$500 Find Cheap Flights from New York to South Africa - Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from New York to South Africa departing on 8/24. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
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Cheap Flights from New York to South Africa

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
Johannesburg
Johannesburg1 stop$892
Cape Town
Cape Town1 stop$892
Durban
Durban2 stops$1,360
George
George3 stops$1,452
Skukuza
Skukuza2 stops$1,726
Mthatha
Mthatha3 stops$1,777
Upington
Upington3 stops$1,927
Johannesburg
Johannesburg1 stop$892
Cape Town
Cape Town1 stop$892
Durban
Durban2 stops$1,360
George
George3 stops$1,452
Skukuza
Skukuza2 stops$1,726
Mthatha
Mthatha3 stops$1,777
Upington
Upington3 stops$1,927

Book Cheap New York to South Africa Plane Tickets

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from New York to South Africa that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from New York to South Africa

Mon, Jul 20 - Sun, Aug 2
Virgin Atlantic Logo
1:00 pm - 5:50 pm
LGA
-
CPT
22h 50m
1 stop
Virgin Atlantic Logo
8:05 pm - 5:50 pm
CPT
-
LGA
27h 45m
1 stop
$892Virgin Atlantic
Mon, Jul 20 - Sun, Aug 2
Virgin Atlantic Logo
7:05 am - 5:50 pm
EWR
-
CPT
28h 45m
1 stop
Virgin Atlantic Logo
8:05 pm - 5:54 pm
CPT
-
EWR
27h 49m
1 stop
$892Virgin Atlantic
Fri, Aug 14 - Mon, Sep 7
Qatar Airways Logo
1:20 am - 9:10 am
JFK
-
JNB
25h 50m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
2:05 pm - 9:00 am
JNB
-
JFK
24h 55m
1 stop
$1,085Qatar Airways
Fri, Aug 28 - Mon, Sep 7
Qatar Airways Logo
1:20 am - 9:10 am
JFK
-
JNB
25h 50m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
8:55 pm - 3:10 pm
JNB
-
JFK
24h 15m
1 stop
$1,092Qatar Airways
Tue, Sep 8 - Mon, Oct 5
Kenya Airways Logo
1:45 pm - 10:10 pm
JFK
-
CPT
26h 25m
1 stop
Kenya Airways Logo
2:25 pm - 7:35 am
CPT
-
JFK
23h 10m
2 stops
$1,103Kenya Airways
Tue, Dec 1 - Tue, Dec 8
Kenya Airways Logo
1:45 pm - 10:55 am
JFK
-
JNB
38h 10m
1 stop
Kenya Airways Logo
12:05 pm - 6:35 am
JNB
-
JFK
25h 30m
1 stop
$1,104Kenya Airways
Tue, Aug 18 - Tue, Aug 25
Ethiopian Air Logo
9:45 pm - 3:55 am
EWR
-
JNB
24h 10m
2 stops
Ethiopian Air Logo
2:30 pm - 8:55 am
JNB
-
EWR
24h 25m
1 stop
$1,157Ethiopian Air
Sun, Oct 18 - Mon, Oct 26
Ethiopian Air Logo
9:45 pm - 1:00 pm
EWR
-
CPT
33h 15m
2 stops
Ethiopian Air Logo
1:50 pm - 8:10 pm
CPT
-
EWR
36h 20m
2 stops
$1,210Ethiopian Air
Sat, Oct 17 - Sun, Oct 25
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 3:20 pm
LGA
-
CPT
27h 20m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
8:50 pm - 9:31 am
CPT
-
LGA
18h 41m
1 stop
$1,625United Airlines
Wed, Oct 21 - Fri, Oct 30
United Airlines Logo
7:29 pm - 3:20 pm
LGA
-
CPT
37h 51m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
8:50 pm - 10:24 am
CPT
-
LGA
19h 34m
1 stop
$1,631United Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for New York to South Africa flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from New York to South Africa to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest New York to South Africa flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest ticket to South Africa from New York found in the last 5 days was to Cape Town, at $1,660 round-trip. The most popular route is from Newark Airport (EWR) to Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB), and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $1,710.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from New York to South Africa?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 2 stops layover the cheapest option at $1,741 on average.

What is the cheapest month to fly from New York to South Africa?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from New York to South Africa, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from New York to South Africa is November, when tickets cost $139 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are May and March, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $6,096 and $2,730 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from New York to South Africa?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from New York to South Africa, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from New York to South Africa, you should book around 2 weeks before departure, which saves you about 11% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 10 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$500
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 15% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 11% increase in price.
Flight from New York John F Kennedy Airport to OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg

FAQs - booking South Africa flights

  • Are nonstop flights available from New York to South Africa?

    If you’d like to fly nonstop from New York to South Africa, you can find direct flights from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Nonstop flights to South Africa are only available from this airport, and United Airlines is the only airline providing this service. There are at least four weekly trips from EWR to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), and the quickest nonstop flight takes about 14h 35min. JNB is the only airport in South Africa receiving nonstop flights from New York.

  • What can I do during a layover at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)?

    Most flights to regional airports in South Africa go through JNB, but there are a few things to do during a layover. Head to any observation deck and watch planes as they come and go, or grab a meal at one of several restaurants at the airport. You can also access some of the lounges by paying a single fee or go shopping at the airport’s duty-free shops. If your layover is more than 7h, head into town for a bit of exploration.

  • Which airport in South Africa should I fly to from New York?

    JNB is South Africa’s biggest airport and the primary hub for both domestic and international flights. We recommend flying into JNB, since you’ll find direct flights from EWR, you’ll be closer to attractions such as Kruger National Park, and you’ll have connections to over 20 South African destinations. However, if you plan to visit the coastal cities, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in the southern part of the country would be much better.

  • Which airport is closest to Kruger National Park?

    Kruger National Park is so large that there are nine entrance gates, and two of these are close to airports. The best airport for traveling to Kruger is JNB. You can get a nonstop flight to JNB from EWR and access Kruger National Park from the gates at Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit by car. Alternatively, you can take a connecting flight from JNB to the regional airports at Phalaborwa (PHW) or Hoedspruit (HDS). If you wish to access the southern gate, fly into Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) from JNB.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from New York to South Africa?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from New York to South Africa.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from New York to South Africa?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from New York to South Africa is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from New York to South Africa?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly from New York to South Africa with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from New York to South Africa?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from New York to South Africa up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to South Africa

  • Before your ultra-long-haul flight from New York to South Africa, you’re welcome to relax in the lounges, rest zones, or spas at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). There’s a quiet room and a “relax and recharge” area in Terminal B, and you can access the lounges by paying at the door.
  • Flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to South Africa include at least a single layover en route. KLM and Delta are the leading airlines providing these flights, and Amsterdam is the most common layover city.
  • Those looking to drive themselves in South Africa can find car rentals at the major airports in the country. Avis, Hertz, Thrifty, Europcar, and Enterprise are some popular rental agencies with counters in South African airports.
  • US citizens visiting South Africa will need a passport that is valid for at least 30 days with two consecutive blank pages. Those visiting for tourism purposes don’t need a visa for stays less than 90 days.
  • If you’re looking for cheap single-layover flights from New York airports, consider flying from JFK, which has the cheapest one-stop flights to South Africa of the three New York airports, while LaGuardia (LGA) has the most expensive flights.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from New York to South Africa

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from New York to South Africa? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.8
DeltaOverall score based on 8450 reviews
7.8Entertainment
7.8Comfort
8.1Boarding
7.2Food
8.5Crew
Airline reviews

FA was a bit strange and dodgy not very characteristic of Delta

6.0 GoodSaad, Jun 2026
LGA - ATL
Read more Delta reviews

FA was a bit strange and dodgy not very characteristic of Delta

Third flight in two months where the crew was not there. Comfort seating does not guarantee overhead bin space. Passengers with children are allowed on the plane first - if you are flying to and from Orlando, this means half the plane has boarded before you get on. And somehow all the bin space is taken up. 3 out of 5 flights have had issues with equipment or procedure. Some of these instances caused the flight to be delayed because of a "nuisance" light. One time it was a bag that had been brought on board but did not belong to anyone so we had to return to the gate. Last night we were told the "AC" on the plane doesn't work well and we're 10th for take off- because the crew was late - and that it will get cool when we're in the air. Not sure if this is usual, but I didn't think flight crew could jump seat in first class. Movie and TV selection has not been refreshed for several months- flying one to two round trips each month easily exhausts the list of content.

Great experience nice pilot very soft and easy landing and take off

Flight was delayed before take off and at landing. Baggage took 20 minutes. Flight crew would not serve full soft drink and had to ask multiple times before receiving water.

On time! There were plenty of airport employees who were able to keep us moving in the right direction. The crew on the plane were professional.

I continue to be satisfied with Delta’s excellent service out of LGA. The digit id works well and gets me through security in no time. Whenever possible, I choose Delta.

Was revoked with Jet Blue due to delay from Kenya Air

WiFi didn’t work. Flight delayed 3 hours Crew members were illiterate Seat lean back did not work.

Transparency from pilots, quick boarding and exiting the plane, staff greeted to each and everyone,

WiFi didn’t work most of the time. The usb chargers would work only occasionally for 5 mins and wouldn’t charge after that. Had to keep trying repeatedly at each of the seats in the row.

Check in was chaotic with only one counter for business class and first class. The luggage conveyor belt at JFK airport was broken so the flight departure was delayed which made the flight stressful as I had a tight connection. Although the captain said they could make up the delay, they didn’t do so.

I had a good time. However, I paid for the wifi and it was in and out the whole flight.

3 hour delay…. Nearly 2 hours sitting on tarmac. Do better, United. Or at least have the sense to not say “we hope you enjoyed your flight with us” upon disembarking.

Everything except the food and entertainment. It was a great experience though

Flight was delayed from 35 minute delayed aircraft arrival to 90 minute delay causing us to miss international connecting flight on SWISS resulting in 16 hour delay to reach detonation causing significant angst, monetary loss and discomfort. SWISS transfer desk and staff was like robots not willing to help at all.

Best part: It’s operated by All Nippon Airways. It’s quite literally comfortable, reliable and respected from boarding to landing each and every time. It’s perfection without extremity in lavishness — it’s how flying should always be!

Delays!!! Serious delays. I was told by a member of staff in LGA that I would miss my DEN to LAX flight connection, so I was put on a later flight. Due to delays I would have been able to have made my original flight, where I was sat in business class - seat 1A: I was put on my original flight but bumped from business - 1A to economy 33C. I want a refund for paying business class but only flying economy

The plane was delayed coming in and on the tarmac. I was coming from another flight so it made for a very long day. The stewardess kept trying to slam the overhead bins closed and I was worried that she had damaged my new luggage. They ran out of snacks and lccdsddd me a hummus box which was nice. It took them a very long time to pick up the garbage so I could not go to the washroom and had little time. To prepare for disbarment. The TV system was hard to control from the armrest and picture wasn’t clear. The crew did apologize several times for the lateness. It took the Denver airport an unusually long time to de-ice the plane.

Their app did not recognize my Aeroplan frequent flyer number and would not allow me access to my boarding card. Ground staff was readily available at the airport to print it out to me.

Excellent as always. Service was excellent and fully bilingual. Cannot complain .Will travel again. Always have and will continue. Highly recommended.

The TV wasn't working No music for the whole flight from JFK to LOS It was too burring.

I paid for internet that did not work and had to pay more to have it

Delay not posted, only departure time listed- not boarding time. We left an hour late and arrived 45 min late. Restrooms had backed up sinks and toilets not flushed ) passenger error). Lots of screen for entertainment didn’t work. But we arrived with our luggage

The Boeing 737 MAX on this route, flown in the middle of the night, is an UTTER FAILURE for business travellers. The whole point of business travel is to arrive alert and recover from travel quickly, and this little aeroplane with its quarter recline uncomfortable business seats does nothing for that. It’s a small step up from economy in that you have decent legroom, but that’s it. Absolute margin at the cost of the traveller.

I had a comfortable seat that makes my trip wonderful. I appreciate the Ethiopia crew, they were very helpful

My experience was great. The flight attendants were very helpful and nice, and the food was very good.

Terrible customer service I lost my bag luggage and I still haven’t received any information

The use of a domestic carrier without entertainment was disappointing and a let down

There where no ear phones provided and the food needs to improve.

I had a full row so can't imagine how this could be better

The flight de-boarded after being informed of a 3 hour delay. The gate agent said we could go to lounge. The flight ended up boarding 20 minutes later and I missed it.

My experience with American Airlines was great. Unfortunately my stroller was not located and has not been given to me and or reached out in return for in regard to information.

Pilots were fantastic - super smooth. First Class flight attendant was very attentive. Main Cabin flight attendant should try to smooth the rough edges of her voice - very shrill / punitive. Hurt my ears just to listen to her. Recognize they have a (tough) job to do - but tone over speakers needs to be less like scolding a 5 year old.

Maybe focus more on delivering a good product vs selling me a damn credit card

Crew were professional and kind. The flight was smooth. But... The internet, which we paid 35 dollars for, did not work for most of the flight. This made providing media for our child an uncomfortable hassle.

Overall fine. Seemed like one of the older model planes? Crew was mostly very kind, though some of the female attendants were a rather abrupt during the food service.

Leave on time. We waited on the plane for hour hours and it was hot and smelly

The flight attendant on my side of business class seemed like a novice and did not provide good service. Otherwise the flight was good and the entertainment system was very good. No free WiFi.

Flying in the United States with the major airlines has become so underwhelming. A 2-3hr flight in most other parts of the world with the major carriers of the area comes with newer, CLEANER aircraft and significantly better in flight service in terms of both staff attitude and a actual meal service.

I am writing to share detailed feedback regarding my recent journey with American Airlines on the New York (JFK) to New Delhi (DEL) sector, which was ultimately diverted to Jaipur (JAI) due to weather conditions. At the outset, I would like to acknowledge that this was a full long-haul flight of approximately 14–15 hours, and while the journey fulfilled its primary transport objective, several aspects of the experience warrant both recognition and constructive feedback. 1. Cabin Crew Conduct and Service Consistency While the majority of the cabin crew maintained a polite and professional demeanor, one flight attendant’s conduct was notably inconsistent with expected service standards. The tone was often directive and lacked the warmth and guest-centric engagement typically associated with long-haul service. This created a perceptible imbalance in the cabin experience. Although other crew members acknowledged and apologized for the behavior, it highlighted a gap in service standardization and supervisory oversight. 2. Inflight Experience (IFE & Comfort) The inflight entertainment system was unreliable, with content failing to load consistently throughout the journey. Seating comfort in economy class was below expectations when compared with other international long-haul carriers. Cabin environment management at times felt unsettled, with noticeable noise and movement in the aisles. 3. Disruption Handling and Communication (DEL Diversion to JAI) The diversion to Jaipur due to weather was understandably beyond the airline’s control. However, the handling of post-diversion communication and guest management was an area of concern: Information during and after the diversion was fragmented and lacked clarity Limited guidance was provided upon disembarkation regarding next steps (transport, accommodation, onward travel) Ground coordination appeared inconsistent, with hotel partners and passengers receiving incomplete or delayed updates Communication the following morning remained unclear, including last-minute changes to transfer timings This resulted in avoidable uncertainty during a critical disruption phase. 4. Positive Acknowledgment – Ground Recovery Arrangements It is important to recognize that despite the initial communication gaps, the overall recovery framework was eventually well executed: Hotel accommodation was arranged efficiently Meal vouchers were provided appropriately Transfers between airport and hotel were organized in a structured manner Given the sudden and large-scale disruption, these arrangements were commendable and reflect the airline’s ability to operationally recover once systems were in place. 5. Recommendations for Improvement In the interest of strengthening the overall customer experience, I would respectfully propose the following: Service Delivery Reinforce consistent cabin crew service standards, particularly for long-haul sectors Enhance supervisory presence to address outlier behaviors in real time Inflight Product Improve reliability of inflight entertainment systems Reassess economy seating comfort for ultra-long-haul routes Disruption Management Establish a more visible “Care & Coordination Team” during irregular operations Ensure clear, centralized communication (single source of truth) for passengers and ground partners Provide structured briefing points to hotel and transport vendors to avoid information gaps Introduce proactive guest engagement (clear next steps, timelines, reassurance) Closing Reflection: While the journey was impacted by both controllable and uncontrollable factors, the overall experience would have been significantly enhanced through greater consistency in service delivery and more structured communication during disruption. I appreciate the efforts made by the broader team in arranging accommodation and onward logistics under challenging circumstances. With improved coordination and alignment, the experience can be elevated to match the expectations of a global long-haul carrier. Thank you for your attention to this feedback. I trust it will be received constructively and contribute to ongoing service improvement. Warm regards, Soosnata Chowdhury Convert effective for airlines) Or tailor tone

there really needs to be more room with each seat for such a long flight.

The plane was delayed almost three hours because boarding was unorganized then we were delayed even longer because the plane had an issue. The plane didn't look well maintained, there was also alot of tape on the exterior. I won't fly kenya air ways again after this trip.

There was chaos checking because of a canceled flight the day prior. Also, we had an issue with tickets. The KQ agent went above a d beyond to help us get on board the flight Overall the 13+ hour flight is uncomfortable in coach. I may try to upgrade on return

For a long haul flight, the seats were too narrow. Paid for extra legroom but wish I could have paid for width! I was pressed against another person for the whole donation of the flight.

This one is not bad even it is late, but they apologize and every time they announced the update.

The kindness and good humor of all the people who this flight possible was a joy.

They fed me at the right time the flight was smooth and the captain explain everything

Food was awful and the seats were bad. No privacy in business class with the seat next to someone. 15 hours without WiFi!!!

Seriously one of the most disappoint experiences I have ever had when flying. My flight got delayed FIVE hours. Nobody wanted to help at the airport (“this is Kenyan booking, we cannot do anything”). I got on the phone with someone from Kenyan for one hour until he finally moved my ticket to a Delta ticket. Then the painful journey restarted - the Delta crew in land kept saying there was no other flight and ai had to wait. An agent called Gerard Robert was being so sarcastic I felt humiliated. He would say things like “you say you understand what I am saying but you are not understanding what so am saying”. I asked him to please speak in a less sarcastic tone and he said “I am not going to speak with you anymore, go find someone else”. These were his words. Tired, after 14 hours in a plane, I just wanted to cry. I looked for another agent, who was an angel and rebooked me to another flights. Thanks to her, I made it to my meeting in Washington-DC. I am going to send a formal complaint to Delta about agent Gerard Robert. It is not fair to speak with customers in that cynical, sarcastic tone. If one works in customer service, it ia important to mind that tones can make people feel humiliated. And turning the back to a customer by saying “Go find someone else” can’t be part of his training.

The cabin is due for a refresh - the seats are very thin and not very comfortable. The AVOD system also did not work on one of the seats and the touch screen were very glitchy. The overall cleanliness of the aircraft could be improved

Everything you need to know for your flight from New York to South Africa

Cabin class types available on flights to South Africa

Cabin classes available on flights to South Africa. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.