I spoke with Debbie Gracy/Gracy Travel today. She told me they are no longer promoting flights to Africa on Delta. Problems have been so frequent and varied with little interest on Delta's part in fixing anything that Gracy has dropped them. They will make arrangement on Delta if a client requests it but they do not recommend it. They will of course provide whatever service is necessary for clients already booked through Gracy on Delta.

Debbie said they are recommending BA and SAA for safari travel to southern Africa.

Mark

Hi Mark

Did they give you any specific reasons as to what problems they were experiencing with Delta? I have been using Delta for my clients through-out the year and have not had one problem with them.

I have had more problems with South African Airways and clients missing their connections in Washington, and baggage being left behind, than I have had with Delta.

Steve,

Yeah! Call Debbie as I don't want to quote her on details.

Mark

I've always gotten along fairly well with Delta compared to other airlines. Actually, they are my prefered carrier. IT could also be that I'm a Platnum Member, which could be why I get along so well.

I have had good luck on Delta to Africa as well- 3 times. My experience with SAA isn't nearly as good. Of course my experience with Gracy wasn't real good either...

I am booked with Delta through Gracy Lafayette LA to Harare. In the past two months they have changed my LFT to ATL connecting flights three times, the third time being just two days ago.

I will see how the actual flight goes in a bout 6 weeks.

Didn’t delta stop paying travel agents booking fees?

Flying today simply sucks. Regardless of who you fly with, things are different now. There are fewer options here in the US and less seats available to book. If you are fortunate enough not to have any delays, a trip can be done with minimal hassle. The problems begin when you miss a flight. Then all hell breaks loose. You will be stuck waiting for open seats and depending on how much you paid for your ticket, and your status level with the carriers frequent flyer program, you can get stuck for days. This is where your travel agent can save your but! I have been moved to the front of the line due to some “strings” getting pulled by my agent. Not sure how it happens, but the good travel agent can get you back into the air sooner than someone buying tickets through a web agent.

I just did a RT using Gracy's on Delta to J-berg. Delta upgraded me to business class at no charge on the flight. Everything was on time and 7 pieces of luggage arrived without trouble.

Booked on Delta Business Aug 15th Alt to Joe-burg. Looking forward to the flat beds.

Never had but one issues with Delta

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
I just did a RT using Gracy's on Delta to J-berg. Delta upgraded me to business class at no charge on the flight. Everything was on time and 7 pieces of luggage arrived without trouble.

Aug 21 for me on Delta..

Pray tell, how did you scoop the up-grade??

Mark,

Having flown both Delta and SAA it sounds to me like Debbie just got a SWEEEEET marketing deal from SAA. There is no way that Saa with their scarebuses can ccompare with the 777.

My first experience on SAA was in 91 and they did an OK job. Back then they operated out of Atlanta with the 747 and it wasn't bad at all. Since then they have deteriorated annually and their ground personnell in Tambo have never risen to the level of indifference in my experience.

Seems that Gracy does this every year or so and just recently after probably finding a way to make more money from another source changed to another lodging venue and trashed the Afton House. Afton house is a great place run by a wonderful family. I have no problem with naked capitalism but don't throw really decent people under the bus in the process.

I think I know all one needs to know about Gracy. If you have a close relationship with SAA, promote SAA, you don't have to dog someone else.

I'm sorry Mark, I normally agree with your thoughts and posts but where Gracy is concerned " not so much".

if SAA was the only airline to Africa, I would swim... they take customer service to a whole new level- 2 floors below the cellar!!!!!!!!!!!!! and my 1 experience with Gracy was none too stellar- probably why I never used them again.

i despise all the carriers! If we lived on the mainland and did not travel overseas I would never set foot onto another commercial airplane.

August 16th on Delta for me. No previous problems with Delta or Gracy. I like the 777.

I wonder if it might depend on where your flying from Tulsa was a breeze and they took great care to make sure my rifles made the flight. I the guy at the counter call some one to walk them to the plane just to be sure they where loaded. the guy he call asked a dozen questions about what you had to do to get a hunt booked. I love meeting other hunters when I travel

quote:

Delta upgraded me to business class at no charge on the flight.

How did you score the up-grade??

quote:

Originally posted by matt u:

quote:

Delta upgraded me to business class at no charge on the flight.

How did you score the up-grade??

I have done this as well. In my case, I simply asked the lady at the ticket counter before the flight took off if there were any upgrades available. They said no, but when I got on the plane they came and got me from my economy seat and brought me up front to an empty business class seat. Pretty sweet deal! I think it helped that I was flying with a client who was a platinum delta member and he showed his card as well, but it didn't cost either of us a dime.

Myself and a friend will be on the Delta flight out of ALT on Aug. 2nd headed to Joburg. We'll be up front where the flat beds are located!!!

quote:

Originally posted by matt u:

quote:

Delta upgraded me to business class at no charge on the flight.

How did you score the up-grade??

Just was nice to the harried Delta ticket agent and complimented her on her efficiency.

Hey! Please note this was an FYI. If you want to fly DontExpectLuggageToArrive have at it. I will say that my clients so far this year that have flown Delta have all had baggage problems. Does that prove anything? You be the judge.

Mark

My husband named it:

D Doesn't
E Ever
L Leave
T The
A Airport

Regards, D. Nelson

Naw, you guys have Delta confused with U.S. Air. The absolute worst airlines in the business!!! Bar NONE!!!

Who do you think handles baggage and ticket services at Tambo for any non S. african company. More than likely it's SAA.

In my 8 trips to Johannesburg om SAA only the first two were acceptable. Their customer service on the ground can only be described as arrogantly incompetent. If they run late and you miss a flt., or they cancel one, you are really in the hands of the philistines.

I will admit that their people in Vic Falls, Bulawayo and Windhoek are much better. Not a particularly mean feat, but true nontheless.

One thing that seems to help with Delta is that when you check in, ask the gate agent to hang "Premium" tags on your bags. That tag seems to get the bags on and off the planes quicker. It tells the handler that you are a "preferred" or "premium" customer. I am not sure about Tambo but in Atlanta it helps.

Another thing on all of this.

My wife and I made 20+ round trips from OK to Philadelphia and Boston over the past 2 years and our sons made about 10. Our daughter made about 5 or 6 flights as well from another airport. In all, we flew about 120 segments mostly through Dallas or Chicago. We were on only two segments and never missed a flight. This was on American Airlines. We never lost a bag in all of that travel. We bought most of the tickets and flew on awards about 10 to 15% of the flights.

We were never bumped. We had a couple of trips cancelled due to weather (snow in Dallas and Chicago). We merely stayed in contact with the reservations groups and they rescheduled us without a fee.

In terms of "pecking order", the airlines value frequent flyers that pay for tickets. If you are a "non-revenue" ticket, flying on a buddy pass, on a ticket from an aggregator such as Orbitz or Travelocity, or on an award ticket but not one of the upper level frequent flyer status members, you will get bumped occasionally. It happens and they make a business decision to do that. When you get bumped, you can negotiate for a voucher or miles to your account. The gate agents can do that. So, if you get bumped, take a deep breath, stay flexible and you will get where you are going.

If the pursuit of cheap tickets is not worth the hassle, buy your ticket, get travel insurance and go. You will pay more but will not likely get bumped or treated as a non-revenue flyer. Better yet, save your money and buy a business class ticket. You are treated like a king when you actually buy a Business class ticket. If you are on a $100,000 trip to Tanz, then go business class. You will not regret it.

American is no better or worse than Delta as I have flown both a great deal.

On lost bags, my worst scenario was traveling with my family and 17 bags from Atyrau, Kazakhstan to OK. Fourteen bags made the four connections. Three did not and ended up in Calgary for some reason. Calmly, my wife went to American and asked for help. We had the bags 3 days later, no worse for wear. We have lost bags a few times but never permanently.

On guns, we have made 5 trips outside the US and 6 times inside. We lost one gun for one day on a trip from Alaska to OK. That was due to the TSA not getting the case onto the plane after we checked it in. No big deal.

I personnaly would not take an expensive gun to Africa. Sorry, that rules out doubles and Dakota's and others. I take Winchesters that can be replaced for $1500. If you take an expensive gun, buy insurance against theft.

Good luck on your travels.

Ross,

That was some great advise. I would suggest since you have so much flight expereince and I mean that in all sincerity that you start your own website much like Steve Robinson's only just travel specific. I'd be glad to contribute everything I know about British Air.

Mark