Star Alliance member Lufthansa and its subsidiary SWISS are selling their flights to Johannesburg at a far cheaper price than usual if you depart from Riga or Tallinn. The Light fare that only includes 8 kg of hand luggage starts at €404, while the fare that includes 23 kg of checked luggage costs €484. Star Alliance Gold members, however, can bring 23 kg of luggage even when booking the Light fare. These prices can be found in January and February 2024.
Our calendar displays all available dates from both cities and can redirect you to Lufthansa’s booking site:
Usually, the flights are operated by Lufthansa via Frankfurt, using a Boeing 747 for the 10-hour long-haul flight. On a few dates, however, you can also fly with SWISS via Zurich, sitting in a Boeing 777. I prefer Lufthansa over SWISS, as flying in a Boeing 747 is an experience that has become quite rare, and I also value Lufthansa having power sockets in its economy class (unlike SWISS). However, SWISS will get you more miles at some programs, so you’ll have to see what makes more sense.
Search & Book
The fare rules mention a minimum stay requirement of 6 days (or a Sunday). As you can see on our calendar above (or on Google Flights), the availability is limited to January and February 2024. You can get the cheapest price directly on Lufthansa’s website.
Mileage
The tickets are issued in booking class K. To give you an example, flying from Riga to Johannesburg via Frankfurt (and back) would get you:
- 3,714 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 3,094 Award Miles + 618 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 3,094 CV Points on Vistara Club Vistara
- 2,950 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 1,304 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
Destination
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
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
Cover Picture: Photo by Yassine Khalfalli on Unsplash