I'm curious about the different routing options that are available. I went from Dallas to Chicago to Dulles to Jo'burg. That wasn't my first preference and it sure wasn't cheap...$2500 through an agent. I probably won't go that way again.

What have the rest of you done? Is Atlanta still popular? I recently checked Expedia and saw Atlanta to Jo'burg for $1500 (but through Paris). Any favorite routes that take you through interesting stops?

Bryan,

When I lived in AK we flew ANCH-SEA-LONDON-AFRICA several times with British Air with no problems.

Mark

In the really old days, I'm told, the route was via Rio de Janeiro. Might have been the Pan Am flying boats, in the 50's. If you look at your glose, it makes sense. Can anyone confirm?

That sounds interesting. I'm just looking for more variety. I actually drove from Anchorage to Dallas before I started the flights. I don't want to do that any more than necessary!

Pan Am flying boats...that's too cool. I bet it took forever but back then the journey was a huge part of the experience. Imagine taking a clipper ship like Quigley to Australia.

SAA has a direct flight from Sydney to Jo'berg. It was long but not bad due to the aircraft used, a 747-400. Check out your flight options from your point of origin to Sydney. Stay away from Hawaiian Airlines as they just announced that they will no longer carry firearms to and from Australia due to the stringent controls and difficult approval process.

There are many flights from the U.S. west coast directly to Sydney. If you overnight in Sydney, you can leave your firearm with Australian Customs and pick it up before checking in for your continuation to Jo'berg. It is handled efficiently by Customs. In fact, you do not have to stand in line when checking in. They Customs officer will escort you and firearm right up the the special handling check in on the SAA flight.

Geoff

That's an option I had not considered...overnighting in Sydney. Keep the ideas coming.

quote:

I went from Dallas to Chicago to Dulles to Jo'burg. That wasn't my first preference and it sure wasn't cheap...$2500 through an agent. I probably won't go that way again.

We are flying out in Sept. our route is San Antonio to Chicago to Dulles to Jo'burg. I payed $1800 through an agent.

Oh, that's wonderful. Who did you book with? I paid over $2300 for my flight and that was booked well in advance. I guess we won't do that again. It was even considered somewhat off season to fly in late May-early June.

Generally speaking your flights will cost less if you leave the US before may 21, or after aug 20. may 21 through Aug 19 are considered the high season for travel to southern africa.

My last trip , routed through paris via detroit to j-burg was $1500 us. This is not a recommendation for Air France! Most flights (Not one-stop from atl or Dulles or NY) late may through late aug are going at 2200 plus or minus 150 or so. No stops are costing more.

Paris, London, Frankfurt, UAE are others, besides sydney, that fly to J-burg.

Brice,

I know of several people that still travel frequently to RSA via Rio de Janeiro using SAA to cover the final leg.

Pretty simple route and usually cheaper.

Just need to take a yellow fever shot

BGF

Paris is the easiest flow-through with rifles of any of the airports in Europe. You can even take them to your hotel if you decide to stay a few days. Some people find Paris to be a pleasant place with many interesting attractions. You can fly Air France to Johannesburg non-stop and it is much more comfortable then SAA.

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
Oh, that's wonderful. Who did you book with? I paid over $2300 for my flight and that was booked well in advance. I guess we won't do that again. It was even considered somewhat off season to fly in late May-early June.

We booked with Debbie @ Custom Travel Ltd. in Hales Corners , Wi.

We booked our flights in April for Sept.

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
I'm curious about the different routing options that are available. I went from Dallas to Chicago to Dulles to Jo'burg. That wasn't my first preference and it sure wasn't cheap...$2500 through an agent. I probably won't go that way again.

What have the rest of you done? Is Atlanta still popular? I recently checked Expedia and saw Atlanta to Jo'burg for $1500 (but through Paris). Any favorite routes that take you through interesting stops?

I flew in May to Africa. My 8 leg flight route was Kansas City-Dulles- Jonhannesburg-Windhoek-Johannesburg-Kimberley-Johannesburg-Dulles-Kansas City for about $2200. United in the states all other legs with SAA. Kathi at Wild Travel booked the flight. It was a good trip

We're flying Delta from LAX to Atlanta and on to Joberg.
Booked 4 months ago.
$2000 each.

Trophyman

We're flying Houston (George Bush) to Atlanta on to Joberg via Delta. Booked through Gracey Travel Intl (8002998558) 1900.00

air france has a non-stop from houston to paris, with another non-stop from paris to jo'burg. the flight to paris arrives in the mid-morning, then leaves again about 11 at night. you can take the metro from the airport to downtown paris and be there about 1 hour after you land, take the metro back to the airport after a full day of sightseeing, and continue on to RSA. both flights are night flights, so you can get some sleep on both legs.

Thanks for the continued info on options. I also continue to be amazed at everyone paying several hundred less than me for the same itineraries (even the same travel company - Gracy). My ticket was booked months in advance and was just before the busy season.

Next time I will shop around or just buy them myself. I didn't get that much service for the expense. For example, I didn't care for numerous emails that were not replied to by Gracy after I had paid them for the tickets. Maybe I slipped through their cracks...1/2 dozen times.

yukon delta,

I'm buying my flight tickets tomorrow. The cheapest to USA is now from Johannesburg to JFK in New York via Dubai on Emirates Air. Long, very long flight, but at R 10 000.00, or at today's exchange rate US $ 1452 (all taxes included) it beats all alternatives presently available. I can only assume that the same cost would apply to a flight in reverse, i.e. starting at JFK and ending in JHBurg?

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren.

Thanks for that Andrew. All of the flights are long and your price is $900 less than what I paid!

We'll try to see you up north. Email reply sent to you.

Gracey has very wide cracks to fall thru, that is why I use Kathi at Wild Travel. In fact just got off the phone with her booking flights to DSC in Jan.

I'll suggest Frosch Travel, they got us tickets, Houston - Dulles - JoBerg - Windhoek - Joberg - Dulles - Houston for $1600 and change.

Thanks for all of the options and advice. It just goes to show you that the most popular option may not be the best sometimes.