Do you guys think that a 2-hour layover in Newark before flight to Africa is enough time for luggage and guns to transfer? Coming in from Detroit. Don't want to cut it too close. Other option is 11+ hour layover.

If you traveling the same airline, might work.

Hanging airlines might not work.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
If you traveling the same airline, might work.

Hanging airlines might not work.

United Airlines all the way. Newark is a hub for United so I was thinking that it could work.

Do you have to recheck your rifle in NY?

If not it should work.

If your rifle case and suitcase are checked through to your final destination (which they should), you will have plenty of time for the transfer.

Yes, rifle and suitcase will be checked all the way through to Johannesburg. All on United.

2 hours is sufficient. Only issue being you arrive an hour or 90 minutes late. Not uncommon nowadays it seems. Just something to consider.

I would opt for three hours if possible. That will give you a little extra time for the all-too-common delays now days.

Does United have the app that lets you know if your bags are on board?

quote:

Originally posted by crane:
Does United have the app that lets you know if your bags are on board?

Put Apple AirTags in your luggage.

You will always know where they are.

As others have pointed out you should be fine. Two hours on return is definitely not enough. Newark is a miserable hell hole to return with firearms. Purposely slow TSA.

As said above on your return you will need a lot of extra time as it is a circus returning with a firearm.

quote:

Originally posted by swm:
As others have pointed out you should be fine. Two hours on return is definitely not enough. Newark is a miserable hell hole to return with firearms. Purposely slow TSA.

Coming back JNB to DTW through Frankfurt on Lufthansa. A little over 5 hour layover.

Have traveled abroad many times and have found that 4 hours or more between flights is the minimum I/we book for. Better to have the longer time to deal with unexpected glitches. MTG

There is actually no guarantee nowadays.

In this instance, travelling on the same airline, and two hours connecting, should be fine.

Problems might arise if the first flight is delayed, and the second one leaves on time.

Then you have a major problem on your hands.

May I ask why you are using another airline back?

Personally, I don't like Lufthansa any more.

They used to be a great airline, and then they nose dived!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
There is actually no guarantee nowadays.

In this instance, travelling on the same airline, and two hours connecting, should be fine.

Problems might arise if the first flight is delayed, and the second one leaves on time.

Then you have a major problem on your hands.

May I ask why you are using another airline back?

Personally, I don't like Lufthansa any more.

They used to be a great airline, and then they nose dived!

It is all booked through United. For the Frankfurt return, it was considerably cheaper and just indicates that it is a United flight operated by Lufthansa. In terms of the outbound connection, I understand that United uses a Connection Saver tool to hold connecting flights when their passengers are delayed on the original United flight. To get a few hours longer connection time on 2 business class tickets would have been a fare increase of around $5,300.

I hope everything works out for you.

Have a great time.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I hope everything works out for you.

Have a great time.

Thank you very much! It's a Law School graduation present for my son.