Luggage pilfered in JNB airport

[godwincp]

I recently returned from two safaris conducted in South Africa hosted by Derian Koekemoer on his concession bordering Krueger National Park and in Zimbabwe with York Mare in the Sengwa research area. Both safaris were excellent an I harvested some amazing animals. I will file a separate hunt report on each but this post is about my gear being stolen from my checked bag at the JNB airport.
For reasons I still don’t fully understand my airline tickets were not purchased on one itinerary- meaning when I left Harare they would not let me check my bags directly to the US. I’ve always been able to check all the way home but not this time. I guess I should have caught this but I didn’t. The guy at the check in counter told me to put my ammo case in my checked bag. So now that I was no longer a transfer passenger I had to collect my bags and go through all the JNB BS checking rifles at the SAP office , checking in with Delta, checking firearms again and then waiting in very long lines at immigration and security before I could actually hit the lounge. But before all that happened my bag was not on the carousel. The bag attendant said if it contained ammo it would be at the SAPS office. I was going there anyway so no big deal- except it wasn’t there. Long walk to the Airlink office to begin the search- they had no clue until I showed them the air tag location. A few more calls and they said they found it and it would be delivered to the SAPS office.
an hour and a half later it finally showed up. I was so happy to get it I didn’t inspect
The contents- big mistake. When I got home the next day my Kuiu hunting jacket and shirts were missing. I guess it could have been worse- my Murray rifle case was still there as were my Courtney boots but it really annoyed me- at myself for not checking my bags directly on the spot and for not checking my tickets to allow direct shipment back to US without the JNB lunacy.
So just a heads up to you guys that may have inter and intra air connections on your safari. Even if you use a travel agent- which I always do- don’t take anything for granted. This could have all been avoided if I would have paid more attention to the flight details. Everything on one ticket and you’re good to go

 

[AckleyHunter]

Unfortunate part of traveling. Don't beat yourself too much. Had you checked, the guy wearing a nice Kuiu jacket and shirt in security would have probably just shrugged and said there is nothing he can do about it.

 

[Surgeon1]

I virtually refuse to go thru JNB and Won't use Airlink.
Thank God there are options!

 

[uplander01]

F^#> joburg, never going through there again, they’ve gotten me twice for a total of about 4K. First time Leica Bino, second time a really nice Nikon digital camera. They aren’t shy about it, ripped the locks right off the pelican air travel cases. It’s a criminal enterprise there that I would hate to even know the $ volume annually.

 

[JimP]

While I have only traveled through Joberg twice, each time I had to retrieve my bag and rifle and recheck them on my return flights. First time was in 2015 with SAA and this last time with Airlink. I don't believe that there is any policy for my luggage to be checked all the way through to the US.

Sorry about the loss but are you sure that the problem occurred in Joberg and not Harare? But that is air travel anymore. Anything of value that I have that I can is in my carry on and stays with me.

 

[wesheltonj]

JNB is a den of thieves. I had my bag gone though on my way to Zambia. I would have never known had they closed back up my toiletry kit. Nothing taken, I don't pack anything of value in my check bag ever.

 

[pilar]

It’s not just JNB , we went to Mexico tuna fishing, and packed our reels and lures in carry on , TSA doesn’t allow reels loaded with line ( said we could choke out the air crew ) then Mexican customs made us pay duty on all our reels and lures!
Seemed kinda odd as we have never had to pay duty before

 

[ftrovato]

Other than what goes in my gun case, regardless of where I'm traveling all valuables go in my carry on bag.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I travel Harare to ORT return a lot, but havent lost anything for years now. I never lock my case or canvas luggage and seldom have anything attractive in there, but occasionally do. So far so good.

 

[Hunt anything]

On my way home from my first trip to Mozambique (2014) I checked my bag and rifle all the way to Atlanta from Beira. Back then Delta and South African airlines/Air Link were partner companies. I don’t think they are anymore, this may be the reason you had to collect your baggage.
In 2018 we flew to Port Elizabeth from Johanasburg on British airways (I think)and on the way home we had to collect all of our baggage and go through security again in Johanasburg. Total PITA.
If not traveling with a rifle and ammunition we don’t check bags anymore, we stuff everything in our carry on and personal item.

 

[Sarg]

It is strange, I’m very sorry to read this, I myself must have been in & out of O.R. Tambo over 20 times, with & without firearms, never a problem with only canvas unlocked backpack or rucksack, I did plastic wrap once but only because O.R. Tambo banned travel with soft backpacks stating they were jamming their cheap ass conveyer belts !

 

[Hunt anything]

It is strange, I’m very sorry to read this, I myself must have been in & out of O.R. Tambo over 20 times, with & without firearms, never a problem with only canvas unlocked backpack or rucksack, I did plastic wrap once but only because O.R. Tambo banned travel with soft backpacks stating they were jamming their cheap ass conveyer belts !

When we returned from Johanasburg last month while we were waiting for some friends around the luggage carousel in Atlanta I noticed a good 20 to 30% of the bags coming across were soft bags, have they relaxed this a bit. My favorite bag is an old military flight bag and I would like to use it again.

 

[JimP]

When we returned from Johanasburg last month while we were waiting for some friends around the luggage carousel in Atlanta I noticed a good 20 to 30% of the bags coming across were soft bags, have they relaxed this a bit. My favorite bag is an old military flight bag and I would like to use it again

From what I remember they want one hard side and no loose straps.

I came through Joberg in 2022 with a Cabela's soft side duffel that fit that bill and didn't have any problems

 

[Andrew62]

I’ve found in my travels that departing from any SA airport or Zim back to the states, I’ve always had to collect my bags in JNB then recheck back in on whatever airline that is bringing me back stateside.

It may have changed but there were several of my trips where only Airlink would fly my rifle, that was the only option.

Give yourself credit for using AirTags, on this last trip had I not been able to show them my rifle did in fact make the flight from Harare to JNB, they would never have looked for it.

 

[375Fox]

I’m very surprised they would take a kuiu jacket or any clothing that wouldn’t show up on x-ray. However, I think you should ask travel agent why it was on two tickets before making any assumptions. Before Covid I would check in with airlink then wouldn’t claim my bags until arriving in US. I booked on one ticket to Windhoek combination of United and airlink in 2024. I still had to claim rifie and ammo and recheck to US in South Africa even though bag tag went to final destination and I had all boarding passes in hand. My bag (no ammo) did go without reclaiming. I flew Qatar on my last trip to Zimbabwe but the last 2 hunters I personally know who flew delta/airlink to Zimbabwe had to reclaim their rifles in Johannesburg before continuing on to the US booked through two different hunting travel agencies. I think things have changed.

 

[Sika98k]

I just think it’s a bad thing to put anything of value in your checked luggage traveling through Africa. I have, after several trips, become minimalist about my luggage .
In reality if you have daily laundry you can pretty much get away with a carryon backpack. A few trips ago I hung all my clothes in my wardrobe at the lodge and took stock of what I wore over the week or ten days I was away.
You can also get a few pieces in around your rifle case and ammo box if bringing ammunition. It’s also possible to do a bit of shopping on arrival.

 

[Safari Dave]

ATL might be as bad as JNB.


Fortunately, I've lost nothing yet, but I know my luggage has been pilfered through almost every time I fly.

"TSA" locks are a joke. When thieves are employed at almost every airport along the way.

Just buy "personal property insurance" as a rider to your homeowners policy.

I have a $25K policy with State Farm. They let me change the articles protected at any time.

The last time I went to Africa, I had two rifles insured.


When I returned and had the rifles back in the safe, I transferred $10K of the policy to a watch. The watch got damaged when I was helping my daughter move.

State Farm paid the claim on the watch.

State Farm seems so expensive, that I almost want to change insurers, but, so far, they have never let me down.

We'll see, moving forward...





I have been a customer since 1981, and have had hardly any claims.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Bummer. Sorry to hear this.

I back as light as possible. Everything I need, besides ammo and rifles, travel with me in a carry on and a backpack including Binoculars.

Ammo is common caliber in its own locked case (even though it is custom) and I know I can source it in Africa.

Rifles are in their own case. Everything has air tags. Best I know to do.

 

[Safari Dave]

You can't get ammo in every African county.

RSA - no problem with common cartridges.


Mozambique - good luck. My PH told me that there was no place to buy ammo between Tete and our concession.

Unfortunately, things just "happen" in Africa unlike any other place in the world.


IMO - take rifles in VERY common chamberings.

 

[sniper7]

I had a yeti cup and a nice fixed blade knife taken a couple years ago.
I now use TSA locks and even wrapped it this year with nothing taken.