This is the 6th time I've been to Africa (5th time to RSA, Namibia) and the only time I've had issues.

1. My wife and I used United Airlines. AUS to EWR to CPT. We barely made the EWR flight since all traffic was held for several hours into EWR. They shut door behind us. We had our carry-ons with 3 days of clothes, meds, optics, camera, etc.

2. Apple Air Tags are a must! We used them in all checked and carry-on bags and the ammo case inside a checked bag. They are allowed by the FAA since they have 0.1 grams of lithium, under the 0.3 gram limit. This saved us!!!!

3. Our 4 checked bags had to catch-up to us 2 days later in Cape Town. 3 bags went on Lufthansa through Frankfurt. Once it leaves UA's possession, they can't track it until it shows up at final destination. We were able to track it all the way to CPT. On the rifles, they went UA to JNB to CPT since the EU was not an option as you need an advance transit permit. However, they got stuck at SAPS in JNB for some reason (we located with Air Tags) and Bruce at Gracy went to the airport and made sure they got to CPT the next morning as they missed the evening flight.

4. Two areas we got lucky. One, I think you need a transit permit for ammo through the EU as well. (I did for Amsterdam in 2018). One of the bags that went through Fankfurt had a locked Pelican case inside with our ammo. And the bag had a receipt inside from the German Aviation Police saying they searched the bag (the only one of the three). So either you don't need a permit for ammo or we got a friendly officer and the locked container saved us (which I had to separate from East London to JNB when leaving). Second, one of the folks in CPT that helps Gracy was able to collect all 4 bags, including the rifles from SAPS, without us being at the airport. That saved us a trip to the airport.

5. We used a courier to take the rifles and ammo from CPT to our hunting destination in the Eastern Cape. So we didn't have to hassle with them at Bablyonstoren or from CPT to Dulini River @ Sabi Sands and back thru JNB to East London.

6. Delta saved us. I changed my return flight early on in the trip to go back through Atlanta to avoid any gray areas with my suppressor in New Jersey. My wife stayed on the UA flight. Well, the morning of the return home, UA cancelled her flight and rebooked her on flight from CPT through Dulles that had insufficient time for her to collect her bags at JNB. So Gracy switched her to Delta, same flight as me.

Learnings:
1) Use Air Tags
2) Use courier if you are vacationing prior or after hunting
3) Stick with Delta (which I used 3 times prior with zero issues)

Alternatively - charter a private jet. Outside of my means!

I use AirTags on all my luggage.

I use AirTags. Android users can use "tile"

Air tags.

My tags have animal names.

Like hippo, lion, leopard, chimp etc.

Sitting at an airport lounge, sorting through photos on my iPad, a young girl kept walking behind me to see underwater I had.

She was 6.

I asked her parents that she is welcome to sit next to me and look.

They all wanted to look.

Then we looked at animal pictures, both from the wild and from our own animals.

Then I told them animals are at the airport too.

Of course, no one believed me.

Got my phone out, and opened FINDMY app.

Sure enough, there WERE animals at the airport.

Including two right there in the lounge with us!

The mother asked if I was a magician!?

I had to disappoint them, and showed them how the AirTags worked.

The father started laughing so much, saying April - the daughter - is going to remember this for a long long time!

We have never used them before but will definitely use them from now on.

Short money for big peace of mind!

Saeed, I am going to have to copy you on the animal names.

I am in Emirates lounge right now.

Tracking my zoo

quote:

I am in Emirates lounge right now.

Wish I was sitting in an Emirates lounge right now. Somewhere. Anywhere.

Thanks for the tip about air tags. Never heard of them but just ordered several for my trip to Zim in six weeks! Gary

Returned yesterday from JNB to ATL to San Antonio. This trip, I used airtags for the first time. Been to Africa several times (over a dozen) and have "enjoyed" the adventure of guessing where my or my wife's bag may be a couple of times. Last August we flew Emirates to JNB, then AirLink to Windhoek. Her bag did not make the last leg, and the baggage problem solver in Windhoek provided no help in seeing where it might be. Went to a mall to resupply and it worked out OK. Got the bag 5 days later. Few years ago went to Mozambique and after overnighting at Africa Sky, we flew on to Beira. My bag got left off the flight to Beira, apparently due to machine parts being a better deal for South African Airways shuttle service. It finally caught up with us a week later. In both cases, an air tag would have been a help.

No problems this trip, but it was reassuring to be able to confirm they at least made the flight.

Flew Delta and their app does a good job of letting you track your checked bags. Still, the reassurance from the air tags was nice!

Do you attach them external to your luggage or put the air tag inside?

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:
Do you attach them external to your luggage or put the air tag inside?

AirTags are small round objects.

You can buy key holders that fit them.

I use these to attach them inside the case.

NEVER on the outside.

You can use up to 16 on an iPhone.

I have friends who use them in their cars, against theft.

We use GPS trackers in all our cars.

Fir this one pays a yearly subscription fee, very reasonable.

You have up to 3 months of past routes, speeds, stopping etc.

But the AirPods are cheaper if you don’t need all the details.

I have an android. What would I use & where do I purchase them?

quote:

Originally posted by Tommy45:
I have an android. What would I use & where do I purchase them?

Called Android Tile. Been around for a while now. As in most all things searchable Google is your friend...

Thanks Puddle.

Another use for air tags…I use them on my farm equipment, tractors, skid steer, etc.. Thieves know about and look for common GPS trackers, people place multiple units hoping one isn’t found and removed. Air tags are easily concealed and can be considered disposable so can be placed where they are almost impossible to remove. Pretty easy to see where each piece of equipment is located, only downside is if I tell my wife I’m working with equipment at a certain location the air tag will verify that the machine is really there
Currently $87.00 for 4 at Costco.

Amazon had them a few weeks ago for the same price.

I wish I'd known about these. Delta still can't seem to find(or are not even trying) my rifles for going on a month now. The last time I could check their bag tracker link, the rifles were showing loaded on plane in Joberg for Atlanta on 6/30/2023.

Late to the posting party but as said AirTags are awesome when traveling. One in checked luggage and one in a carryon and I’m golden. Lots of holders available and easy to stow.

If you are former mil or first responder in the US you can get them at a discount on Apple.com and even engraved. Those ship from the PRC pretty quick.