Jo'burg mid-afternoon on Airlink, and caught an evening flight back to the US, same day.

It was a smooth transition/connection in Jo'burg, hopefully the itinerary hasn't changed.