Update from South African Air NEW FEES

[Ryan]

I'm in Alaska. It's a time and money thing. No idea where Qatar works, hasn't really been an option.

So it's either take Condor over to Frankfurt and Lufthansa or SAA down to RSA, or add several hours and go down to Seattle then either Lufthansa or Condor to Frankfurt, etc. Or across to the East Coast and whomever from there, again adding a lot of flying time. Condor wasn't bad for my bow last year, I think $100, and SAA didn't charge much extra to the East Cape. But Lufthansa got me for over $200 coming back from Cape Town to Frankfurt. They got ya behind the 8 ball sometimes.

Time to look for alternative airlines it seems.

 

[GuttormG]

I have used Ethiopian Airlines the last two trips to Namibia. Apart from an apparently pointless check of our firearms in baggage transfer in the bowels of Addis Ababa airport it was all ok.
Their pricing is very attractive also. The food in cattle class was mundane.

Considering flying Ethiopian for my next trip. With a bit of planning/flexibiliti one travels in business for same fares as other airlines premium economy.

 

[jeff]

I'm in Alaska. It's a time and money thing. No idea where Qatar works, hasn't really been an option.

So it's either take Condor over to Frankfurt and Lufthansa or SAA down to RSA, or add several hours and go down to Seattle then either Lufthansa or Condor to Frankfurt, etc. Or across to the East Coast and whomever from there, again adding a lot of flying time. Condor wasn't bad for my bow last year, I think $100, and SAA didn't charge much extra to the East Cape. But Lufthansa got me for over $200 coming back from Cape Town to Frankfurt. They got ya behind the 8 ball sometimes.

Ryan why did you have to pay extra for your bow, was it because of oversize or was it a extra bag ? I've flown Delta, SAA, British Airways and Emirates and have always been able to check my bow as a one of my pieces of luggage.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Considering flying Ethiopian for my next trip. With a bit of planning/flexibiliti one travels in business for same fares as other airlines premium economy.

I would reconsider Ethiopian. They're the one that augured in a 737Max with a right seat guy that had low pilot time.

 

[Ryan]

Extra bag. Both Condor and Lufthansa only gave me one free. So if you get two, no problems. I don't recall SAA charging me yo Port Elizabeth. I came back straight from Cape town and Lufthansa got me and every Triathelete with a bike and a bag leaving then for over $200. Basically I add $300-400 on my budget beyond the regular ticket charge anymore for all those lovely fees.

Ryan why did you have to pay extra for your bow, was it because of oversize or was it a extra bag ? I've flown Delta, SAA, British Airways and Emirates and have always been able to check my bow as a one of my pieces of luggage.

 

[jeff]

Thanks Ryan!

 

[Ryan]

Extra bag. Both Condor and Lufthansa only gave me one free. So if you get two, no problems. I don't recall SAA charging me yo Port Elizabeth. I came back straight from Cape town and Lufthansa got me and every Triathelete with a bike and a bag leaving then for over $200. Basically I add $300-400 on my budget beyond the regular ticket charge anymore for all those lovely fees.

Ryan why did you have to pay extra for your bow, was it because of oversize or was it a extra bag ? I've flown Delta, SAA, British Airways and Emirates and have always been able to check my bow as a one of my pieces of luggage.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Extra bag. Both Condor and Lufthansa only gave me one free. So if you get two, no problems. I don't recall SAA charging me yo Port Elizabeth. I came back straight from Cape town and Lufthansa got me and every Triathelete with a bike and a bag leaving then for over $200. Basically I add $300-400 on my budget beyond the regular ticket charge anymore for all those lovely fees.

Time to spare, take to the air, QATAR roundtrip Anchorage to JNB via Alaska to Chicago then Qatar to Joburg, and back home, less than $1500

 

[Ryan]

Huh, thanks. Something to consider in the future. Too much going on here for the next couple years.

Time to spare, take to the air, QATAR roundtrip Anchorage to JNB via Alaska to Chicago then Qatar to Joburg, and back home, less than $1500

 

[markm]

I would reconsider Ethiopian. They're the one that augured in a 737Max with a right seat guy that had low pilot time.

For some reason that airline just doesnt seem to fit

 

[broncolcj]

Meh, the entire global airline industry is scraping for money all over the place.

 

[Markopolo50]

We traveled from Detroit to Chicago with Delta, then on to Dubai with Emirates. Dubai to Johannesburg with Emirates, then SAA to Victoria Falls. No extra charge. However on the return flight, SAA surprised us with a $100 per gun fee to fly from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg. We both had 2 guns each so the dinged us for $400. Our PH was shocked and we did use a well known travel agent that should have known that. The crew taking our money asked if we wanted to sit down while they fumbled with their computers and paperwork, the woman asked if we wanted to sit down. Our PH said, "no we like to stand when we are getting robbed"! That was pretty funny afterwards but we dared not laugh right then. I paid with credit card and they had to use an old fashioned machine. It was the kind that uses a two piece carbon paper and gets the numbers from the embossing on the card, and they swipe a roller over the card. Luckily my American Express had the raised numbers as some cards don't anymore.

I will say Emirates airline was very good.

 

[Terry Blauwkamp]

Lori:

What about when you fly United to IAD, when do you pay SAA? and will United still transfer gun case to SAA?

Or make you pick it up in IAD to pay the fees?

Thanks

 

[superdutch]

I was in SA June 1 to June 10 hunting with Tollie's African Safaris in the East Cape. I had purchased my tickets months before the trip. I flew Delta 200 from Atlanta, overnighted in Joberg, then flew SAA the next day to Port Elizabeth, at no point was I asked to pay for the rifle. On the return flight, the SAA agent in PE made me leave the check in line, go to the ticket purchasing window and pay the $30 for handling the rifle. They operation was NOT streamlined. They weren't sure how to do it and spent several minutes typing, asking others and looking through binders, ultimately they printed out about 6 sheets of paper, gave me one that indicated payment, then I had to go back to the check in line where I showed the paper and they accepted the rifle. Fortunately I had plenty of time and the airport wasn't busy, but it could have been a mess had the lines been longer.

 

[Markopolo50]

Lori:

What about when you fly United to IAD, when do you pay SAA? and will United still transfer gun case to SAA?

Or make you pick it up in IAD to pay the fees?

Thanks

I did not fly United. Emirates to Dubai, then Emirates to Johannesburg, SAA to Victoria Falls. The only fees were charged when we were leaving Victoria Falls airport on the way home. And that was just to Johannesburg, so I call that domestic. Anyway, we all thought it was a ripoff.

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

I was in SA June 1 to June 10 hunting with Tollie's African Safaris in the East Cape. I had purchased my tickets months before the trip. I flew Delta 200 from Atlanta, overnighted in Joberg, then flew SAA the next day to Port Elizabeth, at no point was I asked to pay for the rifle. On the return flight, the SAA agent in PE made me leave the check in line, go to the ticket purchasing window and pay the $30 for handling the rifle. They operation was NOT streamlined. They weren't sure how to do it and spent several minutes typing, asking others and looking through binders, ultimately they printed out about 6 sheets of paper, gave me one that indicated payment, then I had to go back to the check in line where I showed the paper and they accepted the rifle. Fortunately I had plenty of time and the airport wasn't busy, but it could have been a mess had the lines been longer.

superdutch - If your tickets were purchased before May 15th then you should not have had to pay any firearm handling fees.....

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

Lori:

What about when you fly United to IAD, when do you pay SAA? and will United still transfer gun case to SAA?

Or make you pick it up in IAD to pay the fees?

Thanks

Hi Terry, I'm not positive how they are handling this because it's all so new. I don't believe that United will collect the fees for SAA as they may not even be aware of the charges since it's not their policy. I would assume that SAA will hit you up for it at some point, maybe when you get your boarding passes for the SAA flight.

 

[superdutch]

superdutch - If your tickets were purchased before May 15th then you should not have had to pay any firearm handling fees.....

Exactly! However, try to tell that to the lady who won't let you on the plane home! Kind of like the police officer asking for a tip in the gun registration room - all you can do it pay it and keep your trip on track.

 

[JimP]

Exactly! However, try to tell that to the lady who won't let you on the plane home! Kind of like the police officer asking for a tip in the gun registration room - all you can do it pay it and keep your trip on track.

And then file a complaint with SAA about the overcharge since you purchased your tickets before the cut off date.

 

[Terry Blauwkamp]

Lori:

OK, thanks, sort of what I suspected, as I'm sure it will be an adventure finding out.