Business & First Class Flights to Johannesburg

Delta flies Atlanta–Johannesburg nonstop with Delta One Suites on the A350, and United flies Newark–Johannesburg with Polaris on the 787-9; at fifteen to sixteen hours these are among the longest flights either airline operates, and both are overnight in at least one direction. The one-stops are strong on cabin: British Airways flies London–Johannesburg twice daily on the A380 and 777 with First Class, Virgin Atlantic flies it daily in Upper Class, Emirates flies Dubai–Johannesburg several times a day including the A380 with First, Qatar Airways flies Doha–Johannesburg in Qsuite, Etihad from Abu Dhabi, and Lufthansa, SWISS, KLM, Air France and Turkish Airlines from their hubs. From the West Coast, the Gulf routing is often the same total time as connecting to Atlanta or Newark, in a better seat.

O. R. Tambo is the connecting point for the region: Airlink and South African Airways fly to Skukuza and Nelspruit (for Kruger and the Sabi Sand) in an hour, to Maun (Okavango) and Kasane (Chobe) in two, to Victoria Falls in under two, and to Cape Town in two; the Sabi Sand lodges also run direct charters from Johannesburg to their own airstrips, some from Lanseria on the other side of the city. We book the safari sector on the same ticket where the airline allows it and coordinate charter times otherwise. The Gautrain reaches Sandton — where most business hotels are — in 15 minutes.

Safari season is the southern winter, May through October: dry, cool, thin bush and animals gathered at water. September and October are the peak for game viewing and lodge rates; July and August are the coolest. December holidays and Easter bring South African family travel and full flights. November through March is the green season — hot, afternoon storms, lush bush, newborn animals — and the cheapest time to fly, with business fares from Atlanta at or below our $3,400 starting fare.