Traveling to South Africa - Layover question

[JimP]

Make sure that you are using a travel agent that is familiar with the regulations in South Africa as far as firearms.

It was mentioned before to call Travel Express and I'll echo the recommendation.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

If you are transferring to domestic flight at Joberg, you need AT LEAST 1.5 hrs with guns. Two hour layover minimum is better. 44 minutes is cutting it WAY to close in Atlanta.

Edit: I see you plan to stay overnight in Capetown. I always go for 10+ hr layover in Europe then arrive in Joberg about 10:00 a.m. Gives me enough time to get through the hoops with guns and on to Port Elizabeth flight just after noon. I'm usually at the lodge in time to check my rifles at the range before dinner. Then we can be off hunting at the crack of dawn next morning.

 

[sureshot375]

Atlanta native here. 44 minutes is not enough in Atlanta. There are so many ways things could go wrong.

 

[Andrew62]

I fly from Pittsburgh to Newark to JNB from time to time. One time I had a 7 hour layover in Newark on the way over. While I did have access to the business lounge, a 7 hour layover just sucks, even in a business lounge! Having said that, I would opt for a 7 hour layover rather than a 44 minute layover because from the time you book your flight, until you actually make the connection in Atlanta, which is probably some matter of months, you will feel stress and anxiety. These trips are just too wonderful to be stressing a super short layover in a large airport like Atlanta. I would book the 7 hour layover and relax knowing I didn't have to stress Atlanta or will my guns make that super tight connection.

What you did not mention is what does this 6 hour time difference in layover in Atlanta mean on the African side of things? Does it cost you an extra night at a hotel airport or can you still get to camp the same day you arrive. Perhaps that may make the decision a little easier.

However you decide to go, good luck on your hunt!!!

 

[Winmdl71]

I’ve flown through Atlanta several times with rifles on international flights and haven’t had to recheck my rifles as long as they originated on the same airline I was flying. I wouldn’t however be comfortable with a 44 min layover. Most likely you and your luggage would not be traveling together after that short a layover.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Flown thru Atlanta 3 trips on Delta. Houston Atlanta JNB, 45 mins to an hour is not enough time to navigate from terminals on train. If you have any kind of a delay you will miss flight. Not to mention big risk of guns not making flight even if you did. Three hours is minimum for me going. Four hours minimum on return to clear customs and do gun check.

 

[Jhsmith]

I've been to South Africa twice on hunting trips.
I travel and hunt with a father and son team.
The kid makes all the arrangements, the old guys just go with the flow.
We fly out of Portland at some ungodly hour in the morning and have a long layover in Atlanta 7 or 8 hours.
I asked the kid about taking a later flight and he pointed out the 2-hour requirement.
Luckily for us he travels a lot for business and has access to the delta Sky Club Lounge.
He can bring the old guys in as guests.

 

[trperk1]

I wouldn't accept a 44 min layover in any airport, let alone atlanta. Mainly due to the size of the airport and that you have checked bags and a rifle. There's a high likelihood that none of you will make the connection. For the long layover, no need to re-check bag or rifle

 

[everett]

Also be wary when you check bags if you have a 7 hour layover in Atlanta. Delta policy used to be that they wouldn’t check baggage through with a layover of 5 hours or more (even though they often ignored that rule). I’ve been told that they have changed that to 12 hours. Just make sure they check your bags all the way to Cape Town when you first check your bags. If not, you will spend that 7 hours going out of security, retrieving and rechecking baggage, and then getting back through security and back across airport to gate.

 

[migrabill]

I personally would not schedule a 44 minute layover. No way.

 

[KuduKiller]

I actually have a 7 hour layover here in a few weeks. I had a 2 hour layover once and I cut it way too close.

 

[Safari Dave]

My son and I missed our flight in Atlanta to SLC last season because everyone was so dang sloooow.


We arrived 3 hours before departure

I mean the airport employees were, literally, moving in slow motion. I wanting to film it!

There was an very old TSA agent x-raying gun cases and golf club cases. Why would you bother x-raying a gun case? (To see it it contains a gun???)

We waited in the bar for 7 hours!


(breakfast, lunch, watched a baseball game, few beers...)



Finally got to SLC around 2:00AM and tried to get our rental 4x4 truck for hunting. (They were all gone).



It took us over 24 hours to get to the cabin in Wyoming.


Drive time would have been 18 hours!

 

[DLSJR]

If you start on Delta and your flight to CT is Delta, there’s no reason to claim and recheck anything. As others have advised, book the 7-hour layover. If weather or another type of delay makes you miss the 44 minute connection, it screws up your whole trip. Not worth the stress to me. I would rather plan a meal in Atlanta and get caught up on some messages or emails than try a 44 minute connection.

Good luck on your safari! Hope to hear of your success.

You took the words out of my mouth. Book a 7-hour layover and don’t risk screwing up your trip.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Ground stops, ATC outages, equipment issues, weather (thunderstorms, fog, wind, etc.), extended holds, and go arounds are just some of the issues that effect airline schedules. 44 minutes isn't enough time, especially at Atlanta. Last time in Newark, going to Joburg, we sat at the gate for an hour before pushback. Fortunately our connection was the next day.
Returning through Atlanta with firearms, allow three hours. The gun check-in can sometimes take an hour or more.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Few days ago, issues at Atlanta.


https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/20...sfield-jackson-atlanta-international-airport/