Leaving on SAA on Friday May 22nd for Joburg.
So far our SKB case with two rifles, soft cases and some clothing is 42#. We have one checked bag with clothes, ammo case, odds and ends at 40#.
But what's the current limit for carry on bags?
We're planning on small back packs with a change of clothes, Rx medicines, bino's and cameras weighing around 30# each.

Go take a look at www.flysaa.com and you should be able to find what you need. Good Luck

Rick,

Found the following in the FAQs on that site:\

How many pieces of carry on baggage can I take onboard the aircraft?

For safety reasons South African Airways will accept only one piece of cabin baggage for economy class and two pieces
for business class passengers. The maximum dimensions should not exceed: Length: 115cm (Length + Height + Width)
and not weighing more than 8 Kg. Kindly try to limit cabin baggage as it may be removed from the cabin due to space constraints.

Please ensure that all valuables are placed in your cabin baggage. This would include items such as laptops, cell phones,
camera’s, jewellery, money etc.


Looks to me like another PITA ... one piece at 8 kgs per person.

I'm mainly curious if they're actually measuring and/or weighing carry on luggage.
8 kgs is approximately 17 pounds
I may have to trim things down a bit...

I was going to take a camera kit and a backpack. Looks like one has to get cut out. Sheesh! What a PITA.

Bet the charge me extra for the TuffPack too. It weights 48 pounds with two rifles and two spare scopes inside a TuffSack ... but nothing extra.

MS - Why would you think they will charge you extra on the Tuff Pak? You are under the weight limit of 50#. Two rifles in a Tuff Pak are commonplace and not agaist any Airline rules that I know of. Just wondering?

Larry Sellers
SCi Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
I was going to take a camera kit and a backpack. Looks like one has to get cut out. Sheesh! What a PITA.

Bet the charge me extra for the TuffPack too. It weights 48 pounds with two rifles and two spare scopes inside a TuffSack ... but nothing extra.

Larry,

The TuffPack ... or nearly every rifle case out there now ... is over the maximum of 62" (lenght+width+height) now used most places and noted on their web site. Is under the 80" max limit though.

Guess it costs what it costs at this point.

Mike - I agree it costs what it costs. But all the airlines I have used over the last half dozen years have an exceptation for "sport cases" that are exempt from the "inches" rule. As far as I know none have changed this policy? If anyone knows different please speak up, as I am in the same situation in Aug./09.

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
Larry,

The TuffPack ... or nearly every rifle case out there now ... is over the maximum of 62" (lenght+width+height) now used most places and noted on their web site. Is under the 80" max limit though.

Guess it costs what it costs at this point.

Hi Rick

Agree with Larry - in the 12 years I've been in the business I've never had a client charged for the oversize gun case. As Larry said - they make an acception for the size as it is classified as 'sporting equipment'

Let us know how it goes when you get back please!

Thanks

Steve

Rick R,

On the flight back from Joberg to Dulles last week. SA crew was monitoring the carry on bags while we were in the jetway about to board the plane. They took quite a few carry-on pieces from passengers that looked big or seemed heavy.

I had a shopping bag that looked big (had tribal masks in it that were made out of wood). The guy stopped me, asked for the bag, I handed it over, he said, "Looks big, but it is light....you may take it on the plane".

So yes, please watch out, if the flight is full then they may start throwing regs at you about dimensions and weight.

30 pounds may be too much, on other hand if the flight is not full then no body will probably care.

Best of luck on your trip.

Collector,
Thanks for the heads up. I'm using a Packmandu by Columbia, it fits in the carry on bag sizing rack if you don't pack it to capacity (or open the expansion zippers).
I just need to re-evaluate what I'm packing in it.

Be aware of your carry-on bags being taken and placed in the belly of the plane, as that is when theft will occur. They can split those zippers in a few seconds, steal what they want and close it back up, leaving you with little or no knowledge of the theft until you are in the States. My advice is if they are going to do that then you need to demand the right to take out your very expensive items and carry them on the plane with you. Just some free advice, having personally had theft occur from a carry-on bag being taken by the stewardesses and subsequently placed at the very last minute in the belly of the plane by SAA baggage handlers. Also, be sure to take out baggage insurance before you fly as well.

UEG,
One of the benefits of the Packmandu is that it's a small day pack attached to the front of an internal frame pack by four fastex buckles.

I usually get to my seat, detach the small pack and put it under my feet, then put the larger pack in the overhead bin.

When we flew to Hoedspruit in 2004 they pulled the "Only small bags as carry on" routine and I just detached the day pack which contained my camera, bino's, passport, CD player, book and some money. I handed them the larger pack which only contained clothes and got on the plane.

Hopefully I can use the same system I've used for a half dozen flights one more time.