Considering changing itineraries

[Mekaniks]

Thank you all for the recommendations.

I'm officially booked. Decided to go with American Airlines Chicago to Heathrow, then British Airways from Heathrow to JNB. Couldn't pass on the price. Sorry guys, I understand Gracie and Travel Express works for you, but I'm giving this a go on my own. Maybe I learn from my mistake, but hopefully not!

Have fun!
Give us the full report when you get back

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Thank you all for the recommendations.

I'm officially booked. Decided to go with American Airlines Chicago to Heathrow, then British Airways from Heathrow to JNB. Couldn't pass on the price. Sorry guys, I understand Gracie and Travel Express works for you, but I'm giving this a go on my own. Maybe I learn from my mistake, but hopefully not!

So are you taking your own rifle or not?

 

[JimP]

The big thing that a travel agent has going for you is that if there is a problem while you are out hunting or in transit you'll have someone on your side to take care of it instead of staring at your phone wondering what you are going to do.

This happened to me on my first safari on the trip back. My original flight out of Dulles to Denver was taking off just as we cleared customs. Jennifer with Travel Express caught the problem a few weeks before we departed and gave us some different options. Granted we were not stuck in South Africa but we would of been stuck in a airport trying to rebook.

Good luck on your hunt.

 

[btheis13]

So are you taking your own rifle or not?

No. I can rent one for $35 per day and that includes all the ammo.

It was going to cost me $1600-2000 per person to fly on United or Delta direct from the U.S.

I really wanted to use my own rifle, but just not worth the added expense and headache. Maybe on the next trip.

 

[wesheltonj]

Thank you all for the recommendations.

I'm officially booked. Decided to go with American Airlines Chicago to Heathrow, then British Airways from Heathrow to JNB. Couldn't pass on the price. Sorry guys, I understand Gracie and Travel Express works for you, but I'm giving this a go on my own. Maybe I learn from my mistake, but hopefully not!

Well you may have made two mistakes. (1) it looks like you avoided one by not taking your gun and that is an AA to BA transfer at Heathrow. That can be a problem. (2) AA arrives and departs at T3 at Heathrow and BA to JNB departs and arrives T5. A 1 1/2 hour layover is a legal layover, and I’ve made that that with zero minutes to spare. Hopefully you have at least a two hour layover. Even more helpful would be that AA flight is actually on BA metal. Have a great trip.

 

[TERMINATOR]

Thank you all for the recommendations.

I'm officially booked. Decided to go with American Airlines Chicago to Heathrow, then British Airways from Heathrow to JNB. Couldn't pass on the price. Sorry guys, I understand Gracie and Travel Express works for you, but I'm giving this a go on my own. Maybe I learn from my mistake, but hopefully not!

Have a great hunt!

 

[btheis13]

Well you may have made two mistakes. (1) it looks like you avoided one by not taking your gun and that is an AA to BA transfer at Heathrow. That can be a problem. (2) AA arrives and departs at T3 at Heathrow and BA to JNB departs and arrives T5. A 1 1/2 hour layover is a legal layover, and I’ve made that that with zero minutes to spare. Hopefully you have at least a two hour layover. Even more helpful would be that AA flight is actually on BA metal. Have a great trip.

Great info. 7 hour layover on the way there and 2.5 hour coming home. I think I dodged both bullets.

 

[TERMINATOR]

No. I can rent one for $35 per day and that includes all the ammo.

It was going to cost me $1600-2000 per person to fly on United or Delta direct from the U.S.

I really wanted to use my own rifle, but just not worth the added expense and headache. Maybe on the next trip.

What did your ticket end up costing?

Just curious what kind of savings can be had going thru UK since I have always ATL-JNB

Thanks

 

[TERMINATOR]

Great info. 7 hour layover on the way there and 2.5 hour coming home. I think I dodged both bullets.

It’s always great to have too much time on layovers for international flights, especially when changing airlines

Have a great hunt

 

[frankmissing]

I was wanting to bring my own rifle to RSA for my first safari. I understood traveling with a rifle has its challenges, and I was ok dealing with them. After searching for airfare over the last few months I came to the realization that it was going to cost over $2000 more just to take my own rifle. Here.United or delta flights direct to Johannesburg are approx $500 more each than BA flights with layover in London. x 4 tickets. Plus cost of ammo, using rifle service in JNB, etc. Is there any other airlines I should consider flying from Chicago (economy seats)?

I would also contact @TRAVEL EXPRESS! I discussed the details of the trips with them and read the reviews that people say about their services! There seem to be positive reviews here https://www.africahunting.com/threads/travel-express.84890/

 

[btheis13]

What did your ticket end up costing?

Just curious what kind of savings can be had going thru UK since I have always ATL-JNB

Thanks

$880 per person. Economy, no bags and no seat selection.

 

[Rare Breed]

$880 per person. Economy, no bags and no seat selection.

That is an awesome deal round trip no question as long as you don’t mind whatever seat you get and the total travel time. As others have said, my time is worth money to me. Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[matt vejar]

Virgin Atlantic is $100 each way for a rifle. I’ve done it 7 or 8 trips over to Jo’berg never had an issue. Now it’s even more full proof. You fill out a two minute slip in SFO (for me) -there people escort you to TSA he checks gun. Virgin attendant then takes it back their luggage checkin while you go through security ( or as I did follow the guy back to Virgin checkin and watch lady place it on conveyor belt. Heathrow when you’re at the boarding gate they call you up and repeat same gun sheet. Save the one from your home airport and copy it at Heathrow. They give you the pink copy when you’re in your seat before takeoff. This means your guns on the plane! Pretty simple.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

$880 per person. Economy, no bags and no seat selection.

Guns aside, how do you go on safari without bags, gear or clothes?

 

[btheis13]

Guns aside, how do you go on safari without bags, gear or clothes?

Everybody keeps telling me to pack light. Plus it's Africa....what could go wrong?

 

[Dinsdale]

Everybody keeps telling me to pack light. Plus it's Africa....what could go wrong?

I easily do 2 weeks with just a carry on, last couple of hunts all that gets checked is a gun case and ammo can. By renting you avoid all that process.

I only carry essentials and know how to pack light. Don't forget you get a carryon and personal item(I use a small soft side for that).

I also book my own tickets. They only time I had issues was with a popular agent always brought up on these type threads and they screwed up so many times I doubt I'd ever use anyone again.

 

[Philip Glass]

I was wanting to bring my own rifle to RSA for my first safari. I understood traveling with a rifle has its challenges, and I was ok dealing with them. After searching for airfare over the last few months I came to the realization that it was going to cost over $2000 more just to take my own rifle.

United or delta flights direct to Johannesburg are approx $500 more each than BA flights with layover in London. x 4 tickets.

Plus cost of ammo, using rifle service in JNB, etc.

Is there any other airlines I should consider flying from Chicago (economy seats)?

There are few challenges to taking your own rifle if you follow my advice. There is a bit of time and a few bucks here and there.
You can fly BA if you use a TA that knows what they are doing and they give the OK. Now it has to be BA metal the whole way! That means BA painted on the plane not AA codeshare.
Also keep checking Google flights, being from Chicago you have so many options(jealous). Log in and set the alerts in the flights you want to track.
Take your own gun and the experience will be rich and rewarding.

 

[Philip Glass]

On my first safari I used Travel Express and they steered me away from some airlines that I was thinking about when I was planning on doing it myself.

We also found that we saved quite a bit of money flying Tuesday through Thursday, forgetting about Mondays and Fridays, not to mention weekends. It was surprising at the difference in fares going mid week.

Good advice Jim!