Chaos at ACSA Joburg
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Chaos at ACSA Joburg
Hehe.....Johannesburg Airport: "Welcome to South Africa". International Arrivals - deary me.
Has anyone here landed between 7.30 and 10am in the morning Internationally into Jo'burg? If you have, you'll know what i mean!
The Immigration queues are often more than an hour long, They run out of baggage carosels so they just line the bags all over the floor - you can't move and everything is jumbled up. People miss connecting flights, tempers run high......something has to be done about this. This isn't a one off, it's EVERYDAY!
What are ACSA doing about the problem? What can they do?
Has anyone here landed between 7.30 and 10am in the morning Internationally into Jo'burg? If you have, you'll know what i mean!
The Immigration queues are often more than an hour long, They run out of baggage carosels so they just line the bags all over the floor - you can't move and everything is jumbled up. People miss connecting flights, tempers run high......something has to be done about this. This isn't a one off, it's EVERYDAY!
What are ACSA doing about the problem? What can they do?
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The problem is, that ACSA has proven time and time again that they are not capable of doing proper assessments to plan ahead. They realise they have to expand to create acceptable facilities and start building... causing massive inconvienience for the patrons... as soon as the building and expansion is completed - voilá they realize they have to start the expansion process all over again - instead of doing it right the first time, so in the end more money gets wasted...
Same story in Cape Town where a new parking facility has been constructed - the drop and go lane is totally congested and before 2010 Soccer they will have to do some serious building to accomodate.
As far as custom and immigration goes - they are never in a hurry even if the cues are long, of ten or more counters availiable only half of them are manned.
This might sound as harsh critisism, however compared to international standards all the big Airports in South Africa are a nightmare. I don't think it will ever change...
Same story in Cape Town where a new parking facility has been constructed - the drop and go lane is totally congested and before 2010 Soccer they will have to do some serious building to accomodate.
As far as custom and immigration goes - they are never in a hurry even if the cues are long, of ten or more counters availiable only half of them are manned.
This might sound as harsh critisism, however compared to international standards all the big Airports in South Africa are a nightmare. I don't think it will ever change...
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Chaos at ACSA Joburg
Hey everyone,
I have arrived into South Africa from various countries through Joburg many times, and although not at the times mentioned (0730 - 1000), I have still found the congestion to be unmanageable even when there are only one or two international arrivals.
It is such a pity that Joburg being the main entry point into your fabulous country is an aging terminal and facility overall. This is one of the things that many tourists / workers see for the first time when they arrive into South Africa and, believe me, it paints an ordinary picture.
I have visited many airports throughout my career, and unfortunately, FAJS is one of the worst when it has to deal with larger numbers of passengers. My only hope is that a huge effort is made to accommodate the throngs of people that will arrive during a very short period during the World Cup in 2010. It will be likewise when they all depart.
I also hope that when I next visit that the conditions and systems in place at Joburg have improved.
I have arrived into South Africa from various countries through Joburg many times, and although not at the times mentioned (0730 - 1000), I have still found the congestion to be unmanageable even when there are only one or two international arrivals.
It is such a pity that Joburg being the main entry point into your fabulous country is an aging terminal and facility overall. This is one of the things that many tourists / workers see for the first time when they arrive into South Africa and, believe me, it paints an ordinary picture.
I have visited many airports throughout my career, and unfortunately, FAJS is one of the worst when it has to deal with larger numbers of passengers. My only hope is that a huge effort is made to accommodate the throngs of people that will arrive during a very short period during the World Cup in 2010. It will be likewise when they all depart.
I also hope that when I next visit that the conditions and systems in place at Joburg have improved.
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Don't worry, I have it on good authority that very soon there will be no more of these kinds of problems at Jo'burg International Airport.
Yes you read that correctly, no more problems at Jo'burg International Airport!
Cause they changing the name to Oliver Thambo International Airport!!!
Yes you read that correctly, no more problems at Jo'burg International Airport!
Cause they changing the name to Oliver Thambo International Airport!!!
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ACSA Cape Town
Cape Town is no better,even with the handful of international arrivals that do come here.Summer time is fun arriving into Cape Town.BA, SAA and Virgin Atlantic usually arrive from London around the same time and so the chaos starts.ACSA 
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ACSA?
ACSA? Don't get me started on ACSA. I wish I could have a business where I could be so arrogant. Of course, it's easy to be arrogant when you run a monopoly. And especially when you inherit an already robust business and infrastructure paid for by the taxpayer. Can you go wrong?
Last edited by JetPark; 17th Jul 2006 at 16:57.
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Not to sure if ACSA is to blame for this. ACSA simply provides the infrastructure - i.e. customs/immigration stations etc.
I think the blame should be laid at the feet of Customs and Immigration - you know, the untidy fat guys who left school at age 11............
I think the blame should be laid at the feet of Customs and Immigration - you know, the untidy fat guys who left school at age 11............
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A friend recently returned from his tour over the hills and far away. Arriving at the same time as his 777, were two A340 class aircraft, not sure of exact type, but anyway...of all the customs desks available, *two* were manned. Great! But apparently that wasn't the worst - of the three baggage carousels available, only one seemed to be in use (that despite indications to the contrary on the electronic boards, causing pax to stand around the other carousels in vain). Also, he said the bags came out "as if the baggage handler was walking across the apron to the 777, fetching one bag, walking back to the terminal, and putting it on the carousel!" Getting from the plane to out the terminal took quite a bit longer than an hour apparently. They are REALLY going to have to pull their socks up...
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i frequently transfer trough JNB (from ZRH to CPT) and it is always a good laugh. Long lines at immigration, takes forever to get your luggage. Best one was, when there were no luggage trolleys. NONE! We came it late, so there were many other widebodies in before us. So everybody had to carry their luggage from international to domestic (or of course use one of all those friendly porters...).
Then when coming back from CPT it always surprises me that everybody goes outside, walks to international departures, stands in a long queue for passport and security check. Because actually there is a direct transfer facility at domestic arrivals. Well, you have to go to the domestic deparures level, then there is a passport check and security. And because no one knows about it, i never had more than one person in front of me. More time to have a glass of white wine in the lounge :-) (only works if you already have your boarding pass, but normally you do anyway).
I am surprised there is no real information about this transfer facility. Ok, there are signs (showing international departures) but they actally don't get you to the entrance of the facility but make you end up somewhere in the middle of domestic departures.
in 3 weeks i am on my way again. looking forward to visit south africa and the experience to walk trough JNB international again
Then when coming back from CPT it always surprises me that everybody goes outside, walks to international departures, stands in a long queue for passport and security check. Because actually there is a direct transfer facility at domestic arrivals. Well, you have to go to the domestic deparures level, then there is a passport check and security. And because no one knows about it, i never had more than one person in front of me. More time to have a glass of white wine in the lounge :-) (only works if you already have your boarding pass, but normally you do anyway).
I am surprised there is no real information about this transfer facility. Ok, there are signs (showing international departures) but they actally don't get you to the entrance of the facility but make you end up somewhere in the middle of domestic departures.
in 3 weeks i am on my way again. looking forward to visit south africa and the experience to walk trough JNB international again
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ACSA service delivery
Reptile, you are correct and perhaps I came across a bit harsh. But it is an ACSA responsibility to ensure service delivery. Problem is the focus is on how many shops they can squeeze into Departures Terminals so that they can cream some turnover revenues. Customs & Immigration formalities bring them no revenue so why bother too much with that?
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Ever noticed how unfriendly the immagration officials are when you arrive. To think that FAJS is our front door to potential investors and the immagration officer is the butler welcoming you. I hang my head in shame...
Fun & Games at Immigration
I was entering Johannesburg on an SA passport (from Luanda). The lady on duty demanded to see my Yellow Fever Certificate (which I had for Angola)
Just to wind her up, I told her: "No, you can't see the certificate & furthermore you have no right to prevent the entry into SA of a SA passport holder whether I have the certificate or not"
So she says to me:"OK, but I can put you into quarantine"
So guess what? I produced the Certificate!
Anybody else had any amusing encounters with these guys?
Just to wind her up, I told her: "No, you can't see the certificate & furthermore you have no right to prevent the entry into SA of a SA passport holder whether I have the certificate or not"
So she says to me:"OK, but I can put you into quarantine"
So guess what? I produced the Certificate!
Anybody else had any amusing encounters with these guys?
Too mean to buy a long personal title
Originally Posted by Captain Pheremone
Hey flyyyyyy....plse give me some more info on your little secret....like where in Domestic dep it is.
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when you arrive in johannesburg (from your domestic flight) you have to go out of the security area (past baggage claim) where the people would greet you. then you take the elevator upstairs to domestic check in level. there you go to the opposite side, if you look at the buildung from it is behind the check-in counters, if you walk all along the check-in line where SAA economy check in is you should automaticcaly get there. there are 2 x-ray machines for security scans, then there is a moving escalator, then passport control and then you are in the international terminal building already.
only works if you already have your boarding pass for your international flight!
Pity there is nothing like that when you transfer from international to domestic
only works if you already have your boarding pass for your international flight!
Pity there is nothing like that when you transfer from international to domestic
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ACSA
Originally Posted by JetPark
ACSA? Don't get me started on ACSA. I wish I could have a business where I could be so arrogant. Of course, it's easy to be arrogant when you run a monopoly. And especially when you inherit an already robust business and infrastructure paid for by the taxpayer. Can you go wrong?
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Hey ZS340, you are right in terms of service deilvery and response to their stakeholders 
but I was referring to their balance sheet - that they do get right and, like I said, can't go wrong 
but I was referring to their balance sheet - that they do get right and, like I said, can't go wrong
Paxing All Over The World
JetPark
I regret that this is a policy that they learnt from the UK's BAA. Here is part of a longer post in the HEATHROW thread in Airlines, Airports & Routes from earlier this week.
If I said that a BAA car park had too few lifts and payment machines, most would say that the old facilities have been overtaken by demand ...
I was delivering a pax to T3 today [for VS to JNB, as it happens] and had not been through T3 for a while. I was pleased to see a new car park and it was very well laid out with good markings. But ... you then found that there were not enough lifts. There are two lifts each at the North and South ends of the park, essentially North for Arrivals and South for Departures.
In the middle of the afternoon, the park was half full (I looked at all the floors and noted that the roof was not yet open for service) floors 1 + 2 were full, 3 had about 50% and 4 had half a dozen (and me!). Yet, the lifts to Departures were full and people waiting in the floor lobbies to get in. The lift cars state "Maximum 36 persons" OK and how many persons + trolley????
So, a spanking new car park that has four lifts instead of six and four payment machines at one end, instead of four at each end. The park might be run by NCP but it is BAA that specify and this is a classic example of saving money on construction cost. A brand new park - and only half full - it was already generating queues for pax arriving, don't worry about the queues for check in and security. The departing pax take longer to get away and so detract further from their experience and encourage them not to use the airport again.
I wonder if this sounds familiar to you folks??
Problem is the focus is on how many shops they can squeeze into ...
If I said that a BAA car park had too few lifts and payment machines, most would say that the old facilities have been overtaken by demand ...
I was delivering a pax to T3 today [for VS to JNB, as it happens] and had not been through T3 for a while. I was pleased to see a new car park and it was very well laid out with good markings. But ... you then found that there were not enough lifts. There are two lifts each at the North and South ends of the park, essentially North for Arrivals and South for Departures.
In the middle of the afternoon, the park was half full (I looked at all the floors and noted that the roof was not yet open for service) floors 1 + 2 were full, 3 had about 50% and 4 had half a dozen (and me!). Yet, the lifts to Departures were full and people waiting in the floor lobbies to get in. The lift cars state "Maximum 36 persons" OK and how many persons + trolley????
So, a spanking new car park that has four lifts instead of six and four payment machines at one end, instead of four at each end. The park might be run by NCP but it is BAA that specify and this is a classic example of saving money on construction cost. A brand new park - and only half full - it was already generating queues for pax arriving, don't worry about the queues for check in and security. The departing pax take longer to get away and so detract further from their experience and encourage them not to use the airport again.
I wonder if this sounds familiar to you folks??