Star Alliance member Ethiopian Airlines offers cheap flights from Brussels to Johannesburg and Cape Town. The cheapest flights from Brussels start at €492. This fare includes full board service and two pieces of luggage up to 23 kg. For a bit more, you can also start your trip in six other European cities, including Madrid, Milan and Rome.
You can reach Johannesburg for less than €550 from:
- Brussels at €492
- Marseille at €492 (two stops)
- Copenhagen at €522 (~DKK 3,893) (two stops)
- Vienna at €525
- Rome at €531
- Madrid at €540 (two stops)
- Milan at €548
You can also get to Cape Town from the following cities:
Our calendar displays all available dates for €550 or less. It will redirect you to Ethiopian Air’s booking site.
The flights are via Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines serves Europe with its Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, both sporting a 3-3-3 seating pattern in economy class. Flights from Copenhagen to Addis Ababa have a technical stop in Vienna, just like flights from/to Marseille and Madrid have an additional stop in Rome. You cannot leave the plane during these stops.
Your connections from Ethiopia to South Africa are widebody services, too.
Search & Book
The fare rules give no sales period, but a travel period from January through December 2024, excluding July. A minimum stay of four days is necessary to get the lowest fare, while your stay may not exceed one month.
According to our calendar above, these fares are available from January until June, as well as on a few dates in October. Feel free to use Google Flights to check out the availability for flights with longer layovers. We recommend booking these tickets directly on Ethiopian’s website.
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.
Mileage
These tickets are issued in booking class O. To give you an example, flying from Brussels to Johannesburg would get you:
- 12,040 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 6,020 Award Miles + 1,000 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 3,612 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 3,010 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 3,010 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- 3,010 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 3,010 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
Destination
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: Foto von Simon Hurry auf Unsplash
Comments (2)
I would include some information about the political and security situation in Ethiopia as people transfer through Addis.
You’re right. We added those, thanks for the suggestion.