Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB): what you need to know
Johannesburg is nine hours ahead of San Francisco and observes the UTC+2 timezone.
Your SFO to JNB flight won't wait if you're running late, so don't forget to check in on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're travelling internationally.
During popular months such as August, you'll want to get to the airport well in advance. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for international flights when you travel during a high season in general.
If you'd like to explore another city along the way, simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from San Francisco International Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport. Here are the most popular stopovers between SFO and JNB:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
London Heathrow Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
R 10,313 is the best price for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport flight. A return flight starts at R 18,054. These fares can change depending on demand.
To get your hands on cheap tickets from SFO to JNB, book early. Airlines generally offer the most competitive fares when flights are first made available.
The 'Whole month' search tool shows you the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport across every month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your dates are flexible.
Save time looking for cheap flights from SFO to JNB by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or notification through the app when fares go down.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from San Francisco International Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
77.36% of flights taking off from San Francisco International Airport make it to their destination on schedule.
Central San Francisco to San Francisco International Airport is approximately 21 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 20 minutes to get there if you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving.
You can expect a journey time of around 45 minutes when using public transport.
Looking for a handy hotel near SFO? If you've booked an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport, these stays will have you moments from your check-in counter:
Arriving at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
If you're getting in on a late San Francisco International Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport flight, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these options near JNB:
Pick up an O.R. Tambo International Airport rental car and discover Johannesburg and beyond with your own wheels. Carwiz, Alamo and Green Motion are popular outlets to choose from here.
To get the best deal, reserve your vehicle from O.R. Tambo International Airport around three weeks in advance.
Getting from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to central Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport is approximately 29 kilometres from central Johannesburg. The drive time takes about 30 minutes.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
When to fly to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
It's time to choose your dates for your flight from San Francisco International Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport. July is the most popular month to visit Johannesburg. If you'd like a more low-key vibe, go in February.
Book your flight from San Francisco International Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport for January if you'd like to visit Johannesburg during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 15ºC (59ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF).
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from SFO to JNB in July. Temperatures average between 4ºC (39ºF) and 20ºC (68ºF) then.
Explore more of South Africa
Soweto is just one of the many cities in South Africa waiting to be explored once you've seen Johannesburg. Around 18 kilometres away to the west, check out popular attractions including Mjebha Park, Tutu House - Soweto tours and Go Green Go Clean.
Pretoria is another favourite destination in South Africa and is around 56 kilometres north of Johannesburg. No trip is complete without a visit to 32 Battalion Tree of Honour, Wonderpark and Viscount Memorial Wall.
