Update from South African Air NEW FEES

[Terry Blauwkamp]

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.

Do you mean the little lady in the back room at ORT who signs your guns in? She's OK, known her for years.

 

[superdutch]

Do you mean the little lady in the back room at ORT who signs your guns in? She's OK, known her for years.

No, I wasn't in Namibia, I was initially referencing the ticketing agent in PE, and comparing her to every South African police officer in a gun registration office I ever met.

 

[enysse]

As a whole if people stopped all together tipping people for doing there job in the airport check-ins there would be less problems. It’s almost become a hostage situation with people seeking money to do their job....and if you don’t tip and your gun disappears what do you do? For me this is “real negative to hunting in Africa”.

 

[SheHunter]

Hi Dennis, the way I understand, it's $100 for the international flight (no extra for refuel stop) and then $30 for flights within South Africa and $60 for regional flights (Zimbabwe, Namibia, etc.) and this is per direction of travel. I'm not sure we have had anyone subjected to these fees yet as tickets were all purchased before May 15th when this went into effect. Hope this helps!

Any news, or advice, on two hunters putting both their rifles in just one case? Wondering if the airlines will require that we each have our own case, since we have seperate registration of firearm, even though we are a married couple with same last name.

 

[PeteG]

Update from South African Air: they will now charge a firearm handling fee at check-in PER SAA FLIGHT for tickets purchased after May 15, 2019.

Within South Africa USD 30
Within Africa USD 60
International USD 100

See the full details on their website https://www.flysaa.com/…/ba…/checked-baggage/special-baggage

does this apply in the SA airlink and SA Express flights as well?

 

[superdutch]

Any news, or advice, on two hunters putting both their rifles in just one case? Wondering if the airlines will require that we each have our own case, since we have seperate registration of firearm, even though we are a married couple with same last name.

You won't need separate cases. In fact if it we me, (assuming you are American) I might put both rifles on one of you and save a little hassle in the gun room.

 

[GuttormG]

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.

Wouldn't the "most significant carrier"-rules govern this?

 

[SheHunter]

You won't need separate cases. In fact if it we me, (assuming you are American) I might put both rifles on one of you and save a little hassle in the gun room.

Thanks for the reply : We are flying from Denver through New York & JoBurg to Namibia early Sept. ( Jet-Blue & SAA) We are already set up with each having separate registration papers, just as we have done on previous visits to Namibia: We have always declared each/own rifles, ammo, scopes, cameras etc etc, but carried both our rifles in one case. We use a SKB hard-shell golf case. Just got concerned that we might run into snags, with all the new pressure on hunters traveling with firearms. Luckily we bought our tickets before the new fees went into effect, hopefully we don't get hassled over that.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Thanks for the reply : We are flying from Denver through New York & JoBurg to Namibia early Sept. ( Jet-Blue & SAA) We are already set up with each having separate registration papers, just as we have done on previous visits to Namibia: We have always declared each/own rifles, ammo, scopes, cameras etc etc, but carried both our rifles in one case. We use a SKB hard-shell golf case. Just got concerned that we might run into snags, with all the new pressure on hunters traveling with firearms. Luckily we bought our tickets before the new fees went into effect, hopefully we don't get hassled over that.

Save yourself a possible headache and put both rifles on the same 4457. There's no need to do it any other way.

 

[Philip Glass]

200 from the USA round trip.

I've wondered how many safari bound fliers are dumping Delta and SAA and using Qatar and Emirates.

I seriously considered it for this years Safari to Namibia. The long 9 hour layover is Doha basically made the decision for me. I will look at the Arab carriers next time I am headed to Southern Africa solo as I’d attempt to get a business class seat that is cost prohibitive on Delta.
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

I do prefer using my own, but sadly it's getting to be a lot cheaper and easier to rent. This fee is $100, each way. Now add a rifle permit cost (?), And extra baggage fees ($100-200+ each way) for your rifle. On the low end that's over $400+. It's adding up.

Yes but how much does the Safari cost? This is all a pain but it is just the way it is and a small % of the total Safari cost. Y’all know I’m a big proponent of taking your own gun on safari
Philip

 

[Desert Dog]

I've wondered how many safari bound fliers are dumping Delta and SAA and using Qatar and Emirates.

Count me as one of them. The level of service on Emirates is 100000 times better than SAA, and the flights are cheaper from my home airport. Matter of fact, I have been completely avoiding South Africa all together. Its sad nowadays that things run smoother and more organized in Zambia and Zimbabwe than in RSA.

 

[Areaonereal]

Just booked...easy...Qatar to Windhoek for next June with Lori. I am done with the Delta cattle car economy discomfort premium pricing...booked business class out of ORD for about 1 k more than Delta economy discomfort+. At my age and time in life bargains don’t seem like bargains when you are squeezed into a seat built for a 135 lb girl. The SAA fee was the straw that broke the camels back for me. Just the principal of it all. ATL to Joberg, overnite and then clearing rifle and ammo again, tip again and on to WDH. If I can not afford the extra 1 k for business, then I can not afford the hunt and should stay home and go squirrel hunting...(have not hunted squirrels in 50 years).

 

[Neale]

Just wondering if anyone has travelled lately on SAA and can give an update on how the fees are collected.
I am flying Australia to Zimbabwe via Johannesburg all with SAA.

 

[gillettehunter]

They want cash. Were not able to use my credit card. This was last Sept.
Bruce

 

[ianevans]

BA's fees depend on the country of origin.
It was less than the SAA fees last time I flew.
Who knows, maybe they upped their fees as well.

BA charged me£259 from Glasgow via LHR to Jo'berg and £300 for return journey

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Ouch! Thanks for the update!

Glad I already purchased for this years trip from SAA!

I did my hunt last year Sept-oct with SA air.
Worst airliner I have ever flown with
I paid for an emergency row SEAT for the extra leg room, I'm 6 and a half foot an 250# so need this SEAT.
At the last minute they changed planes and stuffed up seating. I did end up with a slightly bigger SEAT than cattle class but not what I paid for.
In Perth Western Australia I was charged one price for handling my gun case but ammo could be in my suitcase.
Returning from Namibia the handling prices were different cheaper fortunately but ammo had to be wrapped and sent as a separate item.
I found the experience with them to be very frustrating

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Just wondering if anyone has travelled lately on SAA and can give an update on how the fees are collected.
I am flying Australia to Zimbabwe via Johannesburg all with SAA.

Neale
Check out my post mate re SA air

 

[Hogpatrol]

I did my hunt last year Sept-oct with SA air.
Worst airliner I have ever flown with
I paid for an emergency row SEAT for the extra leg room, I'm 6 and a half foot an 250# so need this SEAT.
At the last minute they changed planes and stuffed up seating. I did end up with a slightly bigger SEAT than cattle class but not what I paid for.
In Perth Western Australia I was charged one price for handling my gun case but ammo could be in my suitcase.
Returning from Namibia the handling prices were different cheaper fortunately but ammo had to be wrapped and sent as a separate item.
I found the experience with them to be very frustrating

Last time I took them from Dulles to Joburg, and we stopped in Dakar, they wanted dozens of passengers to change seats for the remaining leg. They can't even keep track of which tickets are sold for what seat.

There's only one word for SAA, unprofessional.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Last time I took them from Dulles to Joburg, and we stopped in Dakar, they wanted dozens of passengers to change seats for the remaining leg. They can't even keep track of which tickets are sold for what seat.

There's only one word for SAA, unprofessional.

Hog patrol
That is being nice to them
I don't think they could organise a booze up in a brewery.
Or
They couldn't organise a root in a brothel with a fist full of fifties