Oneworld members Iberia and Qatar Airways currently sell economy class from Madrid to Cape Town, South Africa at a fairly decent price. With a change of planes in Doha, you can reach the Southern tip of the African continent for as little as €586. Full board service and a checked bag up to 23kg is included in this fare.
Sadly, it seems that these tickets are only available through online travel agencies, as prices are significantly higher when searching for them on both airlines’ websites.
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to Skyscanner with your selected flight dates.
Flights between Madrid and Doha are either Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 or Iberia Airbus A330-300 services. A Qatar Airways A350 also hosts you on flights between Qatar and South Africa. The most time efficient itinerary consists of three Qatar Airways segments and the very last flight from Doha to Madrid with Iberia.
Most Europeans do not need a visa to enter South Africa, as long as their stay does not exceed 90 days. You merely need a passport with 2 empty pages, and a ticket to leave South Africa.
By the way, if you are looking for even cheaper tickets to Cape Town, Ethiopian Airlines has an excellent offer from Oslo for €388.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, tickets are on sale for this price until September 30, 2024. You need to stay at least five days in South Africa to get the cheapest tickets.
Google Flights helps you find additional flight dates. Since tickets on Iberia’s website are up to €300 more expensive with our redirects, we recommend buying them either from Skyscanner or using Google Flights’ redirect to the airline, which also allows for the cheapest tickets.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Miles & Points
These tickets are issued in Iberia’s booking class O. Oneworld frequent flyers earn the following for a roundtrip:
- 7,111 Avios + 58 Qpoints on Qatar Privilege Club
- 4,135 Miles on SriLankan FlySmiLes
- 3,970 Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 3,970 Award Miles + 3,142 Tier Miles on Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- 3,970 Points on Finnair Plus
- 3,970 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 3,970 Points + 20 Elite Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 3,970 Miles on Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- 3,148 Miles on American AAdvantage
- 3,147 Avios + 503 Tier Points on The British Airways Club
- 3,147 Avios + 751 Elite Points on Iberia Plus 2025
- 3,142 Points on JetBlue TrueBlue
- 3,142 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 3,142 Award Miles on Bangkok Airways FlyerBonus
- 3,142 Award Miles on Oman Air Sindbad
- 828 Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- Customize Calculation
Destination
Information & Tips for South Africa
South Africa offers a diverse range of attractions, from the iconic Table Mountain and Robben Island in Cape Town to the wildlife-rich Kruger National Park and the scenic Garden Route. The local currency is the South African rand (ZAR), and while credit cards are widely accepted, cash is still commonly used, especially in smaller towns. The cost of travel is generally affordable, with budget-friendly options available for accommodation, food, and activities. The weather varies by region: the coastal areas have mild, Mediterranean-like climates, while the inland areas can be hot and dry in summer and cooler in winter.
South Africa’s transport infrastructure is mixed in quality and convenience. Within cities, public transport is limited, with minibus taxis being common but often confusing for visitors; private cars or ride-hailing apps like Uber are more reliable. Between cities, domestic flights are the fastest option due to long distances, while intercity buses offer affordable travel, though journeys can be long. Trains exist, but are generally slow and not widely used for tourism.
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Airalo and BNESIM. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for South Africa 🇿🇦 Compared
→ All Dealz for South Africa
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