I have a possible hunt to SA next year.
It would be my first out of country hunt.

Am getting wild plane fare rate quotes.

Would some of you guys that fly down there
be willing to share the prices and departure points with me?

I wouldn't be in business class.

Much rather fly from anywhere than Atlanta.
I have been told Dulles, Va is a very good departure point. Anyone fly from there?

Which airline?

Many thanks,

George

Contact Patrick at PWP Travel. patrick@pwptravel.com

He will find you the flights you need, arrange for rifle permits and give you all the information you need to make your first trip as easy as possible.

Thank you.
G

George,

I have used Gracy travel.

I have flown out of Dulles, Atlanta, Houston and Seattle.

Depending on which airline you decide to fly with probably will determine which airport you will fly out of.

The rates can really vary by time of year and airline.

Delta last year was way more expensive than its competitors last year. I ended up on United, and while it was more than it had been in the previous few years, it was reasonable compared to Delta.

I've used Gracy with great success as well.

If you are bringing your own rifles, I would not do it myself. Too many gotchas in the airline system for me to feel comfortable doing it all myself.

If you are willing to fly into other countries to connect, there are quite a few foreign flag airlines that can be good price wise... but complicate the firearms part and add time to the trip.

Ive gone through:
Chicago
Atlanta
Dallas
Newark
NY-LaGuardia
DC

all going over. They all can be easy or hard depending on who is there and the circumstances.

I would advise against flying through Addis Ababa (Ethiopian) if you are going there with guns.

I flew United coach this past August. $1,885 from Newark, NJ to Joberg.

I fly either Premium Eco or Business on BA or Business on Qatar, so not much help there. I will tell you that guns on BA is about $165 each way and easy. Qatar is nothing extra as long you don't go over your baggage allowance.

I would suggest you call Nicole at Gracy Travel.

One thing to keep in mind is that Qatar and Emirate's both have layovers and longer overall flight times than Delta and United which have direct flights from the states.

Finally got back to this.

Many thanks to all of you.

Tom: that's about what I had expected.
Had one quote from a planner that floored me.
$7500-$8500, that did not include any domestic flight from CO.

I am looking at flights from Pueblo to Denver, to Dulles, then Joburg.
Possibly return from Windhoek.

I was hoping for more actual costs than referrals.

I am one of those guys that if I can't take and use my own guns, I won't go at all.
Same with ammo. I flat refuse to shoot factory ammo.

Again, thank you all.

George

The reason most of us probably are not saying price is because it varies by airline and time of year.

My cheapest was $1800 via Atlanta, and that got upgraded to business.

Most expensive was also business and $7500.

This year delta economy for my hunt was $4400. United was $2300. That was including the South African connecting flights.

You might save a lot of money by not flying from Pueblo to Denver.

It was right around 1800$ from Denver to Joburg via Atlanta for my flights last year. Kathi who posts on this site took care of everything for me.

You can comparison shop across almost all airlines at

https://www.cheapoair.com/

Careful where you get your tickets from.

Highly discounted tickets are the first to be taken off if the flight is over booked.

Business class airfare is going to run between $5K and $7K in my experience. I have generally found the Middle Eastern airlines a little less expensive than options like KLM and Delta. You might find a special business class fare under $5K but that would be the exception and would likely come with some restrictions on seat assignments, refunds, etc. Airfares also seem to be up these days, perhaps still from increased demand post Covid.

georgld,

In my opinion having a hassle free travel experience is far more important than the price of the ticket.

Travel agents like Gracy Travel will line you out on all aspects of your safari travel. it will be the best money you ever spent.

If you have issues such as late departure, luggage issues, uninformed ticket counter folks. Who are you going to call if you bought your tickets on-line?
An agent like Gracy will be there to help you sort out any issues.

I've traveled quite a bit and I still use Gracy's service and recommend them to all my clients.

Travel safe,

Mark

We seem to make replies perhaps more complicated than necessary (why the OP said something about agent recommendations)

Answer is simple:
2 Direct routes to JNB
1) Delta to ATL to JNB..about $1,800
2) United Newark to JNB. about 2k depending on seat pick etc
Business or First in both are outrageous at 9-11k IMO
These are the shorter routes

Many Here as MJines rightly pointed out (pricing wise) take say Quatar through Doha or perhaps Emirates
Business class on these is better and cheaper 5-7k often
Longer itineraries slightly but also more comfort and perhaps no overnight in Joberg

Other itineraries are crap mostly…..long long itineraries for a slightly lower price perhaps

Check Google flights. Best of the search engines for flights. As an example I just checked for business flights mid September next year and found Emirates from MIA to JNB for $4700 on a 27 1/2 hour itinerary. Next closest in price was Qatar for $6500…

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
georgld,

In my opinion having a hassle free travel experience is far more important than the price of the ticket.

Travel agents like Gracy Travel will line you out on all aspects of your safari travel. it will be the best money you ever spent.

If you have issues such as late departure, luggage issues, uninformed ticket counter folks. Who are you going to call if you bought your tickets on-line?
An agent like Gracy will be there to help you sort out any issues.

I've traveled quite a bit and I still use Gracy's service and recommend them to all my clients.

Travel safe,

Mark

Exactly!

Hassle free is the magic word.

Last week I heard about two American hunters going through Addis Ababa and their rifles did not arrive with them.

Which delays their safari.

This is the reason it is better to pay a bit more, and be certain of the results!

I would fly direct from wherever your departure is in the US to joberg.

We flew atlanta to joberg this july. Think I paid 2600 for coach on the way and economy plus on the way home on Delta. Right before we left, i upgraded to delta one for 1200 bucks extra which was pretty badass to lay flat on the way there. and better than the $5k they were charging originally when i booked the ticket!

with good pre-planning you can use credit card signup bonuses to build enough points to pay for all of or a lot of your flight. Pick the airline and flight you want, then figure out how to get enough points.

I have played this game a lot so i was really only able to get a capital one card, but that took 1,700 bucks off the flight with those points, which helps!

Good luck!

Wow!

So much action from everyone to consider.
Thank you all.

Coop: Beware of Capitol One! I just went thru a year long hassle with them over not refunding a returned order. They did a major number on my credit too.

Far as flying from pueblo to Denver. It's a two hour drive up there, plus parking while gone. Pueblo only has a 19 seater so check in is fast and easy done all the way thru.

No way I need or can afford a business seat Mike. Airfare is likely the breaker of this notion.

As is my health issues. Healthy enough except 80 years old to start with then: ostomy, crippled up in back, legs and now shoulder replacement again. Knowing friends have advised me to forget it. I very much believe they are right.

Thanks again, appreciate all the advice and info, referrals etc.

George

George
Your friends be damned!
Assisted care is available on all airlines if you make the appropriate arrangements. A good outfit/PH will tailor the hunt to your abilities.
There are an infinite number of South African locations that have very comfortable accommodation to rest a weary body at the end of each day.
Just do it!
It will be a regret that sits with you for the rest of your days if you don't!

My 10c worth (ZAR)

JCHB

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:

. . . Far as flying from pueblo to Denver. It's a two hour drive up there, plus parking while gone. Pueblo only has a 19 seater so check in is fast and easy done all the way thru. . .


George

Sir, I checked some fares on Google flight for next July for a 7 day hunt. From Pueblo that coach ticket shows over 8k. The same days from Denver is a little less then 2k on Delta. 6k to save a two hour drive and parking is worth the inconvenience? Pueblo is why you are getting "wild plane rate quotes." And business from Denver is only around 6k. Still cheaper then Pueblo coach.

One other thing to consider, I recently used a private transport company for medical transport and found they do airport trips as well, the cost round trip to the airport is far less than the cost of long term parking at DIA.

I use Travel With Guns. Their number is 210-858-9833.I usually fly from Salt Lake City to Atlanta to Johannesberg. I have also traveled on Emirates through Seattle to Dubai. Customs in Atlanta handles a lot of hunters so they are good (generally) at getting you through. I have been through some airports that don't handle many guns and it is more of a hassle. A good travel agent such as TWG or Gracey will get everything arranged so it is really fairly easy. Have fun.

quote:

I use Travel With Guns. Their number is 210-858-9833.I usually fly from Salt Lake City to Atlanta to Johannesburg. I have also traveled on Emirates through Seattle to Dubai. Customs in Atlanta handles a lot of hunters so they are good (generally) at getting you through. I have been through some airports that don't handle many guns and it is more of a hassle. A good travel agent such as TWG or Gracey will get everything arranged so it is really fairly easy. Have fun.

+1

I use Jennifer at Travel Express thae last 2 years and net April she is handling my flights again, she is very nice to work with

Wow!
So much action and info from everyone to consider.
Thank you all very much.

CoopJD: Beware of Capitol One! I just went thru a year long hassle with them over not refunding a returned order. They did a major number on my credit too.

Far as flying from pueblo to Denver. It's a two hour drive up there, plus parking while gone. Pueblo only has a 19 seater so check in is fast and easy done all the way thru.

No way I need or can afford a business seat Mike. Airfare is likely the breaker of this notion.

As is my health issues. Healthy enough except 80 years old to start with then: ostomy, crippled up in back, legs and now shoulder replacement again. Knowing friends have advised me to forget it. I very much believe they are right.

Thanks again, appreciate all the advice and info, referrals etc.

George