WAS - CPT

R13 614 Find Cheap Flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town – Compare and Save

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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
R15 079
Typical prices: R21 961-R31 510
Multiple Airlines
Fri 12/10Thu 25/10
BWI - CPT • 2 stops
Cheapest direct flights
R25 664
Typical prices: R23 517-R30 053
Ethiopian Air, Turkish Airlines
Sun 25/2Fri 9/3
IAD - CPT • Direct
Direct flights
3 days a week
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 14h 30m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Top routes
DCA - CPT
Cheapest • 3% average savings
IAD - CPT
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Avoid delays
United Airlines
Most punctual • 73% on-time
Evening
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
20 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 20 weeks in advance save around 23% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
September
Cheapest • 26% price drop
November
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Istanbul (IST)
Cheapest • Avg R18 770 (return)
Newark (EWR)
Shortest trip • 18h 47m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you enjoy your trip to Cape Town!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town (WAS-CPT)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town

Tue, Nov 10 - Mon, Nov 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:20 - 13:35IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
60h 15m3 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl Victoria Falls
Multiple Airlines Logo
14:25 - 11:52CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
28h 27m3 stops Victoria Falls Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R16 431Multiple Airlines
Mon, Oct 5 - Sun, Oct 18
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:26 - 22:10IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
45h 44m2 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
14:25 - 11:50CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
27h 25m3 stops Livingstone Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R16 447Multiple Airlines
Tue, Nov 10 - Mon, Nov 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:20 - 13:35IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
60h 15m3 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl Victoria Falls
Multiple Airlines Logo
14:25 - 11:52CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
28h 27m3 stops Victoria Falls Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R16 463Multiple Airlines
Tue, Nov 10 - Mon, Nov 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:20 - 13:35IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
60h 15m3 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl Victoria Falls
Multiple Airlines Logo
14:25 - 11:52CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
28h 27m3 stops Victoria Falls Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R16 529Multiple Airlines
Tue, Nov 10 - Tue, Dec 1
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:20 - 13:35IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
60h 15m3 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl Victoria Falls
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:20 - 17:33CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
41h 13m2 stops Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R16 577Multiple Airlines
Sat, Oct 10 - Sun, Oct 18
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:31 - 6:00IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
53h 29m2 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
14:25 - 11:50CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
27h 25m3 stops Livingstone Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R16 594Multiple Airlines
Sat, Oct 10 - Sun, Oct 18
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:31 - 6:00IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
53h 29m2 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
14:25 - 17:33CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
33h 08m3 stops Livingstone Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R17 099Multiple Airlines
Sat, Oct 10 - Sun, Oct 18
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:31 - 6:00IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
53h 29m2 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
14:25 - 17:33CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
33h 08m3 stops Livingstone Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R17 115Multiple Airlines
Thu, Nov 12 - Wed, Nov 18
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:20 - 13:35IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
60h 15m3 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl Livingstone
Multiple Airlines Logo
23:25 - 11:52CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
43h 27m2 stops Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R17 848Multiple Airlines
Tue, Dec 1 - Tue, Feb 2
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:35 - 13:35IAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-CPT Cape Town Intl
66h 00m3 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl Victoria Falls
Multiple Airlines Logo
14:25 - 17:30CPT  Cape Town Intl-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
34h 05m3 stops Livingstone Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl New York John F Kennedy Intl
R17 962Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town with more confidence.

What is the cheapest Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flight route?

There's little price difference between Washington, D.C. to Cape Town routes. They average around R24 470 return, based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town and is 7% cheaper than the average day. Saturday is the most expensive day with flight prices 10% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

•September is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town at R18 629 return.
•July (R30 110) and December (R29 980) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 61% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are prices from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town the cheapest?

Flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town are cheapest 20 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 23% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Find deals

Key details for Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

R11 692
Best time to beat the crowds (13% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 5% lower on average.
Flights from Baltimore to Cape Town

When to book flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flight questions, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flights?

    Among airlines operating Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flights:

    • United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

  • Which airlines are available on the route from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    Only United Airlines operates flights between Washington, D.C. and Cape Town.

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    Flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town may depart from several airports in Washington, D.C. area, including Washington, D.C. Reagan-National (DCA) and Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl (IAD). Flights usually arrive at Cape Town Intl (CPT).

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • SWISS: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • Lufthansa: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

    Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    Only Economy class is available on flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town.

  • How much can I save by having a stopover when flying from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average R18 770 return via Istanbul (IST), compared with R25 876 for direct.

  • What is the standard checked bag allowance on flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge R1 628–R1 628 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town pass through?

    One-stop flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town most commonly connect through:

    • Istanbul (IST) – 33% of one-stop connections
    • Doha Hamad Intl (DOH) – 27% of one-stop connections
    • Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) – 11% of one-stop connections
    • Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) – 9% of one-stop connections

    Istanbul (IST) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 17% on the Washington, D.C. to Cape Town route. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at R23 384 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at R27 879, a difference of R4 494. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed on the route from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Washington, D.C. to Cape Town route, 27% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 46 minutes.

  • What popular places can I visit in Cape Town?

    Some of the most popular sights in Cape Town are Sea Point Pavilion, Bloubergstrand Beach, and Camps Bay Beach. These are among the most viewed places in Cape Town on KAYAK.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town:

    • Earliest: departs at 18:45 and lands at 9:15
    • Latest: departs at 19:45 and lands at 10:15.

    The flight takes about 14h 30m.

  • How expensive are last-minute Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 19% above the route average of R25 137. Book 20 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How long is a flight from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    A direct flight from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town takes 14h 30m, covering 20 472 km.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

  • How are flight prices from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town looking right now?

    One-way fares from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about R12 519, which is 36% below the typical average for this route.

  • How does United Airlines's on-time performance compare to other airlines on Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flights?

    United Airlines is the only airline operating Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flights. 73% of its flights are on time.

  • How do delay rates compare for morning and evening flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    Evening flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different stopover airport from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

    Flying via Newark (EWR) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 18h 47m, compared to 20h 13m via Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) and 22h 22m via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS).

  • What is the time difference between Washington, D.C. and Cape Town?

    Cape Town is 6 hours ahead of Washington, D.C. (South Africa Time vs Eastern Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • Which car hire options are available at Cape Town Intl Airport (CPT)?

    Cape Town Intl Airport (CPT) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around R50 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Europcar
    • Sixt
    • GREEN MOTION
    • Hertz
    • Woodford

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flight?

    Return flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town range from R21 961 to R31 510, with an average of R25 137 over the past 12 months. Anything below R21 961 counts as a good deal.

Your guide to booking Washington, D.C. to Cape Town flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure instead of Saturday. On this route, Wednesday flights average R23 384 – about R4 494 less than Saturday (16% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 20 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 23% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Washington, D.C. to Cape Town trip for September. Fares historically average R18 629 return in that month – typically R11 480 less than the most expensive month, which is July (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Istanbul Airport (IST) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages R18 770 return on this route – about R7 106 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Cape Town Intl Airport.
    - Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport
    - Road Lodge Cape Town International Airport

Prefer to fly direct from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town Intl?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town Intl Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Washington, D.C. to Cape Town Intl

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Cape Town Intl to Washington, D.C.

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town

Complete your trip to Cape Town with a hotel stay or car hire

Car hire in Cape Town
Hotels in Cape Town