My son and I just got back from 14 days in South Africa.

Trip there: Austin / DFW /Frankfurt / Joberg / Bloemfontein
Return: East London / Joberg / Frankfurt / DFW / Austin

1. On the outbound trip, we checked 5 pieces of luggage. 3 bags plus a Pelican 1770 double case and a Pelican 1450 case for Ammo (and some optics). I was charged $250, though the lady said the calculated charges were around $800 or so, but she didn't charge for the oversize/overweight stuff, just extra piece.

2. From Joberg to Bloemfontein, the lady tried to charge me a number of fees. Bruce (I think everyone who travel's with Gracy Travel knows Bruce and everyone in Joberg Airport knows Bruce) convinced her not to charge me anything and let me put my ammo case inside another bag. So much for ammo being separate in SA.

3. East London to Joberg - 5 bags (ammo was separate again). No extra charges.

4. Joberg back home - 4 bags (ammo packed in bag again). They tried to add some extra charges but Bruce talked them out of it.

5. DFW - what a pain in the ass. From when we landed to when we got to the Admirals Club - 3 hours. Passport control was way understaffed, took forever. Customs was understaffed, but not as long. Took a while for Customs to clean our boots as well - very nice guy. Then after showing Customs my rifles and 4457s, I and to wait for TSA again to check my rifles before rechecking the luggage (though he didnt make me reopen).

6. Admirals Club - didn't know all these years that the showers were free; took a shower and changed clothes before heading to Austin. Nice showers.

7. Star Alliance Club - I have an United Red Carpet membership as well. Used for my son and I in Frankfurt and Joberg in the Lufthansa and SA lounges. On the way over the guy outside the Frankfurt lounge said I couldn't take my son in. And pulled out some paper showing that. I told him to call the Star Alliance desk and that I wanted him and I to talk with them. He let us through when I said that.

8. Pelican 1770 Case - big case - held both of our rifles and two sets of shooting sticks without any issues. Highly recommend.

9. SAPS - went very smoothly.

Two words for your next trip, Global Entry. ICE was way understaffed when we went through ATL but Global Entry made it a breeze. Kiosk for passport control, front of line for Customs gun check then straight to ag to spray boots.