Flights to Africa

Choice and financial protection

In the UK, Cedarberg holds an Air Travel Organisers License (ATOL 3748) which means that we can sell Flight Inclusive packages, which most people find easy and convenient.

Equally, a proportion of our clients have always organised their own flights to Africa to make use of Frequent Flyer points, bargain tickets or because they already have flights booked when they come to us. Either way, our clients holiday money is safe as our packages without flights are financially protected with a substantial bond with ABTA. Our ABTA number is Y6051.

Booking flights direct with an airline may be cheaper (sometimes; not as a rule) but clients have a great deal less protection in the event that things go awry. We are happy to offer a choice. But we believe that booking an old-fashioned ‘package’ through a fully-bonded operator, like Cedarberg Africa, is the best and most cost-effective way of safeguarding your holiday funds and your peace of mind.

When to Book your Flights to Africa

Flights are usually loaded around 11 months ahead, so we may not always be able to book your flights if you are planning over a year ahead.

If you are travelling at Christmas, during peak season, or for a special event, it is wise to plan early ie as flights become available. Especially if you have a seating preference.

There is everything to gain by booking early and nothing to lose; the days of unsold seats being discounted close to travel are long gone!

Loyalty Points of Frequent Flyer Miles

If you hope to redeem frequent flyer or airline loyalty scheme points, plan well in advance. You will likely need to have worked out your plans for the ‘land arrangements’ so that these are well-refined and you are ready to press the button just as soon as seats are made available for loyalty scheme members.

This is between 11 and 12 months ahead. You will need to book direct with your chosen airline to do this, rather than through us.

Visas and Health

It is your responsibility to check the travel documents and travel health recommendations for the destinations you are visiting. The requirements dependΒ on an individual traveller’s circumstances. For passport and visa regulations, you can check with the Embassy or High Commission of the country concerned and you can consult your Medical Practice or a Travel Clinic.

LINK: Documents and Visas page

Baggage Allowances

Baggage rules can vary considerably between flights to Africa and domestic or regional flights within Africa, especially on smaller regional aircraft or light aircraft safari flights. Allowances may be lower than on your international flights, and light aircraft often require soft-sided bags.

Your personal itinerary and pre-departure documents will give the most relevant guidance for your trip.

LINK: Baggage Allowances Page

Tight Connections – Try to Avoid

If you book your own flights to Africa, please allow generous connection times, especially when arriving internationally and connecting to regional or domestic flights.

We recommend a minimum of 3 hours connecting time from an international flight to a domestic or regional flight to allow for immigration queues.

If you are connecting FROM a domestic flight:

  • And ideally 3 hours for an international flight connection.
  • If it is the same airline and you can book your luggage through, allow at least 1Β½ to 2 hours for a domestic flight connection
  • If you need to collect luggage and check-in again (different airline), allow at least 2 to 2Β½ hours for a domestic flight connection
  • Allow at least 2Β½ to 3 hours for a regional flight connection

Important Note: Johannesburg Airport International Airports often has long outgoing immigration queues so you must allow plenty of time there. Queueing for over 30 minutes is not uncommon.

If you must book a fairly tight connection, it is worth spending extra to have a VIP meet and greet service. Though there is no guarantee that they will be able to speed your progress through immigration, baggage collection and check-in for your next flight, this is often possible.

NOTE: We usually include this with flight connections as standard, unless there is a budgetary constraint.

Online Check-in

We strongly recommend checking in online head of time, where possible. With some smaller airlines or smaller airports, this is not always possible.

You can now check in online with some airlines from 30 hours to as little as 3 hours before departure. This means you can choose your preferred seat and print out your boarding pass or send to your phone/Whatsapp at your convenience.

At the airport, you drop off your luggage at the dedicated online check in drop off point and proceed to the boarding gate.

Check in

Currently, the airlines request that you check in at least 2Β½ to 3 hours prior to departure for international flights, at least 1Β½ to 2 hours prior to departure for regional flights and at least 1Β½ hours prior to departure for domestic flights in Africa.

Johannesburg: We recommend going through into International Departures immediately after you have dropped your bags, as the immigration/baggage check queues can be long.