Oneworld flagship carrier British Airways is currently selling cheap Business Class tickets from Amsterdam to the South African cities of Johannesburg and Durban. Flight times are ideal, and 2 x 32 kg of luggage is included.
From Amsterdam, you would fly to London on an Airbus A320, and from there either fly to Johannesburg on the huge Airbus A380 or to Durban on a Boeing 787-Dreamliner.
The long-haul flight to South Africa is roughly 12 hours long, so you’ll have quite some time to enjoy the luxuries of Business Class.
Search & Book
The fare rules basically state almost no restrictions. You just have to stay there for at least one Sunday and not over 12 months. Sadly, British Airways doesn’t state until when this deal will be available.
Finding available dates is easiest with Google Flights. Once you’ve found them, you can then look for the cheapest fare on Skyscanner. You can, of course, also book the flights directly on britishairways.com, but their prices are somewhat more expensive.
We’ve put together an availability calendar to help you find available dates for trips of 2-5 days (longer trips will usually cost the same for those starting dates). Once, you’ve selected your dates, you’ll be redirected to Skyscanner.
Miles
The short flight to/from Amsterdam is issued in class J, and the long flight to South Africa in class I. That will get you the following amounts of miles (based on a roundtrip to Johannesburg):
- 31,696 Award Miles + 19,418 Elite Qualifying Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 19,418 Avios + 1,150 Elite Points on Iberia Plus
- 18,068 Avios + 360 Tier Points on British Airways Executive Club
- 18,068 Miles on American AAdvantage
- 18,068 Points on Finnair Plus
- 18,068 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 14,674 Avios + 86 Qpoints on Qatar Privilege Club
- 14,674 AsiaMiles + 180 Club Points on Asia Miles
- 14,674 Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 14,674 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 14,674 Miles on Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- 14,674 Miles on Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- 14,674 Miles on SriLankan FlySmiLes
- 11,854 Points + 24 Elite Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
British Airways Business Class
British Airways’ Club World Business Class
BA’s Business Class is subject to some mixed reviews. While it offers lie-flat seats in most aircraft configurations, they are deemed to be narrow by some customers. Since not all seats are facing forward, you might have to endure a long trip facing to the rear end of the cabin.
Further, that some business fares do not include free seat selection is criticized, as it may cost €60 to select the seat of your choice. A more detailed review of BA’s 777 Business Class can be read here. Their Boeing 787 features a similar layout that is reviewed here.
Information & Tips for South Africa
South Africa is the touristically most visited country in the south of Africa. Whether its Safaris, tours of wine regions or the Table Mountain – visitors won’t be disappointed!
Traditionally, flights from Europa to South Africa have been quite expensive. In recent years however, airlines such as Iberia, Egyptair and British Airways have been offering cheaper and cheaper flights – even in premium cabins! If you are flexible in regards to your point of departure, the array of airlines with cheap tickets becomes even greater.
Best Time to Visit
South Africa is a huge country and therefore doesn’t have a single best time to visit. It really depends on what you want to see. The cities Johannesburg and Cape Town have the best weather in Fall (March – Mai) and Spring (September – November).
Immigration & Visa Requirements
If you have a valid EU passport and a valid return ticket, you will be given a visitor’s visa with a validity of 90 days. Turn to the ministry of foreign affairs of your country for more information.
Currency
The currency used in South Africa is the Rand (ZAR). One Euro are approximately 16 ZAR. Make sure to use a credit card that does not charge high fees for withdrawals or payments in foreign currencies.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
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
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