Lost Luggage

[YancyW]

I do 60-100 flights a year, lost or delayed luggage is very rare.
Biggest risk is changing airlines, avoid if possible.
Also avoiding British Airways helps...
Also avoid the low-cost airlines (easy in this setting since most of them don't carry guns),.

I agree, I have over 1000 commercial flights under my belt, I can count on one hand the numbers of times my luggage didn't arrive with me. One of those was a trip to Nambia, but PH gave me everything I needed, no problem at all.

 

[JimP]

While a GPS will tell you where your luggage is at it might not do you any good when it says that your luggage is in Joberg when you are sitting in Capetown.

Then you have to get the airline to find it where you say it is located at, good luck with that.

 

[thriller]

It came up on another post that it was a good idea to use readily-available ammunition so that it can be replaced easily upon arrival if your ammo goes missing en route. One poster claimed luggage being lost is a myth and something that doesn't happen in significant amounts.

This seems to me, based on my personal experience, to be a string of remarkable good fortune. But it is entirely possible that, in fact, that is the norm and I have just had less than good fortune.

I've taken 5 trips to Africa in 10 years and had my ammo-containing luggage delayed 4 days on one trip. Fortunately, that happened to be the one trip where I decided to spend a week in Germany before proceeding to Namibia and the luggage was lost on that leg of my journey. So for me, 20% lost luggage rate, 0% actual effect on my hunting.

Am I particularly unlucky? What are your experiences, specifically regarding the luggage containing your ammo on trips to Africa? Please post both good and bad experiences- I'd like to get a reasonable picture of this.

myth my ass delta loses my crap like it's their job.... last 5 domestic flights I have taken my luggage has been lost 4 times and the fifth flight got canceled so they couldn't keep their score at 100%.

not angry at anyone here just "triggered" as the kids say these days.

 

[autofire]

There are numerous brands for sale on Amazon from $20 to $50. Each one has different parameters, some state global land air sea tracking. Some might require payment for software access, some are free software access. Do some research and you'll find what works best for you.

 

[autofire]

While a GPS will tell you where your luggage is at it might not do you any good when it says that your luggage is in Joberg when you are sitting in Capetown.

Then you have to get the airline to find it where you say it is located at, good luck with that.

Maybe it will help or maybe it won't help. But guaranted it won't help if you don't use it and try to have airline help.

 

[autofire]

Check Amazon, run $20 to $50. Each on has different parameters. Some say track world wide land sea air. Some require payment for software. Some are free software. Do some research and you should find something that works for you.

 

[autofire]

While a GPS will tell you where your luggage is at it might not do you any good when it says that your luggage is in Joberg when you are sitting in Capetown.

Then you have to get the airline to find it where you say it is located at, good luck with that.

It might help or it might not. But guaranteed it wont help if you don't use it and don't ask airline for help.

 

[Hank2211]

I have travelled a great deal over the years, and delayed luggage is an ever-rarer event, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

Some years ago I was hunting in Cameroon, flying Air France from Paris. My rifle arrived, but my ammo (which was required to be in a separate case) did not. By the time it showed up in Douala, there was no way it was going to reach me in the jungle, so I picked it up on my return to Douala. 40 rounds of .375 H&H as a gift to my PH.

Note that I was lucky that I had brought a .375 - there was a reasonable supply of that calibre available in camp, as I expect would be the case in most places. If I'd lost my gun though, I might well have been out of luck - this would have had to be arranged well ahead of time and spare guns aren't always easy to find in these places.

More recently, some may recall my hunt report on an LDE hunt, again in Cameroon (can't blame Air France this time - it was Air Canada). None of my luggage arrived with me, and in fact I didn't see it again until I was finished my hunt. I won't go over the joys of two weeks in one change one clothes and one pair of shoes. Here, I had arranged a gun and ammo ahead of time, so that wasn't a problem.

I believe the moral of this is that bad things are more likely to happen when you're flying to less common destinations. In addition, in those places, you generally have more limited options to get to where you're hunting, so unlike say, South Africa, where if your luggage is delayed, it can likely catch up to you relatively easily, in Cameroon, if you don't have it, you may not see it again for the duration.

In these cases, while having a luggage tracker might give you some peace of mind, it won't likely get you your luggage any sooner.

 

[putter97127]

I have travelled a great deal over the years, and delayed luggage is an ever-rarer event, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

Some years ago I was hunting in Cameroon, flying Air France from Paris. My rifle arrived, but my ammo (which was required to be in a separate case) did not. By the time it showed up in Douala, there was no way it was going to reach me in the jungle, so I picked it up on my return to Douala. 40 rounds of .375 H&H as a gift to my PH.

Note that I was lucky that I had brought a .375 - there was a reasonable supply of that calibre available in camp, as I expect would be the case in most places. If I'd lost my gun though, I might well have been out of luck - this would have had to be arranged well ahead of time and spare guns aren't always easy to find in these places.

More recently, some may recall my hunt report on an LDE hunt, again in Cameroon (can't blame Air France this time - it was Air Canada). None of my luggage arrived with me, and in fact I didn't see it again until I was finished my hunt. I won't go over the joys of two weeks in one change one clothes and one pair of shoes. Here, I had arranged a gun and ammo ahead of time, so that wasn't a problem.

I believe the moral of this is that bad things are more likely to happen when you're flying to less common destinations. In addition, in those places, you generally have more limited options to get to where you're hunting, so unlike say, South Africa, where if your luggage is delayed, it can likely catch up to you relatively easily, in Cameroon, if you don't have it, you may not see it again for the duration.

In these cases, while having a luggage tracker might give you some peace of mind, it won't likely get you your luggage any sooner.

When life gets tough, I think of that poor guy that tracked eland for days in his slippers. The thought usually puts things in a better perspective....

 

[Hank2211]

Dude, crocs are not slippers! They are very comfortable footwear and dare I say it, very manly as well.

 

[putter97127]

I'll give you comfortable,. Lol

 

[jeff]

My wife and I have had luggage delayed three times on Africa trips once it was my bow that arrived three days later also had delayed luggage on one return flight.

 

[Mort Hill]

I have traveled 8 times to Africa. Twice I had bags not arrive. Fortunately, on the advice of fellow hunters, I always arrive a couple of days early to get my sea legs so to speak, enjoying unwinding from the hectic nature of international travel, and to ward off the jet lag spirits. In one case the bag came in the next day, the other came in the second day, and we picked up at the airport to board our charter flight. Two different airlines, two supposed different reasons. But having the extra time saved my butt in both cases. Something to think about.

 

[Philip Glass]

It came up on another post that it was a good idea to use readily-available ammunition so that it can be replaced easily upon arrival if your ammo goes missing en route. One poster claimed luggage being lost is a myth and something that doesn't happen in significant amounts.

This seems to me, based on my personal experience, to be a string of remarkable good fortune. But it is entirely possible that, in fact, that is the norm and I have just had less than good fortune.

I've taken 5 trips to Africa in 10 years and had my ammo-containing luggage delayed 4 days on one trip. Fortunately, that happened to be the one trip where I decided to spend a week in Germany before proceeding to Namibia and the luggage was lost on that leg of my journey. So for me, 20% lost luggage rate, 0% actual effect on my hunting.

Am I particularly unlucky? What are your experiences, specifically regarding the luggage containing your ammo on trips to Africa? Please post both good and bad experiences- I'd like to get a reasonable picture of this.

To answer the question: only my first trip in ‘97 were bags delayed a couple days. I did have a mess going to Austria one time as well. If you use the right agent and airline and have proper layovers most will do fine.
The point that is made on the availability of ammo is no longer valid for most of us. This is due to custom guns and specific loads tailored for our specific hunts. not like the old days where everyone has a .30-06 and one must only decide between 150gr and 180gr.
Don’t choose your caliber based on this scenario! If you lose your gun or ammo borrow one and carry on with the hunt.
I do love hearing people’s travel stories.....
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

One thing that I found on my trip is that if you talk to the gate agent if you are transferring planes, ask them if your luggage is aboard. That's all I and my hunting partner did and the agent told us that all of our luggage was there and going with us.

We started on Delta, swapped to a second Delta flight, and then flew to Joberg.

Jim good points and don’t forget the airline apps. Delta was the first I personally used the app to track my bags. What piece of mind knowing my suitcase AND my rifle were on the plane and I can kick back, watch a movie, and not worry about it. I mention this in my latest safari prep video on air travel,

 

[Hogpatrol]

Somewhat OT but if you vacuum pack your hunting clothes they'll take up less space in the carry on. I max out the weight for the carry on too.

 

[outwestidaho]

Jim good points and don’t forget the airline apps. Delta was the first I personally used the app to track my bags. What piece of mind knowing my suitcase AND my rifle were on the plane and I can kick back, watch a movie, and not worry about it. I mention this in my latest safari prep video on air travel,

I fly delta more than any other airline. The app is great you always know if your bags made the plane or not. I did have our bags 24 hours behind us on a trip home in 2017 from the Cape. But we were late at airport and delta sent me a message saying my bags were not going to make flight and were going to be a flight behind us.
So worked for us. I do long lay overs when i have to switch flights. I believe this is a great help with bags. Plus it gives me time to relax have a drink and a not be pressured to hurry and try and make a tight schedule. I look at it all including flights as an adventure !

 

[Art Lambart II]

I have flown to SA twice on Delta 200 out of Atlanta and both times my guns arrived in SA late. In 2016 my guns arrived 1 day late and in 2018 they where 4 days late. Always make sure you Outfitter has a quality firearm withpreimum ammo for you to use and be sure to bring extra hunting clothse in your carry-on.

 

[Labman]

I've been to Africa 14 times on hunting trips. My bags/gun were lost once on the way over. Arrived in camp with just my carryon. The next day my rifle arrived but not my bag with clothes and ammo. That arrived three days later and a toy the PH asked me to bring over for his one year old daughter was stolen from my bag.

On return trips from Africa twice my bag/guns didn't arrive. In both cases they arrived the next day and were delivered to my house. All lost/delays were on SAA to/from Joberg.

 

[Shootist43]

I've only been to Africa twice. However neither time was without incident. On the first trip both my rifles and luggage were AWOL for three days. On the second trip my luggage made it but my rifles did not. They did however show up the next day. It just required a 100 mile trip one way back to the airport. My rifles had arrived but my son's rifles didn't. It required a second trip back to the airport to get his. My luggage lost / late ratio is 100%. Make sure you have enough in your carry on to get you by for a couple of days.