Airlines to SA

[bowfishoholic]

Getting ready to book our August SA trip. We switched to business class back in 2018.
Are there any airlines that are better than others? We will be taking a compound bow and a crossbow on this trip. First time with a crossbow.
Only incidents that we had was with Turkish, broken arrows. And Virgin Atlantic needed paperwork. We would definitely fly Virgin Atlantic again, because service was above the top.
Air France and Delta are also very good in mourning past trips.


We are looking at Emirates or Etihad so far for this trip. Qatar, if the price goes fown a little. Anybody used these airlines, pros or cons?

Ethiopean has had some great rates also. Extra charge and paperwork for archery. Pros or cons?

American has some pretty good specials too. Business class is up 50% from 2024 from what I see.

 

[Andrew62]

I've flown Qatar Airways from Dulles through Doha to JNB a couple of times, never had any issues, service and food was outstanding!! Looking to go with them again next year!

 

[wesheltonj]

You have lots of choices. It's hard to beat the service on Emirates (and the best snacks). Qatar comes in a close second on service. I've never flown Etihad so can't comment on that airline. You also have the big European carriers: BA, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM. I've flown BA to JNB good service and good seating. I am not sure what seating Qatar and BA are flight from Doha and London to JNB. The Qatar 2.0 Suite has the same leg room as the BA suite. Another up side with BA and Qatar is you will earn AA miles or BA miles your choice. While I would prefer Emirates form the service, I would book the Qatar flight for the miles. I will say this, my last flight from Doha to IAH, I had the best flight attendant ever in Business and l've flown lots of flights on lots of airlines.

 

[coreydb]

I've always flown United, but then my daughter works there and I don't want her coming back home-ever.

 

[bowfishoholic]

Well, I snagged a couple of Emirates business tickets, paired up with American Air first class during the pre black Friday sale.. Even the business class agents couldn't touch these prices.

 

[Surgeon1]

I've flown Emirates, Qatar, and Ethiopian to Africa. During Covid Ethiopian was your only option and
their service is excellent. My only issue with them is going to the dungeon to clear your guns each way.
Once you figure out the process and always make sure, they have an employee meet you at the plane it goes very smooth. If you just follow the heard off the plane into the terminal, you are screwed. They have very tight connections, and they run on time!
Emirates is very nice but sometimes they don't get their paperwork done for you guns very well.
Qatar has long layovers but in Business class you get the perks of a shower and a sleeping room if you choose. Their business lounges are second to none in the industry.
I've always gone business class to Africa and my only time thru Joburg was in the height of Covid and
the airport was totally vacant; you couldn't even get a bottle of H2O. The only operating airline was
Ethiopian. Security was like 60sec with only one line open and one officer running it. Given all I've heard about Joburg during normal times and with their stupid gun permits I avoid at all cost.

 

[rookhawk]

Getting ready to book our August SA trip. We switched to business class back in 2018.
Are there any airlines that are better than others? We will be taking a compound bow and a crossbow on this trip. First time with a crossbow.
Only incidents that we had was with Turkish, broken arrows. And Virgin Atlantic needed paperwork. We would definitely fly Virgin Atlantic again, because service was above the top.
Air France and Delta are also very good in mourning past trips.


We are looking at Emirates or Etihad so far for this trip. Qatar, if the price goes fown a little. Anybody used these airlines, pros or cons?

Ethiopean has had some great rates also. Extra charge and paperwork for archery. Pros or cons?

American has some pretty good specials too. Business class is up 50% from 2024 from what I see.

I've had excellent results with Emirates. Many members have praised Etihad. I'm told the ATL to Jo'burg Delta flight in Biz Class is fast and reliable too.

 

[mdwest]

Ive had really good experiences with Etihad over the years.. but I wont fly them out of DFW any longer.. the last 2 times I flew with them out of DFW (both were trips to Saudi Arabia from Dallas) the people at the ticket counter and the people at the gate were frankly, assholes.. for no other reason than they thought they could be..

One particular trip (the last one I took with them) they had a LONG line at check in (at least 150+ people) and only 3 people working the check in process at the desk... they had another 2 guys walking up and down the line with little portable scales wanting to weigh peoples carry on bags before they got to the ticket counter (not the checked bags).. so they had peoples crap scattered all over the floor of the lobby pretty much the entire time while 3 people were trying to process 150 passengers..

I get that they have weight limits on carry ons (15 lbs).. and that some people were way above that weight limit.. but treating people like they are criminals because their carry on weighs 20 lbs.. and then demanding that they open their bags in the middle of the floor and start transferring crap into their check bags on the spot while talking to them like they were purposefully trying to screw over the airline.. causing it to take the better part of an hour to get everyone through check in.. was a bit beyond the pale..

Emirates and Qatar have been nothing but professional and accommodating every time I have flown them, every step of the way..

Etihad has been equal to Emirates in terms of customer service and friendliness every time I've flown them regionally in the middle east or flown with them out of DC (I flew them out of DC numerous times over the years).. I'll gladly book with them out of other airports.. but whoever their hiring manager in Dallas is needs to be subjected to a daily rectal exam administered by someone with hands like Ving Rhames.. I wont be flying with them out of DFW again until I see Ving in a black and gold Etihad uniform walking the halls..

 

[Arty0802]

We used Delta from ATL straight across to JoBurg (fun fact: it's the longest non-stop flight that Delta offers). Only issue was on the way back, our changeover in ATL was pretty tight due to customs and we missed our final flight home to OKC. Delta tends to book tight connections. But other than that...all good.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Getting ready to book our August SA trip. We switched to business class back in 2018.
Are there any airlines that are better than others? We will be taking a compound bow and a crossbow on this trip. First time with a crossbow.
Only incidents that we had was with Turkish, broken arrows. And Virgin Atlantic needed paperwork. We would definitely fly Virgin Atlantic again, because service was above the top.
Air France and Delta are also very good in mourning past trips.


We are looking at Emirates or Etihad so far for this trip. Qatar, if the price goes fown a little. Anybody used these airlines, pros or cons?

Ethiopean has had some great rates also. Extra charge and paperwork for archery. Pros or cons?

American has some pretty good specials too. Business class is up 50% from 2024 from what I see.

Great experience with Emirates through Dubai to SA September 2024!

Flown most of the others. I’ll fly Emirates again. Gets you to SA in the morning too. No safe house overnight… Everything went smoothly, great service, price was great, Dubai is a great place to transit… Flew directly from SFO to Dubai.

Rifles made it through and back without issue. Cleared customs through San Francisco with ease.

Looking forward to make next trip just knowing I don’t have to deal with Delta!

 

[bowfishoholic]

Ive had really good experiences with Etihad over the years.. but I wont fly them out of DFW any longer.. the last 2 times I flew with them out of DFW (both were trips to Saudi Arabia from Dallas) the people at the ticket counter and the people at the gate were frankly, assholes.. for no other reason than they thought they could be..

One particular trip (the last one I took with them) they had a LONG line at check in (at least 150+ people) and only 3 people working the check in process at the desk... they had another 2 guys walking up and down the line with little portable scales wanting to weigh peoples carry on bags before they got to the ticket counter (not the checked bags).. so they had peoples crap scattered all over the floor of the lobby pretty much the entire time while 3 people were trying to process 150 passengers..

I get that they have weight limits on carry ons (15 lbs).. and that some people were way above that weight limit.. but treating people like they are criminals because their carry on weighs 20 lbs.. and then demanding that they open their bags in the middle of the floor and start transferring crap into their check bags on the spot while talking to them like they were purposefully trying to screw over the airline.. causing it to take the better part of an hour to get everyone through check in.. was a bit beyond the pale..

Emirates and Qatar have been nothing but professional and accommodating every time I have flown them, every step of the way..

Etihad has been equal to Emirates in terms of customer service and friendliness every time I've flown them regionally in the middle east or flown with them out of DC (I flew them out of DC numerous times over the years).. I'll gladly book with them out of other airports.. but whoever their hiring manager in Dallas is needs to be subjected to a daily rectal exam administered by someone with hands like Ving Rhames.. I wont be flying with them out of DFW again until I see Ving in a black and gold Etihad uniform walking the halls..

We bought the Emirates tickets last nite. Bos en Dal, here we come, we'll in August.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

We bought the Emirates tickets last nite. Bos en Dal, here we come, we'll in August.

How are prices these days?

 

[bowfishoholic]

40% higher than 2 years ago.
Paid $5700 for Springfield MO to Johannesburg.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

40% higher than 2 years ago.
Paid $5700 for Springfield MO to Johannesburg.

Damn inflation!