The Commercial Leg of Your Charter Itinerary

Most charter itineraries begin or end on a commercial flight -- an international arrival at OR Tambo before the hop to the bush, or a connection home at the end of a safari. That commercial leg is where the queues, the confusing terminals and the tight connections are. VIP Airport Assistance is how we take care of it, at OR Tambo International in Johannesburg and Cape Town International.

We arrange it through Menzies Aviation, the airport-appointed ground handlers. A dedicated Menzies VIP escort meets you, handles your luggage, and guides you through every step of the arrival or departure process. It is booked as part of your charter, so the same team that plans your flying also holds the timings for the airport either side of it -- and if your inbound runs late, the people meeting you and the people holding your aircraft already know.

What Our VIP Assistance Includes

Meet and Greet: Your Menzies VIP escort meets you at the airport entrance (departures) or at the gantry directly off your inbound flight (arrivals). You are escorted through the entire process with priority handling at every checkpoint.

Expedited Check-in: Skip the general queues. We facilitate fast-track check-in with airline partners, ensuring your boarding passes and baggage tags are processed without delay.

Fast-tracked Security and Immigration: Our assistants guide you through dedicated security lanes and immigration desks where available, significantly reducing wait times -- particularly valuable during peak travel periods at OR Tambo.

Exclusive Lounge Access: Relax before your flight in a premium lounge environment. We arrange access to Slow Lounges and other VIP facilities, where you can enjoy complimentary refreshments, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating away from the terminal crowds.

Baggage Handling and Porterage: Your luggage is managed from start to finish. Our porters collect your bags on arrival, transport them through the terminal, and ensure they reach your vehicle or connecting flight without you lifting a finger.

Available at OR Tambo and Cape Town International

Our VIP assistance is available at the two airports where you need it most. OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg is Africa's busiest hub, handling over 21 million passengers annually -- the Menzies VIP service here is particularly valuable for navigating the sprawling international terminal. Cape Town International Airport offers the same Menzies VIP experience for travellers heading to or from the Western Cape.

Who Benefits Most

International guests landing at OR Tambo before a safari charter, who would otherwise clear immigration and customs unaided and then find their way across to the charter terminal. Families with children, where the extra hands between an eleven-hour flight and a bush hop matter more than anything else we arrange. Elderly or mobility-impaired passengers, for whom the walk through a terminal the size of OR Tambo is the hardest part of the trip. And corporate groups on tight schedules, where an hour lost in a queue is an hour off the ground.

Pair with Our Other Services

VIP assistance sits alongside the rest of what we arrange around your flying. Add an airport shuttle or road transfer for door-to-door coverage, or our concierge team to have accommodation, dining and activities held by the same people planning the flights. It all hangs off the charter at the centre of the itinerary.

Adding It to Your Charter

VIP Airport Assistance is arranged as part of a charter booked with us, rather than on its own -- the value of it is that one team holds both the airport timings and the aircraft. Tell us about it when you request your quote, or any time before you travel: 48 hours' notice is comfortable, and we can often do better at short notice. Request a charter quote and mention your inbound and onward flight details, passenger numbers, and anything else we should know.