G'day,
I will be traveling from Heathrow to Johannesburg, and then connecting with another plane (that I have to check in on) to reach Tana. Does anyone have insights or advice about doing this or what the Johannesburg airport is like?
Our plane from Heathrow lands at 8:20 am and then our connecting flight to Tana is at 9:35 am. I contacted South African Airlines to make sure this was enough time to make the connection, and it was "legal" and per their system it is.
Thank you much!
The last time I transited Johannesburg for Madagascar it was possible to check my baggage all the way through to Tana. If you can do this, then you can follow transit signs at Johannesburg airport which allow you to reach a desk where you can check in for your onward flight without going through immigration. It's a very quick procedure.
If, on the other hand, you have to go through baggage claim, pick up your baggage and check it in again with all the security procedures that involves, then 75 minutes is very tight indeed.
Misoatra. I spoke to representative at Virgin Atlantic, who I will fly with the first part of the flight from NYC to Heathrow, and then transfer to South African Airways, and supposedly the luggage will through to Tana, and we won't need to recheck it, I will only need to check in with SA Airlink which is the operating carrier, but still "considered" South African Airways.
Any other tips?
Thanks again. By the way, how often do you go to Madagascar, ever been to Manakara or Vohipeno?
Hi,
The only other tip I can give is keep a careful look out for the transit signs - I missed one and had to be called back by my kids, who were fortunately more observant.
I go to Madagascar as often as my day job allows, which is currently twice a year for about five or six weeks each.
I haven't been to Manakara or Vohipeno, though it's an area I'd love to go to. Maroantsetra and to a lesser extent Mananara Nord are my "home base" in the country. Have you ever been up there?
I haven't been up there, but my husband shot a documentary up there for a conservation NGO, and he said it was lovely. Apparently there are nice hotels, a but rustic, but well taken care of.
I lived in the Manakara area for two years, so I know it well. You should visit.
april7,
If you don't have to re-check luggage then you have plenty of time. A tip: Check out my post about theft from my luggage when I traveled through OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. I had things stolen on my way to and from Tana.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1707511&tstart=15