O.R Tambo International Airport
Unclaimed Business
|1.4|13 Reviews (last 12 months)|This business does not respond to reviews
O.R Tambo International Airport
Unclaimed Business
|1.4
13 Reviews (last 12 months)
Does not respond to reviews
AI Review Summary
Based on recent customer reviews, O.R Tambo International Airport is drawing significant traveller frustration across multiple touchpoints. Customers consistently mention rude and dismissive staff behaviour at security, passport control, and check-in counters. A recurring theme is poor sanitation, with travellers describing unclean toilets, missing toilet seats, and inadequate baby changing facilities. Concerns around luggage tampering, suspected theft, and forced baggage wrapping are raised repeatedly. Travellers also flag confusing operational decisions such as unexplained road closures and water outages, leaving many feeling that the airport falls short of international standards.
Performance(last 12 months):
Trustindex Rating
2.2NPS Score
-100Unlikely
TrustIndex
2.2
NPS Score
-100
Recommended: Unlikely
Review Distribution
1.4|13 Reviews
Sep '25 - Aug '26
Recent reviews (13)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
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SR
Sally R
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2021
6 Apr 2026, 18:36
Shocking baby change room facilities
I had a horrible experience regarding the baby changing station by wimpy in domestic departures there is no toilet in the baby changing cubicle. As a single parent traveling on her own with a baby you would expect that there would be a place for me to go to the bathroom. I then went to the normal bathroom as I desperately needed the loo and the cubicle was not big enough to fit the pram into it. So there is no toilet in the baby changing room and the normal cubicles cannot fit a pram inside, how do you except a mom to go the toilet. I had no choice but to take my baby out the pram and leave the pram outside the cubicle (where anyone could have walked out with it) I then proceeded to go into the cubicle and had to put my baby on the floor while I used the loo. I was absolutely horrified by this experience.
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Sally R
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2021
6 Apr 2026, 18:36
Shocking baby change room facilities
I had a horrible experience regarding the baby changing station by wimpy in domestic departures there is no toilet in the baby changing cubicle. As a single parent traveling on her own with a baby you would expect that there would be a place for me to go to the bathroom. I then went to the normal bathroom as I desperately needed the loo and the cubicle was not big enough to fit the pram into it. So there is no toilet in the baby changing room and the normal cubicles cannot fit a pram inside, how do you except a mom to go the toilet. I had no choice but to take my baby out the pram and leave the pram outside the cubicle (where anyone could have walked out with it) I then proceeded to go into the cubicle and had to put my baby on the floor while I used the loo. I was absolutely horrified by this experience.
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Replies (0)KA
Kehsavani A
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
30 Mar 2026, 13:23
Disgusting staff at OR Tambo International Airport
Don't travel to South Africa especially this airport!!! Bull**** and rude staff. They looking to search your luggage so they can ask for bribes and they treat travellers whether South African or foreigners like ****. Bunch of useless and unprofessional, rude uncivilised staff. People shouldn't come to South Africa and be treated worst than animals. Take my advise, travel to other countries instead, it's much better than this stupid place.
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Kehsavani A
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
30 Mar 2026, 13:23
Disgusting staff at OR Tambo International Airport
Don't travel to South Africa especially this airport!!! Bull**** and rude staff. They looking to search your luggage so they can ask for bribes and they treat travellers whether South African or foreigners like ****. Bunch of useless and unprofessional, rude uncivilised staff. People shouldn't come to South Africa and be treated worst than animals. Take my advise, travel to other countries instead, it's much better than this stupid place.
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Replies (0)TM
Thonkgo M
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2018
6 Mar 2026, 07:00
SECURITY GUARDS AT THE AIRPORT IS A MESS
Security here is the mess I wish I can explore pictures of security guards who confiscated my toiletries, glue stick and glue sticks gun all were still new and packaged.
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Gerhard S
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2012
26 Jan 2026, 11:09
Disgusting toilets
I am totally disgusted at the state of both men's toilets in the domestic departures of OR Tambo airport. Both facilities have missing toilet seats. Yet this is supposed to be an international airport
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Naki H
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2021
5 Jan 2026, 10:37
Mistreated Minors Terminal A - Flight ZN305
I am writing to formally raise a complaint regarding the handling of my minor brothers, who were travelling as unaccompanied minors under the care of your airline at the airport, Zambia Airways. The lady was at the counters at Terminal A under COLOSSAL AVIAPARTNER, Flight ZN305 9n Monday 5 January, departing Johannesburg to Lusaka. We arrived at the airport at 08:00, well in advance of the scheduled 10:15 departure, specifically to ensure that all procedures for unaccompanied minors were completed smoothly and without stress. The check-in process was completed early as advised. After check-in, I informed one of the male staff members at the counter that the children needed to eat. I was instructed, in a rude and dismissive manner, that whatever we chose to do, we must ensure we returned before 09:00. In response, I rushed the children to get food and ensured we returned before 09:00, prioritising compliance with staff instructions. Upon returning before 09:00, we were then told that we were “too early” and that the children would only be collected at 09:15. We waited as instructed and returned again at 09:15, only to be told to wait yet again without any clear communication or explanation. Ultimately, the children were only collected at approximately 09:47, less than 30 minutes before departure. Given the size of the airport and the distance between the check-in counters and the boarding gates, this resulted in the children being rushed to the gate while carrying heavy bags. They were not given adequate time to use the bathroom, collect water, or move calmly if they needed to, while under the supervision of a staff member, accompanying them, Qini Mavundla( I was given this name by the man at the airline controller counter), who had already demonstrated a lack of patience, empathy, and professionalism. I would like to emphasise that my concern is not whether the children eventually reached the boarding gate. The issue is the manner in which they were handled, the lack of coordination, the conflicting instructions, and the absence of care and consideration for their physical and emotional wellbeing. When parents or guardians declare children as unaccompanied minors, the expectation is that the airline assumes full responsibility for their care from check-in through to boarding. This includes clear communication, reasonable timing, and staff who are equipped to work with children respectfully and compassionately. The behaviour displayed by Qini Mavundla, as well as the conduct of other staff involved, raises serious concerns about suitability to work with unaccompanied minors under Zambian airways. While staff may not be contractually obliged to carry luggage, they are entrusted with the care of children, which requires patience, professionalism, and a basic standard of human decency. I trust that this matter will be investigated thoroughly and that corrective action will be taken to ensure that no other children are subjected to a similar experience. Need I say that when they were leaving Zambia they did not experience any of this. They were assisted to carry their bags.
Helpful (0)
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Naki H
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2021
5 Jan 2026, 10:37
Mistreated Minors Terminal A - Flight ZN305
I am writing to formally raise a complaint regarding the handling of my minor brothers, who were travelling as unaccompanied minors under the care of your airline at the airport, Zambia Airways. The lady was at the counters at Terminal A under COLOSSAL AVIAPARTNER, Flight ZN305 9n Monday 5 January, departing Johannesburg to Lusaka. We arrived at the airport at 08:00, well in advance of the scheduled 10:15 departure, specifically to ensure that all procedures for unaccompanied minors were completed smoothly and without stress. The check-in process was completed early as advised. After check-in, I informed one of the male staff members at the counter that the children needed to eat. I was instructed, in a rude and dismissive manner, that whatever we chose to do, we must ensure we returned before 09:00. In response, I rushed the children to get food and ensured we returned before 09:00, prioritising compliance with staff instructions. Upon returning before 09:00, we were then told that we were “too early” and that the children would only be collected at 09:15. We waited as instructed and returned again at 09:15, only to be told to wait yet again without any clear communication or explanation. Ultimately, the children were only collected at approximately 09:47, less than 30 minutes before departure. Given the size of the airport and the distance between the check-in counters and the boarding gates, this resulted in the children being rushed to the gate while carrying heavy bags. They were not given adequate time to use the bathroom, collect water, or move calmly if they needed to, while under the supervision of a staff member, accompanying them, Qini Mavundla( I was given this name by the man at the airline controller counter), who had already demonstrated a lack of patience, empathy, and professionalism. I would like to emphasise that my concern is not whether the children eventually reached the boarding gate. The issue is the manner in which they were handled, the lack of coordination, the conflicting instructions, and the absence of care and consideration for their physical and emotional wellbeing. When parents or guardians declare children as unaccompanied minors, the expectation is that the airline assumes full responsibility for their care from check-in through to boarding. This includes clear communication, reasonable timing, and staff who are equipped to work with children respectfully and compassionately. The behaviour displayed by Qini Mavundla, as well as the conduct of other staff involved, raises serious concerns about suitability to work with unaccompanied minors under Zambian airways. While staff may not be contractually obliged to carry luggage, they are entrusted with the care of children, which requires patience, professionalism, and a basic standard of human decency. I trust that this matter will be investigated thoroughly and that corrective action will be taken to ensure that no other children are subjected to a similar experience. Need I say that when they were leaving Zambia they did not experience any of this. They were assisted to carry their bags.
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Replies (0)AH
Andries H
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2020
29 Nov 2025, 21:06
DON'T GIVE A **** ATTITUDE ORT AIRPORT
The entire road lanes for the arrivals at the airport were all blocked off. Nobody (The Police, the staff at the information desk or the staff manning the parking office) knew why the roads were blocked off or when such would be re-opened? SURELY they must be a reason why closed (There was no workman on any of the stretch of the closed off roads) and SURELY somebody must know when such will be re-opened. It cannot be a state secret why road closed and when such will be re-opened. Just shows what the Airports company thinks of the customers, (WE can do what we like and do not have to explain to anyone the reasons????)
Helpful (0)
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Andries H
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2020
29 Nov 2025, 21:06
DON'T GIVE A **** ATTITUDE ORT AIRPORT
The entire road lanes for the arrivals at the airport were all blocked off. Nobody (The Police, the staff at the information desk or the staff manning the parking office) knew why the roads were blocked off or when such would be re-opened? SURELY they must be a reason why closed (There was no workman on any of the stretch of the closed off roads) and SURELY somebody must know when such will be re-opened. It cannot be a state secret why road closed and when such will be re-opened. Just shows what the Airports company thinks of the customers, (WE can do what we like and do not have to explain to anyone the reasons????)
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Replies (0)HH
Hlengiwe H
1 reviews | Active since May 2023
27 Nov 2025, 08:28
OR Tambo International Airport
I am so angry with the staff from OR Tambo, these people opened my suitcase and went through my things. My cosmetic bag was left open and my clothes thrown all over the suitcase and I know for fact that my clothes were folded and my cosmetic bag was closed. This is not the first time this has happened, back in September of this year they did the same thing to my suitcase. This is disgusting and inversion of my personal belongings. Can the management of this airport deal with this issue urgently. I don't understand why these people or person who do this think or believe it is okay for them to open our suitcases or bags.
Helpful (0)
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Hlengiwe H
1 reviews | Active since May 2023
27 Nov 2025, 08:28
OR Tambo International Airport
I am so angry with the staff from OR Tambo, these people opened my suitcase and went through my things. My cosmetic bag was left open and my clothes thrown all over the suitcase and I know for fact that my clothes were folded and my cosmetic bag was closed. This is not the first time this has happened, back in September of this year they did the same thing to my suitcase. This is disgusting and inversion of my personal belongings. Can the management of this airport deal with this issue urgently. I don't understand why these people or person who do this think or believe it is okay for them to open our suitcases or bags.
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