Luggage pilfered in JNB airport

[Tanks]

I just think it’s a bad thing to put anything of value in your checked luggage traveling through Africa.

Actually, this statement applies to all travel anywhere domestic or international. And it is not even theft but neglect as well.

My company did the baggage conveyor system at LAX for an airline, and as part of testing we had to be in the control room where we watched TSA. When a piece of luggage is x-rayed if the machine flags something then the luggage automatically gets routed to TSA inspection. I have seen them take very carefully wrapped fragile items, unwrap look at it and then just force it back into the luggage.

 

[fourfive8]

It’s not just Africa or JNB. Lost or stolen problems with checked bags seem to be getting worse everywhere. I never pack valuable or attractive items in checked bag. Only clothes, boots, shaving kit, miscellaneous, etc in checked bag. Never had anything go missing in any African airport. However my checked bag has gone astray for anywhere from 1 to 4 days my last three air trips- two international and one domestic- all far from Africa. This July American Airlines/Qatar Airways lost my checked bag for 4 days. I believe the culprit was American Airlines in DFWorthless. I’ve really learned to dislike that airport but it is a hub so sometimes no choice. Then in August this year had a checked bag go missing for a day on an Alaska Air flight. The culprit was Alaska Air baggage transfer in Seattle. No excuse there either with a full 3 hour layover/transfer time, Alaska Air is near the top of my shit list with several screw ups in recent years. But again, no choice for certain routes and destinations.

The demand for air travel is so strong, I think any market pressure by disgruntled customers who have no alternative choice, has little affect. Also, I now know the reason so many fliers insist on taking heavy, over sized carry ons that slow planing/deplaning and exceed the carry-on stowage capacity on most flights. What a pain in the ass!
So no, it’s not just Africa or JNB.

 

[Safari Dave]

IME, use Travel Express or Gracy Travel when booking trips to Africa from the US.

Their agents know what to do and even have employees along the more common routes to assist you with problems along the way.

Just pay their commission for airline tickets, because it is usually always worth it, almost all the time.

The last thing you want is to be stuck in the police department at the JNB airport, by yourself, trying to negotiate with a bunch of criminal "policemen."

Your safari company should do it, but if they won't do it, or don't know who's palms to grease, just enjoy your hunt, but don't use them again.

IME, corruption is just how everything operates in most African countries now.

If your safari company will handle things, let them.

 

[V.Veritas]

In August I flew Air France to JNB and Airlink to Port Elizabeth since they are the only firearms carrier for internal flights. There is no partnership between the 2 and I had to claim the luggage in JNB and recheck it. (Almost 10 hours layover, so I spent the time at Africasky).
When I returned to Toronto I found the zipper on the bottom of the checked luggage open and damaged. It must have happened in JNB after I have re-checked it. However, nothing was missing. I was lucky.
Most of the valuables were in my carry-on.
My itinerary was planned by Travel Express.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. If you are going to be in JHB for an extended time, it is always worth it to have your luggage wrapped. Wrapping will cost you about $8
It kills some time, plus it protects your luggage for the flight. The thieves are looking for a quick grab, so the wrapping is a deterrent for sure.
Not an excuse, but this is the world we live in.

 

[Hedge774]

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.

Both my buddy and I had soft bags with a hard bottom going to JBerg from ATL direct on Delta. Nothing was said and we were two of many hunters packed te same. In April, my scopes, bino's and rangefinder will be in my carry on!

 

[Franco]

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

Agree, especially with Airlink. I don't know how many more trips I'll make to Africa, but I'm looking at hunts in countries I can get to without transiting JNB.

 

[V.Veritas]

The luggage wrapping needs to happen almost after you've checked in your luggage.
Let me expand - on the way to JNB the ammo box needs to be inside the luggage. On the Airlink flight it needs to be checked as a separate luggage. You would expect the same procedure on your way back, but you would be wrong. In JNB on my way back to Paris, the Agrican staff insisted to have the ammo checked as a separate luggage as well. So at the check-in I had to open the luggage again and get the ammo box out. The luggage wrapping would have been futile.
That was my experience. Your's could be and most probably would be different.

 

[steve white]

Valuables in carry-on, check....but not your knife! So are we going to have to pack a cheap knife in checked luggage or none at all?
Also, I wear my best hunting books in flight, so they don't get lost for four days.

 

[JimP]

Valuables in carry-on, check....but not your knife! So are we going to have to pack a cheap knife in checked luggage or none at all?
Also, I wear my best hunting books in flight, so they don't get lost for four days.

While I take a knife it is nothing that I can't replace fairly easily. A pocket knife and a Leatherman. I'll leave my actual hunting knifes at home since they really shouldn't be needed. But I did find out on my last trip that my PH nor my tracker carried a knife. Which surprised me.

But I do need to see a picture of how you wear your books on the flights. Are they strapped on or worn like a vest.

 

[godwincp]

My last two trips home from Zimbabwe in both Bulawayo and Harare (‘22 and ‘24 ) I was able to check my bags all the way to St Louis thus being a transfer passenger in JNB. My travel agent told me booking my trip, which included four Airlink flights , all on one ticket could potentially cost considerably more but didn’t say how much.
I’m trying to find flights to Harare w/o JNB and without long layovers- not having much luck
I went on one safari without my guns and had no checked bag and it was really nice. But I want to take my rifles so you have to check a bag. I can do my safari from my carry on.
Just as a side note I had dinner at Africa Sky with a gentleman heading to Mozambique. TSA in Atlanta would not let him take his two scopes in carry on. He was able to return to Delta check in and retrieve his bag and pack his scopes. When he got to JNB and unpacked his scopes were gone! It’s a crap shoot

 

[Nyati]

Bad luck !

I´ve been through JHB 8 times, 4 of them with transfer to Kimberley, and never had a problem with theft.

 

[Tanks]

When I returned to Toronto I found the zipper on the bottom of the checked luggage open and damaged. It must have happened in JNB after I have re-checked it.

I think at @Philip Glass posted a video on how zippers can be broken into with a pencil.

Valuables in carry-on, check....but not your knife! So are we going to have to pack a cheap knife in checked luggage or none at all?

You should be able to put it in your gun case.

 

[Philip Glass]

I think at @Philip Glass posted a video on how zippers can be broken into with a pencil.

You should be able to put it in your gun case.

Another reason I like my Pelican Air suitcase. Sturdy and lockable

 

[JimP]

Travelers need to realize that if a thief wants into your checked bag they are going to get into it. Even with the pen trick to open a zipper they are going to have to be in a semi secluded area to open it and to have the time to go through it. So they either need that secluded area or coworkers who are in on the plan to steal something.

You just need to go with the knowledge that most people are honest and that if someone wants into your luggage that they are going to get into it.

 

[Surgeon1]

Just spoke with a longtime friend that returned last week from a 7-day hunt in Limpopo with his wife and another couple they also spent 7 days in Cape Town initially. guns were kept in Joburg by one of the advertisers here which went well. He and his wife wrapped their luggage in Atlanta without issues thru JNB to Cape town. Their luggage was fine but the other couples 2 bags were pilfered with several things missing. Cape Town back to JNB they weren't able to wrap any bags. His bag had a Jacket and hunting boots gone. Was able to get some boots in Joburg and a couple blisters later they hunted and headed home, and everybody wrapped their luggage in JNB and back into US without problems. He thought about $10/bag.
I agree @Phil Glass that the Pelican Air Suitcase may be the solution, I have 2 setups with custom molded trays for a Dakota Traveler and a Double rifle. Hadn't thought about using one as a suitcase instead of a duffle bag.
I just know I will always do my best to avoid JNB.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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

@godwincp
I was able to travel with ammo IN checked luggage for my flight from Australia to Namibia.
But on the return it was a big no no. Ammo had to be separate from checked bag.
This pissed me off so I found one of the baggage wrappers ( the one you pay to wrap your bag in cling film for safety/security). I paid the princely sum of $10 Namibia or $1 aud. I got him to wrap the crap out of it with the parking slip. I presented said package and took a photo of the Muppet and my now securely wrapped ammo box and told said Muppet if'n it goes missing I will hold them personally responsible.
Surprise surprise Sargent ( from Gomer Pyle) it and my luggage all arrived safely back home.
Bob

 

[Sideshow]

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

They haven’t tried the airline food then….guarantee to choke out anyone who eats it……I’d have asked how many shoe laces have they collected

 

[dringge]

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.

My last 2 trips my checked luggage made it fine except my TSA locks were gone at the end. One of those flights was to Africa, the other Mexico.

 

[wesheltonj]

My last two trips home from Zimbabwe in both Bulawayo and Harare (‘22 and ‘24 ) I was able to check my bags all the way to St Louis thus being a transfer passenger in JNB. My travel agent told me booking my trip, which included four Airlink flights , all on one ticket could potentially cost considerably more but didn’t say how much.
I’m trying to find flights to Harare w/o JNB and without long layovers- not having much luck
I went on one safari without my guns and had no checked bag and it was really nice. But I want to take my rifles so you have to check a bag. I can do my safari from my carry on.
Just as a side note I had dinner at Africa Sky with a gentleman heading to Mozambique. TSA in Atlanta would not let him take his two scopes in carry on. He was able to return to Delta check in and retrieve his bag and pack his scopes. When he got to JNB and unpacked his scopes were gone! It’s a crap shoot

Emirates, Ethiopian, Kenya, Qatar. Not sure about layover times, but they all beat the going through JNB.