Tips to fly to and from Cape Town on a budget

Discovery Bank’s latest SpendTrend24 report has revealed the best and worst times to book flights between major South African cities.

For travellers flying from Johannesburg to Cape Town, the most budget-friendly option is Sunday mornings at 5am, whereas Friday afternoons at 4pm come at a premium.

Returning from Cape Town to Johannesburg, Wednesday evenings at 9pm offer the best value, while Sunday afternoons at 12pm are the priciest.

A break-down of flights by Top Auto:

The report shows the impact of demand on flight prices, with peak days commanding significantly higher fares compared to off-peak periods.

The data also highlights the significance of choosing the right day to travel. On popular routes like Johannesburg to Cape Town, flights are 32% cheaper on Tuesdays compared to pricey Fridays.

Discovery Bank’s report reveals that Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban remain South Africa’s preferred destinations, collectively accounting for the majority of domestic flights.

While Cape Town remains the top choice, there’s a notable shift with more travellers exploring coastal towns like George, Gqeberha and East London.

Internationally, the United Kingdom remains a favourite destination for South African travellers, followed by Mauritius and France.

The increased accessibility of flights to Mauritius and major events like the Rugby World Cup in France drove up visitor numbers.

Flight prices in 2023 stabilised compared to the previous year and, in some cases, decreased. However, international routes experienced price hikes due to rising demand. Notable changes include:

• Johannesburg to Cape Town: Average one-way fare decreased by 1% in 2023.
• Johannesburg to Durban: Average one-way fare decreased by 5% in 2023.
• Cape Town to Durban: Average one-way fare increased by 2% in 2023.
• George to Johannesburg: Average one-way fare increased by 11% in 2023.

For international flights, the trend was similar, with significant increases in average return ticket prices observed across several routes.

Compiled by Jules Keohane

First Published on Cape Town etc

Also see: 8 Safety tips for travelling with children