I am planning to return to RSA in April. I got a quote from Boise to Jo-berg and back of $2100. This is an increase of more than 50% (iirc) from April of 2010 for the same.

Are you all seeing pricing this high?

Rich,

I flew from Washington DC to Harare in 2009 for $2,335 and was just looking for the same flight in June 2012. The 2012 cost is $2,341 - only $6.00 more than three years previously.

My last year's trip from Washington DC to Jo'burg in June 2010 was $1649. Expedia now shows $2,008 - a $359 difference. I can't explain it since you have to go through Jo'burg to get to Harare.

Rich,

If you and your PH are flexible enough to move your departure and return dates by one or two days, you might see a difference in pricing. It could be that the "cheapest fares" are sold out on the days you chose, but there may be cheaper fares on adjacent days. Just call the reservations number of the airline and have them price fares for 3 or 4 days in a row, if you haven't already done so. You could also plug these different dates into their website and do it yourself.

Glen

thanks, I need to check on dates VS cost I guess.

Rich,

Also be aware that April is a very common month for seasonal air pricing changes. You might see a big difference between early April and late April, low season to high season.

Rich, Call Steve at travel with guns. Just got a quote Sacramento to Harare return 1900 and change.

Got a phone #?

thanks,

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Got a phone #?

thanks,

Rich

Steve Turner - Travel With Guns

(210) 858-9833
1 (866) 427-7166

gracey usually gets us better rates and seats than we could get on our own

I think I need to get out more. I about ran myself into a dither trying to get Gracey Travel on the web. Gracy Travel, on the other hand, popped up right away. Of course, after connecting with their secretary on Thursday and leaving "call me please" messages two days in a row without any call back, I am beginning to have some reservations about them.

Rich

I have to admit, I have used Gracy 3 times and always seemed like it was hard to get calls returned or e-mails for that matter..... I will give Steve a try next time.

Just my opinion

Of the three "big" travel agents on AR, Steve Turner is by far the most responsive BY FAR.

Steve gave me an option, anybody in the pacific northwest ever fly Emirates? He can zoom me from Boise to Seattle, there to the Emirates, and there to Jo-Burg for about $600 less than going to Dulles from here and SAA from there to Jo-Burg.

thanks,

Rich

Rich,

You would be hard pressed to find better service on any other airline. Emirates is very good.

I just bought a ticket to Kilamanjaro for $1489 (taxes amounted to $681, or nearly half the ticket price).

I have always flown round trip to DAR except once when I fly into DAR and out of Kilimanjaro; I don't think I have ever had a better ticket price.

quote:

I have to admit, I have used Gracy 3 times and always seemed like it was hard to get calls returned or e-mails for that matter..... I will give Steve a try next time.

Steve Turner will always return calls; QUICKLY!!

True!

He worked like a dog, using three different departure dates, to get me the best fare. I had to work around my wife's birthday. I booked with him yesterday; using the Boise to SLC to Atlanta and off Jo-berg. $1902 roundtrip, inclusive...

Rich
119 days

I just booked my tickets for 30 July - 17 August from Washington Dulles to Harare round trip on SAA. The cost was $2400 and change. This is up about $100 from when I travelled in June in 2011. I played around with the dates a bit and found the ticket prices varied as much as $350 depending on departure dates. I also checked with Gracy, and they wanted $2750 for the same ticket I booked with SAA for $2400. I have used Gracy in the past, and they provide superb service. However, as I did not plan to overnight in South Africa on my way to Zimbabwe, I felt it was more cost effective to just book seats myself. I booked my own seats and travelled straight through to Harare this year and had no problems. I do allow an extra day in Harare in case my guns don't make it the same day I arrive. Hopefully, it will be the same in 2012.
Mangwana

Just booked my hunts for my hunt through Gracy. I paid a buttload I feel and could have done it for a lot less but I also have an agent to fall back on if anything goes wrong.
From Alberta Canada to Joberg and then on to Harare I paid $2,875.00 + 300.00 service fee + 485.00 on SAA = $ 3,660.00
including all airport taxes and fees.

I found it online for way less but Gracy didn't like the airlines i had as it mixed and matched airlines and there was more chance that things could get screwed up along the way.

I really don't like the idea of paying more than I did but I also know that I would be way more dissapointed if anything bad happened and it screwed up an expensive hunt. Not having the chance to fly a ton and especially with guns I figured it was best to spend the extra cash and do it right.

Booked Calgary, Canada - London, UK - Lusaka, Zambia on British Airways for Sept 2012. $2463 all in. I was pretty happy with that. Long layover in London on the way back but not too many direct flights to/from Calgary and Lusaka from London so I can live with it for sure.

Steve just booked my March trip for $1,925. LFT to ATL to JNB to HRE. Delta and SAA.

I paid just a little shy of $2400 for San Diego to Beira using Barb Wolbrink at International Journeys. Barb got me great seats (the one with no seat in front of it - heaven on a 17 hour flight) and kept me updated as the airline changed my flight four times before I left. The real thing I loved about Barb and having a travel agent in general was the day I was supposed to leave, I woke up to find my South Africa flight was 10 hours delayed which was going to make me miss the one and only flight from Jo'berg to Beira Mozambique per day. I called Barb literally as she walks into the office at 8am Eastern, she said don't worry about it she'll get it handled and give me a call back ASAP. Two Hours later (because the dang SSA office didn't open until 9:30 Eastern), she calls me at work and says I'm re-routed through Germany on Lufthansa at SAA's expense. I had to leave work a little early, but the beauty of it was Barb handled everything while I got to go to work like normal. Everything went off without a hitch, made my Beira flight, and I got to visit Germany (or Europe for that matter) for the first time.

I wont ever do an international hunt (or trip) for that matter without a travel agents help. The piece of mine is well worth it.

dfw to canda to Zurich t cameroon 1877.00 leaving feb 8th longest layover is 4 hours

It must be a high season thing that is getting out of control. I have been watching ATL to JNB in July/August for a couple months, and it is at about $2800- that is $800-1000 more than I usually pay and it doesn't seem to be changing.

Just be aware flying thru Dubai is very hard with guns.
Emirates is a very good airline love it.
Just hate going thru Dubai.
You need to pre register with the police and have all your papers in triplicate. Its very hard to confirm with the police also they have all the paper work.
Just a heads up.
Larry

I have used Emirates three times into New York to Dubai and then RSA. It was an excellent experience and the gun paper work was one form that I faxed in and called back ten days latter to see if it was all set and it always has been. Then my guns are fine I never see them until my final destination and they have a police escort between planes I kind of like it its better than some where your guns get escorted by some unknown handler.

FYI Guys,

At the same time Steve was booking my flights for $1,925, Orbitz was showing the fare to be $2,700+.

Steve just completed 3 tickets for me for May 14-30 in Namibia (shoulder season). Idaho Falls/SLC/ATL/JNB/WDH for $2300 each. I have hunted over there during April, May, June, and July. The plane tickets have fluctuated from $2100-2700 for each trip, depending on routes. Frankfurt has been the more expensive way.

Debbie Gracy, economy comfort, 2,195.00 Akron Canton, Atlanta,Joburg. Third time with Debbie. Called Steve, out of curiosity and hoping to save a few bucks before I called Debbie. We talked a few minutes about what i needed and he quoted me a price, promised to call me back and never did. Learned a valuable leason, and i am old enough to know better. When you have the best working for you and you trust them, why look some where else. You can not do better than Gracy Travel. Just my one cent worth.

Paul R. Kawczk

Eveidently its all over the place depending on where you coming from and going too.

Just received $3,115 Atlanta to Harare for middle of august. X 2 thats gonna hurt!!!

I think it is high season and Delta. The ATL/JNB leg is ridiculous right now. Makes me wish I wasn't stuck with Delta.

One thing you guys can do it book a trip with miles and then wait for the airfare to go down. If you are Dia/Plat on Delta there is no redeposit fee.

I have noticed airfares these days often plummet just before the flight. I bought a ticket to Houston from PHX for 460 bucks; best price. A week before my trip it as 250.

Idaho,

My flights were cheap....Maybe its because everyone hates BSU and the blue field.

I am going in April as well. Already booked my flights.

JFK to Joberg to Bloemfontein $1,665 on SAA

The quote I got from Gracy Travel was around 2K for the same flights

Found the best rate using Kayak.com.

I just got quoted $2920 by Gracy for Columbus, OH- Harare by SAA end of July 2012. When I first saw the quote I thought Hmmmm... that's cheap for business class and then I looked again...
Jas

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Herald:
I think it is high season and Delta. The ATL/JNB leg is ridiculous right now. Makes me wish I wasn't stuck with Delta.

Unfortunately it's not much better with anyone else. Just got quotes from SAA and Delta and they were about the same.

Greg

Blank,

We may be on the same Delta flight returning home on the 30th.

I paid $4,177.40 (including taxes) for two, RT from SLC - ATL - J'Burg - Harare.

You guys are killing me...I had to go on and book today as flights were filling up for my dates.

I did Delta through ATL to JNB, and then SAA from JNB to Pemba Moz for July/August and paid
$2337 and $865 respectively. Steve Turner did get me the best price to be found anywhere. But that is still crazy $ for coach...

Yeah, high prices but a great time of year to be over there. Really hope our time over there in May isn't as rainy as last year. Was extremely tough for my son and daughter-in-law to get quality video for some of the early hunts.

SBT: Will look for you, and enjoy visiting on the return home. Have a great trip!

Joel

I did Denver to Dulles to JNB and back in June for $2300 which included my trip insurance.

I booked myself right on line with zero problems.

Now had I been going on to Moz or Zim I would have used a booking agent.