General travel information

Keep your passport handy when booking flights, it is very important that the name on your ticket is exactly the same as the name on your passport.
To book flights you must provide your first full first name and your full last name:

Examples correctly fill in passenger names:
Jacobus J. Jansen becomes Jacobus Jansen

If you are married and in possession of a Dutch passport:
Petronella Pietersen ev (wife of) Jansen becomes Petronella Pietersen (maiden name)
Cornelia Schoonebeek wv (widow of) Meenk becomes Cornelia Schoonebeek (maiden name)
Jacob van Es ev (husband of) Doorn becomes Jacob van Es (birth name)

Never use your nickname when making a booking! If your nickname is Jos but if Jacob is in your passport, enter Jacob as first name.
The current security requirements determine that this must be done and it is therefore essential that you check this when making the booking. Changing the name after booking can entail high costs and it may even be necessary to cancel and re-book the booking.

Please note that you must be 18 years of age or older to make a flight reservation. In general, people under the age of 16 are not allowed to travel alone. You are responsible for obtaining the correct information.

E-tickets

You will receive your e-ticket by e-mail. An e-ticket is the electronic version of the old-fashioned paper ticket

Checking in

To check in at the airport and receive your boarding pass, you only need to identify yourself at the check-in counter of the airline or – if present – at the self-service check-in of the airline concerned. A boarding pass is then automatically printed. You must identify yourself with your passport. The airline can ask for your reservation confirmation. So take this with you for safety.

In most cases you can check in online on the website of the company itself, stating the reservation number of the company in question, which you can find in your e-ticket confirmation. You can generally check in online from 24 hours before departure.

For flights within South Africa, we recommend that you check in 2 hours before departure. For international flights, we recommend checking in 3 hours before departure. Flights cannot be delayed for passengers who arrive late.

Lounges on the airport

Many of our customers drive a fairly large distance back to the airport on the last day of the holiday where they return the rental car. We always advise you to leave for the airport well in advance so that you do not have to hurry if there are unexpected problems (for example when you return the rental car, traffic jams, more travel time than expected etc.). This often means that you have to wait a while at the airport. For those who want to take a quiet shower and relax before the long return flight, there are lounges available at all major airports (including OR Tambo Johannesburg and Cape Town).

Passengers from all airlines can go to Bidvest Lounge provided that you can show a valid boarding pass. You have access to the lounge from four hours before your departure time.

If you book online, the costs are R351 per person and if you decide to use the lounge on site, the costs are R390 per person. This includes snacks and drinks, use of showers (towels provided), use of Wi-Fi and possibly the smoking lounge.

Seat Reservation

We have no control over the allocation of seats by the airline. However, you can inform us of your seat preference, e.g. a window seat or chair on the aisle, so that we can request this for you. We cannot guarantee that your wish will be honored, but it will be taken into account if possible.

At some airlines it is only possible to request seats at the check-in for your flight. Some airlines – such as KLM – offer you the possibility to reserve seats with extra legroom for a fee. You can do this on the website of the airline. Payment can generally be done with credit card and / or internet banking.

Service aboard

Service on board: e.g. meal service, drinks, etc. can vary per airline. The meal service is generally included with flights.
Do you have specific meal requirements such as a vegetarian meal or a children’s meal for your children? Please state this when booking so that this can be requested for you from the relevant airline. For flights with low-cost airlines, it is possible that costs are charged for on-board drinks. Consult the company for more specific information because the service used may vary from time to time.

Direct Flight

Please note that a flight that is described as “direct” on your airline ticket is not necessarily a non-stop flight. A flight that is described as direct is a flight that does not have to change aircraft during the trip. It is therefore possible that a stopover can be made.

Pregnancy and traveling with children

Some airlines refuse to admit women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant at the time of the return journey. We recommend that you contact the relevant airline because rules may vary from company to company and also consult your doctor.

Babies must be at least 6 weeks old to travel by plane and are not entitled to their own seat. A child must be less than 2 years of age on the return trip to be considered a baby. If the baby is less than 6 months of age during the trip, weighs less than 10 pounds and is no longer than 65 cm for the duration of the trip a travel cot can be requested, you can specify this when booking. There is often a discount for babies, this discount can vary per airline.

For children between the ages of 2 and 12, a private seat must be reserved. Children often receive a discount, this discount can vary per airline.

Frequent Flyer membership

If you have a frequent flyer membership of the airline, please provide this number when booking the flight with that airline. In addition to saving points, frequent flyer membership can offer you additional benefits such as the right to more baggage, free transport of your golf bag or you can use your miles to book a seat with extra legroom. For more information, consult the company’s website.

Booking flights with your frequent flyer points or with vouchers is only possible on the website of the airline.

Check the latest information about baggage, extra baggage and other general information on the website of the Airline before departure. These conditions change regularly and may be important for your journey.