R8 594 Find Cheap Flights from the United States to South Africa

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Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to South Africa

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights to South Africa to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest flight to South Africa?

These are the best return prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.

The cheapest ticket to South Africa from the United States found in the last 72 hours was to Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport, at R29 244 return. The most popular route is Newark Airport (EWR) to Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) and the cheapest return airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was R29 244.

What is the cheapest month to fly from the United States to South Africa?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from the United States to South Africa, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from the United States to South Africa is October, when tickets cost R22 209 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and August, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is R33 338 and R27 888 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from the United States to South Africa?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to South Africa, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below-average price on a flight from the United States to South Africa, you should book around 2 weeks before departure, which saves you about 14% compared to booking last-minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 14 weeks before departure.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in South Africa?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in South Africa is Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB), with an average flight price of R24 094.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flightR8 594
Best time to beat the crowds (7% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (21% more expensive on average)
Flight from New York John F Kennedy Airport to Cape Town

FAQs for booking flights from the United States to South Africa

  • Are there nonstop flights to South Africa?

    Although there are flights from the United States available to over a dozen different small and large cities throughout South Africa, the only nonstop flights from the US to South Africa arrive in Johannesburg. Some of the nonstop flights to Johannesburg are available from Atlanta and Washington, DC.

  • Do I need a visa to enter South Africa?

    To visit South Africa for a duration of up to 90 days, United States nationals are not required to acquire a visa in advance. Instead, a visitor’s visa can be obtained at the port of entry on arrival. Official visa rules can be found on South Africa’s government immigration website and are subject to change without notice.

  • Where should I fly to if I want to visit Kruger National Park?

    If you’re one of the many tourists heading to South Africa to visit the Kruger National Park, it can be handy to fly into Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP). Although there are no direct routes, this airport gives direct access to the southern section of Kruger National Park. One of the most common layovers is in Johannesburg and you can find that more than one airline operates the route. Some of the companies are South Africa and jetBlue.

  • I want to visit Table Mountain in South Africa, which city should I fly to?

    Table Mountain is another extremely popular tourist destination in South Africa, and it lies just outside of the city of Cape Town. To get there, you can fly into Cape Town then take one of the many available buses or taxis to the base of Table Mountain, where you can either hike or take a cable car the rest of the way.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from the United States to South Africa?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from the United States to South Africa.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from the United States to South Africa?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from the United States to South Africa is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from the United States to South Africa?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly from the United States to South Africa with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from the United States to South Africa?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from the United States to South Africa up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to South Africa?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to South Africa is Wednesday when return tickets can be as cheap as R26 282. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Sunday, when return prices are R34 657 on average.

Top tips for finding a cheap flight out of the United States

  • Getting to South Africa will almost certainly involve a layover, which commonly also includes a change in airline. One of the most common (and most affordable) routes to South Africa from the United States is from New York City (JFK Airport) to Johannesburg. This route is nonstop and is operated by South Africa Airways.
  • When booking your flight to South Africa, you’ll have no shortage of airports to choose from. There are more than 15 international airports in South Africa that you can fly to from the United States, with the airports in Johannesburg and Cape Town seeing the most international air traffic.
  • Heading to the Valley of 1,000 hills? This popular attraction is located in the Durban area. To get there, you’ll have to fly into Durban King Shaka International Airport (DUR). Located in the city of La Mercy, the airport is reachable via a layover in Johannesburg.
  • If you’re one of the many tourists heading to South Africa to hike up to Lion’s Head, you’ll have to fly into Cape Town for convenient access. Common layovers between the US and Cape Town include Madrid and Johannesburg.
  • To reach Ballito (nicknamed the Dolphin Coast), your best option is to fly into Durban King Shaka International Airport. Direct flights to this airport aren’t available from the US, with most involving a layover in Johannesburg.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying from the United States to South Africa

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from the United States to South Africa? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7,8
KLMOverall score based on 1508 reviews
7,1Entertainment
8,4Crew
7,8Boarding
7,7Comfort
7,3Food
Airline reviews

As per usual when you Hit the UK it's a slow process through customs Not as efficient at Thailand for sure

10,0 ExcellentDiane, Apr 2026
AMS - HUY
Read more KLM reviews

As per usual when you Hit the UK it's a slow process through customs Not as efficient at Thailand for sure

It was really nice journey i personally recommend klm flight

The crew were unprofessional with a racist element. I was physically abused as well from one of the crew members

Crew is not the cheerful type. very slow meal service (this is their style as have flown this many times)

Empty seats next to me - wish it had been for a longer flight!!

Flight was on time, staff are friendly and helpful onboard.

Terrible last row seats many seats available but no offer to move to better seat

Delay on my previous leg, had to run to catch my flight. But that happens. Overall ok.

Flight was ok but lack of communication cost me to literally beg to be put on another flight as connecting flight had departed

They forgot to serve food and the crew was very unfriendly. Never experienced such a bad KLM flight. Usually fly from Toronto. New York was different.

Very comfortable in business class. Excellent service. Good food. Smooth trip.

The seats seems abit small and the reclining is too much, the seat in front of me came back too much and made it uncomfortable for me.

As a first time flyer with Turkish Airlines. My experience was very good due to the factor that there were to many passengers on the my first flight compared to my connecting flight. However, I know that nothing is perfect and all companies are trying to accommodate their passengers to the best way possible. I will always say, a FEW INCHES will go LONG WAY. That's something all airliners should consider, and not only the money aspect!!! A long time commitment is better than one time service! Thank you

Flight was delayed. While standing at the gate, a note appeared on the sign saying the gate had changed to a gate far away. No member of the Turkish airlines team got on the microphone to instruct passengers to go to the other gate, to ignore the chiron, etc. Finally, the message disappeared. Eventually, the flight began to board. Very slowly. More slowly than I experience with other airlines. Though Istanbul may just be slow . . . In all other ways, great flight, great entertainment (top notch movies), great service, excellent food, comfortable lie-flat seat, dimmed lights, etc.

Staff at the airport wasn't helpful or friendly. Probably the worst airport experience I have ever had, going and coming. The staff on the plane was better. Still not super friendly or personable. However, they were not rude like airport staff. They ran out of certain menu items. Maybe could have been prepared better? Overall just ok.

It was a pleasant experience. In flight entertainment could have been better

The desk crew at the LAX crew could do better. A girl named Mahesi was very abrasive and unfriendly. She needs a better customer service uproar.

It was peaceful excited We enjoyed it always Turkish peaceful excited

Istanbul to Lahore flight was less than standard for international business class cabins. Seat did not were not flat and it did not operate easily. I had to push buttons hard repeatedly to operate the seat. I was in 5A seat

IAH to Istanbul was outstanding across the board. The flight from Istanbul to Male was good, not great.

Delayed - weather wasn't bad at either end. Also sat on tarmac in ORD.

Food was surprisingly delicious. Space in the seat is horrible when the seating front is reclined. Movie offerings were terrible. Crew was friendly and helpful.

They told us yesterday APR21st that they were cleaning the plane and we got delayed. After that they said they didn't had any crew for the flight so they cancelled the flight till next day.

The crew was great. Very friendly and responsive. The plane was old, small and tight. We ran out of overhead space and I had to check. Middle seat was particularly tight.

Flight itself excellent, but delayed so missed connection & got to destination 2 hrs later

The flight crew on this leg of my trip was very friendly and pleasant. Every one of them was humorous, as well as helpful and accommodating. This group was BY FAR the best crew I’ve flown with. They deserve kudos.

boarded early to only find out that flight would sit at gate for 45 min to an hour. Landed in chicago and sat on runway for over an hour before got to gate. Total delay was extensive for a 45 min flight door to door.

The flight was delayed from take off because only one runway was operational in San Francisco.

Several missed and almost missed connections. It felt like everything was being patched together last minute without enough resources and it ended up being an extremely stressful experience that basically ruined our weekend on the west coast. What a waste.

Really hard landing... as in slammed into the runway then hit the brakes really hard ...

The TV wasn't working No music for the whole flight from JFK to LOS It was too burring.

Flight was delayed by two hours. This really messed things up because I missed my connecting flight in Addis. I had a meeting in Entebbe which was scrapped because my flight from Addis landed later in the day.

I will fly this going forward especially for ORD to EBB and the reverse.

I paid for internet that did not work and had to pay more to have it

We had a good flight experience with this airline despite reading many negative comments

The crew was unfriendly and very rude to name a few (Helina). I felt unsafe due to most of the cabinets were open while on flight. All in all the flight was ok, but the crew needed more training on customer service most of all for international flights.

Delay not posted, only departure time listed- not boarding time. We left an hour late and arrived 45 min late. Restrooms had backed up sinks and toilets not flushed ) passenger error). Lots of screen for entertainment didn’t work. But we arrived with our luggage

The plane was old and the luggage racks above us were visibly shaking during turbulence. Water was dripping on our heads during landing. Our flight was over 2 hours late departing but we were not updated or told what to expect as the screen at the gate continued to read “on time”

Check in took over an hour because printer was not working. Attendant did not know how to give free layover Addis Ababa hotel vouchers or update frequent flyer number. After repeated attempts, got voucher emailed. However hotel wanted printed voucher hence more delay. Bus time from hotel back to airport was printed 4:50 hours, but hotel reception called at 3 pm saying bus will leave at 4 pm. Then hotel reception called again saying 4:15 pm. We rushed at 4:15 pm and bus was not ready until 4:40 pm. Many audio outlets were not working in planes.

I had a memorable experience. I dont have any comments at this time regarding waht could be better.

Worst airline in the world. They downgraded me from business class to economy with no compensation.

Flight delayed, connection was not at gate listed and so missed, staff were rude at Heathrow, phone tree stupid and difficult, took me 21 actual hours to reach my destination. Almost lost my hotel reservation after walking in a strange city alone after midnight because they would not put me up in a hotel at sfo or heathrow. I will never fly BA again and will tell all people and Instagram followers never to fly BA.

Overall ok. Best part has always been the sundae dessert.

Check-in in SAN was long. ORD was good. Flight delayed On board crew was ok. No warmth or personality. LHrR barely made connection

Even if you wait for connecting passengers you should not be an hour late departing waiting their luggage. Your passengers may have connections in the other end and you harm them.

I’ve never been on a trans-Atlantic (or Pacific) flight where the seats don’t recline—not even a little. I asked my seat mate when BA starting doing this and he said “Oh, a few years ago.” I couldn’t sleep, with my head falling forward waking me continuously, and came off the plane incredibly stiff. I booked a Premium Economy seat to get a more comfortable seat, which was worse than most basic Economy seats I’ve ever booked.

Nice aircraft. Good crew. Delayed departure from Houston, but arrived on time in London. Main thing I don’t like about flying BA is having to transit through security in London Heathrow. A major pain!

The gate agent made me check my carry-on in Denver, even though I've traveled all over taking this case on the plane. Beware folks. Food in Premium Economy was quite good - excellent blanket! Flight attendants on the Heathrow-to-Budapest flight on 3-27-2026 were quite snappy. I got a frown when asked to unscrew the water bottle cap for me (I had a cast on my right arm). Also woke up right when they were handing out biscuits. She had given my rowmates one and was in the process of giving water when I asked for a biscuit. She scolded me and said, "You snooze, you lose". She did give me one, but I thought that comment was uncalled for.

Wish the food and overall service was better. They treat Business class passengers same as economy

WiFi wasn’t available to economy until the end of the flight.

Everything you need to know for your flight to South Africa

Cabin class types available on flights to South Africa

Cabin classes available on flights to South Africa. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.