Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa London or Dubai connection?

Opinions? We're looking at options getting to JNB from the US. We've always used Delta through Atlanta but British Airways and Emirates are both offering significantly lower fares currently for travel in May.

I'd pay the extra and fly direct from the states to JNB

Just did Dubai to Boston, 12 hours.
If you are going to JNB add your layover up to 8 hours plus 8 to Joburg.
Friends are doing it in September but business class.
Try SA Airways. But fare is much higher.
We few Emirates and you won't be disappointed!

Giving my hard earned American $$ to a bunch of muslims would be last on my list, personally.

I looked real hard at the Emirates flight in Business, but decided on the BA premium E flight. The down side with the BA flight is they charge 100 pounds for your gun transfer at Heathrow, which is a lot of money, but we went with collecting miles, thus BA.

The last time I went to Jo'burg through London Heathrow, I got hassled big time because of the in-transit hunting firearms I had declared. My carrier airline was AA/British Airways and I'll never, ever go through London again! On the way home from London, after they hassled me, someone between London and ORD tried to break into my locked rifle case and ruined my case by destroying the seal channel. To say I was pissed, would be an understatement.

The trip before, I flew SAA from Atlanta to Cape Town, then on to Jo'burg. Much, much better. No hassles, very straightforward.

Dubai??? No thanks!

How about Amsterdam?

Delta is gun friendly. BA is not! Emirates is unknown to me. I wouldn't risk a multi thousand dollar trip to save a few hundred.

My wife, son and I flew thru Dubai on Emirates in 2012. No problem but if taking firearms make sure you follow the Pre-Trip instructions from Emirates. You need an authorization letter to transit thru, from the Dubai Airport Police Chief. Not difficult at all, just follow the instructions.
We would fly Emirates again. Very pleasant flight considering the length.
I have heard great things about SAA also. Advice given to me prior to our trip from someone who had made upwards of 40 trips across the pond, suggested almost all foreign airlines are more comfortable and have better service for long flights, than most all domestic airlines.
Have a good trip however you go and the best advice I can give>>
The Journey to and from is all part of the larger experience, Enjoy it!!
Les

From what I've heard, just about every stop in Europe--minus Germany, is a huge "NO."

I met the guys from Christensen Arms in the Joburg airport on my way back from Zim a few years back. They were shooting a show in RSA and had to borrow rifles due to their rifles not making it through Amsterdam.

Without guns fly any way you desire they all have plus and minus

Flying with firearms, you better go Via Delta from Atlanta, that has been the only 100% consistent and customer friendly firearms airport we have used.

My picks in order of comfort-
#1 hands down emirates (business class on the A380 is great)
#2 KLM

#3 a very distant third to me is Delta/SAA- I certainly would never pay a premium for either of these, and rate them both the same.

Emirates and KLM are probably going to connect you through Dubai /amsterdam while your delta/ saa will be direct from the USA hub city of your choosing. Both dubai and amsterdam would require their version of the inflight/ intransit gun permit but in both cases when I have done it- it was very straight forward.

If J'berg is your final destination then the only thing either Delta or SAA have in their favour is the possibly shorter duration depending on your closeness to their respective hubs.

Delta extended leg room is reasonably priced and is tolerable for me at 6'-3". Hands down the quickest way to go to Joberg and is gun friendly.

I have flown through Amsterdam on KLM to Dar, flight was decent but make certain your papers are in order for your transfer in Amsterdam. Use Steve Turner, Garcy, or somebody reputable. This route will add nearly a day each way to JNB, as will the Emirate flight.

Last year I flew Air France (booked through Delta) from Lafayette to Atlanta, to Paris with a 16 or so hour layover during the day, then to Joberg, then Lusaka with NO overnight in Joberg. The Paris to Joberg flight was on a 380. The ATL to CDG and CDG to JNB flight were Premium Economy. By far the most comfortable flight, best food, and I took the train to Paris and spent the day wandering around. Guns were check straight through to Lusaka, no hassle in Paris or at JNB. Not a bad way to travel, but again if you are going to JNB it will cost you an extra day.

If you final destination was Harare I believe Emirates would not be a bad choice as you fly from Dubai to Harare and avoid JNB all together.

The political side has become interesting since I booked the Air France flight last year. Delta will not carry the big 5, Emirates will not carry any trophies, SAA will carry trophies etc, etc.

Their is no problem in London with an BA to BA transfer of your firearm other then the 100 pounds transfer fee. Their might be a problem with an AA to BA transfer, but that a AA/BA problem not an BA or Heathrow problem.

Their is a huge problem with "BA" in Southern Africa, those BA flights are operated by Comair, and Comair does not allow the shipment of firearms.

FWIW: I’ve flown Delta via Atlanta to South Africa twice.

In 2012, the agent at Seatac refused to check my Tuff Pak because it was a “golf club case”, not a “gun case”. I had to return home, swap the guns into a Pelican case, and return to Seatac. I missed my flight.

I flew Delta to JNB last May via Atlanta on Delta. My flight and my body arrived at JNB; my guns ended up in Paris. They were shipped to my camp three days later.

I would likely still choose Delta over other carriers, but my track record would suggest they have their problems with firearms as well.

If you insist on taking your own firearms I'd probably want to use a USA based carrier. If you have problems that might not help much but most other carriers and countries have so many confusing and expense adding regulations. I quit taking my own firearms years ago. By the time you pay excess baggage fees, permit fees, bond fees and taxes not to mention the worry and wonder it just stopped being worth it. Besides if you want to "sight-see" you have no concerns. Ask your PH what his policy is about renting or borrowing what you need. I have had some VERY nice firearms to use at little or no cost except ammunition. Have fun no worries.

One other item of note on Air France, they would not let me board the plane until it was confirmed my firearms were loaded on the aircraft.

I have flown Seattle to Heathrow to Johannesburg at least 4 different times.
I booked through Steve at Travel with Guns. We got preapproved clearance for transit. I flew the international portion with British Air because of the World Traveler seat option which is more like business class than coach. I was treated very well and never had a problem.
It was interesting, at the Seattle departure gate I was met by a British Air employee who escorted me on the airplane. I boarded early, before everyone else. Likewise, I had an escort waiting for me at Heathrow who took me to the appropriate gate for the departure to Johannesburg. He personally checked to make certain my rifle case was on the flight. I felt like I had a personal servant handling all the details for me. It was just great.

The last few years I have transited thru JFK. The airport cops and I are on a "I remember you" basis. Again, no problems.

I am always polite, patient, prepared, and have the attitude everyone wants to help me. Never had an issue over 24 trips. I ALWAYS BOOK WITH STEVE.

Unfortunately, that appears more and more to be the best solution with airlines, our government agencies here, and agencies abroad.

Take a bow if you are worried about the firearms issue, its far easier

I just flew Emirates Airlines through Dubai from Seattle to Johannesburg and was very pleased with the experience. I have never flown through London and I did not bring a rifle on this trip, so I can't make those comparisons. However, I've perviously flown to Africa on Delta and Lufthansa through Atlanta and Frankfurt and had good experiences. I can say that my Emirates flight was hands down the best economy class flight (domestic or international) that I've ever had. Especially considering that my ticket literally cost half as much as a Delta flight through Atlanta, it was a no brainer to fly Emirates.

Another plus is Jihadist haven't been targeting these airlines yet. LOL

I fly united to Heathrow and SAA from Heathrow to Jo'burg. No firearm transfer fees that way. Check the gun at LAX, pick it up in OR Tambo.

This is always an interesting subject for me. I'm in Phoenix, For Lusaka, BA was a great option. PHX-London direct non-stop, London-Lusaka, also direct non-stop. BA doesn't fly Lusaka any more (didn't) last time over.SO choices for Zambia are limited to Joburg-Lusaka on BA. Another benefit to BA for me is/was, when I arrive in PHX, I immigrate and I 'm home. The Phoenix customs guys never EVER check my 4457's when I get home. They just ask if those are guns, send me on my way

Delta has favorable schedules, relatively gun friendly BUT… don't we as sportsman remember they chose to boycott transporting any big 5 hunting trophies? We need longer memories. Personally, I fought a long hard but unsuccessful fight to get NRA and SCI to completely boycott Delta. they can KMA.

Emirates; I flew to TZ in October, chose to give them a try. Steve Turner handled the details of the letter of permission. Yes, another detail but not a huge problem. My route was Phoenix-Dallas on AA, Dallas-Dubai-Dar es Salaam. The only hassle was, I had to claim guns in Dallas and change terminals to recheck at Emirates counter. They were friendly, fast and showed no "gun" attitude. For someone to rule out Emirates "because they're Muslims" is silly.

Emirates is the finest airline I've ever used, The planes were new, nice and extra comfortable. The schedule was on-time, the service was exemplary.

Air France, I flew them to Bangui a couple years ago. I flew comfort economy. The seats were nearly first class, the service was incredible. I had to stop at CDG, they were friendly, and everyone spoke english. The flight attendants all appeared to be models and I would use them again, no gun issues.

Never used KLM, can't comment as to that route.

Picture is the business class "bar" on Emirates

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Based on my personal experience I will not travel though London again with firearms. My traveling partner on way over had his scope rings losend and scope cover taken. As his bolt was removed in transport, they cocked the bolt. They couldn't figure out how to do much with mine but they took the rubber cover on the eye piece of my Leica scope.
On the way back home they took my partner off of the plane and tried real hard to make him miss his flight. They said his 458 Lott was a sniper rifle based on X-ray photo of the gun in the case because the rifle was scoped. This was even though we had proper gun permits approved and were on the way home. They were just trying to cause enough trouble so he couldn't make the flight and would have to stay there to be harassed more. My partner said he would only talk with a supervisor and they eventually reluctantly gave in and brought in the supervisor who allowed him to board at the last minute. It was just a stall tactic with those working in the airport.
After this I believe everyone's horror story about this airport.

Feel free to do what you want with your $$$, as will I. I don't like giving money to people (muslims) that are trying their best to exterminate us, but obviously YMMV.

Steve,



Same problem with Emirates and Air France, they will not transport trophies. From a USA article: Since the controversy erupted over Cecil's death, Air France, KLM, Iberia, IAG Cargo, Singapore Airlines and Qantas have joined South African Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa and British Airways in banning shipments of big-game trophies.

I was booked on Delta/Air France from LFT to Lusaka last year before all the insanity happened with a non-refundable ticket. Other than the politics the Air France Premium Economy was great. No firearm hassles at all. They actually confirmed the rifle was on the plane prior to me boarding.

Flying Delta/Air France again this year. Not many options to Brazzaville.

How did they get inside his gun case? I lock mine at the check in desk with three master locks and I'm the only one with the key.

Didn't know that was the case Mike. Thanks for the info. There is little hope for the reasonably un-complicates safari's of days past. As we were discussing over on the other site, we are being bludgeoned from all sides.

Hey, I know...maybe if we post more trophy pictures.

Steve

Steve,

You are a funny guy.

This is the lion I chose for a canned hunt. He is not a trophy yet.

They do not have to open case. They have some type of X-ray that I guess is similar to how they check your bags when you enter the airport. It gave an image of a rifle with large bell scope on it. From the print out you could clearly tell it was a rifle and scope.

The post that I asked the question of said;



How did they get in the locked gun cases to do this?

These were older style locks that were built in to the case. It doesn't take much to pick these locks. I have gone to hasp locks since


Like I said I will not travel through London based on my experience. You do whatever you want. I'm relaying my experience. I have other choices and London is not one of mine based on my experience. I cannot say it any clearer.