Flying to New York
Pay in instalments with PayJustNow, Float or Happy Pay. Totals include every fee.
Johannesburg (JNB)
about 18 hours · One stop
R 4 442 ×3
R 13 326 all in
Search+2
Per-payment figures are the all-in total divided by 3 and rounded. The number of payments and the schedule differ by partner — Happy Pay splits over 2 — and your own plan depends on that partner's approval. You see it in full before you confirm. Fares are the lowest seen for a sample date about six weeks out, not a quote; airline pricing moves constantly.
Best time to fly
Weather, crowds and fares move together in New York. These are the trade-offs.
April to June
Spring — mild, the parks coming back to life, before the summer humidity.
September to November
Autumn, and the best of the year: crisp, clear, with the foliage in Central Park through October.
July to August
Hot and very humid, though hotel rates soften.
December to March
Cold, sometimes severely, with Christmas in the city as the draw and January the cheapest month.
Before you go
Visa takes months
The interview appointment is the bottleneck, not the application. Begin as early as you possibly can.
Tipping
Expected and substantial — around 18 to 20% in restaurants, and it is not included in the bill.
Sales tax
Added at the till, not shown on the shelf price. Budget roughly 9% on top.
Subway
Runs 24 hours and is the fastest way around. Tap a contactless card straight at the turnstile with OMNY.
About New York
New York needs no introduction, and the practical advice is simply to do less than you plan. Manhattan alone holds more than a week's worth, and the subway makes it all reachable, but the city rewards depth over checklist-ticking.
Central Park, the Met, the Village, Brooklyn across the bridge — and the view from the water on the Staten Island Ferry, which is free and better than most paid alternatives.
Getting in from the airport
JFK is about 25 km from Manhattan. The AirTrain connects to the subway and the LIRR — the LIRR to Penn Station is the fastest at around 50 minutes. Yellow cabs charge a flat fare between JFK and Manhattan, plus tolls and tip. Newark (EWR) is the alternative and is often closer for west-side Manhattan.
Entry requirements for South African passport holders
The United States requires South African passport holders to obtain a visa before travelling. This involves an online application, a fee and an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate, and appointment waiting times can be months. Start the process very early, follow official US State Department guidance, and do not book non-refundable travel before the visa is issued.
Entry rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the destination's embassy or consulate before you travel — this page is a guide, not an authority.
Flying to New York, answered
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Last reviewed by Fly n Pay Later editorial team.