London to Johannesburg with points & miles
Heathrow (LHR) to O.R. Tambo International (JNB) is about 9,075 km. Below is how the major programmes price this route. Prices are transparent estimates — for a recommendation tailored to your points, run it through the optimiser.
Estimate, not live availability
Our own estimate from flight distance — not published award charts or live seats. Taxes also reflect our estimate of each airline's surcharge level. Check seats with the airline before transferring points — transfers are final.
| Airline | Programme | Economy | Business | Amex pts (business) | Taxes | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic Nonstop | Virgin Points | 37,500 | 79,500Estimate: Estimate, not live availability | 79,500 1:1 · Instant, allow up to 48 hours | £500 | 11h 16m est. |
| British Airways Nonstop | Avios | 37,500 | 79,500Estimate: Estimate, not live availability | 79,500 1:1 · Instant | £545 | 11h 16m est. |
| Air France 1 stop via CDG | Flying Blue Miles | 37,500 | 79,500Estimate: Estimate, not live availability | 79,500 1:1 · 4 working days | £225 | 13h 6m est. |
| Qatar Airways 1 stop via DOH | Avios | 46,500 | 99,000Estimate: Estimate, not live availability | 99,000 1:1 · Up to 48 hours | £185 | 15h 56m est. |
| Emirates 1 stop via DXB | Skywards Miles | 48,000 | 102,500Estimate: Estimate, not live availability | 205,000 2:1 · 2 working days | £260 | 16h 26m est. |
| Longer routings — over 1.5× the nonstop time or distance | ||||||
| Cathay Pacific 1 stop via HKG | Asia Miles | 78,000 | 171,500Estimate: Estimate, not live availability | 171,500 1:1 · 3 working days | £310 | 26h 18m est. |
| Singapore Airlines 1 stop via SIN | KrisFlyer Miles | 75,500 | 165,000Estimate: Estimate, not live availability | 247,500 3:2 · 15 working days | £240 | 25h 24m est. |
Frequently asked
How many points do I need to fly London to Johannesburg in business class?
From around 79,500 Amex Membership Rewards points one-way with Virgin Atlantic — an estimated 79,500 Virgin Points at Amex UK's 1:1 transfer ratio (instant, allow up to 48 hours to arrive), plus roughly £500 in taxes and surcharges. Award prices are Slipstream estimates; Slipstream compares the options and tells you the best transfer route.
What is the best airline for London to Johannesburg?
On points, journey time, stops, taxes and value together, Virgin Atlantic (nonstop, 11h 16m est.), British Airways (nonstop, 11h 16m est.), Air France (one stop, 13h 6m est.) lead for business class. Slipstream scores them on value to you, not loyalty.
Miles prices are Slipstream's distance-based estimates, not live award inventory. Amex points use each partner's published Amex UK transfer ratio, rounded up to its transfer minimum and increment (checked 27 Sept 2026). Etihad Guest is no longer an Amex UK transfer partner (ended 22 Jun 2026), so it isn't listed. Always confirm availability and pricing with the airline before transferring points — Amex transfers are final. Journey times marked “est.” are estimates, not published schedules.
Which airlines fly this route: from Heathrow Airport, Dubai International Airport, Hamad International Airport, Changi Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0; checked 27 Sept 2026), with headline routes checked against the airlines' own sites.