Delta or United direct to Jo'Burg

aminkus

aminkus

AH veteran
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Messages
157
Reaction score
204
Location
skokie IL
Hunting reports
Africa
1
Member of
SCI
Hunted
plains game and dangerous game
I am looking for some insight of which airport and which airline is better for flying with firearms. I am going to Zim in the coming year and looking to fly direct from either Atlanta on Delta to Jo'burg or Newark on united. Looking for some insight as to the two and which one is best for hunters. On my previous three trips i have always flown Qatar but i am looking to fly Chicago to Joburg direct from either Newark or Atlanta. I will be bringing two rifles for this trip all in my double pelican case.
thanks
 
Delta/Atlanta, far and away the best of your two choices.
 
I have also flown both. My preference is Delta, but I also have higher status and lounge access with Delta (you can use the Virgin Atlantic lounge in Joburg. And there is nothing like a hot shower in ATL after the flight back)
 
aminkus said:
I am looking for some insight of which airport and which airline is better for flying with firearms. I am going to Zim in the coming year and looking to fly direct from either Atlanta on Delta to Jo'burg or Newark on united. Looking for some insight as to the two and which one is best for hunters. On my previous three trips i have always flown Qatar but i am looking to fly Chicago to Joburg direct from either Newark or Atlanta. I will be bringing two rifles for this trip all in my double pelican case.
thanks
Click to expand...

I Haven't flown Delta or United to Jo'burg yet, but Ohare-Newark-Jo'burg is going to give you a lot more flexibility/options.

Ohare and Newark are both United Hubs, so they'll be flying the route damn near once an hour all day, every week day. There will be a few less options on weekends. I'll be flying Denver to Newark, and its the same way, one flight every hour or so, all day.

Both Delta and United suck, because they can. Both Atlanta and Newark suck, because Delta and United essentially have monopolies at each. Neither is really "better" than the other, its more "luck of the draw." You could get bad weather, employees, any issue with either.

My plan is take the 630 am or 8 am Denver-Newark flight, which should get me there around noon-1, which will give United 8 or 9 hours and 5 more flights to get my bags from Denver to Newark. Yes, it will be a long layover, but the Polaris lounge in Newark is one of United's best and I would rather hang out there then stress about tight connections. Flying out of Ohare should give you similar options time wise.

When is your trip? I won't be making the trip until may '27, so I wont be booking until later this summer.
 
I have flown both. I like delta ATL to Jnb However th United wasn’t awful in comparison. The main thing in the negative for me for United is they inspect your rifle without you in the room on the return trip…
 
Delta refines their own jet fuel so there's that.
(Not an expert on the matter, but it’s been mentioned on the business news.)
 
aminkus said:
I am looking for some insight of which airport and which airline is better for flying with firearms. I am going to Zim in the coming year and looking to fly direct from either Atlanta on Delta to Jo'burg or Newark on united. Looking for some insight as to the two and which one is best for hunters. On my previous three trips i have always flown Qatar but i am looking to fly Chicago to Joburg direct from either Newark or Atlanta. I will be bringing two rifles for this trip all in my double pelican case.
thanks
Click to expand...
My experience direct is Delta on 6 trips direct. I enjoyed all of them and have zero complaints. The key is get the 200 and 201 flight seat arrangement and pick exit row by window. Always has worked for me. Right now round trip running $2100 up from $1800 last year
 
I flew via Newark/ United once. Never, ever again. Mainly because of the Newark airport gong show and surly & lazy security personnel. My connection allowed 4 hours between flights and they'd closed the departure gate by the time I cleared the inspection gauntlet.
 
I have flown the Delta route to Jo' burg a dozen or more times and while it hasn't always been pleasant, they have gotten me there and back. Next month, at the urging of Patrick at PWP I am flying San Antonio to Newark to Jo' burg via United business class. Then Air Link to Bots. He told me they have ironed a lot of their problems out since opening that route. I certainly hope so... and hope to report back in the affirmative! Praying actually...
 
wildwilderness said:
I have also flown both. My preference is Delta, but I also have higher status and lounge access with Delta (you can use the Virgin Atlantic lounge in Joburg. And there is nothing like a hot shower in ATL after the flight back)
Click to expand...
i have status with united so its a
bwanamrm said:
I have flown the Delta route to Jo' burg a dozen or more times and while it hasn't always been pleasant, they have gotten me there and back. Next month, at the urging of Patrick at PWP I am flying San Antonio to Newark to Jo' burg via United business class. Then Air Link to Bots. He told me they have ironed a lot of their problems out since opening that route. I certainly hope so... and hope to report back in the affirmative! Praying actually...
Click to expand...
This is very helpful. i too work with Patrick and trust his insight. please post on how your next trip goes flying through Newark
 
I’m one of the lucky ones, I’ve flown through Newark 6-7 times and I’ve never had any issues whatsoever in regards to my guns. I fly out of Dulles on some of my African trips, some of their customs agents must still live at home in their mother’s basement!
 
I've tried both, and I've been disappointed by both. Delta works out a bit more often for me than United, but next month I'm headed over on United/Lufthansa via Germany. Fingers crossed.

I really, really don't like Joberg. I've spent eons of time there with long layovers and they've managed to loose my luggage more than once. I also tried to clear SAPS on my own for our first trip. Don't do that - use a service if travelling with firearms. I was one copy short of a certain page in the paperwork. I had three. They wanted four. After an hour or two of nothing happening, the conversation went something like this......

"Can't you just make a copy of it?"

"Sir, the copies here don't make themselves......"

Sharing a picture of Andrew Jackson magically caused the copy machine to work.
 
Last edited:
I avoid Newark at all costs and I detest Joburg. I've used Emirates and Qatar with excellent results.
Also, have used Ethiopian out of Dulles to take me to Addis and on to several locations in Africa at least Annually since 2020 and other than the gun check in Addis which if you understand the system isn't anything more than a minor inconvenience and the way its handled it almost guarantees that your guns will get on the next flight. Can't say that for a change in airlines or aircraft in Joburg. The gun permit process in Joburg is more painful.
 
I have not flown either of them to JNB, I have flown both of those carriers long haul. I’ve flown Delta several times and United once. And once was more than enough for me to never fly United long haul again, unless there’s no alternative.
 
aminkus said:
i have status with united so its a

This is very helpful. i too work with Patrick and trust his insight. please post on how your next trip goes flying through Newark
Click to expand...
I have status with United too. The economy plus seats at no extra charge are a nice perk. Interesting Patrick is recommending the United route now. Air traffic control shortages were causing issues at Newark before. I still really despise the airport regardless. Most expensive bottles of water and sandwiches I’ve seen in any airport and cash is useless there.
 
BryceM said:
I've tried both, and I've been disappointed by both. Delta works out a bit more often for me than United, but next month I'm headed over on United/Lufthansa via Germany. Fingers crossed.

I really, really don't like Joberg. I've spent eons of time there with long layovers and they've managed to loose my luggage more than once. I also tried to clear SAPS on my own for our first trip. Don't do that - use a service if travelling with firearms. I was one copy short of a certain page in the paperwork. I had three. They wanted four. After an hour or two of nothing happening, the conversation went something like this......

"Can't you just make a copy of it?"

"Sir, the copies here don't make themselves......"

Sharing a picture of Andrew Jackson magically caused the copy machine to work.
Click to expand...
I took the United/Lufthansa route through Munich in February. Very easy and seamless, the only issue I had was with the Windhoek airport in Namibia (my fault). Return flights were just as easy with no issues whatsoever. Landed in Ohare at 6pm and was in my vehicle at 6:40
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

... and 1153 more.
Total: 119,323 (members: 1,203, guests: 118,120)

Forum statistics

Threads
68,353
Messages
1,519,809
Members
152,701
Latest member
Shantae23F
 

 

 

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
•••
cgdemakis
cgdemakis
I have not posted any items for sale on this forum and will not every put anything for sale. My account was hacked and I've worked with the admin to get things shut down.
•••
P
Paul K wrote on cgdemakis's profile.
Paul
•••
C
CJNJ wrote on UNTAMED KNIVES's profile.
Still possible to order one of these?
•••
G
ghay wrote on Floridanative's profile.
Hello,
I might be able to help you out depending on how many you need. I could probably spare 50-75 .285g A-Frames. They are factory pulls that look like new. Let me know if you are still looking,
Thanks,
Gary
•••

Share this page

 
Top