Airline Choices

scoober78 · Jul 7, 2020

All. We are proceeding with arrangements for our April/May 21 hunt in Limpopo with Matwetwe Safaris. We are also planning 8 days or so touring the Cape with an internal round trip between Jo'burg and Cape Town. Tons of uncertainty out there, of course, and we did some significant research into appropriate insurance that would allow us to cancel for any reason, including country closure due to COVID.

Long story short, we are at the ticket purchase phase. We are planning to fly out of NYC (any NYC airport), but are flexible within the NE USA (BWI/DCA etc...all fine) Delta, my preferred carrier, is as of now, not flying to Jo'burg. Currently, the most reasonable pricing is via Qatar Airways with a layover in Doha. Total time is about 21 hours. The best routing is SAA direct from JFK to OR Tambo. Saves nearly 7 hours of traveling there and back. BAA also has reasonable pricing and routes, but I've heard, are a bit difficult to deal with firearms.

So, questions. Qatar Airways and a longer (though cheaper) trip, or the wildcard of whether SAA will be around in 10 months? BAA experiences? What additional fees have they imposed? I'm not interested if they are $100/leg. Also, for internal travel, has anyone used Mango? I am not concerned with transporting firearms internally, as we will be using Rifle Permits for clearance and storage until we meet Hendrik to travel to camp after the Cape Town trip.

Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

cpr0312 · Jul 7, 2020

I wouldn't take a chance on booking SAA right now! Fly Qatar or Delta is those are your options from the northeast!

Internally also look at SAF Air

wesheltonj · Jul 7, 2020

It’s been a couple of years that I flew BA to RSA, but it was not $XXX each leg, it was each way.

My understanding is SAA did get bailed out, but for how long, I am not sure. It looks like that SAA will be down to 8 long haul planes. (6 A340 and 2 A350) For an internal flight, I would be looking at Airlink.

Personally, I would book the Qatar flight. You are saving money, not that much longer total time and you can collect AA or BA miles.

I will also add the AA is leaving T3 at LHR and moving to T5 with BA. The AA to BA gun problems maybe going away. Their is also a rumor that BA is going to leave Gatwick.

Rare Breed · Jul 7, 2020

scoober78 said:
All. We are proceeding with arrangements for our April/May 21 hunt in Limpopo with Matwetwe Safaris. We are also planning 8 days or so touring the Cape with an internal round trip between Jo'burg and Cape Town. Tons of uncertainty out there, of course, and we did some significant research into appropriate insurance that would allow us to cancel for any reason, including country closure due to COVID.

Long story short, we are at the ticket purchase phase. We are planning to fly out of NYC (any NYC airport), but are flexible within the NE USA (BWI/DCA etc...all fine) Delta, my preferred carrier, is as of now, not flying to Jo'burg. Currently, the most reasonable pricing is via Qatar Airways with a layover in Doha. Total time is about 21 hours. The best routing is SAA direct from JFK to OR Tambo. Saves nearly 7 hours of traveling there and back. BAA also has reasonable pricing and routes, but I've heard, are a bit difficult to deal with firearms.

So, questions. Qatar Airways and a longer (though cheaper) trip, or the wildcard of whether SAA will be around in 10 months? BAA experiences? What additional fees have they imposed? I'm not interested if they are $100/leg. Also, for internal travel, has anyone used Mango? I am not concerned with transporting firearms internally, as we will be using Rifle Permits for clearance and storage until we meet Hendrik to travel to camp after the Cape Town trip.

Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

I have a mid April 21 hunt and got a flight direct from Atlanta to Jberg

scoober78 · Jul 7, 2020

Rare Breed said:
I have a mid April 21 hunt and got a flight direct from Atlanta to Jberg

Yup! Just went back to check. It was the internal SA flight booking that was throwing the Delta.com booking tool off. I removed it (to book separately) and Delta was back in the mix!

JimP · Jul 7, 2020

Right now I wouldn't even try to it mysel, but I would give Travel Express a call.

While it may cost a little for them to do the flight arraignments for you you just might find that they can do it cheaper or for the same price. But the biggest thing is that they are experienced in getting hunters to their destinations with no problems

Philip Glass · Jul 9, 2020

You may want to think about Delta ATL-JNB then CPT-ATL on the way back. Why fly back and forth to and from JNB if the Capetown tour is the end of your trip? At this time you can not book any domestic flights with guns except SAA Airlink, but this may change.
My advice stands now more firmly than ever and it is to USE A TRAVEL AGENT! Anyone booking international flights with guns in this current environment without using a knowledgeable travel agent is really asking for trouble.
I hope all goes smoothly for all of us next year. I am looking at late July for my RSA group hunt.
Philip

375Fox · Jul 9, 2020

I really agree with those that advised you use a travel agent with all that is going on, but what is the rush to buy tickets? Earliest I have bought Delta flight to Johannesburg is maybe 7 months out and the shortest has been maybe 2 months out. I’ve never had an issue at all. My average price for economy round trip from Pittsburgh is about $1700, the 2 month flight was my most expensive at $2100. Travel agent could likely tell you a lot about current demand. More routes will likely open up in coming months that you could wait for.

Hogpatrol · Jul 9, 2020

Did a sample booking on QATAR for next April, PHL (Philadelphia, PA) to Joburg, for two people $1354 total round trip. Layover in Doha, total times are 25 and 21 hours. Airlink to Port Elizabeth is still a long daytime layover in Joburg.

375 Ruger Fan · Jul 9, 2020

I would wait until late this year or even into Jan 2021 to book flights for an Apr/May 2021 safari.

Mark Biggerstaff · Jul 9, 2020

I have already pulled the trigger and booked Qatar for next June. Like all have said “Use a travel agent “. Jennifer at Travel Express got me a good deal this early out on business class. Another reason I booked this early is I wanted to make sure I could travel on the dates I wanted. Layovers in Doha ate not bad. Four hours going and 2 1/2 coming back. Flying out of Houston so I dont have to hassle with claiming guns and bags then recheck for next flight either.

Wade J VanGinkel · Jul 9, 2020

I'm already booked with Qatar for the last week of April. 1240 each out of Eagle Colorado. I'll have to recheck in dallas but a long layover there. Eagle is only 20 minutes from home so saves a long trip to Denver both ways.

Philip Glass · Jul 9, 2020

Mark Biggerstaff said:
I have already pulled the trigger and booked Qatar for next June. Like all have said “Use a travel agent “. Jennifer at Travel Express got me a good deal this early out on business class. Another reason I booked this early is I wanted to make sure I could travel on the dates I wanted. Layovers in Doha ate not bad. Four hours going and 2 1/2 coming back. Flying out of Houston so I dont have to hassle with claiming guns and bags then recheck for next flight either.

Mark what was the price for business class? We are all looking at options for next year.

JKS · Jul 9, 2020

Qatar's current promo is around $1800 each way, at least in my case of IAD-JNB.

Mark Biggerstaff · Jul 9, 2020

Philip Glass said:
Mark what was the price for business class? We are all looking at options for next year.

Philip for June 1 departure it was right at $1900 each way. But I got the dates I wanted with short layovers. Compared to what I was seeing Delta might be I went with Qatar. Also I wanted an early am arrival and not late evening. This way I can be in camp and get guns sighted same day as I arrive and not use up 1/2 a day on first day getting things in order.

Philip Glass · Jul 9, 2020

Mark Biggerstaff said:
Philip for June 1 departure it was right at $1900 each way. But I got the dates I wanted with short layovers. Compared to what I was seeing Delta might be I went with Qatar. Also I wanted an early am arrival and not late evening. This way I can be in camp and get guns sighted same day as I arrive and not use up 1/2 a day on first day getting things in order.

Mark that sounds like a good plan. Business class to Africa has only been a dream so far but at those prices it may be doable! The Delta flight arrives so late you are stuck in JNB for the night and that is how I’ve gone so many times. Thanks for the insight on this.
Philip

Arctic97 · Jul 9, 2020

I always insure my trips with TravelEx, and I always buy their "Cancel For No Reason" rider. It is a couple hundred bucks to add the rider on about a $5,000 insured trip, and if you use it, it pays you back 75% of what you insured. All you have to do is cancel at least 48 hours prior to your departure date. This is on top of the regular trip cancellation and interruption coverage's that are 100% and 150%. I always buy this coverage for higher cost trips. Have never had to use it yet, but we came close when we left for England and Ireland on Feb 27th this year for a three week jaunt. In the end we made the trip, and had a great time. But having that "Cancel For No Reason" rider sure is nice when something pops up that isn't on the normal list of reasons for your insurance to reimburse you! You would have to ask them if this rider is still available in this virus climate is all.

rookhawk · Jul 10, 2020

So much trouble in this scenario before you add in Covid and airline looming bankruptcies.

1.) read every word of the insurance to see if Covid nullifies any claims. My guess is it isn’t worth the paper it’s printed.

2.) are you a NYC resident with a gun card? If not, have you considered your felony when your flight is delayed or cancelled and you illegally go outside the terminal to lodge or drive to another terminal with firearms?

3.) what you want to do is rent rifles, it will make this MUCH easier

4.) fly emirates from USA-Dubai-Africa. That is the easy way to be single carrier to Africa on a gun friendly airline.

5.) pray. Because when you have guns and you enter South Africa, you will then find out whether your guns can fly (mango doesn’t allow), Or if your airline is bankrupt, or if you’re quarantined, or if the plane is so small they won’t allow the gun case of the size you brought.

If/when I go back this year I’ll only fly emirates so I can do my own gun permits. I’ve had nothing but troubles and surcharges and debacles with gun permit firms. Multiple airline tickets require the travel agent, and several permits, and then you’re in a pinch when the last mile carrier changes due to Covid or bankruptcy.

TRAVEL EXPRESS · Jul 10, 2020

@scoober78 - give us a shout and we'll do what we can to help you out on your planned trip with Matwetwe next Spring. Happy Safari Planning

Mort Hill · Jul 10, 2020

Philip Glass said:
Mark that sounds like a good plan. Business class to Africa has only been a dream so far but at those prices it may be doable! The Delta flight arrives so late you are stuck in JNB for the night and that is how I’ve gone so many times. Thanks for the insight on this.
Philip

Highly, highly recommend the Business Class Phillip. It is worth every dollar, and jet lag is a thing of the past. In fact I used to try and get back from Africa on a Friday to have time to regroup and adjust. Now I just spend more time in Africa and get back whatever day works best, and still head to work the next day without issue. I am not one of those folks that does not worry about budget, but for my money(and 3 trips on Qatar Business Class), I will not be going back to normal fare class. Just my 2 cents from an old, fat hunter.

Airline Choices

scoober78

cpr0312

wesheltonj

Rare Breed

scoober78

JimP

Philip Glass

375Fox

Hogpatrol

375 Ruger Fan

Mark Biggerstaff

Wade J VanGinkel

Philip Glass

JKS

Mark Biggerstaff

Philip Glass

Arctic97

rookhawk

TRAVEL EXPRESS

Mort Hill

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