United Airlines/Airlink from Washington to Windhoek

[Mountaineer]

Has anyone flown from Dulles to Windhoek going through Cape Town. United has booked me through Cape Town to Windhoek, Namibia. Anything I should know or pay attention to on this route. I will be traveling with guns so I know I need to get them permitted for the Airlink portion. Should I get them permitted with SAPS before arrival? How reliable is this flight? If I have to overnight what would be a good hotel? In all I’m trying to figure out what might go wrong and know how to fix it while I’m on this side of the pond. Thanks!

 

[wesheltonj]

Unfortunately, your hotels near the airport are very limited. I have stayed here:

Home - Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport

hotelverde.com

Not sure who does pre-approvals for CPT airport.

 

[375Fox]

I chose not to go this route in 2024 because the layover in Cape Town was too short to be comfortable getting to next flight with guns after a long flight (just under 2 hours). What is the layover now? I had an email from Afton saying they are now offering services and have a lodge in Cape Town for hunters. I’d contact them.

I did fly back from Windhoek through Cape Town. Cape Town feels more like a European airport to me. It’s very modern and a nice airport. Only issue I had was I wasn’t expecting to have to claim and recheck rifle from airlink to United but I had to. I was glad I had the SAPS permit in hand already.

 

[Mountaineer]

Layover is 2 hours 55 minutes

 

[Hyde Hunter]

to get you permission to take guns on Airlink you need to email them you travel dates, where you are traveling, flight numbers and nicely ask them for permission to bring you guns and a quantity. very easy to get and keep extra copies when they reply to you. do this at least 30 days before you fly and also let United know you will be flying with guns and ammo.

 

[koodoo62]

I chose not to go this route in 2024 because the layover in Cape Town was too short to be comfortable getting to next flight with guns after a long flight (just under 2 hours). What is the layover now? I had an email from Afton saying they are now offering services and have a lodge in Cape Town for hunters. I’d contact them.

I did fly back from Windhoek through Cape Town. Cape Town feels more like a European airport to me. It’s very modern and a nice airport. Only issue I had was I wasn’t expecting to have to claim and recheck rifle from airlink to United but I had to. I was glad I had the SAPS permit in hand already.

I am pretty sure that Air 2000 will assist you with firearm permits and reserving a hotel in Capetown. I have used them many times in the past. We flew the same United flight (without guns) 2 years ago. It is a much smaller and much easier to navigate airport than OR Tambo.

 

[Doug3006]

@Mountaineer, I recommend that you call Gracy Travel or Travel Express to handle your travel arrangements. They will have the answers to all of your questions and will handle the paperwork for you. They will charge a few hundred bucks. The tickets will cost the same as those you buy directly.

 

[Mountaineer]

I have already booked the flights. I have flown through Ethiopia many times, but those seats were already taken. I’m one who prefers to learn things. A DIY guy. Admittedly sometimes those lessons are learned the hard way.

 

[Surgeon1]

I went Ethiopian Air out of Dulles several times including last year into Windhoek and earlier this year into Entebbe Uganda. Much easier than dealing with United into Cape Town or Joburg. Going thru Addis Abba with guns can be a little bit unnerving because flight layovers are always short (2hrs or less). But once you understand their gun check system and engage with their staff every step of the way it beats going thru South Africa every time.
You will need SAPS completed and AirLink can be a problem as no one understands the rules even their own. Qatar and Emirates give great service but given the current middle east and their on again off again service to Windhoek could be an issue!
Less than 4hr layover with guns anywhere in the world is risky, saying that I've had good luck with all of them if you have the time, domestics like United and Delta prior to covid worked great, now unfortunately they are not my first choice for international esp with guns.
Out of Dulles I would never hesitate to recommend Ethiopian Air.
I also would always recommend using a TA like Gracy, Travel with Guns, or Travel Express. Traveling the world with guns without a professional TA who does it all the time is like watching a You Tube video and then trying to take out your own Gall Bladder!

 

[henandhunt]

Qatar and Emirates give great service but given the current middle east and their on again off again service to Windhoek could be an issue!

I am trying to get to Windhoek in August and really wanted to do Business Class for lie flat (did this Dubai to Joberg route w/Emirates in Aug '23 and got a badass First class last minute ticket w/Lufthansa through Frankfurt)

I am a bit concerned to use Emirates though going through Dubai for the above reason you mentioned... I honestly didn't think about it until today when I was wondering if I should be concerned considering all that is going on...

August '23 I remember landing in JNB, the process was NOT short claiming my firearm...
and it looks like the connection is only 2HRs which I think would be near impossible to get through SAPS when I arrive. (I would have to book an overnight hotel and flight out the next morning)

I thought I'd be okay with Emirates, since when I connected Dubai I didn't have to grab my rifle and re-check it, but I do not believe that is going to be the case for JNB to WDH. do you agree?

Even though the flight is Emirates, it's operated by Airlink JNB to WDH, and it seems from this forum, there's no way to go from JNB to WDH, even as a transit flyer via Emirates....

 

[Mountaineer]

My first flight from Washington DC to Cape Town will be non-stop United. Then I’ll be flying code share from Cape Town to Windhoek on Airlink. The entire flight is booked on 1 ticket that I bought with reward miles from United.

 

[375Fox]

I am trying to get to Windhoek in August and really wanted to do Business Class for lie flat (did this Dubai to Joberg route w/Emirates in Aug '23 and got a badass First class last minute ticket w/Lufthansa through Frankfurt)

I am a bit concerned to use Emirates though going through Dubai for the above reason you mentioned... I honestly didn't think about it until today when I was wondering if I should be concerned considering all that is going on...

August '23 I remember landing in JNB, the process was NOT short claiming my firearm...
and it looks like the connection is only 2HRs which I think would be near impossible to get through SAPS when I arrive. (I would have to book an overnight hotel and flight out the next morning)

I thought I'd be okay with Emirates, since when I connected Dubai I didn't have to grab my rifle and re-check it, but I do not believe that is going to be the case for JNB to WDH. do you agree?

Even though the flight is Emirates, it's operated by Airlink JNB to WDH, and it seems from this forum, there's no way to go from JNB to WDH, even as a transit flyer via Emirates....

You might consider flying from Germany direct to Windhoek bypassing South Africa. I think the problem is no one here really knows. They use to not make you recheck rifles for connecting flights elsewhere in Africa same day but appears sometimes they do now. You don’t know until you’re there sometimes. I like overnighting in Johannesburg. It gives some flexibility in case things come up.

 

[dchum]

My first flight from Washington DC to Cape Town will be non-stop United. Then I’ll be flying code share from Cape Town to Windhoek on Airlink. The entire flight is booked on 1 ticket that I bought with reward miles from United.

Nice,

I just did United / Newark to Jo burg.
Then airlink to Windhoek, Namibia.

I had only used Qatar to get to Africa previously.

Get air tags for your iPhone and stick them in gun case and luggage.

I used it to show a airlink employee that my gun was still not near the plane. He made a friendly call and said no worries they are bringing them now. (They did!)
Just being friendly and big smile helps haha.

You will be fine on that route with the lay over of 2:55
. In my novice opinion at least.

Air tag was also nice when we got diverted on way home and added layovers and weather led to my luggage and luggage being at 2 different airports then the one where I landed lol…
Wasn’t United's fault- it was a crazy flying day with storms.

They have a link on their app to share your apple AirTag tracking with United and it can help them find your bags faster.

They shipped my gun to San Antonio (home) the next day and were very friendly. I liked my experience with United and I got to see how they handle miss haps.

Sorry for ramblin’

 

[Philip Glass]

Has anyone flown from Dulles to Windhoek going through Cape Town. United has booked me through Cape Town to Windhoek, Namibia. Anything I should know or pay attention to on this route. I will be traveling with guns so I know I need to get them permitted for the Airlink portion. Should I get them permitted with SAPS before arrival? How reliable is this flight? If I have to overnight what would be a good hotel? In all I’m trying to figure out what might go wrong and know how to fix it while I’m on this side of the pond. Thanks!

Sorry to say but United has been terribly unreliable. A friend and his sons were just messed over badly last month with two days in a row cancelled. Many similar reports out there. If you had used a TA your rifle, hotel and connections would be done. Airlink is good with rifles just has a fee.

 

[AZDAVE]

You will need to get a transition SAPS 520 approved, claim your rifles in Cape town and recheck them with airlink to Windhoek.

I hope everything goes well with your DYI approach.

 

[henandhunt]

You might consider flying from Germany direct to Windhoek bypassing South Africa. I think the problem is no one here really knows. They use to not make you recheck rifles for connecting flights elsewhere in Africa same day but appears sometimes they do now. You don’t know until you’re there sometimes. I like overnighting in Johannesburg. It gives some flexibility in case things come up.

Yeah I agree with you. Seems even if the final destination is Windhoek, you have to get transit/temporary import permit for firearms as passing through JNB, South Africa.

Makes considering going through Germany like you suggest more appealing....

Emirates Business Class was a much nicer experience than Lufthansa First Class even, so means I must decide which I care more about - the airline experience OR potential challenges with Middle East route plus staying overnight in JNB... sigh.

 

[wesheltonj]

Through JNB or CPT you will need to apply for a SAPS transit permit. If traveling through Frankfurt you need a transit permit.

 

[dchum]

Yeah I agree with you. Seems even if the final destination is Windhoek, you have to get transit/temporary import permit for firearms as passing through JNB, South Africa.

Makes considering going through Germany like you suggest more appealing....

Emirates Business Class was a much nicer experience than Lufthansa First Class even, so means I must decide which I care more about - the airline experience OR potential challenges with Middle East route plus staying overnight in JNB... sigh.

Going through Frankfurt airport you need paper work and it cost $$

Either way, going to Namibia at the moment looks like you will need some countries transit paper work. What ever route you choose. (I guess excluding flying Ethiopian?)

You used to not when Qatar did Doha direct to Windhoek. That was nice! Maybe they will fly the route again one day.

 

[Doug3006]

You might consider flying from Germany direct to Windhoek bypassing South Africa. I think the problem is no one here really knows. They use to not make you recheck rifles for connecting flights elsewhere in Africa same day but appears sometimes they do now. You don’t know until you’re there sometimes. I like overnighting in Johannesburg. It gives some flexibility in case things come up.

I flew Lufthansa from St. Louis to Frankfurt to Windhoek in April. It was a great experience. I’ve flown Emirates and Qatar before, and in no way does Lufthansa measure up to their level of service. However, flying on one airline means you can check your bags with Lufthansa in the states, and not touch your gun again until you get to Windhoek. The lie flat beds were fine, the food sucked like most airlines, but having just one layover was awesome.

 

[dchum]

I flew Lufthansa from St. Louis to Frankfurt to Windhoek in April. It was a great experience. I’ve flown Emirates and Qatar before, and in no way does Lufthansa measure up to their level of service. However, flying on one airline means you can check your bags with Lufthansa in the states, and not touch your gun again until you get to Windhoek. The lie flat beds were fine, the food sucked like most airlines, but having just one layover was awesome.

Funny enough United checked my luggage from Dallas to Windhoek through SA.