Delta just cancelled June 1 ATL to JNB flight

[CoElkHunter]

I just ran 13 June - 23 June Comfort + on Delta and it was accepted for $2700 and change.,

$2700? I've been contemplating a Safari next year to SA and am adding up the total for the trip including airfare. I was figuring on $1500 for the flight, but this blows that out of the water!

 

[sierraone]

$2700? I've been contemplating a Safari next year to SA and am adding up the total for the trip including airfare. I was figuring on $1500 for the flight, but this blows that out of the water!

$2200 and change was the lowest price listed for those dates and that was for Basic...seat assigned after check in.

 

[CoElkHunter]

$2200 and change was the lowest price listed for those dates and that was for Basic...seat assigned after check in.

Thanks! Guess I'll have to recalculate my budget for that. Kinda blows a $6k PG hunt out of the water?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I thought you could fly Dallas to Qatar then direct to Johannesburg. No?

Qatar also has a flight out of Houston. Land Johannesburg at 4;00am. 4 hour layover going and 2 hour coming back. I am booked on that route.

 

[Vintageguy]

What was the reason for canceling? COVID or just didn’t sell enough seats?

 

[mdwest]

Thanks! Guess I'll have to recalculate my budget for that. Kinda blows a $6k PG hunt out of the water?

Consider Qatar Airlines...

You can catch one of multiple daily direct flights from either Denver or CO Springs to DFW... then DFW direct to Doha... Doha to Joberg..

I paid $1398 for my mid July flights... they were as cheap as $1200 if I would have bought them back in January...

Coming out of CO I don’t think they’d be a whole lot more expensive..

 

[cpr0312]

Qatar is the only real for sure at this point. I am flying them both times this year. I also like to have a shorter trip (Delta, SAA, United), but this is the concrete option for 2021

 

[Dakota Hunter]

I have a lioness trip booked for the end of August and am looking at flights now. This is not good news.

 

[Manny R]

I am booked on Emirates Airlines out of Houston June 27. It stops in Dubai.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Consider Qatar Airlines...

You can catch one of multiple daily direct flights from either Denver or CO Springs to DFW... then DFW direct to Doha... Doha to Joberg..

I paid $1398 for my mid July flights... they were as cheap as $1200 if I would have bought them back in January...

Coming out of CO I don’t think they’d be a whole lot more expensive..

That sounds more reasonable for airfare. I'll check it out. Thanks!

 

[godwincp]

I’m booked on United in July and can only hope this is still available. Taking my nephew to hunt with Jacques at JKO. So far these flights are still showing up on the website and a big improvement over Delta And much cheaper. I’m done with Delta.

 

[Dee S]

Ethiopian Air is another option.

 

[mdwest]

Ethiopian Air is another option.

Its been a few years.. But I used to fly on Ethiopian Air quite a bit (probably did the Dulles/DC to Addis flight (and back) 25+ times..

They were one of the first airlines to field the 787 dreamliner.. which made a noticeable difference in the long direct flight from the US to Addis.. Food was always decent.. service was good.. Planes were always clean and in good condition.. I would gladly fly Ethiopian Air again..

The only downside I ever found was.. if you have a long layover in Addis.. the airport there leaves A LOT to be desired.. there is one decent restaurant.. not nearly enough seating.. the lounge is substandard.. etc.. (there is some pretty decent curio shopping there though and prices arent bad if you just need to burn an hour or two)..

All that said.. If a few hours in a crappy airport is the worst thing about a transatlantic flight enroute to a safari.. things really arent that bad..

 

[Michael Abbott]

I'm flying united on June 18th. It was 1350.00. Delta wanted 2200.00 for the flight. As of now everything is still on

 

[Hogpatrol]

This may help someone's planning. If you can get to Philly, the Qatar schedule from there to JNB. PHL-DOH-JNB is 30 hours and no layover in Joburg. It arrives at 4:00 a.m. For comparison, previous trips on Delta, twenty three hours, PHL-ATL-JNB and an overnight in Joburg added another fourteen hours travel time before the in country flight. I looked at the seating on these flights in May and a lot of open seats. I suspect Delta and United just don't have the load. May or may not have any relevancy but friends that go to Florida in the winter are driving instead of their usual flying and renting a car.

 

[JimP]

Thanks! Guess I'll have to recalculate my budget for that. Kinda blows a $6k PG hunt out of the water?

When I booked my flights way back in 2015 Delta was anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 more expensive than any other airline.

It looks like they still are.

 

[lil 2 sleepy]

Spend some time playing with cost from smaller airports that fly to a domestic international airport first.

For instance a Basic Delta flight to Jburg from ATL in August is ~$2300, but if you go from Charlotte to Joburg, the flight cost is $1094. That is the same overseas flight as the direct flight.

I'm not 100% sure I know why, but I guess it has to do with filling other planes.

 

[Ike85123]

Too messy this year for too much travel. Im just gonna stay domestic this year. Do alittle fishing in may, vegas in aug. Then try to go to gizmos place in November.
Im gomna give it acouple years for alot of reasons !

 

[JimP]

It is also why you use someone like Lori and Jennifer at @TRAVEL EXPRESS.

 

[Michael Abbott]

It is also why you use someone like Lori and Jennifer at @TRAVEL EXPRESS.

I totally agree