This probably belongs in African Travel but I thought I might get more responses here.

Anyone taken these flights (Delta Flights 34 and 35)? Has a 1 1/2 hr layover in the middle of the night in Dakar. Yoff airport has been described as one of the world's worst. Is the stop just a refueling stop and one can stay on the plane? Experiences?

Thanks,
Andy

Well if the Delta flight is like SAA flights then you won't get off the plane in Dakar. They refuel, a few people get on, a few get off, and then they spray the plane with insecticide and you're off to Jo'burg.

I'll let you know in 3 weeks. I am on those flights July 3-4 and again on July 20.

I flew the original JFK/DAKAR/JHB some years ago and it was atrocious, mainly due to the passengers out of New York. Heads unuseable within an hour, general poor behaviour - bloody awful! One of my worst experiences ever.

Once they all got off in Dakar the leg to Joburg was fine.

As I say the main problem was the standard of passenger, hope you will escape that out of Atlanta.

quote:

Originally posted by PSmith:
Well if the Delta flight is like SAA flights then you won't get off the plane in Dakar. They refuel, a few people get on, a few get off, and then they spray the plane with insecticide and you're off to Jo'burg.

This was the routine on my flight as well.

I flew that route this past september. We arrived in Dakar in the middle of the night. A few people got off and a few got on but the rest of the passengers were not allowed off the plane. Dakar sent an inpection team aboard that checked all seat cushions and overhead storage. The stop took about 2 hrs.

We just flew it 3 weeks ago.

Same as mentioned above. The flight over was an hour stop, the way back was nearly 2 hours.

You can't get off, just grin and bear it. It sure beats walking.

Here's been my experiences. You don't get off the plane unless you are a disembarking passenger in Dakar, or your plane ticket is screwed up. (You don't want to be either of the above). You sit on the plane and talk with other passengers (as the lights are on the whole time), as the old flight crew leaves and the new flight crew comes on board. You then have the search team come through and check all carry-ons to make sure that they are connected to a passenger, and they search the entire plane, including pulling up each seat cover and looking in the overhead bins. They then spray the plane with some disinfectant, and once the plane is refueled and the new crew in place, you're off again.

Use Enough Gun nailed it.

If you're like most and take a sleeping pill before you depart the Dakar stop becomes even more interesting. Just part of the theater of traveling to Africa. It's over before you know it.

Thanks everyone. Your replies are most helpful.

Andy

I don't know if that "carry-on" bag check is supposed to happen each and every time or not. When Jim and I flew from Atlanta to Jo'burg in 2006 the stop in Dakar did NOT include a security check. (I was not sleeping or intoxicated at the time so I didn’t “miss†it.) However, on the way back to the US the stop in Dakar staff did conduct a security sweep of the plane.

I wondered about the missing security check since in 2005 we had security checks in Dakar both times we stopped, to Africa and back. I thought maybe they become only worried about flights that were US bound.

And the insecticide they spray at the Dakar stop to kill any mosquitoes that may have boarded is HORRIFIC. Trapped in a metal tube breathing a thick fog of mist that is capable of taking life (be it only insect) can't be good for any life.

Since I am terrified of flying and potential inhalant carcinogens, I find that the non-stop overnight flight from Dulles to Jo'burg suits me better. I stay up a day or so before departure and sleep through more than half of the 15 hour flight.

I did it in May it is just a tech stop you don't get off the plane.

And yes they do a security check both ways and yes they spray you down with insecticide just like they do at every international tech stop on the planet.
Yes it is a long cramped miserable flight but the service is no better or worse than most airlines today.

Sue, I'm pretty sure they don't do a security check if no one leaves the plane at Dakar. If anyone gets off they do a security check to make sure they didn't leave any unwanted luggage (bombs) on the plane.

I'm leaving tomorrow for my first South African hunt out of JFK. Talk about anxiety before a trip, man am I stressing. Now to read this. I just wish I could blink my eyes and be in JoBurg and all my stuff arriving with me.

I was on this flight last year. You do not get off the plane - in fact you can darn near sleep through it. The re fuel and take on a few folks and get out of there. No worries.

Just did this on the Cape Town route Delta via Dakkar. Just as described, we stayed on the plane, the Dakkar folk came through and made sure all carry on was accounted for, looked under all the cushions, and did a brief spray. I slept through almost all of it on the way back. No big deal. Bob

It's a terrible flight. The Airbus is not a true intercontinental plane or it could make it the whole way without stopping for gas.

I will be stopping in Dakar.I asked for an isle seat.The flight won't be that bad if I consider the alternative-work.It should be fun,especially if there are other AR members on board to have a drink or two and throw the bull.

Ain't no way you can call that flight fun. It's one of the worst commutes in the world. Period.

That bad eh?

I flew Dulles to Joberg in May on an airbus with SAA and it didn't stop on the way over but did on the return flight. I agree that flight and the airbus suck big time. The only thing that helps is sleeping pills.

Will give you my 2 cents worth in 2 wks. We leave tomorrow. Indy to Atlanta to JHB, on Delta. Although, I didn't think it was an airbus. Thought it was a 767/300?

Mad Dog

I think it is a 767/400...I leave the 19th from ATL.

I'm going to find out on the 12th.

It is a Boeing 767-400. My next door neighbor's son-in-law, whom I hunt with, works for Delta and does the maintenance on it. He told me it is a new plane that Delta purchased when they opened the ATL-JNB route a couple of years ago. We're taking the same flight in September.

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
Ain't no way you can call that flight fun. It's one of the worst commutes in the world. Period.

The Atlanta-Johannesburg flights that stopped for refueling in Ilha do Sal in the Cape Verde islands were about the same. Just an ordeal that couldn't end soon enough.

No disinfectant spraying though, as I recall. Wonder what they're worried about in Dakar or points beyond?

I got back about a week ago having used the atl - joburg flight. As Ivan said; one hour on the ground on the way over, two on the way back. Security was diligent in matching up baggage with passingers and searching the seats. No one was allowed off except those ticketed for Dakar and those transferring to the JFK flight. Three years ago SA got through Ile De Sol quicker. Long flight and full up. If you can spring for business class do so, it's expensive but worth it.

Anyone taking the SAA flight on July 11th to Joburg? I've never had any luck talking with the stewards about hunting!!!

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
Ain't no way you can call that flight fun. It's one of the worst commutes in the world. Period.

The Atlanta-Johannesburg flights that stopped for refueling in Ilha do Sal in the Cape Verde islands were about the same. Just an ordeal that couldn't end soon enough.

No disinfectant spraying though, as I recall. Wonder what they're worried about in Dakar or points beyond?

Who knows? Africa...

Several years ago before SAA went to hell, I flew a 747-200 on a cargo contract for SAA. We used to commute in from Miami to pick the airplane up in JNB before they moved the southeast departure point to ATL. We always got business class, so it wasn't bad. And we stopped in Sal.

Now that the blacks have taken over SAA, they've blown off the Portuguese and are landing in Dakar. Guess there are some insects in Dakar they don't want in RSA, and definitely in the US, but like surestrike said, you get sprayed down at almost every tech stop in the world.

That coach flight on SAA from ATL is the trip from Hell.

Blah, blah, blah. Sure it is a long flight and it is not the best part of the trip. But it is not soooooo bad.

Watch some movies. Eat a few meals. Drink a few drinks. Try to get a little sleep.

Just look at it as part of the overall experience. You are on your way to Africa to hunt. How cool is that!

Keep a good attitude about things and try to enjoy yourself. Forget about your watch. Start getting yourself into "Africa Time".

I am leaving in 16 days and I can hardly wait to get on that plane. I will be flying the Atlanta/Dakar/Joberg route. Then Joberg to Windhoek. Then Windhoek to Katima Mullilo. Flying pretty much for four solid days.

But what I try to keep in mind is that every leg I fly gets me one step closer to my hunt.

This is my vacation.It is not to be endured, it is to be cherished. I intend to maximise every aspect of it.

I was on this flight in 2004 from JFK. The flight down was non-stop (~15 hours), but on the way back it was via Dakar. If I remember correctly, it was an 8 hour flight from Joburg to Dakar, we sat on the plane for about 2 hours and then another 8 hours to JFK for a grand total of 18 hours on the same bloody plane. Not fun at all, but it is worth the trip!

quote:

Watch some movies. Eat a few meals. Drink a few drinks. Try to get a little sleep.

Yea, right

At 6'3'', the screen will not tilt up enough to see it, can't scrunch down enough to see it because knees jam into seat in front.

Glad you can cherish the flight, I undure it.

JBOUT- I try to schedule my flights way ahead of time so I can get the best seats. At your size a good option would be a bulkhead seat. These have extra leg room and most will have the video monitor mounted on a swing arm that allows a lot more versatility in positioning and tilting of the unit.

Perhaps this will make it a bit easier to endure the long flights.

One thing to keep in mind;
put anything of value in your gun case. I had a pair of nikes, a knife and a bag of life savers candy stolen from my bag in joburg airport. Each of the PHs I talked to had stories of losing things from their luggage.

quote:

Originally posted by JBoutfishn:

quote:

Watch some movies. Eat a few meals. Drink a few drinks. Try to get a little sleep.

Yea, right

At 6'3'', the screen will not tilt up enough to see it, can't scrunch down enough to see it because knees jam into seat in front.

Glad you can cherish the flight, I undure it.

Can you say "deep vein thrombosis?" That trip is a recipie.

I commuted over two million miles worldwide for about thirty years, and I don't care how you slice it, that is the trip from Hell.

And just how eager will one be on the trip home? Hunt's over, reality will soon come crashing down and so will the taxidermy and shipping bills. If I could drive to Arusha next year, I would. I hate flying and I did it professionally for a long time.

Of course, if you're flush and can shell out the price of a ten day PG hunt for airline tickets in business or first, you'll ride a lot easier. But a coach seat on that trip is a real PIA.

quote:

Of course, if you're flush and can shell out the price of a ten day PG hunt for airline tickets in business or first, you'll ride a lot easier. But a coach seat on that trip is a real PIA.

I love this idea

that's what frequent flier miles are made for. 8 trips to Africa - 6 flying business, 1 flying first, and 1 in coach( never again). thank you Amex and Mastercard!!