You can currently fly to Johannesburg from Brussels and Paris for only €377, including 2 pieces of checked luggage. On the outbound trip, you’ll have to spend around 19 hours in Algiers (unless you depart from Paris on a Sunday) – but it’s also a nice opportunity to explore the Algerian capital, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be considered a downside. You can even spend various days in Algiers for the same price if you want.
Be aware that most European citizens need a visa to enter Algeria. This visa should be requested at the embassy at least 4 weeks before your trip.
Our calendar displays all available dates for trips of up to 28 days for both routes. Remember that you can only avoid spending one (or more) nights in Algiers by departing from Paris on a Sunday.
You will first fly to Algiers, where you have to stay for at least one night (hotel not included) – except if you fly from Paris on a Sunday. From there, an Air Algérie Airbus A330 will fly you to Johannesburg. On the way back, you’ll have a normal layover in Algiers of around 3 hours.
Search & Book
This deal expires on September 30, 2023. The only other restriction mentioned in the fare rules is that your stay cannot exceed 3 months.
Our calendar above displays all available dates for trips of up to 4 weeks. For longer trips, check out Google Flights. You can find the cheapest prices on our Travel-Dealz flight search. From there, you can either be redirected to an online travel agency, or to Air Algerie’s website, where you’d pay around €400.
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.
Adding a Stopover in Algiers
If you wish to add a stopover in Algiers on the way out, you’ll have to use the multi-stop search. First, select a date to fly to Algiers (any date from Paris, but only Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from Brussels), then another date for the flight from Algiers to Johannesburg – keeping in mind that Air Algérie only offers that flight on Thursdays and Sundays. Then add the flight back to Paris/Brussels – either on a Thursday (to Brussels OR Paris) or on a Monday (only to Paris).
Here’s a prefilled multi-stop search form:
Mileage
As Air Algérie doesn’t belong to any alliance, you won’t earn any miles with these flights.
Information & Tips for Johannesburg
Johannesburg has 9,6 million inhabitants and is the largest city and most important business and financial center in Africa south of the Sahara. The city is well connected to Europe by air, flights for under 500€ (round trip) are becoming increasingly more common.
Best Time to Travel
The best times to visit Johannesburg are during fall (March – May) and during spring (September – Novemver). Temperatures are warm but pleasant and rainfall is comparatively rare.
From the Airport to the City
One possibility is taking the Gautrain, a type of local commuter rail. A trip to the city center takes about 25 minutes and costs approximately 12€. Taking a cab or an Uber runs you about 18€ to 24€.
→ All Dealz for Johannesburg
Cover Picture: Photo by Tembinkosi Sikupela on Unsplash