Johannesburg, South Africa
Smoking policy at Johannesburg, O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Warnings & Caveats
A standalone Terminal A airside smoking area closes at 8pm (entry refused from 7:30pm). After closure, airport employees have reportedly offered smokers access to a nearby corridor in exchange for a tip in foreign currency. Accepting foreign currency tips can be illegal in South Africa - avoid this arrangement entirely. No one under 18 may enter a designated smoking area. Both the venue operator and the smoker can face substantial fines for violations of South African smoking law.
O.R. Tambo International is a large hub where smoking is tightly restricted by South African law, but a handful of paid lounges and designated spots keep options alive for smokers willing to spend a little. The most reliable airside option is paying to enter a lounge - free-standing public smoking rooms are either limited in hours or tied to a food or drink purchase.
Before Security
Landside smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor areas outside the terminal buildings. There are no indoor landside smoking rooms. If you need a cigarette before check-in or after collecting bags, you'll need to step outside the terminal entirely.
After Security
Airside options exist in both terminals, but all require either a lounge fee or a purchase:
Mashonzha Lounge (Terminal A, International): As of November 2024, this lounge has a small, clean smoking facility inside. It sits directly next to the Emirates Business Class Lounge. Walk-in access costs 580 rand for 4 hours for passengers not travelling in a premium cabin on eligible airlines. This is currently the most up-to-date confirmed airside smoking option in Terminal A.
27 Lounge (Terminal A, International, upper floor): A dedicated smoking lounge on the first floor of the international terminal. Follow signs toward D Lounge, take the escalators up, and you'll see the illuminated "27 Lounge Smoking" sign. A minimum purchase is required - a coffee runs around 42 rand (roughly $2.50 USD). This is a private smoking facility, not a free public room.
Piece A Pizza restaurant (Terminal A, International): Older reports (2019-2020) describe a smoking room inside this pizza restaurant, located in front of the small Big 5 duty-free shop in the direction of gates A5-A30. A purchase is required. Conditions may have changed since 2020, so treat this as a backup rather than a certainty.
Terminal A airside smoking area: There was historically a standalone smoking area in Terminal A airside, but it closes at 8pm (entry refused from 7:30pm onward). Travelers have reported airport employees offering to let you smoke in a corridor near the closed area after hours in exchange for a tip - see warnings below.
SAA Lounge (Terminal B, Domestic): As of May 2025, there is a smoking area inside the SAA lounge in Terminal B. Take the elevator on the left just after security to reach it. Lounge access conditions apply.
Airport Craft Brewers Restaurant (Terminal B, Domestic): A smoking area is available inside this restaurant, located across from gate D4. A purchase is required.
Legal Context
South African law prohibits smoking in public spaces, including airports and railway stations. Designated smoking areas in lounges and certain bars are permitted exceptions. No one under 18 may enter a designated smoking area, and both the venue and the smoker can face substantial fines for violations.
Vaping
No specific vaping policy for JNB was found in the available sources. Given the general indoor smoking ban, it is safest to assume vaping follows the same rules as smoking and is only permitted in the same designated areas.
Bottom Line
Your best airside bet is the Mashonzha Lounge (580 rand walk-in) or the 27 Lounge (minimum purchase) in Terminal A; in Terminal B, head to the SAA Lounge or Airport Craft Brewers near gate D4. Smoke outside the terminal before security if you want a free option.
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