S$406 Cheap Flights to Johannesburg

O.R. Tambo Intl. Airport (JNB) is the main airport in Johannesburg.

It's 21 kilometres from Johannesburg Airport to downtown Johannesburg. Make things easy by researching the quickest way of commuting from the airport to the city centre before you touchdown.

If you're hopping on a flight to Johannesburg, you'll most likely arrive at O.R. Tambo Intl. Airport (JNB) (21 kilometres from downtown). HLA (32 kilometres from downtown) is the other main airport here.

There are 44 air carriers that jet into Johannesburg from 76 airports across the globe.

In general, travellers opt to fly with Safair, South African Airways and Lift when heading to Johannesburg. The largest number of these flights arrive from Cape Town, with Safair flying this route the most frequently.

Flying to someplace new is much easier when there aren't any stopovers to worry about. If you're off to Johannesburg, the fantastic news is that there are roughly 1,838 direct flights each week.

The most popular flights to Johannesburg depart from Cape Town, Durban and Harare airports.

Which airport you depart from determines how long you'll be strapped into your seat. From Cape Town to Johannesburg, the average flight time is 2 hours and 6 minutes. From Durban it's typically 1 hour and 12 minutes, and from Harare it's 1 hour and 46 minutes.

We've all come across those jet-setters who somehow manage to nab extremely cheap plane tickets every time they fly. Would you like to know how to do it for your Johannesburg holiday? Don't leave it until the last moment to secure your flight. Also, do some online research and compare your options. If your destination has multiple airports, you may be able to pick up a better price by flying into a smaller terminal. Last of all, another easy way to save some cash is be ready to book at a moment's notice. If you find an irresistible bargain, don't hesitate — snap it up while the opportunity's there.

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be a real challenge. But there's no need to worry. Follow these helpful hints and enjoy a comfortable start to your holiday in Johannesburg. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Firstly, and most importantly, pack your passport, travel documents, bank cards and vital medications. Next, you'll need some in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A thrilling book and a laptop filled with your favourite movies are some terrific options. If you hope to take a short snooze, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones will also be useful. Finally, leave space for a toothbrush and some deodorant so you'll arrive at your destination looking fresh and raring to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have sharp objects (like a knife or scissors) hiding in the bottom of your carry-on luggage. Other banned items include flammable or explosive products, such as fuel and matches, and liquids and gels in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• You'll want to choose comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes by donning layers, and wear flat, slightly roomy shoes like slip-ons.
• It's likely you've heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by long periods of inactivity. To reduce your risk on board, drink lots of water, consider wearing compression socks or tights and move your legs and feet often.

As savvy travellers know, the secret is to be well prepared before you reach airport security. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Johannesburg in the blink of an eye. Follow these tips and get your holiday off to a terrific start:

• Be sure to keep your travel documents and passport close by. They'll be the first things you'll be asked to show at security.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on luggage must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might set the alarms off. Personal belongings such as your jacket, belt and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All electronic gadgets, including your laptop and phone, will also need to be scanned separately.
• Any liquids or gels, such as shampoo or hand cream, that you want to take on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), clear zip-lock bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you several minutes. Hiking or heavy-style boots are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Lightweight sneakers usually aren't.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp or pointed objects, put them in your checked baggage. They won't be allowed on board and will be confiscated.