I'm taking my youngest daughter for 2 weeks of hunting and fishing next June. I want to go direct into Windhoek. Right now the plan is Houston to Amsterdam to Windhoek on KLM. I'm in Austin, so will fly a separate route to Houston.

Any other good direct routes on friendly airlines?

Why don't you look at maybe Austin to Atl (Southwest Air or Delta)
Delta direct from Atl to Joberg (lands at around 5:30 pm in Joberg)..then either right into Windhoek (would Arrive at like 10pm) or you stay at Afton Guest House that night in Joberg and onto Windhoek in the AM?

This would likely be the shortest and maybe cheapest route. Nothing to my knowledge goes direct from US to Windhoek but it's a very easy "hop" from Joberg (and you clear your guns in Namibia if you go same day)

IAH to Windhoek on Qatar.

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
IAH to Windhoek on Qatar.

Qatar is a good price...but it's a 32+ hour itinerary it appears. emirates has similar options with top notch service but with the same linger itinerary

Just my opinion, but given these trips are already very long...I always opted for cutting as many hours off the journey as possible
One thing I like about that Atlanta flight is they intentionally leave in the evening so you can hopefully sleep 8 of the 16 hours on the direct flight...

Didn't Delta ban shipping the Big Five?

quote:

Originally posted by Poyntman:

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
IAH to Windhoek on Qatar.

Qatar is a good price...but it's a 32+ hour itinerary it appears. emirates has similar options with top notch service but with the same linger itinerary

Just my opinion, but given these trips are already very long...I always opted for cutting as many hours off the journey as possible
One thing I like about that Atlanta flight is they intentionally leave in the evening so you can hopefully sleep 8 of the 16 hours on the direct flight...

With Qatar, no JNB layover or transfer. On both Delta and Emirates you have to transfer and/or layover in JNB

Given a viable option, I'd bypass J'burg every time too.

Air Namibia flies from Frankfort to Windhoek.
What about Lufthansa (or other) to Frankfort from Houston?

quote:

Originally posted by vlwtx348:
Air Namibia flies from Frankfort to Windhoek.
What about Lufthansa (or other) to Frankfort from Houston?

The big problem with this, IMO, is that Air Namibia is involved. They showed us how clueless they are last August in Windhoek, coming home.

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:

quote:

Originally posted by Poyntman:

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
IAH to Windhoek on Qatar.

Qatar is a good price...but it's a 32+ hour itinerary it appears. emirates has similar options with top notch service but with the same linger itinerary

Just my opinion, but given these trips are already very long...I always opted for cutting as many hours off the journey as possible
One thing I like about that Atlanta flight is they intentionally leave in the evening so you can hopefully sleep 8 of the 16 hours on the direct flight...

With Qatar, no JNB layover or transfer. On both Delta and Emirates you have to transfer and/or layover in JNB

Yes sir...this is true. I've gone through JNB I think 7 times. If you go through same day you don't have to clear firearms and you have about a 2.5 hr layover to get through etc.
I went KLM once in Amsterdam and it was OK too but they did not get my gun case through even with a five hour layover)
If you book straight through to SAAir or Air Namibia this shouldn't be too much of an issue but it is a valid point. One tip I have found...when You recheck into your next leg make SURE the representative checks your luggage tags to see they get to your flight (meaning gun cases don't simply go get moved properly. Twice I've had my guns not make it the same day)

I guess at the end of the day it's all a balance between price, travel time, and convenience right? Either way it's a crap shoot to some extent

I've never flown on Air Namibia but I've heard nothing but bad things about that airline. I've been to Namibia twice and I was advised by both outfitters to avoid Air Namibia. Seems like cancelled and severly delayed flights are the norm with them.

I've flown to Windhoek four times in the last five years. In 2012 and 2013, I flew through Frankfort. I stopped doing that for 3 reasons: 1) Air Namibia decided to charge $100 US each way for a gun box; 2) The city of Frankfort decided you needed a special Frankfort Gun Permit, even though you never took possession of your gun and were just in transit. You had to wire transfer the funds, which my bank (Chase) charges $75.00 for, plus the cost of the permit; 3) Air Namibia is notorious for canceling flights or delaying flights due to poor maintenance. It's a national airline and is losing hundreds of millions of $ per year due to the incompetence of the political appointees running it. In 2015 and 2017, I took British Airways from ORD to LHR to Joberg to WDH. To avoid hassles with US TSA and Customs, I decided to use my PH's camp rifles, a Mauser 8 X 68 and a Ruger 77 in .308, both topped by fine Leupold scopes. To avoid the baggage thievery in Joberg, I packed everything in a Red Oxx carryon bag. I'm able to waltz through Customs in LHR, Joberg and WDH and they can't loae a bag I carry on. British Airways offers great rates when booking direct- I paid $1225 all in roundtrip.

Austin Hunter,

Why not let one of the travel agents that specialize in Africa and traveling with guns handle it. Tell them your requirements, they'll give you options and if you let them they'll make the whole experience as seamless as possible. I like Gracy Travel but Travel with Guns gets good reviews as well as Kathy Klimes.

Mark

My travel agent recommended Houston to Amsterdam to Windhoek. It's a bit expensive, but the best comfort for the $$$.

My quick search shows Qatar in coach the cheapest. and Business BA thru JNB, with Qatar $600 more. Premium Eco BA is the cheapest, but no gun on BA between JNB and Windheok. Not including air or drive from AUS to IAH.

ITA Matrix is your friend.

https://matrix.itasoftware.com

If you do the Delta Flight out of Atlanta to JNB you need to give yourself and extra day for the connection to Windheok. They may have changed the time on the last flight but two hours is not enough time.