First African hunt... ever.. Plains Game

I'm not too concerned about what to expect in Jo'berg, but am more concerned about what to expect at JFK, and what I can do to minimize the delays with them.

I'm flying on SAA

Thanks

I normally don't fly out of JFK, but my cousin recently did on a hunt in RSA. He had no problems. Just contact the NY Port Authority police ahead of time to see what you have to do with the firearms to make everything go smoothly. Also if you're driving through NJ check on their laws as well. They have some ridiculous laws re: firearms.

Our most recent experience in October and November was surprisingly good. The Port Authority personnel was exceptionally pleasant and actually helpful.
I found it to be better than that I have had out of Newark.

Congratulations and Best of Luck on your Safari. You will be a changed man and in all the best ways ...

Ah, I see you changed your post a bit. With the attitude you had earlier I am sure you would have problems at every point in your trip.

From PA drive to JFK and leave a bit early. The SAA check in opens at 7:30 am. Be early and one of the first in line. If you are at the begining of the line the agent will see you are traveling with firearms.
Cahnces are they will have everything ready and already contacted the Port Authority Police. Have a nice short chat(about your hunt) with the officer and you are on your way.

DO NOT drive to the airport the day before(ie. stay in a hotel). The airport is in NYC, do not drive to the airport the day before.

You should use a travel agent versed in traveling with firearms, they are you source of help if the airlines get dumb!!!

Leave the attitude at home, it will not do you any good over there.


Dulcinea

quote:

Originally posted by Dulcinea:
Ah, I see you changed your post a bit. With the attitude you had earlier I am sure you would have problems at every point in your trip.

From PA drive to JFK and leave a bit early. The SAA check in opens at 7:30 am. Be early and one of the first in line. If you are at the begining of the line the agent will see you are traveling with firearms.
Cahnces are they will have everything ready and already contacted the Port Authority Police. Have a nice short chat(about your hunt) with the officer and you are on your way.

DO NOT drive to the airport the day before(ie. stay in a hotel). The airport is in NYC, do not drive to the airport the day before.

You should use a travel agent versed in traveling with firearms, they are you source of help if the airlines get dumb!!!

Leave the attitude at home, it will not do you any good over there.


Dulcinea

DULCINEA, thanks for the reply..

Why not drive to the airport the day before? Because of NYC gun laws? I had planned to have someone drive me up the night before and stay at a hotel close to the airport. I really don't want to have to get up at 3am to leave for JFK for an 11am 16 hour flight. if I could help it. Please explain.

And yeah, i had a bad day at work when I first posted it..

Frank,

NYC's arcane gun laws can bite you if you are in the city to long, i.e. number of hours in the city. Just think what could go wrong staying in a hotel and then taking a cab with firearms.

Yep. 3am is about right. At the aiport at 6:30, check out opens at 7:30.

Don't worry about the early hours you will not sleep the night before anyway!!

There is nothing like the anticipation of a first trip to Africa, we all envy you!!

Don't think it is your trip of a lifetime because you will go back again.

Want more tips feel free to PM.

Keith

Frank,

My wife and I went to SA on our honeymoon in 2010. We had a friend of ours drive us to the hotel (Marriott chain hotel) from SE PA the night before. They had shuttle service included to the airport and we had no problems checking in. We were plently early checking in with SAA and we also had no problems with the port auth. I wish I could say the same with customs on our returned but, that's another story.

The only real negatives I had about the drive was the cost in tolls. Especially the bridges!
We also didn't have to worry about sleeping either since the hotel caught on fire around 1 am. You would think the whole building was on fire with the number of fire trucks when it was only one AC unit. I also got some strange looks from the firemen when I was standing outside with the rifle case and luggage. No way was some little fire stopping me from my first trip to Africa!

quote:

Originally posted by Highlander7:
Frank,

My wife and I went to SA on our honeymoon in 2010. We had a friend of ours drive us to the hotel (Marriott chain hotel) from SE PA the night before. They had shuttle service included to the airport and we had no problems checking in. We were plently early checking in with SAA and we also had no problems with the port auth. I wish I could say the same with customs on our returned but, that's another story.

The only real negatives I had about the drive was the cost in tolls. Especially the bridges!
We also didn't have to worry about sleeping either since the hotel caught on fire around 1 am. You would think the whole building was on fire with the number of fire trucks when it was only one AC unit. I also got some strange looks from the firemen when I was standing outside with the rifle case and luggage. No way was some little fire stopping me from my first trip to Africa!

So what was the deal with Customs on your return trip? I need to know what to expect!

Frank,

Customs. Lets just say I felt I was singled out because of my age (40). There were roughly a dozen outdoor enthusiast (aka people w/rifle cases) going through customs upon our return to JFK. In my opinion I was clearly the youngest. Out of all the people to get hasseled, it was me. They went through my 4457 (i hope I got the number correct). Not being one to not let my opinion be heard, I asked why was I choosen over everyone else? The officer was already treating me like crap. That just pissed him off more and made my custom experience longer and more brutal. It's partly my fault since I kept egging him on.

I'm not the only one to have bad experiences with US Customs. There are quite a few other people on the forum who had a lot worse and then there are people who had no problems what so ever. It would have been a lot better if the custom agent had personality and wasn't being a total ass from the get go. My personality has changed since my combat tours and retirement and so this agent wasn't going to ruin my great first trip to Africa.

Anyway, not worry about it. It's too easy. Just make sure all you paperwork is in order and you have no problem. Enjoy your trip.

easy fix for NY and there draconian gun laws and customs BS flight out through Atlanta the guys at Atlanta only wanted to know about the hunting as in what do i have to do to go and who do you suggest I talk too it must be my award winning personallity I have had no issues with customs so far going to comeing back

Why would you be upset with a customs agent looking over your 4457. Isn't that what they are supposed to do?

I flew through JFK last April on the way to Zim. Port Authority and Customs could not have been nicer. In fact, I am not a fan of Customs in Atlanta having flown Delta the previous two years. JFK was easier IMHO.

And I did spend the night in NYC with a firearm. Flew into JFK, checked rifle out with Port Authority, caught a cab to hotel, no problem. Arrived the next morning at 8:00 at the SAA desk. Second in line, no problems.

Easy...

Russell, did you actually check your bags and rifle to JFK, pick them all up at baggage claim at JFK, then cab with them to/from a local hotel & back? What's involved in leaving the airport with the rifle? I'm doing the same this Spring to Zim, and uneasy after hearing all of the NY horror stories.

TXSP,
Yes I did. You need to check your firearms out with the Port Authority... actually he just looked at rifle and 4457, told me to be sure and keep her locked in the case and bid me adieu. The folks at the hotel never questioned my rifle case (Pelican). Probably even less conspicuous with a Tuffpak. A little sincerity and humility goes a long way in greasing the skids through the authorities.

If you booked with Steve Turner his flight itinerary will give you specifics on making this easy.