Travelers, Take Note: New Luggage Rules When Heading to South Africa

As of March 25, 2019, Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport has implemented new rules for bags you wish to check in:

• Only regular shaped bags will be accepted at check-in counters
• Bags must have at least one flat surface to be accepted
• Round or irregular-shaped bags will not be accepted as checked luggage
• Bags with long straps will not be accepted as checked luggage

So, I bet you’re wondering why? Irregular shaped bags are the greatest source of baggage jams. They often shut down the system, leaving passengers inconvenienced and delayed. OR Tambo is following the example of Dubai’s international airport, who recently implemented the same baggage restrictions.

If your bags have long straps, you may need to remove them, or tape them flat. You can also head over to the baggage wrapping area. They can wrap your bag into compliance. See more here.

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