Anyone flown SAA lately? I flew them in Oct. 10 and at that time, you were allowed one carry on and one personal bag. I had a small duffel (fits under the seat) and a small backpack.

Then last year, on the way over, I had to put my backpack into the duffel as they only allowed one carry on total (don't ask how I made the weight limit ). But on the way back over, it was a duffel and back pack allowed.

Seems they were in a bit of transition and were unclear on the limits, depending on where and with whom you checked in.

We are departing on Thursday, Thanksgiving, and the current website says one carry on for coach travel.

Anyone with recent experience that can add some insight to what they are currently enforcing?

Thanks.

Todd flew in September and was allowed 2 bags, my backpack went above and my computer bag went under the seat. Hope that helps.

Thanks Brian. Sure makes it easier with the extra back pack.

Did you fly past JoBerg, say to Harare or stay in RSA?

Todd I flew just to joberg. Glad I could help and good luck on your hunt looking forward to the report.

Thanks Brian.

Todd,
You can't take the break down S2 onto the plane! It has to be checked baggage!!!

I was watching for it to arrive via UPS or FedEx today but nothing!

Please expedite it Ricky as I have some definite plans for it! Unfortunately, the guy at the scrap metal junk yard told me today he isn't accepting "toxic" waste at this time!

Todd

The problem with the Joburg Harare route is who are you actually flying with? Some of the flights you book with SAA are actually operated by SA Airlink, and their baggage rules differ.
Check your bookings:
SA followed by 3 numbers is a SAA flight in a Boeing or Airbus.
SA and 4 numbers is an Airlink flight in an Embraer. I actually prefer this one, the seats are a bit smaller but this thing goes.
We flew up with Airlink and Lorinda had her hand luggage and a massive stuffed toy and they didn't give us any problems. Our hand luggage has never been weighed and they will faint if they do.
Our hold luggage was overweight which they waived without any fee. (our gun case weighed 23kg)

Apparently SAA allows 2 pieces of hold luggage not weighing more than 23kg each (46kg total)
SA Airlink allows 30kg, I don't know how many pieces.

Cheers

Martinus

Todd - I always fly SAA out of Dulles, and although they have consistently allowed one carry on and one "personal item", they always weigh the carry on items before they tag them and allow them on the plane. As I recall, they have a weight limit of about 18 pounds for the carry on item - probably best to check the SAA website to make sure. Additionally, I have found SAA agents frequently do not know their own policies for baggage - like you actually get 3 free checked bags if one contains sporting equipment like rifles - so, I always print off a copy of the rules and carry them with me. In each case of a dispute, the SAA agents have honored their written policy. So, back to the carry on issue, 18 pounds is not very much. So, before I get to the gate where my flight boards and the carry on bags are weighed, I take my vest out of my carry on (a Red Ox backpack) and stuff it full of all the heavy stuff like binoculars, cameras,extra batteries etc that I am carrying on the plane. I then wear the vest so it and its' contents do not get weighed as part of my carry on allowance. The SAA agent weighs my bag, it comes in under 18 pounds, they tag it and I am good to go to board. Once on the plane, I take off my vest and stuff everything back into backpack. Tis technique has worked for my last 3 trips to Zimbabwe.
Good luck in your travels. I can't wait to hear all about your hunt when we meet up at DSC.

Admiral,

I did something very similar last year. I took things like cameras, laptop, binos, etc, put in in the seat in the waiting area, then covered it with my jacket. Then, all the while with the seat in plain view, I took the bag up to be weighed. Got it tagged, then loaded it back up!

BTW, I didn't see in SAAs regs the part about the extra bag if one is sporting equipment. Do you have a link to that by any chance? Would be much appreciated.

Martinus,

Flight is SA24 and 23 return. 737-800. That's what I've always flown on in the past as well, but never the late flight up. It was canceled last year and I ended up for a night in JoBerg, as I did the previous year as well.

Last year, the issue with the second "personal" item occurred only on boarding at Dulles. All seemed to be no issue after that, but reading their website, it specifically states 1 carry on for coach travel. I can't find the reference to the "personal item" any longer. Of course, that's why I asked, as what is written and what is enforced is often two different things. Being a former airline pilot myself, I know that as well as anyone!

Thanks for the info guys.

http://www.flysaa.com/us/en/fl...ortingEquipment.html

Todd - see the link above - it clearly states you are allowed an extra bag for hunting equipment. I print off this section and carry it with me. I have had to use it twice now, but each time it saved me $100 in excess baggage fees.

When we flew in September we were not charged anything for checked baggage and we each had a suitcase and a gun case. Our carry ons were never weighed.

Thanks for the link Admiral.

My pleasure Todd - even I can travel well with 2 checked bags AND a Tuffpak for my rifles. In all honesty, I always have one bag full of gifts for my PHs kids, the trackers and the camp staff. Otherwise I would have no problem traveling with 2 checked bags.

Same here. We have enough items this time to rival Santa Claus! I think we'll have three bags and the rifle case, plus the carry on items. I'm just ready to get on the plane and get underway. Anticipation is killing me this time.

Wow y'all take a lot.

My son and I took one tuffpak, one checked bag and two carryons.

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:
Wow y'all take a lot.

My son and I took one tuffpak, one checked bag and two carryons.

Not so much really. My checked bag is the smaller sized roller equipped Cabelas outfitter series duffle. Once you put two soft sided gun cases and a small, lockable, Pelican case for ammo, in the top, it's pretty much full. The bottom has mainly heat mitigating items such as Frogg Toggs, portable fan, a couple containers of powdered Gatorade to make 8 quarts each, and one change of clothes as well as my first aid kit which I upgraded this year at the suggestion of Lion Hunter. Then a culling belt and sheathed knife. That's it.

I like to put a set of hunting clothes along with my courtney's in the carryon, along with binos, camera, meds, flashlight, toiletries, and laptop in the carry on. That way, if something happens to the checked baggage, I have a set of hunting clothes to wear including the most important part, the boots. Boots take up a bit of volume so it's nice to be able to drop the laptop and hard drive into the small backpack. I take that to download all the video shot during the day and possibly do a little editing before turning in for the night.

I'm always well under the weight limits for the checked bags, but with that small Americase I use for the guns, there isn't any room for other items, such as is available with the Tuffpak. Nice feature with the Tuffpak for sure, but I like the little Americase since it flies under the radar with no one knowing what's in it, and usually comes out with the regular luggage.

Being former airline people, wife as well, we travel light, usually with only carry ons. But this year, we have one extra bag due to all the goodies we are taking over for Buzz and Myles and their associates. I think we have all of the Christmas gifts for their families! Just helping out our Zim friends that have issues getting things we take for granted. We'll be super light on the return trip however!

Have a great hunt Todd!

Thanks Rusty.

Made lots of trips on SAA and never had anyone say anything about a carryon plus a personal item. Have never had SAA check size or weight of a carryon. Last trip was June of 2013.

Larry Sellers
SCI (International) Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Made lots of trips on SAA and never had anyone say anything about a carryon plus a personal item. Have never had SAA check size or weight of a carryon. Last trip was June of 2013.

Larry Sellers
SCI (International) Life Member

Todd. My experience as well. Last trip October 2013. Just watched the news and heard of heavy snowstorms hitting Texas. I expect you've made a plan. Have a great hunt.
Jytte

Todd, I do not know from the USA, but from Europe alle airline copmanies allow one carryon and one personal item such as a Pc and something similar. Often you are also able to have a big camera around your neck when bording.

Have a great hunt and kill'em all thats left

quote:

Originally posted by mej:
Just watched the news and heard of heavy snowstorms hitting Texas. I expect you've made a plan. Have a great hunt.
Jytte

mej - Y'all's definition of "heavy" and our definition of "heavy" are two completely different things.

Todd - Happy Thanksgiving and have a great hunt.

Hi Jytte,

Yep, doesn't take but the "threat" of temperatures going below 60F to shut down the whole of Texas! Becomes a real mess when we actually DO get some freezing precip!

Anyway, we are out of here on Thursday and the 5 day forecast shows clear and 50F with our arrival into Dulles to be clear and 39F. Touch wood but getting out of here looks OK so far. Also hoping that most of the travel will have been completed the day prior to Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving day was usually quite slow back when I was flying. That's the plan anyway. Hoping for the best.

On the issue of weighing carry on's, that was a hot topic last year. Don't know about this year. But my carry on bags were weighed leaving Dulles on SAA for the past two years. We also had our carry on bags weighed returning out of Auckland NZ last year. I think SAA and Air NZ were partners so maybe that had something to do with it. No worries however, I'm sly enough to get around that one. For that matter, I can always put my jacket over the small backpack if it becomes an issue. Never underestimate!

Todd
I flew the j'burg~Harare return last Sept with SAA. I had 2large prices of carry on.
No issues on weighing checking.
Last year we flew the same leg and it was on a smaller plane, twin prop I think. They took one of the carry ons off us on the Tarmac when boarding and we got it on disembarking at Harare, again never weighed anything.
Mate best of luck on your safari, send my best regards to Blakey, Ray , and all the team at CM .

Cheers and safe travels

Nick

Will do Nick. Thanks for the info. Sounds like Rich Tabor will be in camp as well. I'm thinking he's doing anti-poaching while we're there maybe. It'll be good to see him again as well.

I'm starting to think the only issue is with the gate agents in Dulles. Seems like no one is having issues with carry-ons and SAA anywhere else.