British Airways are a Disgrace [Never Fly with Sporting goods Guns]

[Sideshow]

So when I was over landing I had a Vic falls to CT trip. Clients landed at VF from a transfer from Joberg.
All there bags did not make it. This was back in 2000. The bags followed us the whole way to CT lol.
Got there 2 days after we did.
No way we could wait fro the bags. It was a very interesting trip with the paxs dressed in all sorts of 2nd hand stuff brought in Chobe and along the way.
Some very happy beggers in CT at the end lol.

BA stands for Bloody Awful!

 

[Sideshow]

Also there business class lounges are a joke. Poor food poor drink and shit services. Just went through Heathrow T5 which is meant to be there flagship lounge!


Just poor all round and I made the comment to one of the staff. He came back that it was because of COVID. I came back that I had flown Qatar a month earlier from T5 and there lounge was fair and away superior!


Plus there in flight food etc as superior.


BA is staffed by a bunch of woke idiots that cant organise a party with a gold card.

 

[Red Leg]

Interesting discussion on travel on British Airways. They were my go-to airline when I traveled for work from DFW to Europe, Middle East, Africa. A grand tradition of British travel, now ruined by corporate takeovers, and other BS.

To the group, what is your recommendation for travel from either IAH, or DFW, for a route to either Joburg or Namibia? Emirates? Quatar? Delta? (No desire for a 17-hour flight)

Seating Economy Plus, but Business if it's a good deal.

Now that I live back home in Louisiana, I would journey to either of these 2 International airports, for the big ride.

I'm 20 years past regular international travel, and appreciate the input of current travelers, for comfort, convenience traveling with rifles, and price.

Looking to travel from late May 2023 to September 2023.

Appreciate It

CR

My last three trips to/through Johannesburg have been Emirates x 1 and Qatar x 2. Both are great rides compared to anything else. Should you be transiting Johannesburg, you usually will have to overnight there. By taking Qatar, your overnight is aboard the second flight, arriving early morning for an easy transfer.

 

[Philip Glass]

Thanks for the heads up and sorry to hear about your troubles. I'm flying United out of NJ next month so we'll see how it goes. Some people have no trouble, the next guy spends hours dicking around with uninformed staff. I think it's a crap shoot nowadays, depends on the individual behind the counter. Unfortunately there's no end in sight with all the staffing shortages. I'm just gonna stay flexible, I've got a week off work before and after the scheduled dates for my safari in case anything crazy happens.

you are correct. Be early, be flexible, and be certain that the person behind the counter knows less than you do about airline gun policies!

 

[Philip Glass]

@Red Leg O’Hare is bad, we agree.

I will have to agree to disagree about Heathrow. I like T5. It’s efficient for the volume of passenger it moves. T3 on the other hand leaves much to be desired and I can’t wait for them to tear it down. And T4 is just bad. Why anyone thought they could take a terminal that was built for domestic flights and turn it into an international terminal is beyond me. Small, hard to get to, etc. But, when Heathrow is rebuilt, it will be more efficient at moving volumes of passengers.

Frankfort is not any better and just a old as Heathrow T3. Charles DeGaulle is probably the worst of the large airports in Europe, IMO.

I transited CDG on my way to Cameroon and it was so bad and disorganized I nearly missed my connection! Ive only been through Heathrow once and it was fine. I mean AA lost my gun and luggage so BA didnt have much to worry about! Going over (DFW-LHR) was coach and it was the worst international experience ive had. Bad seats and poor service. On the way back (from Austria) somehow they upgraded us to premium eco and that was pleasant.
All airlines have problems and some are getting worse.
Philip

 

[Sideshow]

I think if your coming from the states to West & Southern Africa your best off flying Qatar if you can.
no trophy ban (last time I looked)
Also what you might lose in time of travel you will gain in lack of stress.
BA is a false economy where that is concerned.
Your going on Safari for Petes sake it’s ment to be fun.
BA is anything but.

On a side note I see that Emirates is suing Heathrow. Heathrow has asked all airlines to cut booked flights.
Emirates (quite rightly imo) has said get stuffed we can’t cancel A380s with 500plus pax because you can’t sort out your staffing issues. Heathrow is not BA. It’s run by a Spanish company.

BA flights to Africa they also use there oldest aircraft. The flight to Nairobi they are still using an old 747 this from 2018
Maybe there just trying to get you in the mode for AWA

Fears for Nairobi-bound British Airways 747 circling Canterbury

A British Airways 747 bound for Nairobi in Kenya has landed back at Heathrow after circling around Kent and dumping fuel in The Channel due to a technical fault with its landing gear.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Hunting Hitman]

I flew BA twice in the last 3 years from LAX to JNB. Both times were a complete cluster f*ck at the check in counter. The supervising agent and team acted as if it was their first time handling a weapon.
All my paperwork was in order as I had booked the flight with TWG. The agents could not figure out how to process my baggage. I spent anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes at the counter waiting for them to figure this out, and I was flying business class. They claim that they have to wait on hold just like regular customers to speak with London and confirm approvals. They are a complete joke and I will Never fly them again!

HH

 

[Sideshow]

Yep. That’s about right now @Hunting Hitman. My wife has to fly for business 24/28 times a year. I asked her to comment here but I feel that her answer maybe way to crude for all you hunters sensitive ears
She’s even more vocal in the unpleasant way toward AA.

 

[DLSJR]

I’m just amazed that so many are only now figuring out how bad BA is for hunters. They’ve been terrible for years. For hunters, the absolute best choices for the routes they fly are Emirates and Qatar. Nobody else compares.

 

[wesheltonj]

. . . BA flights to Africa they also use there oldest aircraft. The flight to Nairobi they are still using an old 747 this from 2018 . . .

Fears for Nairobi-bound British Airways 747 circling Canterbury

A British Airways 747 bound for Nairobi in Kenya has landed back at Heathrow after circling around Kent and dumping fuel in The Channel due to a technical fault with its landing gear.

www.dailymail.co.uk

BA does not have any 747-400's left in their fleet. They still have a few A380's. They are flying mainly 787 Dreamliners. Now those are small tight seats no matter what class of service, no matter what airline you are flying. I will take an old 777 over a 787 any day. And while I agree that a A380 is a more comfortable aircraft then a 747-400, the 747 is a better product, just ask the cabin crew which plane they would rather be on. I have no experience with a 747-8, but I would love to ride in one.

And old ratty planes, just fly an United 767 and then tell me about old 474-400's

 

[Andrew62]

Thanks for the heads up and sorry to hear about your troubles. I'm flying United out of NJ next month so we'll see how it goes. Some people have no trouble, the next guy spends hours dicking around with uninformed staff. I think it's a crap shoot nowadays, depends on the individual behind the counter. Unfortunately there's no end in sight with all the staffing shortages. I'm just gonna stay flexible, I've got a week off work before and after the scheduled dates for my safari in case anything crazy happens.

I've flown back from South Africa through Newark 2 times in the past 9 months, both times went smooth enough, but please know when you return, you will wait for all firearms cases to be unloaded from the plane, someone will take all of the cases together to Customs, they will inspect everyone's rifles individually, then, the entire group of people with guns are taken to TSA (you are not allowed to take your gun by yourself to the TSA checkpoint). TSA will ask you to unlock your case and stand outside of their restricted area. Once they are done finger banging your guns, they will come out and tell you that you can carry on. It is 100% maddening, but if you have 2 hours between flights you should be good. Past all of that, standing in their ridiculously long security check to get to your departing gate will make you wish you have a dose of valium!!

 

[TheGrayRider]

Newark totally sucks! I would rather get shot in the neck with a .375 H&H at close range than travel through there again.

 

[sestoppelman]

My only experience with Heathrow was back in 1990. On return from Botswana our plane apparently had a security issue of some sort and they made us all grab our luggage, get off the plane then get re-routed thru a security building, have all of our luggage searched by hand, then get back on the plane again.
Bit of a cluster**** I say... oh and some ahole stole one of my cameras!!

I HATE flying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sideshow]

Right I do see your quite right BA had retired its 747 back in 20 when the pandemic took a hold. Funny thing is my very good friend in Nairobi who has been flying back and forward to the UK for her daughter’s who are in school here said just this May “Oh they have brought back that old shit box” the 747. So maybe it was a one off. But I’d trust her word before I’d trust BA.
Who knows maybe they where short.

 

[sestoppelman]

The 747 may well be obsolete and a big ol bus of a thing, but it was a pretty good airplane in its day. Sure wouldn't call it a shitbox.

 

[Hogpatrol]

@Andrew62, End of June this year, that wasn't our experience at Newark. We waited for all the gun cases to be wheeled up to Customs. Like any other port, they checked the serial numbers and we rolled our gun cases out the door. No intermediate stops, no group movement and the whole operation was smooth as silk. Compared to Atlanta and Dulles, it was a cakewalk. The only easier poe was Philly via Qatar. Just curious, do you have TSA-Pre and Global Entry? On the Saturday we departed, I spent a grand total of three minutes in the security line.

 

[R.M.C.]

I've flown back from South Africa through Newark 2 times in the past 9 months, both times went smooth enough, but please know when you return, you will wait for all firearms cases to be unloaded from the plane, someone will take all of the cases together to Customs, they will inspect everyone's rifles individually, then, the entire group of people with guns are taken to TSA (you are not allowed to take your gun by yourself to the TSA checkpoint). TSA will ask you to unlock your case and stand outside of their restricted area. Once they are done finger banging your guns, they will come out and tell you that you can carry on. It is 100% maddening, but if you have 2 hours between flights you should be good. Past all of that, standing in their ridiculously long security check to get to your departing gate will make you wish you have a dose of valium!!

Thanks for the update! Yeah sounds like a shit show lol. Hahaha I'll bring my valium for sure!

 

[Andrew62]

@Andrew62, End of June this year, that wasn't our experience at Newark. We waited for all the gun cases to be wheeled up to Customs. Like any other port, they checked the serial numbers and we rolled our gun cases out the door. No intermediate stops, no group movement and the whole operation was smooth as silk. Compared to Atlanta and Dulles, it was a cakewalk. The only easier poe was Philly via Qatar. Just curious, do you have TSA-Pre and Global Entry? On the Saturday we departed, I spent a grand total of three minutes in the security line.

In May I did not have TSA-Pre Check, but I do now, hopefully, that will help. It was just frustrating to have to wait as a group. It used to be when I came back through Dulles you just got your bag and left the airport, then, for a few years, some guy with Napoleon Syndrome made life miserable. I just didn't know why in Newark Customs has to go through everything then TSA, like WTH can change between those two points? It is easier to travel without a gun, but on these buffalo hunts I want my own gun.

 

[Red Leg]

A fabulous 747 ride was on Lufthansa. In those days, I was flying true international first on business trips abroad. The upper deck was first class and room for maybe a dozen passengers. One had a true captain's chair (think actual leather and lazy boy dimensions). Next to it was a bunkbed made up with a German featherbed. The bathroom was four times the size of a normal aircraft head so the premium customers had plenty of room to change into PJ's. As one would assume, food and wine was extraordinary. Also, the stews didn't look like they had been hired out of assisted living. Really old school travel.

 

[Pondoro]

Qatar is useless when you carry guns, problem is that their staff dont know how to handle it and make a lot of (unneccesary.. ) fuss about it..almost missed my return flight from Joburg to Doha in 2019..never again..