Has anyone every taken Lufthansa and SAA from US to South Africa, while traveling with rifles??

Does Lufthansa have a luggage agreement with SAA??

on several occasions, I've flown from Houston on Lufthansa and Air Namibia to Windhoek. Lufthansa has always performed flawlessly, but I can't say the same for Air Namibia.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I have flown that way 4 out of 6 trips with zero problems. Now I understand that there is paperwork if you fly through Frankfurt (or maybe it's all of Germany) with firearms but have never had any problems.

Much prefer flying Lufthansa all the way, over Air Namibia, and SAA, although I did have a rifle problem on the last trip, it was due to TSA not transporting the rifle from the screening area to the airplane in Houston. The rifle arrived one day late, same flight from Houston, cost only a half days worth of hunt, due to very fine work by Steve at Travels with Guns.

There was a fee involved with travel thru Frankfort, was minimal, and they are very VERY concerned with the whereabouts of your rifle there. Don't think your rifle is likely to get lost there. That fee was minimal compared to the $200USD extortion at the J-berg airport for departing weapons.

Lufthansa is a very good choice, if you do not possess a Gulfstream V or other aircraft that can fly trans-Atlantic!!!

At the show my agent assured me that Air Namibia had cleared up all its problems over the past couple of years. And that the Lufthansa and Air Nam would get it done.

To show how sure I am, I am seriously over the past couple of days thinking of going on Emirates from Houston and then to JoBerg .

But for the most part I think if you have your paperwork right and have adequate time I think you will be fine.

To show you that sometimes even when the rifle is there you don't feel good about it, this happened to me some years ago. I was on the plane and looking out the window watching them load luggage. I saw my gun case on the cart. Yay . Then I saw them end over end my Haliburton gun case off and head it in for the conveyor or hold. I badly wanted to rush off the plane and chase them around the tarmac with a fork lift . So while I knew the gun was there, the whole flight I was thinking about what might be broken. Ultimately nothing was that I remember.

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That fee was minimal compared to the $200USD extortion at the J-berg airport for departing weapons.

Is the above something new? I never encountered that?

I bet it is an old thing there.

A bribe. Or a forced tip.

I fly Luthstansa/SAA to JoBurg front Canada. I have them do the rifles all the way through, so rifles are in transit in Frankfurt, this way no fees or hassle. In 3 trios never had a problem

Hunters traveling through Frankfurt are now required to obtain a German gun import permit ; reportedly even if guns are checked all the way through to final destination (Windhoek), and absolutely if guns are claimed and re-checked with Air Namibia in Frankfurt. The cost is $20 Euros plus a wire transfer fee.Directions accompanying the permit application require submitting same a minimum of four weeks ahead of travel. How they will "track" guns checked through and "in transit" is a puzzle but certainly possible in the computer age !
Air Namibia has a history of cancelling flights
with little or no advance notice and causing unscheduled layovers for travelers. My five trips with Delta/Air Namibia via Frankfurt have been trouble free thus far, BUT The Frankfurt gun permit hassle and the new Air Namibia gun case "surcharge"(effective May, 2013) of $100 each way means no more trips to Namibia via Frankfurt for me. Those AN Airbus 340-300's they fly are getting "tired". Newer (leased) aircraft were SUPPOSED to be in service by the end of 2013 but I have not verified this as I am now avoiding BOTH Frankfurt and Air Namibia until and unless both become more reasonable...!! I do not know if Lufthansa and Air Namibia still have a baggage handling arrangement. Check with Steve Turner at Travel With Guns.com for all the latest poop.

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That fee was minimal compared to the $200USD extortion at the J-berg airport for departing weapons.

I'm a little surprised by this as well. Hasn't been my experience.

Don

I was not happy about the fee, and would not pay cash for it, but made them put it on Amex. Had to go over to the ticket sales window to do that. Most assuredly, if I had paid in cash, it would have not made it to the airline coffers.

I understand that the fee is only for flights originating in Jberg, you could connect from Windhoek, without a fee. I had a unique schedule, flew in on Lufthansa, transfered to SAA to Windhoek coming in. Flew PH's cessna back to Jberg, then Lufthansa out. If I had just flown back to Windhoek and returned via SAA, no fee.

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Originally posted by Texas Blue Devil:
Has anyone every taken Lufthansa and SAA from US to South Africa, while traveling with rifles??

Does Lufthansa have a luggage agreement with SAA??

on several occasions, I've flown from Houston on Lufthansa and Air Namibia to Windhoek. Lufthansa has always performed flawlessly, but I can't say the same for Air Namibia.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Using FF miles, I did this trip in May last year. Route was LAX - Frankfurt - Joberg, then Joberg - Munich - LAX. Bags checked all the way through at both ends. I had no trouble at all.

Good / friendly service with both airlines and surprisingly enough I thought the SAA airplanes were a bit nicer.

Ive done the same routine as 7mmnut, but its been a few years. No problems with guns, the only down side was 12 hour layovers in Franfurt.

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Originally posted by chuck5656:
Ive done the same routine as 7mmnut, but its been a few years. No problems with guns, the only down side was 12 hour layovers in Franfurt.

Ain't that the truth!

SAA and Lufthansa is both members of Star Alliance like Scandinavian Airlines ( SAS ) and they all have a luggage agreement. Star Alliance also have US Airways and United as members including several other airline Companies.