Purchasing Airline Tickets - Advice Wanted

[Rare Breed]

I booked about a month ago through Gracy for an RSA trip next August. I booked with Qatar even though it's quite a bit longer than flying through EWR or ATL because I paid 2100 each for upgraded coach seats. I'm 6'6", and 15 hours in UA/Delta in regular coach seats just isn't doable, and upgrading with them was quite a bit more expensive than upgrading with Qatar. Plus, my experience with UA and Delta is the crews often treat you like they're doing you a favor. Won't say all foreign carriers are great, but I've never had a bad experience with one.

Seat selection wasn't great with UA or Delta, even 315+ days out from planned departure date.

Who are you hunting with? We depart IAH on 17 August and arrive at JNB on the 19th, then headed up to Limpopo with @Limcroma Safaris

Here is a secret I have shared before. If you can fly direct from Atlanta to Jberg on Delta they use one type of plane. I don’t care if you are seven foot seat 41J and it’s counterpart on the other side has no seat in front of you and is in main cabin. On my last two trips when I used Delta direct I got this seat for $1600 only business class beat it.

 

[Rare Breed]

I can lie down there is so much room…be smart about seat selection and pay attention to the details I am sharing. It will give you both great comfort at the lowest price. Jennifer already has me booked going and coming for my April hunt after a bull elephant. My round trip cost $1525.

 

[Rare Breed]

@TRAVEL EXPRESS is who I recommend. I have been using them happily for over a decade now.

Without question they are the best. While I miss Lori Jennifer is nothing short of fantastic. I use no one else

 

[Andrew62]

I tend to book my tickets 6-10 months in advance. There are options to track flight costs, and you'd be surprised how much they can change. 2100 seems high, I cannot imagine them going higher than that, so maybe wait a month or two.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I’ve booked 4 different hunts with the agencies previously mentioned. They are both great!

Try this:
Get the Delta App and the United App. Start shopping. It’s free! Or if you want to try a different carrier, try their app…

Understand the equipment flown and the seating choices, understand the routes and layover time, and do some research and planning.

I booked my last two hunt trips myself, including booking for 3 others that traveled with me to SA. I ended up finding round trip from SF through Atlanta to Joberg for $756! Then upgraded from there. Two others used the $756 seats… we were looking at booking with one of the agencies mentioned at $1,350+… I just watched prices, mostly on Delta, for a few months before I bought them. They started at $1,600.

We purchased tickets in Jan 2022 for a late August 2022 Safari. Flying with Delta. Two of us upgraded to Comfort Plus: Delta Comfort Plus is Delta's premium economy option.

After the Hollidays, with the economy slowing down and possibly fewer people traveling, you may see an opportunity to save a good chunk. Or enough to upgrade with!

If you don’t have Global Entry, apply for it.

I’d also recommended the AMEX Platinum card. So many perks. The access to the airport lounges are great.

Good luck!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Travel is at an all time high. There will be no empty seats to fill. (Barring another global event)

Comparing prices to pre Covid or Covid prices is not a good strategy.


I do not want to be sitting next to the crapper for 16 hrs. With everyone’s butt in my face while they stretch their legs. :>))))) I want Away from the cantina and the crapper :>)))

 

[Daveboone]

Booking earlier is the best guarantee of getting the seats/ flight you want....after that it is a crap shoot.

 

[Hogpatrol]

"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth". Mike Tyson. Fly Delta enough and you WILL get punched in the mouth. BTDT.

 

[firehuntfish]

I think "back in the day" that was more true than it is now. For example, did you know that the majority of airlines (Delta most recently), are NOT giving the traveler frequent flyer miles if he or she books thru a travel agency? That is absolutely horrible for us frequent flyers who collect our points.

I'm not really sure what you mean here by what was true "back in the day"...? Are you referring to the use of a travel agent? Travel agents offer a variety of services including the ability to shop for airfares, plan itineraries, re-book cancelled flights, along with providing a host of other logistical services, upgrades and travel perks that are not available to the general public.

Many of my safari clients who are seniors, or even my clients who are just busy folks simply prefer the assistance of a travel agent for these reasons. Some travelers are not confident planning travel on their own, while others simply prefer using an agent for the convenience.

 

[tay50]

Mark, fellow Michigander here S.E lower, I fly on Delta, from Detroit to Atlanta to JBerg, I purchased my Comfort class ticket for $2700 in March, for my Sept. 8 to the 19 hunt. I kept watching the ticket prices and finally seen I could upgrade to Premium Select seat for $1400 more RT so I did, fast forward several weeks later, looked at the flight again my same seat was now $3150, called Delta told them what I found, boom $917 dollar e-credit from Delta. I'm a Delta Amex card holder for 14 years, have booked my own flights for 5 of my 6 trips to SA, I fly Delta several times a years so the e-credits are like cash in the bank to me.

 

[Flewis]

Just bought 4 tickets yesterday to East Cape, 86 hundred.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I try book as early as I can to get the seats that I want and when the price is right.
Watched Delta flights for June 2024 when they dates first opened up for my hunt.
They had been all over the place price wise for Comfort+ or Premium Select.
One morning about 7am there was a price drop and said 1 ticket at that price for Premium Select below $2800.
I Whatsapped Jennifer at Travel Express about 8 am central time.
About an hour later she said had snagged me the ticket and would send itinerary later. That's why I use a great Travel Agent like her!!

 

[Rob404]

@TRAVEL EXPRESS

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I agree with everyone who advises you to use a specialty travel agent. I’ve always used Gracy but I hear good things about travel express. It’s nice to see other people on the fight with that Gracy luggage tag- you know why they are there talking to a fellow hunter is a pleasant way to spend the downtime.

The advantage of a travel agent is they have a good handle on the ground truth. There is policy that you can read for yourself online and there is reality. If a particular airline or airport has been giving hunters a hassle, they know about it. And they have contacts for when things go wrong. Again, there is policy and then there is having Shawn call her friend to get things sorted for you. Remember, if there is a problem with a flight, that is 300+ people simultaneously looking for alternate transport. You want to be at the front of that line and you want to do what you can to stack the odds in your favor. If nothing else, you’ve got someone who will answer the phone instead of wading through AI gatekeepers until all you want to do is yell at someone and tell them off (which of course never helps). Far better to contact your agent, go to the bar, and let her sort through the bullshit.

As far as when to book, I book as soon as I know my dates. Otherwise if the plane is full, I’d have to rearrange my hunt, which is quite a burden on my PH and his other clients.

 

[Doubleplay]

My wife is has been working for a major US carrier for 25 years and we have a lot of experience flying free and paid tickets around the World in all classes.
First off Google Flights is your friend.
Do a search and put a flight tracker alert for prices.
Second don't search for prices out of Detroit where you'll be charged a lot more.
Do a search out of New York airports where there are most options to JBN, specially if you are not flying with firearms.
You can even find cheaper tickets even on Delta's ATL-JBL non stop, if you do your search out of JFK.
Third buy your domestic tickets to New-York (or wherever) now and wait till 3-4 months before your departure date to buy your international flight.
Fourth be open minded, US carriers are generally not up to par for cabin service and seating comfort compared to Middle East airlines.
Just looked there are economy seats out of JFK to JBN for $1250 late August with Ethiad which is a good airline.
Good Luck

 

[Hillcountry63]

Here is a secret I have shared before. If you can fly direct from Atlanta to Jberg on Delta they use one type of plane. I don’t care if you are seven foot seat 41J and it’s counterpart on the other side has no seat in front of you and is in main cabin. On my last two trips when I used Delta direct I got this seat for $1600 only business class beat it.

Don't give out the secret!

 

[fourfive8]

Use a travel agent who does hunting. They can help untangle messes that seem to have become common with air travel. Unless you have deep pockets for front of the plane luxury, book early so at least you have a chance at a decent seat back in sheeple class. Usually you can book up to about 11 mo ahead. Booking agent will have seating map of your flight. Also booking early goes hand in hand with booking early with your outfitter. Waiting increases the chances of not getting the time slot you would like. They know how to use all kids of tricks and schmooze to get you to book a different time slot with them if your favored slot is booked full. just saying

 

[MarkinMI]

Thanks to all for your usual, great advice. Sure have learned a lot on this forum, definitely adds to the anticipation factor as I peruse the site, almost daily!
Am hunting with Matwetwe Safaris 19 August thru 31 August, plains game is the plan. Blesbuck, Gemsbok, Impala, Kudu, Zebra are on the hit list, maybe a day of bird shooting, as well.
Plan on using Gracy Travel, have heard good things about them, and have friends who use them regularly.
I'm 6'4" 235lb, and my son is 6'8" 240lb, so I'll be hoping and praying for 41J on Delta out of ATL (thanks, Rare Breed!).
Think I'll get on the phone and pull the trigger, now...

Thanks, again, all.

 

[Hillcountry63]

Thanks to all for your usual, great advice. Sure have learned a lot on this forum, definitely adds to the anticipation factor as I peruse the site, almost daily!
Am hunting with Matwetwe Safaris 19 August thru 31 August, plains game is the plan. Blesbuck, Gemsbok, Impala, Kudu, Zebra are on the hit list, maybe a day of bird shooting, as well.
Plan on using Gracy Travel, have heard good things about them, and have friends who use them regularly.
I'm 6'4" 235lb, and my son is 6'8" 240lb, so I'll be hoping and praying for 41J on Delta out of ATL (thanks, Rare Breed!).
Think I'll get on the phone and pull the trigger, now...

Thanks, again, all.

I just purchased 41J for my trip July 30-Aug 11, 2024. I knew that "secret" and have used it for a while now.

 

[Philip Glass]

My son and I will be heading to SA in late August of next year for our first safari.
As a newbie, I'm looking for some advice from seasoned "professionals" as to how soon/late I should purchase our airline tickets.
I've heard everything from well-in-advance is best, to wait until the last minute.
I intend to use a well-known travel agency and am getting quotes starting at ~$2100 for coach, from Detroit, MI to Jo-burg.
Do I purchase now, thinking 10 months in advance would be the best bet, or roll the dice and hope prices go down as the date gets closer?
Any advice/suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

It depends on what seats you are wanting to buy. If you are buying coach then it will matter little and earlier is better to get the seats you want. If you want Premium Economy you will want the TA to follow the pricing and fare classes as they roll out. They come out very high and then ebb and flow.
Generally speaking you would want to book 6 months out to get the best deals. There is no certainty in this these days however and I prefer to be booked much earlier than this. When I organize group hunts we usually will be booked by 9 months from departure.