Star Alliance member SWISS is currently selling very cheap tickets from Bordeaux and Paris to Johannesburg. A highlight of this deal is that for some reason the fare that includes luggage is being sold at a lower price than the Light fare. The only downside to this deal is that the availability is very limited.
From Bordeaux, you would fly to Zurich, from where SWISS would take you to Johannesburg on an Airbus A340. You could use the opportunity created by the long layover on the outbound flight to discover the Swiss city.
SWISS serves complimentary food and drinks on all flights, regardless of the category you’ve booked. Their long-haul economy class seats are standard, as is their in-flight entertainment. Just be sure to charge your devices before the flights, as the seats don’t offer any power supply (only USB if you’re lucky).
Maybe Johannesburg is not a city that you’re interested in, or Bordeaux too far away from your home. In that case you should check out the following SWISS economy class deals:
Search & Book
This deal is valid until March 12, 2020. The minimum stay is set at 5 days (or a Sunday) and the maximum at 3 months. You can find available dates using Google Flights and then book the flights directly on SWISS’ website.
To save you some trouble searching for dates, we’ve compiled an availability calendar that will redirect you to SWISS’ booking page for the dates you’ve selected:
Miles
All tickets are issued in booking class K. That will get you the following number of miles for a Bordeaux-Johannesburg roundtrip:
- 3,426 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 3,016 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 2,916 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 2,866 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- 2,856 Award Miles + 572 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 2,856 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 2,856 Miles on Egyptair Plus
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