My PH at SCI strongly recommended Germany, saying clients are losing luggage 3-4 days most of the time thru South Africa.

Are other people hearing this and recommending this idea as well?

Thanks
Seeker

yup

quote:

Originally posted by seeker:
My PH at SCI strongly recommended Germany, saying clients are losing luggage 3-4 days most of the time thru South Africa.

Are other people hearing this and recommending this idea as well?

Thanks
Seeker

Hey Seeker,

If you are going to Windhoek, you most definitely should fly there directly via Frankfurt. You'll bybass the Joburg rifle stuff.

Just remember, you will have a 6-10 hour layover in Frankfurt. They have "day-rooms" available that have showers so you can relax and freshen up before the next 10 hour flight.

I personally am leaning more towards that way in send clients into Namibia. I am not happy with South African Airlines. I have had too many complaints about damaged equipment, lost bags and terrible service.

seeker, at least 8 out of ten of my hunters hunters had some problems with their luggage/ rifles flying through Jhb in 2007.

I've done both routes and can highly recommend the Frankfurt route.

I have done it both ways and the Frankfurt route is the ONLY way to go. The day room, the rest and being able to check the bags from your hometown straight to Windhoek is awesome. No reason to do anything else!!

PS The straight thru bag check is available on Delta, United/Lufthansa I know but not on American. Have your travel agent make sure the airline you choose has this agreement with Air Namibia.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Hello Seeker,
I have flown the SAA route only once (in 2006) but I don't recommend it. My carry on and gun case arrived with me in Windhoek, but the bag containing my boots, ammo and the rest of my clothing and gear didn't show up for two days. So I hunted two days in borrowed boots with a borrowed rifle. (Fortunately I had stashed one set of hunting clothes in my carry on). I didn't like the SAA planes either, I don't know what kind they were, but the seats were really small and uncomfortable, and I'm not a big guy, only 5'6".

I chose the Frankfurt route for my trip last June. Was please with it. Checked the baggage all the way through (Delta/Air Namibia) to Windhoek and it all made it there the same time we did.

Sure, you'll have an all-day layover in Frankfurt, but that's far better (and cheaper) than having to overnight in Joburg. Your Frankfurt layover is all in the daylight and there's plenty to see in downtown Frankfurt. Many people do get a dayroom, but we felt it was better to stay active through the day to help adapt to the time change and also promote better sleep on the long overnight from FRA to WDH.

I'll hope to do it exactly the same way the next time I go.

I have only done the London Windhoek route. I will say that this is completely un workable if you are travelling with firearms.

If traveling from North America I would fly through Denver then on to Frankfurt then do the day room thing and on to Windhoek.

All the seats on Lufthansa are good. However all the seats on Namib air are horrible.

If possible make sure your overnighter is on Lufthansa as well.

Has anybody who has gone from Dulles International (Washington, D.C.) to Windhoek via Johannesburg ever gotten through without any problems with lost luggage or firearms?

Does anyone have anything good to say about South African Airways?

Unfortunately I'm booked IAD - JNB - WDH, leaving 8 March. I'm already apprehensive about the trip as I normally go to Windhoek via Frankfurt on Air Namibia. I'll let you all know how it goes for me when I return in late March.

Namibiahunter

I noticed everyone who flew through Johanesberg flew on SAA, how about those going with Delta and connecting with Namibian Airways up on Windhoek. Have they faired well. I was planning on going to Johanesberg by Delta and laying over for a while then going up to Namibia. Has anyone done that or what problems would I be running into.

Although Delta does all that it can to make the trip from Atl to Joburg bearable, it is a miserable flight. Actual time in the air is about the same as flying from Atl to Frankfurt to Windhoek.

The flight to Frankfurt is overnight which helps with adjusting your internal clock. Spending the day at the Holiday Inn Express is an inexpensive way to get some serious rest, a shower or two, and there is the most wonderful Gasthaus right across the street you've ever seen. Their pork schnitzel with German green salad and washed down with some excellent German beer just gets one in the mode for Namibia (formerly Germany Southwest Africa.) The cost was about $300 more, and you'd a part of that for help getting your guns thru customs, import, export in Joburg. Lastly, you arrive in the morning in Windhoek, which gives the entire day to get where you are going and adjust some more.

It is a no brainer-Frankfurt to Windhoek. Kudude

We have flown Dulles-joberg-windhoek twice. once baggage was 3 days late, next time everything arrived. We never have RON in joberg: connecting flights to both windhoek and harare left the same day we arrived joberg

"I noticed everyone who flew through Johanesberg flew on SAA, how about those going with Delta and connecting with Namibian Airways up on Windhoek. Have they faired well. I was planning on going to Johanesberg by Delta and laying over for a while then going up to Namibia. Has anyone done that or what problems would I be running into."

I flew Delta from Atlanta to Jo'Burg last May, overnighted there, and then took SAA to Windhoek. I had no problems until the trip back, when I was charged an overweight baggage charge by SAA in Windhoek for a bag I knew was well under the 50-pound limit. I have no complaints about Delta, except that I couldn't get an upgrade to business class with my frequent flyer miles. Time from Tucson to JNB, counting ground time in Atlanta, was a bit over 23 hours.

Bill Quimby

I also have done both and highly recommend going thru Fra and always avoid Jnb at all cost when able. Maybe Windhoek will supplant Jnb as the gateway to southern Africa especially with the decline of SAA.

quote:

Maybe Windhoek will supplant Jnb as the gateway to southern Africa especially with the decline of SAA.

That would seem a no-brainer, but then airlines aren't famous for logic. Most jumbo jets can make it from the U.S. East Coast to WDH without stopping to refuel in Dakar, since WDH is about two hours closer than JNB. It makes a lot more sense to make WDH the first stop in Africa rather than Dakar, then the flight could continue on to JNB or Capetown. The travelers going to South Africa would get there just a quickly, and the travelers to WDH would get there A LOT quicker.

Go via Frankfurt, get a day room, we took quick trip into Frankfurt for lunch, look about, short nap, then on to Air Namibia, LOOOONG line, all went OK, decent night flight. Used milage for upgrade on IAH-ATL-FRA and return...worth the advance planning and full fare economy ticket.... handled by Gracy who I reccomend (don't do it yourself).

Thanks for all the input. I'll take the Frankfurt route.

Seeker

I did the Delta route through Dulles /Joberg / Windhoek in April '07 without any problems. I've had far worse trips to RSA.
Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

quote:

Maybe Windhoek will supplant Jnb as the gateway to southern Africa especially with the decline of SAA.

That would seem a no-brainer, but then airlines aren't famous for logic. Most jumbo jets can make it from the U.S. East Coast to WDH without stopping to refuel in Dakar, since WDH is about two hours closer than JNB. It makes a lot more sense to make WDH the first stop in Africa rather than Dakar, then the flight could continue on to JNB or Capetown. The travelers going to South Africa would get there just a quickly, and the travelers to WDH would get there A LOT quicker.

I have given a bit of thought to starting just such a flight on a charter basis. The issue, apart from landing rights, is the lack of off-season demand and the high capacity of the widebody aircraft.

Anyone else think this is a good idea? Want to put up $100K in risk money? The first half dozen flights will most likely lose money.

We are looking for a day room in Frankfurt. Looks like the Sheraton is actually located at the airport but they want $209.00 bucks for a day room! And that's their "Intenet Special". A bit rich for a 3 star hotel.

Anyone else have any recommendations?

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould

I have given a bit of thought to starting just such a flight on a charter basis. The issue, apart from landing rights, is the lack of off-season demand and the high capacity of the widebody aircraft.

Anyone else think this is a good idea? Want to put up $100K in risk money? The first half dozen flights will most likely lose money.

The idea of an Africa hunters' air charter had been brought up on this forum, I think, last year. I think it's a great idea as long as the initial port of entry is Windhoek, or some place other than in South Africa.

The chartered aircraft does not necessarily have to be wide-bodied high capacity, but it should be long-ranged, transatlantic capable. A Gulfstream Aerospace II, III, or IV would be my idea of the way to fly.

I guess we can dream.

Namibiahunter

DC,

Try the Holiday Inn Express. Only 10 mins away from the airport and about $70 with the shuttle service. There's also a great Italian restaurant within walking distance. I was able to make room reservations online and the service was great.

Thanks elkfitter. I will check them out.