I"m looking at flying SAA out of Dulles to JNB. Any good or bad experiences with this airline/route?
Thanks
Brian

I've flown that route several times in the past. No problems at all. The only things I don't like about that route is the stop in Dakar, which adds a few hours to an already long trip, and the late arrival time in JNB. The late arrival time makes it impossible to get a connecting flight that day or possibly a ride to camp if JNB is your final destination.

This is the how I fly.I really enjoyed this route with the stop at Dakar.I hope to fly this way again.

Good to hear. I'm looking at a straight shot to JNB (albeit 17 hrs later). Any issues with firearms?

No firearms issue. Flying this on Sept 2nd.

No issues.Just check your rifles from the start to your final destination.Check your ammo at the start too(by opening up your luggage and showing it to them) or else they will break the lock of the ammo box to see what is inside and who knows what else?.They need to put some tag or sticker of security approval in the ammo and rifle case.
Sometimes a window seat is not all that bad with this flight as it might leave you with some memorable views and a wall to lean your head on.

Flown it 4 times. 3x before the mandated stop on the way over in Dakar and as recently as this April. No real issues. Seems the number of folks required to do a job in JNB continues to grow each time. Lots of folks looking for drink money too, but I use a permit service that eliminates most of that. Was tight making my connector to East London.

quote:

Originally posted by BC3:
I"m looking at flying SAA out of Dulles to JNB. Any good or bad experiences with this airline/route?
Thanks
Brian

Why don't you go the DULLES->JFK->JNB route. It also arrives early morning, so no issues with overnight stays.

Flown the iad to jnb route 15 or 16 times now.only problem i ever had was a weather delay before tske off at dulles and a snow storm on way home once. Put me in atlants for two days. Never once have i had an issue with weapons. A few times i have used the services of somebody on that end most times not. The trip to jfk on the other hand has been a PIA on more than one trip, some to JNB and some to other places. Once had to go thru NYPD with rifles. Holy crap!! What a headache. IMO that airport is second only to Moscow as far as bottom of list. It is ideal arrival time in JNB for connectors to other countries

Flew it in late May. Crowed and long! No other issues. The beer was free and cold!

I have flown this route 5 times now and will be flying it again on 19 August. The only issue I ever had was with baggage. SAA gate officials sometimes do not know or pretend to not know their baggage policy wrt firearms. In essence, you get a third piece of checked luggage free of charge when one piece is your gun case or other sporting equipment. I always print out the SAA baggage policy and have it with me. I have had to show it to the gate agents on 3 occasions when they were trying to charge me $100 for a third bag. The other issue with baggage with SAA at Dulles is that they weigh your carry on at the gate before they put a cabin tag on it. If it is over 18#, they make you check it - something you do NOT want to have happen as theft remains rampant with unlocked baggage in Jo'Burg. Good luck!

I hated that layover in Dakar.

Does your ammo need to be in a lock box inside your luggage or just be able to lock your luggage?

I put my ammo in my suit case, no ammo box.just threw it in the suit case, been doing this all the time. NO ONE asked or looked. Last time I went over though, the TSA guy, didn't even open the case, but just appeared to be running something along the seal . I had to tell him to LOCK THE LOCK.. moron had already put it on the shoot, and had to call down below to get it locked. Time before that I had to stand there and give them the key, to keep them moron from cutting the lock off. I don't like the stop in Dakar, but not terrible and if I add on the flight time to Atlanta, and waiting around, and etc., is HOURS longer than the direct flight to Joburg from Dulles..Thecounter folks at Dulles, SAA have never given me any grief about bag numbers. But then, I never have more than the one with the clothes, etc., and one with the gun(s). Last time, too, the counter person let the extra 2 or 3 lbs in the suitcase, slide.

my note should have said, TSA agent didn't even open the GUN case. I was using a hard sided deep one, and had a lot of clothes, etc. in it too.

My ammo has always been checked at Dulles - don't know why, but they usually take every round out of the box and look at it. I keep my ammo in a small hard side Americase inside my duffle bag. I also installed a latch on the Americase with a TSA lock in case they need to look at it again later.

Thanks again for all of the feedback. I'll be flying Dulles to NY to JNB to Maun. The NY to JNB route arrives early enough to catch the hop to Maun without an overnight and firearms hassle in JNB (thanks for that Tank).
Cheers

I always go out through JFK, thus eliminating the Dakar stopover and cutting two hours off that dreadful flight. 15 instead of 17 hours doesn't seem like much, but it does help in my opinion .

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
R8 Blaser

quote:

Originally posted by JoeDemocko:
I hated that layover in Dakar.

Roughly how long is the lay-over and were you able/required to de-plane?

Approximately two hours. No on deplane. Cabin is also sprayed with horrific smelling stuff and doors are open so you get the pleasure of breathing in Jet fuel in the middle of the night.

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
R8 Blaser

quote:

Originally posted by 2Barrels:

quote:

Originally posted by JoeDemocko:
I hated that layover in Dakar.

Roughly how long is the lay-over and were you able/required to de-plane?

Oh joy

I had the 18 1/2 hr. Atlanta-Joberg via Dakar route with Delta on my first trip to Namibia in 2008. Delta did not have a direct Atl-Jbg flight at the time as apparently the Boeing 767 did not have the range. That long flight,or any other (SAA from Dulles) is a bitch. Stop in Dakar is to be avoided if at all possible. Delta now has a direct flight to Jbg on a 777 ER. Direct from JFK or Atlanta is long enough at 15 hours +. It will be Atl / Jbg on Delta for me henceforth,even though Delta arrives Jbg too late for onward flights that day,requiring an overnight there. I am not a fan of JFK BUT the SAA flight arrives Jbg early AM allowing connecting flights the same day. Strongly advise against itinerary with more than two transfers as that creates problems for checking luggage through to final destination,outbound or on return. I had significant problems with luggage this year ,thanks to incompetence by US Airways, so much so that I will NEVER fly with US Air again. BIG mistake taking the Albuq - Phx - NY/JFK routing to save a few bucks...