Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Who has flown the new Delta service?

Has anybody flown on the new Delta Atlanta to Joberg flight yet? I know it is early in it's service but i was checking to see how smooth things are going.

Tell us what equipment they're using. I'm guessing the 777, which is a nice plane to ride in. The SAA Airbus is an abomination to sit in coach for 20 hours. I'm glad to see SAA leave Atlanta and Delta taking the route.

Let ya know in April <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm going to attend my sister's wedding...........

badger

Guess I'll be one of the 1st "guinea pigs" from this forum - I'm flying Delta from RSA to USA in a few days time!

My flight is from JHB to Atlanta GA (via Dakar) then I'm connecting to Harrisburg for later return via same route - the round trip rate I've paid is R8,895.00 - SAA asks R11,195.00 for the very same route.

Delta' s EQUIPMENT: BOEING 767-200/300

SAA's EQUIPMENT: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A340-600

Will post feedback on my return - right now I'm psyching myself up to make the change from high 30 to 40 degree heat to the tropical conditions prevalent in Harrisburg, PA <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Peter,
I presume you're setting up a booth at the outdoor show? If so what/were will it be?

Peter,

Actually, the temperatures in Harrisburg, PA, will likely be in the 30s and possibly 40s, too (degrees Fahrenheit, rather than Celsius!).

Bambistew,

Yip - we are doing the annual outdoor roadshow!

Normally a case of getting back from our off-shore fishing holiday in the Mozambique channel along with tropical weather and into the Northern hemisphere winter - my system does not enjoy the radical temp switching.

We (The African Hunters Guild) will be exhibiting our collective of outfits and destinations at these shows:

Great Rockies Sportshow, January 19th -21st , Billings Montana

International Sportsmen�s Exposition, January 25th � 28th, Denver, Colorado

Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show, February 3rd � 11th, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

I am going to be at the Harrisburg show - got some other business in the US to deal with afore that - my staffers are running the earlier shows - if you are in the vicnity do swing by for a chat.

PS - we have some super new plains game packages, good buff and ele.

Best wishes

Well folks I'm sitting here in the less than tropical USA after surviving...just ... the Delta flight.

I was scheduled to leave JHB international at 7.30 pm so I got to the airport earlier to check through etc .. bumped into several other outfitters on the same flight so we had sort of impromptu reunion.

Our flight was delayed from 7.30 to 3.15 am the next day - made for a longer than planned reunion durign which time we had very little to no comms and feedback from Delta staff etc .. last time I was treated was in the military ...hurry up and wait and kept in the dark.

When we eventually left we were 8 hours behind schedule which played havoc with connections etc. I can understand that aircraft get delayed for a variety of reasons so tried to maintain a postive outlook... which soon vanished once we were seated ... the aircraft is small, no inflight entertainment and the meals and service was just plain abysmall. All in all it took 32 hours to get to my destination.

Pierre Van Tonder and I travelled together ... we have spoken to a bunch of other folk here who took the same flight earlier in the week ... their comments were similar in that they had experienced a 3-4 hour depature delay and the same level of service in a very cramped aircraft.

All in all, I will never travel this route/ carrier and cannot recommend it. SAA's 747 flights from JHB to Washington is the way to go, I am tossing my Detla ticket and taking the loss and going home with SAA.

Peter,

I flew the Washington - JHB route on the SAA 747 in June. As long flights go, it was tolerable, the food was OK, and the booze - well, just fine thank you. It was my understanding, however, that SAA pulled the 747 aircraft on that route and replaced them with the Airbus. Is that not the case?

Tom

When I flew that route in August and September, SAA was using the AirBus. It is not the most comfortable plane, but the service and food was OK--nothing to complain about...

Did you stop for refueling? Where?

I got a similar story from a RSA PH who had the same delays the week before SCI with SAA. His flight was delayed a day, then he sat on the tarmac in Dakar for several hours refueling and could not depart due to crew change delay and air traffic that brought more planes to the airport than they had gates and facilities.

Something fishy is going on with these routes. SAA used to refuel at Isla del Sol, but that has obviously changed. If Delta also now refuels in Dakar, then that may be the hitch in the flights.

Routes do change, and I wonder if Dakar is up to the challenge. I understand Delta had to delay the commencement of it's RSA service because delays in "firming up the routes", which is open to interpretation.

Do you recall which equipment you flew on? 767 or 777. The 777 is very pleasant to fly on, even in coach. Superior to the 747 (IMO) and light-years ahead of that Airbus monstrosity. I can't imagine Delta would use a 767 on that route, but you never know. If they do, they are idiots and should be condemned to ride in coach themselves.

I am interested to hear from others who have used that route with both SAA and Delta in the past month.

Peter-ask around and see what the other PH's know that came to SCI.

I am booked on Delta to J'burg in late April. My ticket shows the plane as a 763 (variation of 767). I am going on my first safari. Other than the delays, how was the service?

The 763 is also known as the 767-300 or the 767 Extended Range (ER). Rode one from JFK to Instanbul non-stop once. Hatari's right the 777 is the best ride around.

Hi Folks,

We all flew same route Joburg with long refuel stop in Dakar, Senegal before going across the pond to Atlanta. Aircraft is a 767 - small and truly uncomfortable.

I have travelled extensively with a number of Airlines across Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA - this Delta trip has only been surpassed by a jaunt at the mercy of an Air India flying trashcan.

A bunch of us have found we had one thing in common, the agents in the RSA had said that the SAA flights are fully booked ... covniently Delta had flights ... go figure!!

Can anyone give me an update on the Delta service from Atlanta to RSA? I leave on April 26th for my hunt and I am booked on delta.

Just had lunch Monday with a buddy of mine who flew Delta to RSA and back this month. He was very complimentry about the plane and service, which is a nice endorsement from a critcal guy. I might add he flew "up front".

Well, I have a different view, perhaps. I think any seat to Africa is a good seat! Last week I was in line for takeoff at Washinton-Dulles and watched SAA take the runway on it's way to Johannesburg. I was flying to LGB and thought, I wonder how many hunters are on that flight, perhaps on their first safari fulfilling a dream of a lifetime. I sure wished I were on it!
After over 15,000 flying hours flying in airline seats (usually with the front window seat) I think any seat to the dark continent is a great one!

Delta is currently using the Boeing 767-300ER on the afternoon non-stop to Johannesburg flight. $1,650 for a round trip from ATL.

Is that non-stop or a pit stop in Dakar?