Flying to Johannesburg?

Ward · Wednesday at 8:13 AM

I did Newark direct to Joberg. It was very comfortable in business class and guns got there just fine. The hustle with guns starts in Joberg and doesn’t quit coming back through Newark. The customs in Newark haven’t a clue what they are doing nor do they have any sense of urgency so people can catch their connecting flights it took about two hours to get through customs and there were seven groups trying to get their guns rechecked to make the flight. I heard Atlanta was better but I have had bad luck with connections through Atlanta. It’s just the luck of the draw on where you go through but I won’t do Europe again. To long on the layovers.

JimmyJack54 · Wednesday at 8:24 AM

Nonstop ATL->JNB

Altitude sickness · Wednesday at 8:30 AM

Philip Glass said:
I don't get how Doha gets airport of the year awards. You can have all the lounges and Lambo's you want in your airport but if you board by bus you are out of the conversation of the best in the world.
Very true on the firearms with them.

Worse than the bus itself. Is the mass of humanity standing/fighting to get on a bus.

My wife and I were not in first class, relegated to steerage.

But it was pretty disheartening to watch the first class passengers standing with the hoard fighting to get on a bus.

wesheltonj · Wednesday at 9:01 AM

Altitude sickness said:
Worse than the bus itself. Is the mass of humanity standing/fighting to get on a bus.

My wife and I were not in first class, relegated to steerage.

But it was pretty disheartening to watch the first class passengers standing with the hoard fighting to get on a bus.

I am not quite sure what you were viewing or why there were First passengers on the bus. But each time I have had to bus in Doha. Business exited the plane first, the bus said Business class, each person had their own leather seat, no standing, seats filled next business bus. From the terminal again business bus. Extra long layover, Qatar provided a Hotel in the airport. Emirates the hotel was outside the airport. Yes, I had a business class lounge problem last trip on Qatar, but that was taken card via Amex card benefits.

I have been to lots of airport where I had to ride a bus and not have a Jetway, for example, LAX, Heathrow, and Frankfurt just to name a few.

375Fox · Wednesday at 9:08 AM

I wouldn’t fly Qatar to Johannesburg, but I will to other destinations. The long layover in doha where I can get a sleep pod or hotel room between flights is a nice break. No one pointed it out here, but flying Qatar is a major inconvenience if you can’t check in directly at a Qatar hub. Trying to get American to short check your rifle and ammo, collecting your bags, then waiting for Qatar counter to open in Dallas or Chicago to go through their firearm check procedure is stressful. It would be a great airline to fly if they allowed you to check in your firearms with partner airlines.

Altitude sickness · Wednesday at 9:19 AM

When we were at the gate waiting to board buses in no organized manor. The first class people had to ask and get on a separate bus. But they were in the same crowd with we steerage class travelers. No separate area.

Again, there are worse airports in the US, but I was agreeing with Phillip that Doha is nowhere near the best in the world.

Time of day matters also. we were leaving at peak hours

DLSJR · Friday at 10:02 AM

I’ve been averaging a trip a year to Africa and have always flown Emirates, Qatar or Turkish if Qatar/Emirates don’t fly where I’m going. Qatar’s Biz Class is my favorite, followed closely by Emirates. However, if you want to save 1/2 the cost of Biz Class and still have a comfortable seat, Emirates Premium Economy is really good. My wife and I flew from San Francisco to Joburg on Emirates earlier this year. We flew biz class going to Africa but premium economy coming home and agreed that premium economy was a great way to go. All three airlines and countries are good for traveling with guns.

I typically plan a day or two layover in Dubai as it’s a fascinating place and I enjoy visiting friends who live there. If flying to Tanzania I like a day layover at SeaCliff in Dar. That way, when I fly out to hunting camp I’m refreshed and ready to hunt hard.

MacJenkins · Friday at 10:43 AM

Done Amsterdam Once, did not like, Atlanta 3 times, Delta's newish lie flat bed configuration sucks. Back to going Emerites through Dubai, by far our favorite way to go. Done that route 7 times now. Buisness class on Emirates blows away Delta's First or One they call it by a long ways. Takes longer but that's ok with us if your in better comfort. And Emerites have never lost our guns, Delta has twice.

Green Chile · Friday at 11:29 AM

As someone who has some airlines miles but not enough to regularly be in the "special clubs", I have tried many different ways of flying to Africa from DFW. Travel tends to be endured or enjoyed based upon what kind of mileage club you are in. I'm usually in the travel endurance club instead of the enjoyment club. One of the ways I justify that is by taking what might have been travel upgrades and converting those into trophy fees.

Having said that, the best way for me to travel has been on Delta through ATL and direct to JNB. I save my points/miles/$ and fly in the cattle car class, AKA coach. 16+ hours in coach is brutal, especially since I have a hard time sleeping on planes and I really dislike airline food. So I take some food I can eat and do a lot of reading/watching movies to pass the time. I dread the travel on the front and back end of trips BUT love where I'm going and that's the reason I keep doing it.

madvilledoc · Friday at 9:41 PM

Here are a couple of things to consider.

There are only 2 nonstop direct flights to Johannesburg from the U.S. Delta (out of Atlanta) and United (out of Newark). Its a 15hr-ish flight and even with upgraded seating I found the flights to be brutal. Easily the worst part of the trip. That being said, I still much prefer that over connecting flights out of europe or northern africa. This will add hours to your trip.

You also need to consider how close to Johannesburg your outfitter it. Do you have to take a connecting flight to Cape Town? Or are taking ground transport.

The United flight (assuming no delays) will arrive around 5 in the evening. That is still early enough to catch a connecting flight to Cape Town or ground transport on to the outfitter.

The Atlanta flight arrives around 7:30 in the evening. Unless you are fairly close to where you will be hunting, you likely are spending the night in a hotel in Johannesburg and driving up in the morning, which means most of your first day hunting is shot. You will be driving up in the morning. Once you arrive, there's settling in, lunch, and sighting in your weapons. Also don't forget you are in the southern hemisphere, which means its getting dark at 5;00-5:30 in June/July.

If you have a connecting flight to Cape Town, the last flight is usually around 9-ish. Thats cutting it close. Don't forget you will have to recheck your bags to take a domestic flight. Better hope there isn't a delay.

Flying to Johannesburg?

Ward

JimmyJack54

Altitude sickness

wesheltonj

375Fox

Altitude sickness

DLSJR

MacJenkins

Green Chile

madvilledoc

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