General Travel tips – Booking Flights - South Africans in Germany

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." – Saint Augustine

This page is dedicated to helping you make the best choices when it comes to planning your travels.
We have information about Airlines that fly between Germany and South Africa, airports in Germany and tips for searching for flights that fit your needs. We also cover essential topics such as packing your luggage and choosing travel insurance.
If you’ve got your own tips to share, we’d love to hear them! Simply submit them to us and we’ll be happy to include them on the page.

Airport information - Germany

There are over 30 airports in Germany. The biggest airport in Germany is Frankfurt International Airport. Other major airports are Munich (MUC), Berlin (BER), Hamburg (HAM), Stuttgart (STR), and Düsseldorf(DUS). Most major airlines fly to these airports.
Discount airlines like Ryanair, Eurowings, EasyJet, TUIfly, and Condor usually make use of smaller airports, as the airport taxes are much lower. They do however also fly from major airports.
A complete list of airports in Germany can be found on Wikipedia or the Airportcodes website.

Saving on flights

Consider flying to or from an alternative airport. As an example, flights to Munich and Berlin can be much cheaper than to Frankfurt
Be flexible with your dates
Use search engines to compare prices
Book as early as possible
Weekdays are in general cheaper. Try to avoid peak seasons like Christmas and Easter. Flights to Munich in September and October are expensive due to the Octoberfest.

Booking Flights

You can search and book flights via Flight search engines. The most popular search websites are:

Google flights – very good for comparing prices and dates
Travelstart (Also use the SA site) is good for comparing prices and dates.
Momondo, Fluege.de, Swoodoo, Flyscanner, Cheapflights, Check24

When using a search site to book your flights, always make sure you know what you pay for, what is included, and what is charged for extra, such as luggage. Also, make sure you know your rights and the conditions of your purchase. For example, can you change your booking, and what happens if the flight is cancelled?

When booking through a booking site or agent, you will have to contact them and not the airline when there are issues with your flight, for example, cancellations.

Booking directly with an airline is also an option. The following are just some of the airlines that offer flights to and from Germany.

International flights
Lufthansa now flies from both Munich and Frankfurt to Johannesburg and Cape Town although some schedules are seasonal, Condor, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Swiss Airlines, KLM, Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian Air, Etihad Airways, Air France and Egypt Air all offer international flights to and from Germany. Discover airlines provide flights to Windhoek

Regional flights

The following Airlines offer regional flights to and from Germany:

Ryanair, Eurowings, EasyJet, TUIfly, Condor, Air Malta, Helvetic Air, Lufthansa city line, SunExpress, Swiss Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, KLM City hopper

When booking directly with an airline, use the correct airport codes. Florence in Italy has the airport code FLR but Florence in the USA has the airport code FLO. You can search for airport codes on the IATA website Download the airline app to get up-to-date flight information. Join their frequent flyer program to get extra benefits when you fly with them often.
Some airlines allow you to bid for upgrades. Lufthansa offers the opportunity to bid for upgrades and depending on how full the flight is you can book a sleeper row, which costs much less than Premium Economy or Business class

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For more information about travelling between South Africa and Germany, see the following pages.

Travel to Germany – Tips

“Traveling to Germany is like stepping into a storybook, where history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes weave a tale you’ll never forget.” If you’re planning a

Travel to SA – Tips

Are you planning a trip to South Africa? We have some helpful tips to ensure it is a smooth and enjoyable one. However, we know that

Wheelchair assistance

When you book wheelchair assistance you will be asked whether the person can walk on their own but only needs assistance at the airport or whether they need assistance with getting to and from their seat.
The service is organised by the airline, but performed by the relevant airport staff and the level of service might not be the same.
If the assisted person is travelling alone, the staff will take them through security and passport control and assist them with boarding the plane.
Assistance with deboarding is usually provided when the person is not mobile at all.
Please make sure that assistance with going to the toilets is included if needed.
If the assisted person is travelling with someone, these persons will usually accompany the assisted person through security and passport control as well as boarding, although this is not always the case, especially if it is in a group. Discuss how this will be handled beforehand. From personal experience, this was not allowed at Stuttgart Airport, but allowed at Istanbul Airport, could be that we chose the wrong day 🙂

Travel Insurance

It’s always important to prioritize your safety when going on a trip, and one of the best ways to do that is by making sure to have travel insurance. Even if you’re only going to travel within the EU, you can never be too safe, as accidents can happen anytime and anywhere.
With travel insurance, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you’re protected and covered for any unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies, flight cancellations or lost or stolen luggage. Don’t forget that your health and safety should always come first.
It’s also crucial to read the fine print of the travel insurance policy to ensure you have the appropriate coverage for your needs. In short, always take the extra precaution of getting travel insurance before every trip to protect you in case of any unexpected situation.
See our visa application tips for insurance options when flying from South Africa. There are also companies listed that offer insurance when travelling from Germany.

Visa application tips

We are not immigration agents, and your first point of contact should always be the German embassy or consulate in South Africa.Most of the information

Travel agents

There are Travel agents listed on our website. These businesses are owned and run by South Africans living in Germany. Contact them to get expert advice and assistance with bookings.

Morkel’s Travels

Founded in 2014, Travelor started as a unique startup that cracked down on the method of lowering vacation prices around the world using social power. Today, Travelor markets over 2 million accommodations in every destination in the world and works with leading international tourism companies, thus to achieve the most

Mon Voyage Travel and Tours

Mon Voyage Travel and Tours is an IATA and ASATA accredited Travel Agency based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Waiting, willing and ready to assist you with airline and airfare options, as well as providing information and guidance by sending the rules/regulations in relation to the Covid19 pandemic. You will

The Expat Travel Shop

The Expat Travel Shop is full-service travel agency with over 2 decades of experience in global travel. Our personal approach meets client needs in both the business traveller and personal vacation maker. We offer all our clients equal professionalism and enthusiasm and do our best to understand your unique needs

Reise Explorer

From the Hocheifel to the world! With a destination knowledge of over 140 visited countries on all 6 continents, we help you to make the most beautiful days of the year a dream experience. On our web page, you can book trips online or get travel inspiration. Bookings on our

Luggage and Luggage Tracker Tags

Each airline has its own luggage allowance depending on your booking class. Restrictions on what is allowed in your carry-on or checked luggage are imposed by bodies like IATA, the TSA, and the EU.
You can also find information about restrictions on the specific airline’s website.
ExportWorldTravel has some tips on luggage trackers here
Important Update for travel in the EU – As of 1 September 2024, new uniform EU rules for liquids and hand luggage will apply for al member states, see below

Checked luggage

For luggage restrictions in the EU, a single checked bag may not weigh more than 23 kg.

Lithium Batteries

Laptops and electronic devices containing Lithium Batteries may not be transported in checked luggage and must be in your hand luggage.

Luggage trackers

For added peace of mind, consider using luggage trackers. With various types available, each utilizing different technologies, it's important to select one that best suits your travel needs and preferences.

New EU Hand luggage Rules

Under the updated EU guidelines, passengers are allowed to bring one carry-on bag and one small personal item on board. The carry-on bag must not exceed 10 kilograms in weight, with dimensions limited to 55 x 40 x 20 cm. Additionally, passengers may bring a personal item, such as a purse, backpack, or laptop bag, which must fit under the seat and cannot exceed 40 x 30 x 15 cm, including handles and wheels.

How many

The amount of bags you are allowed to take with you will depend on your airline, ticket class and fare conditions.

Comfort

Focus on bringing only essential items and avoid carrying anything that is not allowed onboard, such as sharp objects or oversized liquids, as these could lead to delays at security checkpoints. Additionally, be mindful of the comfort of your fellow passengers by not bringing items that are bulky, have strong odours, or could cause inconvenience, such as noisy gadgets or fragile items that might require extra space or attention. Thoughtful packing contributes to a more pleasant experience for everyone on the flight.

Liquids

Make sure you understand the liquid restrictions of 1 litre per person, but no more than 100ml per container. This also applies to creams. The EU has reinstated the 100-ml limit on liquid containers for all passengers, regardless of the terminal's security equipment. Starting September 1 2024, all liquids must be in containers of 100 ml or less and placed in a small, clear bag for airport security screening. This rule applies uniformly, including in terminals with Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB), which previously allowed larger quantities.

Security

Never put anything in your luggage that you have not personally packed. You will also be asked at check-in if you packed your own bag and know what is inside it

We have some recommendations for sending excess luggage between South Africa and Germany

Sending a package or excess luggage between SA and DE

Courier service

Dangerous goods

In order to guarantee safety on board, the transport of certain items is not permitted in your carry-on or checked luggage. Checked baggage is what you hand in at check in and is transported in the hold of the aeroplane. Carry-on luggage is what you keep on your person during the flight.
Always check with your airline on what is allowed in your baggage. The following infographic is from Lufthansa. Lithium Batteries are not allowed in your checked baggage! These are found in powerbanks, mobile phones, E-cigarettes etc.

Your Flight experience

For a comfortable and hassle-free flight experience, we strongly recommend visiting our comprehensive Flying Tips page. Our expert tips and insider knowledge will guide you on how to make the most of your journey from start to finish.

A great website to see the airplane configuration (seatmaps) of your flight is Seatguru. You can also see the incline and seat width.
To find out what services are available on flights, check the individual airline websites and search for In-flight services.

South Africans in Germany