Getting to South Africa

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Devin Twitty

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Ok guys I'm going to South Africa and would like to hear what's the best airports and which to avoid. I'll be flying out of Seattle and have heard Atlanta is the best but it's also got the highest flight prices. What's your input?
 
Devin it depends on how much time you have! Some folks fly west out of Seattle to Dubai on Emirates Airlines among others. That trip has some extended layover time. However, when you check you rifles all the way through with Delta there is a good feeling to that. Not a lot of hassle either.
I suspect that you can catch a morning Delta flight to Atlanta and then to JNB on flight 200 at 7:50 PM eastern time.
The first time I made the trip I was concerned about flying that far and was unsure as to which airline to go with. A retired American Airlines pilot was helping me plan my safari. I asked him how he made his trips and he said straight off to take a Delta flight 200 out of Atlanta.
 
The use flights are cheaper but the extra time is something I was thinking about too. Delta seems to be the best I've heard
 
I took the Emerites flight out of Seattle. The layover in Dubai was only a couple hrs and not a big deal. I did have problems transferring my firearm between Alaska Air and Emerites, but since you would be starting and ending with Emerites in Seattle you will not have that problem.
 
When I went over last year I took Delta from Denver to Salt Lake City and then to NY. From NY I took South African Airways to Joberg and then on to Port Elizabeth. Even with the extra flight from Denver to Salt Lake it was $1500 cheaper than flying Delta from Denver to Atlanta to Joberg and I would of had to of booked another flight to Port Elizabeth. The flights on SSA were quite comfortable in coach and I am 6'5" and 230 lbs. The meals were also good, not great but good.

I also used Lori at @Travel Express and she booked me my flights for the same price that I could of done it by myself and she took care of the worries. Even when United changed my flights on my way back home. You also don't say if you will be taking firearms on your trip, if you do figure some extra time in the airports.

http://www.travelexpressagency.com/
 
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I like the flight out of jfk. Leaves early enough you get there early morning in SA the next day. I don't care what airline it is if delta or SAA the seats all suck when the flight is that long. I use lori also and she has been great booking all 3 of my trips.
 
I fly out of Canada and Atlanta has proven to be great. Guns are dealt with quickly and professionally and I'm not an American Citizen. The airport is easiest to navigate and the flight is the shortest. Nothing bad to say except the baggage monkeys don't read the tags saying guns cleared by CBS and you have to pass TSA again. That said the TSA guy shephered me through the process and got me to the head of the line. Many thanks
 
It looks like I'll be taking my rifle. I've heard jfk and be a problem if you get held up there.
 
I have found the police and tsa at jfk to be vey helpful and friendly. They don't make a big deal with people traveling with hunting rifles at all.
 
I have flown South African and Delta, for a few hundred more I would choose Delta. If you book enough in advance you get get a good deal. No problem with firearms in Atlanta either
 
I've flown to South Africa from Seattle on three occasions. The first two trips I flew United to Dulles and the South African Airlines to Joburg. The third time, I flew Delta to Atlanta and then on to Joburg.

South African Air was a nice flight, decent meals, but there was a refueling stop in Dakar. Apparently, Airbus planes aren't able to make the trip non-stop. Arrival and customs were no problem. Return trip on South African was the same with refueling stop and decent service.

The Delta flight, using Boeing 777's, makes the trip nonstop from Atlanta to South Africa. We did have two passengers die from heart attacks on the return leg but that wasn't Delta's fault. The crew handled those emergencies very professionally.
 
I started in Denver with a connecting flight to Washington DC at Dulles airport. Then continued to Joberg with a stop in Dakar. I would take the shortest flight I could find even if it's a little extra money. The stop in Dakar just added to the flight time and they had to wake us up in the middle of the night for landing, cleaning the plane and take off again, I don't recommend it.
 
There is a direct flight on SAA from jfk to jo-berg. No stops at all. It leaves around 11am and gets to joberg at 8 or 9 if I remember right. Normally out of the airport by 11am or 12 on your way to wherever your hunting at.
 
I looked at Delta, BA, Lufthansa, Air France and Emirates. I picked BA so that I could collect the miles. If I was not a mile collector, it would have been hands down.
 
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On my flight out of JFK on SAA it was non stop to Joberg. I also checked my rifle straight through and had no problems with 2 plane transfers with one being in JFK. I did check with SAA's ticked desk and made sure that my bags were on the plane and they were. Also when I was trying to make my reservations by myself I was doing it 6 months out and SAA was still way cheaper than Delta.
 
Hi Devin ~ glad to hear of your plans to travel to Africa and sounds like you are getting some good advice on here. Out of Seattle I would recommend either going via JFK on South African (non-stop on int'l leg), Emirates via Dubai or Delta via Atlanta. The Delta route should be the shortest travel time with SAA probably close. There are pros/cons with firearms on some of these routes but no major concerns. Let us know if we can help you out with a reservation.
 
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