Tambo International, the huge, modern Johannesburg airport, was remarkably quiet when we arrived at 6:30 p.m., about 1 1/2 hours late after bucking unusual headwinds all the way from Atlanta. “Perfect,” we thought, and began sprinting in hopes that our connection to Gaborone might also run late. Alas, we missed our flight; fortunately we enjoyed an excellent outcome!
About half way to the Air Botswana transfer desk, a cheerful young man wearing a Swissport vest offered to help. He confidently and quickly herded us through the deserted corridors, but the look on the two Air Botswana agents’ faces as we breathlessly ran up confirmed that we’d already missed our flight.
The helpful Swissport employee stayed with us, moving us quickly through passport control, to baggage claim, through customs and to the Delta customer service desk on the departures level. Each step of the way he strolled around lines with us in tow to find available agents and otherwise avoided delays. Although rebooking while en route is never fun, this bright young man made it rather pleasant.
The advantage of having made all of our arrangements through Air Botswana (in addition to their low introductory fares) soon became apparent. Rather than flounder on our own as would have be the case if we’d booked the Delta and the Air Botswana segments separately, Delta took responsibility and expediently provided us with tickets for the 7:30 a.m. Air Botswana flight to Gaborone, and a voucher for dinner, hotel, breakfast and transportation to make our unintended stay in Joburg much more pleasant.
Who is the guardian angel that guided us through Tambo so expertly? Bongani Masuku grew up in Joburg, has a girlfriend and a 2 year old daughter, and is proud to be working hard at the airport even as he searches for a better job that will make him feel secure enough to get married. It took a bit of arm-twisting to get him to talk directly about money, but we finally agreed that a $20 tip would be appropriate. He said it would help him on his way, and we felt it a good value for saving us at least 1/2 hour. In fact, we have become so used to airlines dropping us summarily by claiming immunity due to weather and other conditions out of their control, I’m not even sure we would have even remembered to ask Delta for vouchers without his expert assistance.
What makes this story even more fun is that Bongani was only one of many, many helpful people we have encountered in Africa. Gate agents laugh and smile. Security guards cajole and joke as they relieve us of the apple juice we are not allowed to carry through the checkpoint. Air Botswana provides so many bright, cheerful attendents that we got two cups of coffee on the short, 40-minute flight. John from the transport company met us at the Gaborone airport, patiently waited for us to exchange some Dollars for Pula, and cheerfully told us about both Botswana and his native Kenya on the drive to the hotel. Irsaat, owner of the Kgale View bed & breakfast, met us at his gate, welcomed us graciously, and repeatedly told us to ask the staff for any need — and to totally make ourselves at home. Julia and Muongo, the Kgale View desk attendants, worked patiently through details of housing 24 teammates here 3 times. Tumisang David was as cheerful and entertaining as any ice cream server I’ve ever met. And last, but far from least, Phatsimo, the GV Coordinator for HFH-Botswana, spent an evening reassuring us of all the arrangements for our teams to be safe and productive.
We certainly have a warm feeling as we reflect on our first day in southern Africa. With all of the cheerful, helpful people who seem to be on our side here, I already sense a tinge of regret that it will be only be 47 days before our eventual departure from Tambo on the way home.