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Cheap Flights to South Africa

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Johannesburg
Johannesburg1 stop$937
Cape Town
Cape Town1 stop$931
Durban
Durban2 stops$1,282
Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth2 stops$1,386
Hoedspruit
Hoedspruit2 stops$1,599
George
George2 stops$1,440
Skukuza
Skukuza2 stops$1,510
East London
East London3 stops$1,478
Richards Bay
Richards Bay2 stops$1,929
Polokwane
Polokwane2 stops$1,434
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg2 stops$1,624
Kimberley
Kimberley2 stops$1,762
Mthatha
Mthatha2 stops$1,644
Upington
Upington2 stops$1,610
Johannesburg
Johannesburg1 stop$937
Cape Town
Cape Town1 stop$931
Durban
Durban2 stops$1,282
Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth2 stops$1,386
Hoedspruit
Hoedspruit2 stops$1,599
George
George2 stops$1,440
Skukuza
Skukuza2 stops$1,510
East London
East London3 stops$1,478
Richards Bay
Richards Bay2 stops$1,929
Polokwane
Polokwane2 stops$1,434
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg2 stops$1,624
Kimberley
Kimberley2 stops$1,762
Mthatha
Mthatha2 stops$1,644
Upington
Upington2 stops$1,610
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to South Africa

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

What is the cheapest flight to South Africa?

The cheapest ticket to South Africa from the United States found in the last 5 days was to Cape Town, at $928 round-trip. The most popular route is Atlanta (ATL) to Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $1,649.

What is the cheapest month to fly from the United States to South Africa?

The cheapest month for flights from the United States to South Africa is February, when tickets cost $831 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and July, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,178 and $1,167 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from the United States to South Africa?

To get a below average price on the flight from the United States to South Africa, you should book around 2 weeks before departure, which saves you about 21% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 10 weeks before departure.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in South Africa?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in South Africa is Cape Town Intl Airport (CPT), with an average flight price of $1,375.

Good to know

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$488
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 17% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 17% increase in price.
Flight from New York John F Kennedy Airport to Cape Town

FAQs - booking South Africa flights

  • Are there nonstop flights to South Africa?

    Although there are flights from the United States available to over a dozen different small and large cities throughout South Africa, the only nonstop flights from the US to South Africa arrive in Johannesburg. Some of the nonstop flights to Johannesburg are available from Atlanta and Washington, DC.

  • Do I need a visa to enter South Africa?

    To visit South Africa for a duration of up to 90 days, United States nationals are not required to acquire a visa in advance. Instead, a visitor’s visa can be obtained at the port of entry on arrival. Official visa rules can be found on South Africa’s government immigration website and are subject to change without notice.

  • Where should I fly to if I want to visit Kruger National Park?

    If you’re one of the many tourists heading to South Africa to visit the Kruger National Park, it can be handy to fly into Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP). Although there are no direct routes, this airport gives direct access to the southern section of Kruger National Park. One of the most common layovers is in Johannesburg and you can find that more than one airline operates the route. Some of the companies are South Africa and jetBlue.

  • I want to visit Table Mountain in South Africa, which city should I fly to?

    Table Mountain is another extremely popular tourist destination in South Africa, and it lies just outside of the city of Cape Town. To get there, you can fly into Cape Town then take one of the many available buses or taxis to the base of Table Mountain, where you can either hike or take a cable car the rest of the way.

  • What transport options do I have from Oliver Tambo International Airport?

    JNB connects to a train link system that offers transit to and from the airport. You could take a train to the city center when visiting South Africa and land at Tambo Airport. The train link runs at 12-minute intervals and operates between 5:15 a.m. and 10 p.m. You can also hire a metered taxi at the ground transportation area. You can use hotel shuttles serving the airport if you check into one of the hotels.

  • Do South African airports offer accessible services to passengers with special needs?

    Passengers with reduced mobility can request wheelchairs from the airlines. You can request pre-boarding, boarding, and aisle chair assistance at any of the airports. The airports have wheelchair-accessible facilities to allow for independent access by passengers with limited mobility. To acquire the accessibility services, ensure you make a reservation at least two days before your travel date. The airports also have facilities suited for hard-of-hearing passengers and the visually impaired.

  • Can I rent a car at South Africa's airports?

    Yes, South Africa's airports offer car rental services for convenient movement around the country. The airports' car rental agencies include Avis, Capital, Europcar, Select, Thrifty, and Woodford car rental. To rent a vehicle, you must be at least 18 years old, a valid driver's license holder for at least a year, and an International Driver's Permit holder. The renting process is easy as you can drive out of the airport with your rental car upon landing.

  • What are the most common layover cities when flying to South Africa?

    You can opt for direct flights from the U.S. to different parts of South Africa. However, if a flight with layovers fits you, there are several options. The layover destination you choose depends on the origin city and the destination city in SA. If you are flying into SA Johannesburg from Chicago's ORD, you can have your layover in Paris (CGD) or Istanbul (IST). From ATL, you can stop in Amsterdam (AMS). You can also have your layover at Amsterdam or Frankfurt (FRA) when flying to SA from New York JFK.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from the United States 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 the United States to South Africa.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from the United States 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 the United States 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 the United States 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 the United States 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 the United States to South Africa up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to South Africa?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to South Africa is Wednesday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as $1,757. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Saturday, where round-trip prices are $2,052 on average.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to South Africa

  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest South Africa flight deals.
  • Getting to South Africa will almost certainly involve a layover, which commonly also includes a change in airline. One of the most common (and most affordable) routes to South Africa from the United States is from New York City (JFK Airport) to Johannesburg. This route is nonstop and is operated by South Africa Airways.
  • When booking your flight to South Africa, you’ll have no shortage of airports to choose from. There are more than 15 international airports in South Africa that you can fly to from the United States, with the airports in Johannesburg and Cape Town seeing the most international air traffic.
  • Heading to the Valley of 1,000 hills? This popular attraction is located in the Durban area. To get there, you’ll have to fly into Durban King Shaka International Airport (DUR). Located in the city of La Mercy, the airport is reachable via a layover in Johannesburg.
  • If you’re one of the many tourists heading to South Africa to hike up to Lion’s Head, you’ll have to fly into Cape Town for convenient access. Common layovers between the US and Cape Town include Madrid and Johannesburg.
  • To reach Ballito (nicknamed the Dolphin Coast), your best option is to fly into Durban King Shaka International Airport. Direct flights to this airport aren’t available from the US, with most involving a layover in Johannesburg.
  • South Africa has three main international airports spread through its three major cities — Johannesburg's Oliver Tambo Airport (JNB), Cape Town's Airport (CPT), and Durban's King Shaka Airport (DUR). CPT is the metropolitan area's main gateway, JNB has good accessibility and connectivity, and DUR is the best regional airport in South Africa.
  • Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg is South Africa's primary hub, the busiest in the continent and the center for South African Airways. If you are flying into South Africa from the U.S., consider landing in JNB, as it serves six continents globally.
  • Johannesburg is South Africa's gateway and an entry point for direct flights from the U.S. All direct flights from the U.S. land in Johannesburg from Atlanta (ATL), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD). The destination airport is JNB.
  • If you are flying to Oliver Tambo Airport, the airport is easy to maneuver. JNB consists of two terminals, A and B, with a central terminal building handling luggage and check-in connecting the two terminals. You can walk to either of the terminals.
  • If you are visiting the metropolitan area of South Africa, fly into Cape Town Airport, which offers a hassle-free travel experience. The airport is the only one in the metro area offering scheduled passenger services.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to South Africa

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from the United States 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 8529 reviews
7.2Food
7.8Comfort
8.5Crew
8.1Boarding
7.8Entertainment
Airline reviews

Noting this only because it’s so unusual for delta: this was just an uncomfortable flight. The jet ridge was too hot and the plane wasn’t any better. By the time we got off the ground the AC was on but for such a short flight it was almost too late.

4.0 OkayJim, Aug 2026
Read more Delta reviews

Noting this only because it’s so unusual for delta: this was just an uncomfortable flight. The jet ridge was too hot and the plane wasn’t any better. By the time we got off the ground the AC was on but for such a short flight it was almost too late.

1) It was extremely hot in the cabin. All the passengers were sweating and it almost became suffocating 2) It was a 50 min flight but there was no service. How can a 50 minute flight not have any drink/snack service?

Very bad multiple confusion and miscommunication which i ended up missing my flight.

There was no food, so :( to that one. The flight was delayed by 3 hours. Not Delta's fault. Not the crew's fault. Considering how tired all us passengers were, everything went surprisingly well. The flight crew were very helpful, friendly, and professional. I always fly Delta.

Delta is a perfect partner, offering the gold standard across the board.

Our flight from Detroit to LaGuardia on Thursday 8/20 was delayed from 555 to 910 due to storms and a ground stop at LGA. It’s never fun to be stuck at the airport but I thought the desk crew and captain handled it well and kept us informed. I especially liked how they referred to us as their “LaGuardia family.” I am a loyal delta customer and this is one of the reasons why.

Terrible. Waited on runway for 1+ hour after landing and then was brought to wrong terminal

The flights were on time; all went as expected which is a big positive! No delays! There was no food or drink service in any legs, which I understand due to the short flight time.

They announced a mechanical issue prior to boarding Said it was fixed, we boarded Waited Then learned it was not fixed Had to deplane and go to new gate Bought wifi on plane and it never worked

The food was terrible especially for a 15 hour international flight. The crew was unpleasant as well.

Qatar Airways has consistently set a standard in my mind that very few airlines manage to sustain, and once again, this journey in Economy Class lived up to that expectation. As an avid globetrotter who travels extensively for work, I experience many airlines, service cultures, and levels of hospitality. Yet there is something reassuringly consistent about Qatar Airways. It is not simply the onboard service, but the entire experience: the professionalism, courtesy, warmth, attentiveness, and genuine sense of hospitality. The cabin crew are exceptionally well trained, composed, aligned, and polished in their delivery, yet their interactions rarely feel mechanical. They remain remarkably courteous while retaining a genuine human warmth and an apparent eagerness to assist. On almost every Qatar journey, there are individual crew members who somehow manage to stand out and make the experience even more memorable. What I value most is the consistency. Qatar Airways has established a certain benchmark of expectation for me and, over many journeys, has never underdelivered against it. There is a sense of confidence and ease that comes with boarding a Qatar flight because I know the overall experience will be thoughtfully delivered. For someone who spends a considerable amount of time travelling, that peace of mind matters enormously. Qatar Airways remains one of the airlines I genuinely enjoy flying, not because of any single aspect of the service, but because of the complete package and the remarkable consistency with which it is delivered. The only disappointment on this occasion was that my luggage did not arrive with me at my final destination in Kolkata (CCU), following my journey from Seattle (SEA) via Doha (DOH). Unfortunately, the baggage was delayed in Doha. A baggage exception report is already on file with the local airport team in CCU. Given the confidence Qatar Airways has built with me over the years, I remain optimistic that they will once again live up to that expectation, work their magic, and reunite me with my luggage within the next 24 hours. Looking forward to a swift resolution and, notwithstanding this final hiccup, another thoroughly enjoyable Qatar Airways journey.

Mediocre movies Too cold Didn’t have extra blankets Check in was too long (60-70 min coming 3 hours early) Breakfast was terrible Great WiFi however And smooth ride Dinner was decent

Really good food and service. Qatar Airways is again and again provided an exceptional experience.

Extremely uncomfortable seats with very little cushioning, unable to recline enough to sleep comfortably on this 13 hour overnight flight. My body was in pain by the end.

When we checked in at the Siem Reap Airport in Cambodia, we were only given three boarding passes and told that we would have to check in with American when we arrived in Boston. This was a source of stress for us. After we landed in Boston, we had a long passage from Terminal E to Terminal B (American Airline ticketing counter). Because the electronic ticketing kiosks for check-in would not recognize our Confirmation Code, we had to wait for an hour in a long line where only two AA reps were taking care of Special Services passengers. In many years of both business and recreational travel, I have never had this experience. I would expect more from AA being in partnership with other airlines to do a better job with this.

Our experience on the Doha to Hyderabad segment was extremely stressful due to prolonged delays and a lack of clear communication from the airline. We were traveling as a family, including children, and the uncertainty around timing and next steps caused significant distress. There was very little proactive information provided during the delay, and we were not given clear written explanations about what was happening or how long it might take. This made it difficult to manage the situation, especially while caring for children in a transit environment. In addition, one member of our party was ultimately unable to continue travel, which added to the emotional strain and disruption of the trip. Overall, the experience highlighted gaps in communication, customer care, and handling of unexpected situations. We are sharing this feedback so that future passengers, especially families, are supported with clearer communication and better assistance during irregular operations.

The seat cushions are absolutely lacking, not sure if they know the passengers are traveling for 14 hours straight, but the padding made our back and butt ache like crazy. The entertainment console had its own problems, either the headphone jack wasn't working or the power outlet via usb or ac outlet was not working. Not to mention the seat handles were not adjustable in some planes in the middle or on the aisle. Qatar/Indigo may be operating a very old fleet of planes to make as much profit as possible, but passengers may not be following them for long, should this treatment of its customers continue. Qatar/Indigo, wake up and do it right by your customers, or they may not be your customers anymore.

It would help id flight crew were not rude and showed some courtesy. They were shouting at passengers and yelling instructions as if we were school children at lunch cafeteria!!

I am a big person and have back pain and swelling in my legs, so this was a challenging flight due to confined space. I didn't find the crew very friendly either. I will think twice before flying long distances with Qatar again, due to the lack of legroom.

All good. Over four hours flight if provided snacks like Qatar Airways would be better

I always travel on Turkish Airlines but seriously I am I am considering to change because this is not the first time that the flight attendant are rude and they dont help. I asked for cold water with ice 5 times and I got water with no ice and this is not the first time to ask for something and you dont get it. Also I noticed this behavior only towards people who are not turkish.

There were not enough extra leg room options to purchase. Also the seat Infront of mine was broken and the gentleman literally laid back into my lap for the whole trip. This was the most uncomfortable trip I have ever been on

A lot of things can be done to improve in flight experience

Average at every level . Poor entertainment selection. Boarding was very poor and disorganized. Flight was late by one hour .

Spent over $20k on for business class tickets from DFW. They used a very old Boeing 777 with old Business class cabin which was unclean and stained seats. On a route they normally operate the modern Boeing 787. The cabin heat was set to hot for 11 hours. On the IST LHE route the business class experience got even worse. They operate an even older Airbus A330 where trip was falling apart, seat recline did not operate and the whole experience left us hugely disappointed. Next time we likely will shift to better quality product which stands up to their hype. Turkish need to relook at their fleet plans and not use their worst assets of perceived week markets such as Pakistan.

The flight from Houston to Chicago was delayed, causing us to miss our connecting flight to Madrid, losing our Rental Car booking in Bologna taking alternative travel routes to get to our initial destination in Pizza by the 15th. We got the notification of the delay as we were traveling the 3 1/2 hours from Corpus Christi, Texas to Houston Texas for the initial flight. The delays hauling luggage all over Milan‘s Central train station to catch trains to get to Pizza the same day resulting us arriving in Pizza at 2 AM leaving us no time to rest as there was a 9 o’clock checkout time the next morning. The first 72 hours of the trip with nothing but headache, a knee injury from the excessive walking and a delayed car rental replacement, which ended up costing significantly more.

We flew business class and it was impressive. So comfortable with delicious food and very attentive and polite staff. Will definitely fly Turkish airlines again.

Make sure to request a vegetarian meal in advance. They printed out menus for all passengers with the options but by the time they were halfway through (for breakfast and dinner), the vegetarian options were already all taken.

Very good except the boarding process too forever and wasn’t organized by group. I had a heavy pack or I wouldn’t have minded. I was in business. There were no audible announcements in the waiting area about boarding and everyone packed into the boarding area. Then boarding stopped for a long time but the staff made no announcements to update waiting passengers about the holdup. The flight was good after we got on.

This is the first and last time I will be traveling Turkish airlines. The flight was delayed three times. Second time we sat on the aircraft for approximately an hour and a half. Initially told that the delay would only be 15 minutes then no explanation thereafter except that we were deboarding. We missed our connecting flights to Zimbabwe, and had to pay for a overnight hotel stay in addition to paying for a new tickets to our get to our final destination. They allowed us to order food from the airport food court but only from fast food and even that they limited the menu items we could select. I would some to contact me about the refund on the hotel and the connecting flight!

Not a United thing, but late afternoon departures from Denver with thunderstorms is always prone to delays.

Kayak booked this flight with only 1h 20min layover in Chicago. This made it impossible for me and several other passengers to reach this flight. Moreover, the gate closed boarding in spite of several passengers still on their way without waiting even one more minute. However, the plane departed with 20min (!) delay, i.e., there would have been at least 15 min time to let the delayed passengers board without causing any delays. I complained and as a "thank you" the attendent booked us on the last (!) flight to Indianapolis ~7h later! Thankfully, I caught the spitefulness and the United customer line rebooked the flight to an earlier flight. Although I can't grade this particular flight since I never had a chance to take it, Kayak made the mistake of a too short layover and the crew at the gate was awful.

With discover in general was very good but from Munich yo Palermo was poor

Sitting in coach even in the larger leg space is extremely uncomfortable and the staff pay no attention.

Really delayed, no effort to support customers other than “sometimes we run late.”

It was serviceable, nothing special but nothing awful on this leg.

On boarding crew at the airport called in the boarding numbers too early meaning before the previous line was completed resulting in later numbers getting to board ahead. Also she asked those who boarded from number 3 to have the tags in their carry-on bags and leave it in the jet bridge. Most of the overhead bins were empty though. This is more work for the ground staff in addition to more inconvenience for passengers waiting to get their carry-ons from the jet bridge.

Staff on the plane was incredible. Check-in was very complicated with no staff to help at the airport. I was charged for a second bag even though my ticket says 2 bags are free

Staff could’ve been a little more cordial. The men were much more friendlier than the women. My daughter and I also missed the 2nd to last meal as we were sleeping but that is on us.

The food needs to be improved, up to the standard of the people and the accommodation.

It was a great experience for my first time flying with this airline. I will be flying with them a lot more now. Plane crew was amazing.

The flight was very smooth, however, the quality of food was mediocre.

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

Flight was delayed by two hours. This really messed things up because I missed my connecting flight in Addis. I had a meeting in Entebbe which was scrapped because my flight from Addis landed later in the day.

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

The crew was unfriendly and very rude to name a few (Helina). I felt unsafe due to most of the cabinets were open while on flight. All in all the flight was ok, but the crew needed more training on customer service most of all for international flights.

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.

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.

The food could be better, the beef was quite tough. The crew were friendly and helpful on this flight, which has not being my experience on other Ethiopian flights.

Everything you need to know for your flight to South Africa

Cabin class types available on flights to South Africa