It is cheaper to fly through airlines' hub cities. For example, if you are flying South African Airways, book a trip that leaves South Africa through the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Fly through Cape Town International Airport as a second choice. It is a "focus city" -- not a hub, but used more than other cities by the airline. Likewise, fly into a hub U.S. city. Check with the individual airlines about their hub U.S. cities. On South African Airways, it is often cheaper to fly into Hartsfield--Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
If the hub cities are not your ultimate destination, consider purchasing domestic airline tickets separately. This often is less expensive because you can choose the hub cities to fly into, rather than the airline attempting to book you directly in a more expensive flight. You can also use low-cost airlines, such as AirTran in the U.S. and Mango Airlines in South Africa to get to and from hub cities.
Some airlines offer cheaper flights with South African currency compared to dollars. Use the airline's South African website, which often ends in .za, the country's website code. Look at the airline's homepage to see if a region is pre-selected. Change the selection to South Africa. Airlines that offer cheaper flights using a South African credit card sometimes require that the flights be booked within South Africa. Others require that the credit card have a South African mailing address or is attached to a South African bank.
Flight aggregators scan several airlines at once to find the cheapest fares. Open a site such as Sky Scanner or Kayak and plug in your desired options, including cities of departure and time.
Keep your travel arrangements as flexible as possible. Willingness to fly late at night, early in the morning or midweek may lead to a cheaper fare from South Africa to the United States. Avoid travel during major holidays, such as Christmas, or Thanksgiving in the U.S. Flights are more expensive around these times. Also decide whether you're willing to give up the convenience of a direct flight for a cheap multi-leg option. Flying through Europe, for instance, often is cheaper than a direct flight from South Africa to the United States, although it adds time and transfers to your journey.
Airfare tends to go up as the travel date approaches. Look well in advance for cheap flights from South Africa and book at least a month in advance.
