Advise on the Flight to Johannesburg from Atlanta

[spike.t]

postoak,
Because I am going through Heathrow, taking my own rifle is not an option. .

Mtgoat interested to know why you think this is, if your baggage is checked through all the way it shouldnt be a problem.

also if you arent a member of an airline club and want to use a lounge try prioritypass.com , they have lounges throughout the world, there is a joining fee and a charge each time you use a lounge, but if you are stuck at an airport you usually are willing to pay for some comfort....

 

[Rob404]

Theres a ton of combinations out there,,,layovers in many different countries,,,Switzerland,,Amsterdam,,England, France,Germany,,and some countries I,m not that nuts about,,it depends on the airlines and their Hub/Home countries I would suppose,,,the fastest and least hassle is still thru Atlanta,,I,ll wait and see what my Agent has to say,,,by the way some great info being shared here,,,what a Site

 

[Mtgoat]

Mtgoat interested to know why you think this is, if your baggage is checked through all the way it shouldnt be a problem.

also if you arent a member of an airline club and want to use a lounge try prioritypass.com , they have lounges throughout the world, there is a joining fee and a charge each time you use a lounge, but if you are stuck at an airport you usually are willing to pay for some comfort....

First, my outfitter told me not to try to bring a rifle through Heathrow. Second, I read something about the process on the LHR website but can't find it now. As I recall it, it wasn't impossible but it sounded quite difficult. Therefore, my wife and I won't be checking any bags. I plan to take a suitcase and my briefcase with my computer and "stuff". She plans to take a similar suitcase and a small duffel that will also accommodate her purse. (The Brits are very inflexible about the only two carry-on items rule.)

Re. lounges: it's not a problem for me. Because of my Mileage Plus status with United I have access to any of the lounges run by Star Alliance airlines outside of the US and Canada. I do agree that it's worthwhile to pay for the extra comfort of a lounge if you have a long layover and can afford it.

 

[Mtgoat]

Mtgoat interested to know why you think this is, if your baggage is checked through all the way it shouldnt be a problem.

also if you arent a member of an airline club and want to use a lounge try prioritypass.com , they have lounges throughout the world, there is a joining fee and a charge each time you use a lounge, but if you are stuck at an airport you usually are willing to pay for some comfort....

postoak,
Also weighing on my decision was a very good experience that I had 4 years ago with a coastal black bear hunt in British Columbia. The outfitter talked me into taking one of his guns. It worked out very well. Also, this is a plains game hunt. I would probably feel differently if I was going after dangerous game. Although the black bear certainly qualified as dangerous game (approximately 7' squared - about the size of a grizzly).

 

[spike.t]

First, my outfitter told me not to try to bring a rifle through Heathrow. Second, I read something about the process on the LHR website but can't find it now. As I recall it, it wasn't impossible but it sounded quite difficult. Therefore, my wife and I won't be checking any bags. I plan to take a suitcase and my briefcase with my computer and "stuff". She plans to take a similar suitcase and a small duffel that will also accommodate her purse. (The Brits are very inflexible about the only two carry-on items rule.)

just to confirm to myself as well, i spoke to someone who works for a company that i use that do visitors paperwork and transit/shipping work with firearms who are based at heathrow. if you are transiting through heathrow with your baggage/gun cases tagged to the end destination with airlines with a codeshare and the stopover is less than 24 hours you dont need any paperwork at all. apart from if your ticket shows zimbabwe as your end destination due to a govnt embargo on firearms going there, and then its a no go.

as for the 2 carry on items i think its sensible as there is limited space and having watched people in the usa on planes trying to stuff oversize bags into lockers that are way smaller and holding the proceedings up well.........

 

[enysse]

I found your posts interesting spike.t, most people don't go through heathrow, but it sounds pretty uncomplicated to me. I wonder, if it's just the connection flight out of heathrow not lining up and people having to stay longer than 24 hours?

 

[spike.t]

I found your posts interesting spike.t, most people don't go through heathrow, but it sounds pretty uncomplicated to me. I wonder, if it's just the connection flight out of heathrow not lining up and people having to stay longer than 24 hours?

most flights from the usa to heathrow tend to be overnight and on the way to usa from heathrow are day flights. then flights from heathrow to SA, zambia etc are mostly night flights so i wouldnt have thought there would be more than 10/11 hours tops between arrival and departure. you would have to check properly as i have only approximated, but that is my experience from when i fly to the usa , and when i fly to african countries. i do use BA mostly , but have flown others and they tend to run similar times varying over a couple of hours. i think heathrow got its bad reputation from 10 or so years ago when there was a lot of theft etc from baggage and guns being trashed or sent to the wrong place. these days the firearms are only handled by security company employees , so anything going wrong could easily be tracked back to the individual responsible.

 

[Mtgoat]

Spike,
Thanks. That is good info about LHR.

Agree about the carry-on limit. However, I think that the Brits get a bit too zealous. A suitcase, a briefcase and a water bottle, or a bag with candy from one of the airport shops isn't allowed. You would have to cram the extra thing into your suitcase or briefcase. In fairness to them, it is hard to know where to draw the line. There is always someone ready to abuse the system.

 

[spike.t]

Spike,
Thanks. That is good info about LHR.

Agree about the carry-on limit. However, I think that the Brits get a bit too zealous. A suitcase, a briefcase and a water bottle, or a bag with candy from one of the airport shops isn't allowed. You would have to cram the extra thing into your suitcase or briefcase. In fairness to them, it is hard to know where to draw the line. There is always someone ready to abuse the system.

def sounds like you came across someone overzealous there, as i havent had that problem with the water or duty free bags before...but there are that type everywhere unfortunately .

 

[Mtgoat]

I generally avoid LHR and can do that since I seldom have business in the UK. I prefer FRA or CDG if I have to go to Europe. The Swiss airports are OK too.