Gents:
I know this have been covered before.
I booked an elephant hunt in Zim for mid July. I will fly into Harare the week prior to visit friends. For the past dozen or more trips to Zim I have flown Delta to Jo'burg, spent the night, and on to either Bulawayo or Harare the next day.

However, I hear good things about Emirates. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?

Thanks. I will get my ticke in a week or so based on what I read here. Ticket will be purchased through Steve Turner.

Cal

i'm curious about this too

Cal:

I flew Houston-Dubai-Harare on Emirates last year with my teenage son. Overnighted in Dubai at no additional cost.

I found Emirates to be much better than Delta (I have flown Delta something like 900,000 miles over the years for work).

Emirates was on time every time and traveling with the firearms was a breeze. Checked them in Houston and picked them up in Harare. It was interesting to see Dubai, and I can live without going to Jo'burg for sure.

I used Travel With Guns too and Steve Turner handled the rifle permits.

So now I rate Emirates as my first choice, Delta as second, and SAA a distant third. I also have flown KLM and Air France on some of the legs. I would never fly Air France again.

The problem is for me personally that the trip takes two extra days to complete. Time out of the office.

Jeff

I was upgraded in Emirates and it was like living in a hotel. However economy is first class compared to some of the other airlines.

We have used Emirates on our last 3 trips to SA and Zim. One of the major benefits to, to me at least, is that you can avoid an overnight in Joburg and fly straight into Harare. We fly from DFW and there are a few different options regarding layovers in Dubai, ranging from about 3 hours up to 21 hours, we've chosen a longer layover to do a bit of sightseeing and hopefully avoid jet lag. Emirates frequently sends emails with "fare specials" and we buy our tickets when the right offer comes along...you can sometimes get business class tickets for very little more than comfort economy costs on Delta. We've gotten the hotel vouchers Paul spoke of as well on the longer layovers.
We will be using them once again in June to South Africa.

I have done both recently.

Pro's
Delta - price, and time in the air is less.

EMirates - superb quality, on time and no hassles, no hotel needed as you fly overnight to Dubai, then overnight back to J-berg.

Cons - Delta is not a quality airlines any longer. You must over night in J-berg and pay for the rifle transfer and hotel room.

Emirates - longer time in the air and might be a shade more expensive. All in, Emirates was cheaper for me to avoid spending the night in J-berg and dealing with getting in and out of the airport.

Business class on Delta is ok and on par with other airlines. Business class on Emirates is super and extremely nice. I will fly them everytime I can.

No question in my mind Emirates

I've flown Delta over a couple times but used Alaska Airline miles to fly Emirates last April. Hands down...no question...not even close Emirates was nicer, cleaner, better food, better entertainment system...holy crap that was a nice plane.

Emirates. No comparison, and I've flown just about all of them over the past 20+ years of African safaris. KLM, Virgin, Delta, SAA, BA, Emirates, Etc.

Believe it or not, once upon a time SAA was wonderful, but that was many moons ago! I stopped flying them circa 2003. And I avoid JNB like the plague.

What's your advice for the return flight? It looks brutal, maybe 25 hours+ in the air with only 1 1/2 on the ground in Dubai??? How do you guys handle this issue?

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Emirates. No comparison, and I've flown just about all of them over the past 20+ years of African safaris. KLM, Virgin, Delta, SAA, BA, Emirates, Etc.

Believe it or not, once upon a time SAA was wonderful, but that was many moons ago! I stopped flying them circa 2003. And I avoid JNB like the plague.

I have been saying this for years.

Emirates is head and shoulders above any airline today when it comes to customer service, and quality of planes.

It is always my first choice.

Thanks for the posts.
Flying from Alaska it is 7 hours overnight flight to Atlanta and then a 13 hour layover in the first class lounge of Delta.

The night in Jo'burg costs 150$ with meals and 150$ for the permits in and assist going out the next day.

How about costs for ecomony comfort? My Alaska to Zim and return is about $3700 each year via Delta.
Cal

Emirates before Delta by a mile. I flew DFW to Jo'berg three times last year. On one flight I was able to get Business Class roundtrip for 5300USD.

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Thanks for the posts.
Flying from Alaska it is 7 hours overnight flight to Atlanta and then a 13 hour layover in teh first class lounge of Delta.

The night in Jo'burh costs 150$ with meals and 150$ for the permits in and assist going out the next day.

How about costs for ecomony comfort? My Alaska to Zim and return is aobut $3700 each year.
Cal

Have never flown Delta, only British and Emirates.

Emirates is great service, food, and comfort (business class using Alaska Air Miles). Seattle to Dubai to Harare.

Cal, see if Saeed will be around during your itinerary, spend a couple nights in Dubai and then you could tell him everything you would change about AR.

Glad to be of help
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Thanks for the posts.
Flying from Alaska it is 7 hours overnight flight to Atlanta and then a 13 hour layover in teh first class lounge of Delta.

The night in Jo'burh costs 150$ with meals and 150$ for the permits in and assist going out the next day.

How about costs for ecomony comfort? My Alaska to Zim and return is aobut $3700 each year.
Cal

Have never flown Delta, only British and Emirates.

Emirates is great service, food, and comfort (business class using Alaska Air Miles). Seattle to Dubai to Harare.

Cal, see if Saeed will be around during your itinerary, spend a couple nights in Dubai and then you could tell him everything you would change about AR.

Glad to be of help
Jim

I've already done this but he won't ban you.
Shit!
Cal

Since you are flying out of Alaska, have you used AK Air miles? I made to Cape Town and back last year on Emirates for 90k...I thought that was a pretty good deal. Just a thought...

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Thanks for the posts.
Flying from Alaska it is 7 hours overnight flight to Atlanta and then a 13 hour layover in the first class lounge of Delta.

The night in Jo'burg costs 150$ with meals and 150$ for the permits in and assist going out the next day.

How about costs for ecomony comfort? My Alaska to Zim and return is about $3700 each year via Delta.
Cal

Thanks, AK.
I've never kept track of air miles. Not worth the time or hassle. I know many who do so, however.
Cheers,
Cal

I flew Emirates the first time this year to Dallas. Wow ! The friendly service is second to none. Every single person working on that plane is super friendly and helpful. Such a welcome change to the staff on some airlines that act like they are doing you a favor.

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Thanks, AK.
I've never kept track of air miles. Not worth the time or hassle. I know many who do so, however.
Cheers,
Cal

Really? Not worth it?

We use Alaska Airlines credit cards, never carrying balance forward, and get one mile per dollar.

Since 2010 Joyce and I have flown first class British, first class/ business class British, and business class Emirates all for less than you can get a coach ticket for. And that's for two passengers.

I'd say it's worth "keeping track".


Cheers
Jim

Same here. I haven't paid for business or fist class tickets to Africa in many years. There is nothing to keep track of. Just buy everything on a credit card, pay in full every month and save thousands. Doing it again in 6 weeks and to Brazil in Nov.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I've never bought anything on time, never carried a credit card balance. I only have one credit card and I use it so little I don't think it makes any difference.
Cal

I never carry a balance. I charge EVERYTHING and pay it all off each month. Thus no interest is ever charged. Think of it as an interest free 45 day loan(30 day billing cycle and 14 days to pay it off when you get the bill). Free use of someone else's money for 6 weeks. What's not to like? And the miles just keep racking up from spending you were going to do anyway.

And comparing Emirates to Delta is like comparing Nordstrom to Walmart.

Yes, Emirates is the best airline today..

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
I never carry a balance. I charge EVERYTHING and pay it all off each month. Thus no interest is ever charged. Think of it as an interest free 45 day loan(30 day billing cycle and 14 days to pay it off when you get the bill). Free use of someone else's money for 6 weeks. What's not to like? And the miles just keep racking up from spending you were going to do anyway.

True, we do the same and have the credit card automatically paid from our checking account so it's a no brainer.

I am traveling in Asia and staying off ar and internet for this month - just logged in to check my email and ar.

Cal - I did recently fly Emirates and will give my thoughts.

Fly Emirates

A380 is significantly better than 777 in coach.

Excellent food
Beyond excellent information and entertainment system
Great cheap wifi $1 - but given Saeed influence with his family who run Dubai and Emirates - ar is banned on Emirates wifi as a politically incorrect.


Dubai airport is okay - expensive food and duty free. Interesting people watching as the whole world seems to be transitioning thru there

You will get your gun in Harare - with South Africa I never get it on time. Delta you will have to overnight in jo-burg $300 cost.

Your stuff will not be stolen in Dubai - worry about theft all the time at jnb. I like jnb better as a transit airport to Dubai but theft and gun transfer means I will be flying Emirates.

Buy Bose ear phones I bought Bose qc15 at Costco for $239 - totally changes and upgrades Emirates inflight entertainment - excellent on long haul flights.

Main negative on Emirates in coach is 777 seats are narrow.

Mike

quote:

I am traveling in Asia

Mike, Trump's INS guys want to know when you plan on returning...not sure why :-)

I've only flown Emirates once to Zambia. What everyone has said about the airplane and kindness of staff on the plane, food, etc. is true. Wonderful.

Having said that, I almost missed my flights twice by this airline. If it weren't for my PH giving them a piece of his mind at the counter, while my wife and I were sitting in their lobby as the plane was getting ready to leave, we would have missed the flight for sure.

I will never fly with Emirates again.

Emirates.

Delta?????

Delta!!

They will also ship my dip and pack!!

Thanks for all your help fellas.
Emirates was not that attractive when flying from Alaska having to pickup and recheck bags in Seattle, the flights are longer, and the overnight in Dubai is equal to an overnight in SA. So, after a bit of thought, Delta it is. Having done this flight a dozen or more times, at least I know the routine.
Again, my thanks.
Cal
PS. Yesterday's ban on electronics didn't help the Emirates route.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cal pappas:
Thanks for all your help fellas.
Emirates was not that attractive when flying from Alaska having to pickup and recheck bags in Seattle, the flights are longer, and the overnight in Dubai is equal to an overnight in SA. So, after a bit of thought, Delta it is. Having done this flight a dozen or more times, at least I know the routine.

You must be traveling on different flights. I don't have to claim my bags and recheck in Seattle and my layover in Dubai is only 5hrs. Looks like you got bad info.

#1 of 13

Cal have you tried to book Air Alaska to SFO then to Dubai over night(cost of hotel and meals part of the ticket price) and fly to Harare. Have done this 4 times, Emirates is by far the best airline and this is the easiest way to travel to Harare in my opinion. You can arrange for a overnight in Dubai and visit Dubai for a day if you wish and keep your guns in transit.
Going through Joburge even if your guns stay in transit is a non starter for me
Travel with Guns arranged for my gun permit on Emirates no problems .
good luck and good hunting

Emirates by a bunch, not even any comparison..