Flying to South Africa have questions

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kemoarms

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We are heading to South Africa and looking at air travel. What countries should we avoid? Also if we wanted to pull of say a 10-15 hr layover would we need to take our luggage or do they just stay with the airlines?
 
It depends on if you're traveling with firearms. Even then, there are rumors and then there is truth about flying here/there with weapons. I have flown through London, Franfurt, Munich and Dubai and never had any trouble.

If you can be a little more specific about if you're flying with firearms and and where you were thinking of the long layover, that would help to answer your questions.
 
We have went through Qatar once and Abudhabi once with NO firemarms and had no trouble. There was about a 10 hour layover in Qatar which we used to tour the city and hit the market. It was nice but it was 115 degrees when we landed and even being from TEXAS that’s a little hot. Here’s a shot from the Qatar city scape I took on the tour.
 

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As Phoenix Phil said, a little more info.
Different transit airports react differently. Just luggage, if tagged through to destination, usually no big deal and you never see it until you arrive wherever, even with long layovers. With firearms some require transit permits. Amsterdam, last I knew made a bigger deal with bows because they don't allow broadheads at all, but firearms and ammo just need a transit permit.
From recent experience I do know that a layover in Frankfurt of 10 or so hours is no big problem. If properly done your luggage will be transferred from one aircraft to the other and you won't deal with anything concerning it. Longer layover and you may have to pick it up and recheck it. If you have a firearm you would need to contact (I believe) Customs, who'd hold it for you.
 
BA is very expensive to transport firearms but very safe. I have heard that Lufthansa has also increased their fee for transport. Emirates or Qatar would be the way to go if carrying firearms. No gun, it does not matter. Emirates will give you a hotel if your layover is long enough.

Your luggage is checked to your final destination, unless going to Zimbabwe with a firearm on a European carrier. If that the case, then you cannot have the RSA to Zimbabwe leg on your ticket and carry a gun. You would have to have two separate tickets and check your luggage and gun to JNB, claim and recheck to Zimbabwe.

One more thing, You cannot take a USA carrier to London and connect with another carrier. The only exception is a United to South Africa Airways connection. A lot of folks take AA to London and then BA to JNB and find out the hard way that their gun will not transfer.
 
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thank you guys for the speedy response. We will be traveling with firearms both of us will have a firearm. we were just discussing the possibility of while on the trip home intentionally having a layover to see some other part of the world if only for 8-10 hours
 
If it is simply the time between connecting flights, then there will be zero issues.
Your firearms and baggage are checked through to destination.
Have fun.
I did exactly what you are contemplating in London on one trip.
10 Hour layover and I was not staying in the airport for the duration.
 
kemoarms said:
thank you guys for the speedy response. We will be traveling with firearms both of us will have a firearm. we were just discussing the possibility of while on the trip home intentionally having a layover to see some other part of the world if only for 8-10 hours
Click to expand...

I did just that with my son coming through Munich on our way home. The leg was SAA from Joburg to Munich. We transferred to Lufthansa there. But no problem, firearms were never to be in my possession until we got to the US.

It was an easy walk out of the airport to the train station and a short 30 minute ride to the cathedral district.
 
Why dont u just fly direct
Surely its the easiest and there are a few options on direct flights from USA to johannesburg
 
As mentioned in a post above call Lori at Travel Express. Tell her what you want to do and then sit back and let her do the work for you. If you want a layover somewhere I am sure that if it is possible she can find it and take care of it for you.

Personally I like the direct flights with as little as possible layovers. Then if I want to visit another country I'll schedule a vacation to go there. But I understand if money is tight trying to get a little sightseeing done on one dime.
 
I have flown from DFW 3x.... 3 different routes, intentionally for the experience & expense.

ATL- Delta
DBX- Emirates
LHR- British/American

Depending upon your desire for layover, duration, firearms, etc... any & all will work.

My last trip I had long layover in London, no firearms to deal with. Spent a great day in the city. Saw all the sights, etc.
LHR has a luggage hold for your carryon that you don’t want to lug around on your layover.... 12 hours was like $20.
 
Ryan said:
As Phoenix Phil said, a little more info.
Different transit airports react differently. Just luggage, if tagged through to destination, usually no big deal and you never see it until you arrive wherever, even with long layovers. With firearms some require transit permits. Amsterdam, last I knew made a bigger deal with bows because they don't allow broadheads at all, but firearms and ammo just need a transit permit.
From recent experience I do know that a layover in Frankfurt of 10 or so hours is no big problem. If properly done your luggage will be transferred from one aircraft to the other and you won't deal with anything concerning it. Longer layover and you may have to pick it up and recheck it. If you have a firearm you would need to contact (I believe) Customs, who'd hold it for you.
Click to expand...
I have had two layovers in Frankfurt of 16 hours in the last three years. No issue. I was flying Lufthansa.
 
JimP said:
As mentioned in a post above call Lori at Travel Express. Tell her what you want to do and then sit back and let her do the work for you. If you want a layover somewhere I am sure that if it is possible she can find it and take care of it for you.

Personally I like the direct flights with as little as possible layovers. Then if I want to visit another country I'll schedule a vacation to go there. But I understand if money is tight trying to get a little sightseeing done on one dime.
Click to expand...
JimP said:
As mentioned in a post above call Lori at Travel Express. Tell her what you want to do and then sit back and let her do the work for you. If you want a layover somewhere I am sure that if it is possible she can find it and take care of it for you.

Personally I like the direct flights with as little as possible layovers. Then if I want to visit another country I'll schedule a vacation to go there. But I understand if money is tight trying to get a little sightseeing done on one dime.
Click to expand...
You are a brave man. 16 hours in a plane is to much for me.
 
I fly from Reno, NV to Joburg. Reno to NY with a stop of a few hours in Phoenix on a domestic carrier. NY to Joburg direct on SAA. Just a few hours in NY to change terminals. I travel with firearms which I check in Reno and they go straight through to Joburg. I like SAA out of NY because it is nonstop and as soon as you step aboard everything is free. Service and meals are great. Same coming back. SAA Joburg to NY nonstop. Last year I flew Delta Joburg to NY with a stop in Lagos. Not so good.

Book it with Lori at Travel Xpress. She will get you the best deal and schedules to suit.
 
kemoarms said:
We are heading to South Africa and looking at air travel. What countries should we avoid? Also if we wanted to pull of say a 10-15 hr layover would we need to take our luggage or do they just stay with the airlines?
Click to expand...
Simple, hire a travel agent that deals with international hunters and they will give you all the particulars. Travel agents are a resource that will be THE most effective bang for your buck in planning your safari. Call them and ask questions, that what they get paid for! Search these posts and you will find all kinds of people telling of how they went on safari and borrowed guns because “it was too much trouble” to take them. Nonsense! You are going on an epic hunt of a lifetime do it right.
Philip
 
Whatever you choose, remember these two words. DELTA SUCKS.
 
You got that right about Delta. My flight from Joburg last year was not pleasant. Had a stop in Lagos and the local constabulary boarded and pretty much rifled everyone's stuff with attitude to boot. When we landed there the plane was about half full and most of them deplaned. Then it commenced to fill up with locals. By the time we got to Dulles in DC that plane was a filthy mess. Couldn't get off soon enough. The only saving grace was a nonstop flight from DC to Reno. Thanks, but I'll go SAA next time. Great service and the meals are tops. It's nonstop from Joburg to NY which saves a little time.
 
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