Time Travel

09/04/2026

Travelling with Batteries?

If you’re packing your favourite devices for your next trip, there’s one important detail to keep in mind.

Power banks and most electronic devices use lithium-ion batteries and must always be carried in your hand luggage, never in checked baggage, in line with international aviation safety regulations.

Power banks under 100Wh can be carried on board without prior approval. Those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval and are limited to two per passenger. Batteries exceeding 160Wh are not permitted on passenger aircraft.

If your hand luggage is placed in the hold at the gate, please remember to remove any power banks and keep them with you in the cabin.

These measures are in place to ensure that any issues can be addressed quickly and safely during your flight.

02/03/2026

South Africans travelling to the UK will now receive digital confirmation of their visa, according to Travel News.

This will replace the physical sticker that South African travellers receive in their passport when they apply for a visa.

Applicants will be required to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access their e-visas.

The application process itself remains largely unchanged for South Africans. They must still book an appointment at a visa application centre and will then receive their visa and confirmation via the UKVI account.

Travellers who already have a valid UK visa in their passport do not need to reapply for a new e visa. Instead, they need to ensure their current visa is linked to a UKVI account.

Once linked, their visa will appear digitally when their passport is scanned at the UK border.

The UK’s ETA is also now mandatory for all travellers from visa-exempt countries travelling to the UK.

09/12/2025

Qantas’s new direct flight QF65 linking Perth and Johannesburg, departed Perth Airport on the afternoon of December 7 bound for Johannesburg, opening a direct link for the national carrier between Western Australia and South Africa.

On Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, flight QF65 departs Perth at 13h30 and arrives in Johannesburg at 18h45. On the same days, the return flight QF66 departs Johannesburg at 21h35, arriving in Perth at 13h30 the following day.

The route is operated by an A330 with 27 business-class and 224 economy-class seats.

28/11/2025

POWER BANK RULE

The Qantas Group will implement new restrictions on the use of portable power banks across all Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar flights from December 15.

The following policies will be introduced:

- The use of power banks on board is prohibited.
- Charging of power banks on board is prohibited, including via in-seat power or USB ports.
- Customers may carry up to two power banks (each not exceeding 160 watt hours) in their cabin baggage.
- Power banks, spare batteries and personal electronic devices should be with the passenger – in the seat pocket or under the seat in front. If this is not possible, then in a nearby overhead locker.
- All power banks must display battery specifications.
- Lithium batteries that are part of a ‘smart bag’ (a bag with integrated electronic features) must be removed from the bag and taken as carry-on baggage.
- Power banks will continue to be prohibited from checked baggage.

Virgin Australia has introduced similar restrictions, which will come into force from December 1.

25/10/2025

14/10/2025

Botswana Nationals require a visitors visa for entry into the United Kingdom. There will be a 6 week transition period (until 25th November) to give time for those who have already booked their travel to obtain their visa's.

12/10/2025

Great support for breast cancer awareness month. Way to go SAA

10/10/2025

Following multiple delays, the roll-out of the European Union’s Entry Exit System (EES) will begin on October 12.

EES will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays and depart from the bloc.

All non-EU nationals entering the EU will be required to register biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans, at self-service kiosks and tablets or with border officials, in one of 29 participating countries. These countries include France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

South African passport holders will not be able to register using the self-service kiosks or tablets, as the South African passport does not contain a biometric data chip. They will be required to register with border officials at border security booths.

Once travellers are registered with the EES system, they will have to scan their entrance into and exit from the bloc. On subsequent visits, travellers will not need to repeat the registration, as their data on file will be used to record their entries and exits digitally.

However, until EES is fully rolled out, travellers’ passports will continue to be stamped, even if they have already registered for EES.

Due to the anticipated congestion that will arise during the initial traveller registration phase of the new digital border system, the launch will be gradually rolled out over six months. From April 2026, EES is expected to be fully operational at all external EU border crossings.

14/08/2025

*The Department of State is temporarily delaying the implementation of the new guidance to consular officers on waiving the in-person interview requirement for nonimmigrant visa applicants, as operational details are finalized.*

Important Visa Update

Beginning September 2, 2025, most nonimmigrant visa applicants — including those applying for renewals — will need to attend an in-person interview with a U.S. consular officer.

12/08/2025

From October 1, Emirates will ban the use of any kind of power banks on board, to limit the risk of lithium battery-related incidents, including fires.

Passengers will still be permitted to carry one power bank on board under specific conditions, but it may not be used in the aircraft. The conditions are:

Passengers may carry one power bank under 100Wh but may not use it.
Charging a power bank using the aircraft’s power supply is not permitted.
All power banks accepted for transport must have capacity rating information available.
Power banks may not be placed in the overhead bin and must be placed in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you.
Power banks are not permitted in checked luggage (existing rule).

02/08/2025

True story!

09/07/2025

Kenya has dropped the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement for South African passport holders, as well as passport holders from other Southern African countries.

According to the ETA website, South Africans no longer require the travel authorisation to enter Kenya. Citizens from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana are among those also exempt from the ETA.