South Africa is a melting pot of cultures, a true rainbow nation. The people are friendly and welcoming and from a scenic perspective, it is a country of beautiful contrasts. Here you’ll find ocean towns and cities, large grassland regions filled with plant and animal life and big metropolitan cities. All this and more awaits you in South Africa, a country that is unlike any other.
If you are looking for cheap flights to South Africa then choose to fly with South African Airways. By choosing SAA you’ll get to experience South African hospitality from the moment that you board your flight. With us cheap flights to South Africa mean quality, all- inclusive flights at reduced rates. Three course gourmet meals and a wide selection of beverages, that includes some of the best vintages the Cape Winelands have to offer, will be made available to you. You can also expect premier in-flight entertainment and our award-winning service.
If you’re still in the planning phase of your South African holiday then consider these holiday packages from SAA Holidays.
We can also help you arrange transport and accommodation for the duration of your stay and both can be arranged using this page.
So book your cheap flights to South Africa with SAA and experience South African hospitality from the very start of your journey.
Check-in for flights to South Africa
Check-in times
- Check-in time for all regional flights is 2 hours and 30 minutes prior to departure.
- Online check-in for e-ticket holders opens 24 hours before flight departures and closes 2 hours prior to international flight departures.
Online check-in
SAA offers an internet check-in service. Check-in online
This service enables you to:
- Print your boarding pass up to 24 hours prior to flight departure.
- Select or change your seat.
Mobile check-in
SAA’smobile check-in service allows you to check in from your internet-enabled mobile phone. Go to m.flysaa.com and:
- Submit your e-ticket number or booking reference number on the check-in screen.
- Download your online boarding pass including Apple's Passbook.
- On arrival at the airport show your online boarding pass to security for scanning.
Self check-in kiosks
Our self-service check-in kiosks are available at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and King Shaka International Airport in Durban.
Use these user-friendly touchscreen devices to:
- Print your boarding pass; and
- Select your seat.
Please note that:
- This check-in option is available to all passengers with confirmed flight tickets on South African Airways.
- All self-service check-in kiosks close 90 minutes before departure time.
Bag drop counter
- Bag drop counters are for passengers with checked baggage who have checked in using flysaa.com or a self-service check-in kiosk.
- After you’ve printed your online boarding pass, proceed to the bag drop counter where your baggage will be tagged and sent to the aircraft.
SAA Flights
South Africa Car Rental and Airports Transfers
Need transport for your stay in South Africa? Trust these service providers for reliable transport.
Car Rental
Airport Transfers
South Africa Hotels
Hotels.com® will help you find reliable accommodation in South Africa.
Things to do in South Africa
- Johannesburg. The largest city in South Africa and its economic powerhouse. A multitude of experiences are to be had here: Shopping, nightlife, cultural excursions and much, much more. There is pretty much nothing you can't do in Jozi (as the city is affectionately known). Also remember to visit Soweto, the largest township in the country, for a truly unique South African experience.
- Cape Town. The Mother City, as Cape Town is known, is a popular tourist destination and is considered by many to be the most beautiful city in the world. See Table Mountain, travel through the Winelands, visit Long Street and the V&A Waterfront and take a boat ride out to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was once a prisoner.
- Pretoria. South Africa’s capital is filled with historical monuments and museums and also offers plenty of entertainment in the form of nightclubs, theatres and music venues.
- Nelspruit. Take a trip to the Lowveld and go and see some African wildlife. Ensure that you visit the Kruger National Park and Sabi-Sabi.
Learn more about South Africa at South Africa Tourism