What It Costs to Fly Joburg to Cape Town Right Now
Short answer: the cheapest Joburg–Cape Town return we found was R3,688 on SAA, out and back on Wed 25 Nov, with a 23 kg bag included both ways. The same trip on FlySafair cost R4,278 with cabin bags only, and R4,648 once a checked bag was added each way. That makes SAA R960 cheaper for anyone travelling with a suitcase.
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Return trip, bag included: every airline compared
Out Johannesburg → Cape Town, back Cape Town → Johannesburg, both on Wednesday 25 November 2026. Cheapest non-stop fare per airline in each direction, checked 27 October 2026.
| Airline | JNB → CPT | CPT → JNB | Return with a bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAA 23 kg bag included | R2,159 › | R1,529 › | R3,688 |
| Airlink 20 kg bag included | R2,179 › | R1,899 › | R4,078 |
| LIFT bag R200 each way | R2,129 › | R1,999 › | R4,528 R4,128 without bags |
| FlySafair bag R185 each way | R2,139 › | R2,139 › | R4,648 R4,278 without bags |
Bag fees are the online add-on prices checked 9 October 2026 (FlySafair R185 for 20 kg, LIFT R200 for 23 kg). At the airport counter they cost more. FlySafair fares also carry a fuel surcharge of R581.90 per passenger per flight on this route, shown as its own line when you book.
A family of four: what the return costs
For 2 adults and 2 children on Wed 25 Nov (checked 27 October 2026), the cheapest way out was R7,409 › on LIFT and the cheapest way back was R5,269 › on SAA: R12,678 for the family. The same trip on FlySafair cost R8,549 out and R8,549 back, R17,098, with cabin bags only. Both links open Travelstart with all four passengers filled in. What babies and children add to a fare →
Which day is cheapest?
We checked 309 fares for every departure from 2 to 8 November 2026. Tuesday was cheapest: R1,529 on SAA, bag included. Thursday and Friday were the most expensive days, with their cheapest seats at R2,119 and R2,129. See all 309 fares ›
December: when you fly home matters more than when you leave
Going down for the holidays, the cheapest Joburg → Cape Town fare we found for 18 December was R1,659 on Airlink with a bag. The return trip is where the money goes. Flying Cape Town → Johannesburg on Sunday 3 January cost R2,859 (SAA). The same trip a week later, on 10 January, cost R1,639 (Airlink). Staying one more week saves R1,220 on the ticket home.
Why the cheapest airline keeps changing
The low-cost airlines aren't automatically cheapest on this route. On 25 November, SAA's cheapest seat was R610 cheaper than FlySafair's coming back and only R20 dearer going out, and SAA's fare already included a bag. Fares here are priced per flight and per day, so the only way to know is to compare the actual date you want. Tap any fare above to open that date on Travelstart's live search.
How we checked these prices
Every fare on this page comes from Travelstart's public live search on the date shown: one adult, economy, one-way legs, non-stop flights only. We don't round, estimate or use "typical" prices. Fares change daily, so what you see on Travelstart today may be higher or lower. VistaVoyage earns a commission if you book through these links. It costs you nothing extra. How booking works
Questions
How much is a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town?
On our 27 October 2026 check, the cheapest one-way fare for Wednesday 25 November was R2,129 (LIFT, cabin bag only); SAA was R2,159 with a 23 kg bag included. A return for the same day cost from R3,688 on SAA, bag included.
Which airline is cheapest from Joburg to Cape Town?
It changes by date. On 25 November LIFT was cheapest out of Joburg and SAA was cheapest back from Cape Town. On 28 October, Airlink was cheapest once a bag was counted (R1,849, bag included). Compare your own date.
What is the cheapest day to fly Joburg to Cape Town?
In our 309-fare week, Tuesday was cheapest (R1,529) and Thursday and Friday were the most expensive.