Johannesburg Airport

Not Verified | Once you go though passport control, one word - Tatty! Several closed shops and and as far as I could establish only one place selling alcohol, Jackson’s. A cold dark lifeless place which was 3/4 empty in an otherwise busy airport. We had the worst chicken nuggets I have eaten in a long time at Diner. Diner was busier and warmer but no chance a glass of wine. The plug points designed to allow phone charging and laptop power are in the main non functioning and those that are, are dangerous with broken covers, and some live plug socket’s actually hanging out of their holders! The music in Diner was too loud and if you like club mix music, then this is the place for you. I don’t! This experience, after being met as we entered the airport in our hire care, by a squadron of traffic police fining people for who knows what, leaves an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Perhaps traffic police should spend their time dealing with some of the most appalling drivers I have ever ever encountered,

Not Verified | O.R. Tambo has two big terminals that are connected. The airline and e.g. Swissport staff are friendly and helpful. Government staff is rather indifferent and don't like to smile. My complaints are as follows: Despite the long distances from Terminal B to our A terminal intercontinental pier - The walk is about 30 minutes, unless you want to visit the Swissport lounge, which is at the extreme end of A, and no horizontal escalators like at other airports are provided. You have to be an avid walker. Except for the international arrival section, no separate premium express lanes are provided for passport control and security checkpoints. Good airports have this. So queueing times are too long. Why should one book business class and have no privileges? Airlines, of course, have separate desks. Gate areas have inadequate space and seating. The most annoying complaint: There are baggage re-check desks after international baggage claim for domestic connections, which is also a service other airports provide - but - they were not staffed. You have to hire a porter or carry your baggage yourselves. Reason for the closed service given to me: They are closed. What a stupid reason! I suspect the porters want to keep their business. Why can the management not learn from better airports?

The worst airport in the world! The rudest and most unhelpful staff I have ever come across in my life. Plus nowhere to eat for international traveller's traveling late at night.

✅ Trip Verified | My plane was due to touch down at 21:20 and we arrived slightly early in fact. So why then, did I not leave the immigration queue until nearly midnight? By that point, my airport transfer had left and Uber didn't appear to be picking up jobs. Not great in a city as notoriously crazy as Johannesburg! 425 passengers all stuffed into an immigration hall. A form is needed to be filled in. No actual staff can be bothered to distribute them it seems, so it's left to the passengers to somehow track down a giant pile of photocopied A4 sheets and hand them out! Eventually, after some hours, I reach the passport booth. No questions about the purpose of my visit, not even a real look at my passport, just a bored stamp and a yawn.

✅ Trip Verified | Horrible customs officials. Two lazy staff at the diplomatic counter at first did not want to help us, and upon learning that we were diplomats were extremely rude and vile. This is not the ORTIA that I know. Please get people that are well trained in passport control as well as people skills. My rating overall is extremely influenced by this behavior.

✅ Trip Verified | Absolutely pathetic. Had to deal with the most narcissistic custom official, berating my 9 year old son for standing in the wrong line. We were tired and confused after almost a 24 hour flight from the USA. Plus, myself, my four year old daughter and son got sent to the backroom for some obscure reason, and were treated like second class citizens. Treat people the way you would like to be treated. My hope and prayer is that this message reaches a person in authority who will have a talk with their personnel. You don't treat children this way.

Not Verified | Worst airport ever, very unfriendly personnel at Baggage collections section especially after 8pm. They don't greet you, they don't smile. Looks like they hate their jobs, they seem to be so miserable, what an unfriendly welcome to this Airport. They are so arrogant the staff. Toilets were in a state, toilet bowls disgusting, what must International travellers not think of Johannesburg. We had to walk from the airplane to the airport, you won't find this Overseas, yes I've been there. It was cold and miserable weather. We will never be able to compete with other Overseas Countries. It shames me as a Capetonian.

✅ Trip Verified | OR Tambo Transit. The only word I can use to describe this airport is ‘woeful’. On arrival there was no information advising which carousel the bags would be delivered to. Only after waiting for 30+ minutes did the Menzies operative (who was about as much use as a chocolate teapot) when hassled by some disgruntled passengers decide to nonchalantly wave her hand in the direction of where our bags were. At no time did the carousel appear on the information board. Checked in then tried to find the boarding gates there are no signs. After asking two people the entrance to security was hidden away behind and between two check-in desks (52 I believe in terminal A) again no signs. Security took ages 20 minutes to process 6 people. For an international airport it’s poor. If you are transiting on two different tickets as I was allow at least 3 hours to go through immigration, security, check in/bag drop & passport control all of which are slow.

Not Verified | We arrived from Sydney Australia after a 14 h flight. My husband had problems with his leg and could hardly walk. He is 82 years old. I asked for help with a wheelchair but they refused to help. There was more than 4 wheelchairs that wasn't in use that they pushed empty to the entrance of the airport. I begged them and they could see that my husband struggled but they still said no and carry on chatting and laughing.

✅ Trip Verified | Absolutely pathetic management. A scheduled flight lands and have to wait because there is no ground staff. Waiting 10 mins to get off a plane because there is no ground staff. This is not the first time.