Johannesburg Airport

Customer Reviews

3 star Skytrax Rating
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Queuing Times 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Staff 12345
Customer rating from 166 reviews
4/10
3 star Skytrax Rating
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3/10

"endless walks with no travelators"

(France)

Apart from the shopping which is pretty much okay, this airport is terrible. Endless walks with no travelators, pretty depressing decor but worst of all endless queues for immigration and security. This is not a problem of design as there are enough potential lanes but the problem is that there are never more than half, if not one third, that are manned. This must also be one of the very last airports, at least among the important ones, with no fast track for security and no fast track for immigration. Most other African countries put up a much better show when South Africa is the most developed country on the continent: quite a shame.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitOctober 2015
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
8/10

"free wifi is limited"

(Australia)

Found from several arrivals and departures in a couple of weeks that: Check in experience depends largely on the airline being used, Kenya Airlines (Term A) was the worst. Free wifi is limited to 30 minutes or 50Mb if you're lucky and that's why people visit coffee shops to use the separate wifi available there. The Lounge Dragons at the Sholongolo lounge appear to try and refuse entry to those with valid access, but once inside the facilities were very good. Security and Immigration / Customs was comparatively straight forward compared to other international airports When arriving from Kigali, the screens in the arrivals hall indicated that our flight had been delayed by minus 90 minutes (it was close to time) and indicated baggage would appear on carousel 7 when it appeared on carousel 8.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitOctober 2015
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
1/10

"they would not let me pass"

(United States)

Being an architect, I always keep a small tape measure (about 3x3 inches) in my carry-on bag when I travel for business. That small tape measure has never been an issue at airport security checkpoints anywhere in the world, except Johannesburg Airport. On a recent flight from Lilongwe to Atlanta I had to make a connection in Jo'burg. As I was going through the International Transfer security checkpoint, the guys who manned that area told me that they would not let me pass through with the tape measure in my carry-on bag. They wanted to confiscate it, but I absolutely refused to give in. Fortunately I had enough time to exit the transit area and check in my bag. Funny thing was that a few days earlier, I had to go through another security checkpoint at Terminal A of this very same airport to catch my outbound flight from Joburg to Lilongwe. I had no problem whatsoever with the tape measure in my carry-on bag at that time, so why now? On my next trip to a Southern African country I will do everything possible to avoid making a connection at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo airport.
Experience At AirportTransit
Date VisitSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages N/A
Airport Staff 12345
no
9/10

Johannesburg Airport customer review

(South Africa)

I travel from and to JNB on average +-15 times per year and rate it from an overall perspective. The airport is modern and I always find it to be well maintained, clean and neat. There are several good, well priced restaurants inside and outside of the departure halls. The arrivals customs queue for SA passport holders usually moves relatively fast with waiting times between 1 and 10 minutes (average +- 3 minutes). I have noticed that the queue for the non-SA passport holders is often very long though. Customs officials are usually friendly and polite. I have experienced maybe 5 unfriendly ones out of more than 100 traverses. There are two departure customs areas. The waiting times for both are quite similar; usually between 2 and 15 minutes - average about 5 minutes. There are many shops in the international departure hall, quite pricey though, but I find "duty free" shops at airports are always expensive. The term "duty free" baffles me - goods may be exempt from taxes, but then the mark-ups are exuberant. Easy luggage collection - I experienced only one incident where my luggage was lost at JNB, which happened 17 years ago - another passenger accidentally took my bag and left his bag on the carousel. I noticed the last bag on the carousel looking similar to mine and realized the owner of that bag probably took mine. I spotted my bag at the domestic side of the airport when the person was about to pass through security to catch a domestic flight to George. Bathroom cleaning staff sometimes blatantly beg for a tip - this can be quite irritating. I have been to 15 out of the 30 best airports in the world (Skytrax 2015), which includes JNB at no. 22 and have to say JNB is still one of my favorite airports - after Amsterdam, Singapore and Munich.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitAugust 2015
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
5/10

Johannesburg Airport customer review

(Germany)

Mostly clean, toilets clean too. Lazy, incompetent staff, far too long waiting at security and passport check. Most passport officials have an attitude. Bringing your children into the country is bound by over regulated red tape requirements.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitAugust 2015
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
10/10

Johannesburg Airport customer review

(South Africa)

Flew on Cathay Pacific out of JNB to HKG. The airport is clean, check in was efficient and immigration queues were quick. The food court choices were abundant and also the woolworths is a huge bonus if you need to stock up on anything you might have forgotten. Its always a pleasure using JNB. Keep up the good work.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitMay 2015
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
1/10

Johannesburg Airport customer review

(United Kingdom)

Johannesburg JNB lived up to my consistently poor experiences of this airport with long queues, lethargic staff and inadequate infrastructure. Last two occasions they lost my luggage in transit. Last three occasions faced lengthy queues to go through transit checkpoints which are understaffed and have too few security lanes. Forget about a quick transit through this place. Just waiting to see if they lose my luggage for the third time. An airport best avoided.
Experience At AirportTransit
Date VisitJune 2015
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
no
10/10

Johannesburg Airport customer review

(South Africa)

Flew to JED from JNB. Best airport I have been to. Bathrooms clean staff helpful. Boarding customs immigration all very quick. Will definitely fly here again without hesitation.
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
yes
10/10

Johannesburg Airport customer review

(South Africa)

Used O R Tambo last week when flew to Lagos. Excellent service all round quickly through check in and immigration. When I arrived back landed at 4.50 am and was in the car at 5.30 am. Smooth and painless. Enough immigration counters opened for both South African and Foreign passport holders.
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
yes
7/10

Johannesburg Airport customer review

(United States)

We live in the USA. Comparing OR Tambo to LAX couldn't even be compared. Yes its not the best I have experienced but things like cleanliness I would give an excellent. There is always someone on duty cleaning. On average airport restrooms are generally very messy and dirty but Johannesburg is always clean when we arrive.Another thing I can give them is there is plenty of affordable restaurants and entertainment on the floor which makes it less of an irritating experience if you have to stand in long lines. They do however need to get rid of those guys standing around telling tourist they will show them where to go and then afterwards ask for a tip!
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
yes