The Dutch SkyTeam airline KLM is currently selling cheap flights from Ireland (Dublin and Cork) to Johannesburg. While luggage is not included, a surcharge of €80 for the roundtrip still adds up to a very good price.
From Ireland, you would fly to Amsterdam, from where you’d continue to Johannesburg on a Boeing 777. KLM always, whichever category you select, serves complimentary food and drinks on all flights, and you will enjoy a very good inflight entertainment system on the long-haul flight. The seats also have power sockets, so your devices’ batteries won’t run out.
Search & Book
This deal is valid until December 4, 2019. Your stay has to be at least 6 days long (or a Sunday), and may not exceed 3 months. You can find all available dates on Google Flights, and then either book the cheapest price over our Travel-Dealz flight search, or directly via KLM’s website.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
To save you some time, we’ve compiled an availability calendar, where you can select your dates and be redirected to KLM’s booking site:
Miles
The flights between Ireland and the Netherlands are issued in class L, while the long-haul flights are issued in class G. This is how many award miles you would get for a Dublin-Johannesburg roundtrip.
- 6,204 Award Miles + 70 Tier Points on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 3,742 Miles on CSA OK Plus
- 3,268 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 3,268 RDM + 700 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
- 3,242 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 2,742 Miles on Aerolíneas Argentinas AerolíneasPlus
- 2,742 Miles on GOL Aéreos Smiles
- 2,708 Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 2,708 Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 2,708 Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 2,708 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
- 2,708 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 2,708 Miles on Air Europa Suma
- 2,476 Award Miles on Etihad Guest
This route is quite good if you’re trying to qualify for a status at Delta Skymiles. You would get a bit over 12,000 MQMs for the roundtrip (status miles).
Information & Tips for Johannesburg
Johannesburg has 9,6 million inhabitants and is the largest city and most important business and financial center in Africa south of the Sahara. The city is well connected to Europe by air, flights for under 500€ (round trip) are becoming increasingly more common.
Best Time to Travel
The best times to visit Johannesburg are during fall (March – May) and during spring (September – Novemver). Temperatures are warm but pleasant and rainfall is comparatively rare.
From the Airport to the City
One possibility is taking the Gautrain, a type of local commuter rail. A trip to the city center takes about 25 minutes and costs approximately 12€. Taking a cab or an Uber runs you about 18€ to 24€.
→ All Dealz for Johannesburg
Information & Tips for South Africa
South Africa is the touristically most visited country in the south of Africa. Whether its Safaris, tours of wine regions or the Table Mountain – visitors won’t be disappointed!
Traditionally, flights from Europa to South Africa have been quite expensive. In recent years however, airlines such as Iberia, Egyptair and British Airways have been offering cheaper and cheaper flights – even in premium cabins! If you are flexible in regards to your point of departure, the array of airlines with cheap tickets becomes even greater.
Best Time to Visit
South Africa is a huge country and therefore doesn’t have a single best time to visit. It really depends on what you want to see. The cities Johannesburg and Cape Town have the best weather in Fall (March – Mai) and Spring (September – November).
Immigration & Visa Requirements
If you have a valid EU passport and a valid return ticket, you will be given a visitor’s visa with a validity of 90 days. Turn to the ministry of foreign affairs of your country for more information.
Currency
The currency used in South Africa is the Rand (ZAR). One Euro are approximately 16 ZAR. Make sure to use a credit card that does not charge high fees for withdrawals or payments in foreign currencies.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Airalo and BNESIM. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for South Africa 🇿🇦 Compared
→ All Dealz for South Africa