If you’re planning on flying to South Africa, the Star Alliance member SWISS has great prices for you. You can fly to Johannesburg from Copenhagen, Dublin and Paris starting at €410. Adding 23 kg of luggage increases the price by €80 – €110, depending on the route.
Our calendar displays all available dates for up to €500 and can redirect you to SWISS’ booking site:
You will first fly to Zurich, where you’d board a Boeing 777 with 3-4-3 seating. There are two rows of 2-4-2 in the back of the plane, which cost an additional €39. If you want extra legroom, sitting in a seat at the emergency exit would require an additional €110 in each direction.
Search & Book
The fare rules mention no major restrictions, though the flights are evidently only available in September. You can see all available dates in our calendar above, or on Google Flights. You should definitely book directly on Swiss.com.
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
Swiss issue this tickets in booking class K. To give you an example, a Swiss roundtrip from Dublin should roughly get you:
- 3,600 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 3,016 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 3,000 Award Miles + 600 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 3,000 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 3,000 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 3,000 Miles on ITA Volare
- 1,304 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- Customize Calculation
You can use our mileage calculator if you want to check how many miles or points you will earn with a different routing:
Destination
Hotel prices in Johannesburg usually start at roughly €40-45, depending on the hotel category and the specific dates. Whichever category and hotel you opt for, make sure to get the best price! Our recommendation is to search on booking.com, or even on our own Travel-Dealz hotel search:
Information & Tips for Johannesburg
Johannesburg is known for its role in South Africa’s history, with key sights like the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, and Soweto’s Vilakazi Street. The local currency is the South African rand (ZAR), and most places accept cards, though cash can be useful in smaller shops and markets. Prices are generally affordable compared to global standards. The city has a mild, high-altitude climate—summers (October to March) are warm with afternoon thunderstorms, while winters are dry and sunny with cool nights.
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 Johannesburg
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