I've making some inquires about a proposed trip to Africa next year and I'm looking at some options that I've not used before.

If one gets to JNB early enough in the morning, he can connect with a flight that day up to Victoria Falls and not have to R.O.N. in Johannesburg.

South African, of course, has the JFK to JNB flight that arrives early morning and gives one a couple of hours to connect with SAA on up to VFA (still on SAA).

Problem is that many of the flights offered go Jet Blue from JAX (Jacksonville) to EWR (Newark).... transfer to JFK (South African Airlines) and then the long flight that same morning to JNB, and as I said above, immediately connect on up to VFA.

So.... here's the question:
If you are using a ticket issued by SAA all the way JAX to VFA and return, how the heck do you get from EWR to JFK. Do you have to claim your baggage (including guns) and find a bus or take a cab..... I called the U.S.A. number for SAA and got no good answer, btw.

Both New Jersey and New York certainly aren't gun friendly and I can't imagine a bigger pain in the patotootee than trying to get bags from one airport to the other, particularly if one is a gun case.

I wouldn't worry about it at all if the airlines are responsible for transfer of the baggage (and you find your own bus).

Why go to the trouble? A fair priced business class ticket without an R.O.N. in JNB sounds good if Newark to JFK isn't a super hassle, say, if the baggage transferred without you having to claim it in Newark and re-check in JFK.

Anyone done it (EWR to JFK, regardless of origin or destination... particularly if transporting firearms), and if so, how long does it take? The proposed ticket gives me 3 hours between flights (and airports).

3 hrs will be tough and very difficult

This is morning time frame as SAA leaves around 11 am

You are going to have to deal with traffic to get into NYC

Best option would be car service that would take you to Staten Island and over Verrazano Bridge

I would find another more direct flight to JFK

No way to get there from Atlanta?
Fully expect you've checked that out by now.
Wish you the best trip ever w/o hassles.
George

Ernest, call Steve at Travel with Guns. He's back from vacation, and I'm sure he's had to arrange such a connection before.

What I'm really trying to do is catch the morning flight from JNB to VFA so I don't have to spend a night in Johannesburg.

To get the SAA flight up to the Smoke That Thunders, you have to get to JNB before 9:00 a.m. and the SAA flight non-stop from JFK to JNB will make that work.

Newark seems out because, according to my info (Steve included) you are responsible for your own transport from Newark to JFK and you must recover your bags and re-check them (and with guns in NJ and NYC... I think not). You have to do that with JetBlue, too, but you are only one terminal away on the JFK campus... It seems to be only five minutes from the arrival gate for JebBlue over to SAA's check in.

So, I'll be trying to get the JetBlue flight from JAX to JFK and bypass Newark entirely.

As to Atlanta, I find no good connections that get me to JNB in time for the morning flight up to VFA.

Yes, I love the SSA flight...lands at like 8:10 AM in Jo'burg, and then most flights out are by 11:00 AM...no overnight, no SAPS, etc.

Judge - I live outside of Philadelphia and last May took the JFK flight to Joberg and made a connection to Kasane, Botswana all in the same day. Similar to what you want to accomplish.

I took a limo service which picked me up near my house in King of Prussia, PA and drove to JFK. On the way to JFK we stopped at the Newark airport to drop off some people and pick up others for the trip from Newark to JFK. Cost from my house to JFK was $160 each way. I'm sure it will be much less from Newark to JFK.

Checking in with guns in NY was no problem whatsoever. The NY port authority police have been through this many times. As long as you're "in transit" from Newark to JFK you should be good. Whatever you do, don't overnight either in NJ or NY. The only problem I see with you plans is the time frame between arrival in Newark and your departure flight from JFK.

The limo service I used was Super Trans PA PH # 215-333-1441. They had no problem transporting my firearms. Hope this helps.

Judge - Just thought of another option. If you could get a real early flight to Philadelphia, that limo service I mentioned in my previous note also takes people from the Phila. airport to JFK. Might be worth exploring that option as well. Would however make for a very long day of traveling.

Judge,

If you could get to Orlando [MCO] jetblue flies direct to JFK, EARLY in the morning.

Get there the preceeding evening and stay at the Hyatt IN the terminal.

I realize though that this adds the extra overnight again, as well as going the wrong direction. But it avoids much of that New York, New Jersey hassle. [BUT jetblue does not transfer firearms to SAA, must claim and recheck]

Les

Thanks!

Ernest one also has to have Port Authority police escort you and firearms to TSA open bag show guns and 4457 to show serial #'s match.
Over night in a airport hotel another option.

Mike

I've found a flight JAX to JFK that gets there in time (8:00 a.m.) for the SAA flight to JNB later that morning....

Thanks, guys!