Vip service

[btheis13]

We'll be traveling without our own rifles and taking carry-on baggage only. Is there any reason to hire a vip service at Tambo?

Curious how customs is there and if a service expedites the process enough to make it worth it.

 

[Rare Breed]

With that being the case only matters if you mind standing in immigration line for 30 minutes. VIP takes you to the front of the line. Otherwise if you are experienced in getting around JNB which is not hard no need

 

[375Fox]

I wouldn’t. The question is how much is saving 20-30 minutes worth to you? and how confident of a traveler are you? Even when I travel with firearms I see no need to pay for VIP service to meet me off plane. Johannesburg is a modern airport and I don’t need the extra assistance.

 

[btheis13]

I'm confident, especially traveling domestic. International is a little more intimidating. 20-30 minutes isn't bad, just not wanting 2-3x that.

 

[JimP]

If your outfitter is meeting you in Joberg and is assisting you through SAP's I would say no.

If this is your first time and have a connecting flight I would say yes.

 

[Tgood1]

My experience different, first trip to sa I was in the cattle car line about 3.5 hours, in September, miserable. Next few trip i did vip and very happy about that decision. Last trip the vip gentleman made an airport employee run up the conveyer belt to get my bag so save even more time. Fantastic outfit and service

 

[Green Chile]

It depends on how you feel about your time and waiting in long lines. So you get off a 16 hour flight and you want to stand in line for who knows how long? Now I'm always traveling with checked bag and gun (s) so I use the services. Truthfully, I've never done that and wished I had my $100 back (or whatever I paid).

You never know where you will end up in the customs line but it's never been shorter than 30+ minutes and sometimes much longer. VIP is 5 min and I can't wait to move on to something else after that long ass flight in coach.

 

[375Fox]

It depends on how you feel about your time and waiting in long lines. So you get off a 16 hour flight and you want to stand in line for who knows how long? Now I'm always traveling with checked bag and gun (s) so I use the services. Truthfully, I've never done that and wished I had my $100 back (or whatever I paid).

You never know where you will end up in the customs line but it's never been shorter than 30+ minutes and sometimes much longer. VIP is 5 min and I can't wait to move on to something else after that long ass flight in coach.

Maybe it’s the time of year I usually go, but I usually get through customs before my bag makes it to the carousel.

 

[375er]

My vote is for YES. After that long flight the last thing you will want to do is stand in line.

 

[Green Chile]

That's pretty fast but I figured you were in the front of the plane. I'm back behind the rugby team returning home...and the crying baby behind that.

 

[375Fox]

That's pretty fast but I figured you were in the front of the plane. I'm back behind the rugby team returning home...and the crying baby behind that.

You’ll never see me pay for first or business class. I’ll pay for hunts but I will not pay for that. I sit in the back. My only demand to travel agent is that I be as far away from bathroom as possible. You’ll remember sitting in aisle seat next to bathroom forever after experiencing it once.

 

[TnKen]

I travelled to Johannesburg last July with checked luggage and no rifles. I did not use any service and made it through customs pretty quickly, in fact I waited for my luggage longer. We did get in at 9:00 pm, so I don’t know if that made a difference.
When I go next trip I will take my rifle and use a service.

 

[CAustin]

We'll be traveling without our own rifles and taking carry-on baggage only. Is there any reason to hire a vip service at Tambo?

Curious how customs is there and if a service expedites the process enough to make it worth it.

If you have connections absolutely yes! Things can move very slowly at Tambo sometimes. In 2024 coming in on AirLink from Namibia then going to Delta my time in passport control line was a little less than 2 hours due to an intentional work slow down. Never happened before but you never know.

 

[Green Chile]

You’ll never see me pay for first or business class. I’ll pay for hunts but I will not pay for that. I sit in the back. My only demand to travel agent is that I be as far away from bathroom as possible. You’ll remember sitting in aisle seat next to bathroom forever after experiencing it once.

I get in a window seat somewhere and only get up once in 16 hours.

 

[375er]

I get in a window seat somewhere and only get up once in 16 hours.

You are taking a huge risk with blood clots doing that. Moving is good thing.

 

[dogcat1]

I travelled the world for business for 20 years and have made many many trips to Asia, Europe, Africa and other non-US places. I always try to have a meet and greet service - with or without guns. It is most needed in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt, Russia, and RSA. Pakistan airports are chaos as well.
Money very well spent!

 

[wesheltonj]

That depends on your time of arrival into JNB. My BA flight when they were just starting the bio-metric crap, it took about three hours to make it thru the line. My Qatar flight, which arrives first, I went thru the line faster then the VIP folks and beat them to the SAPS office. Unfortunately, SAPS gives priority to the pre-approved permit holders.

 

[Red Leg]

I always use whatever VIP or similar service is available when I travel with a firearm internationally. I should note I have been flying internationally through two careers and personal travel for fifty years. My time is valuable, the cost compared to the expense of the trip is miniscule, and the resulting absence of aggravation is invaluable.

 

[Sabre]

Are people booking the VIP meet and greet and skip to the front of customs/immigration line separate from the gun permit person? If so who and where are you booking that with?

I have used Gilbert to get my rifle permits through and I have met him near the SAPS office after going through all the customs and stuff on my own.

 

[Pablo]

Yes, it is different. VIP guys meet you when you step off the plane and take you through customs. They then hand you off to your rifle permit guy if you use one.