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agazain Offline OP
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To : Linda Schrader / FALCON TRAVEL

Here’s some very recent feedback, mostly about the taking your own gun part, and logistics.
None of this is by way of complaint. Your notes and care were superb. However, this updated report on the process might help other clients.

1. It’s an iPhone world, and taking along photos of all the paperwork helped fill gaps that occurred. Having them as back-up allowed personnel to decide questions in our favor.
For example, Pamela and I found ourselves in two lines at U.S. Customs. I had my old 4457’s in my traveler’s neck bag; she had the newest laminated forms in her bag, and
I had copies of those inside the gun case. We had to re-check and re-TSA even though all were bar coded through to IAH, including separate ammo box, required starting on the Jo’burg to P.E. leg. My iPhone pics of rifles with serial numbers, accompanying Form 4457’s and so on allowed the officer to switch from beast mode to asking about the trip, agreeing with “happy wife, happy life”, and so on. Courtesy works!
After customs, TSA had to do their thing all over again, porter included. I had to get the gun case and ammo box to check-in, get rescanned, then find the train to departure terminal/gate. That guy couldn’t operate a key and lock, yet he had to X-ray and hand inspect the insides of the gun case, holding me and the porter hostage while showing his authority. He finally asked for my help. Sigh! “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am” helps a bunch.
I barely made it, running at points -- CHI St. Luke’s cardio rehab was for the airports, not the mountains!! Pamela had them waiting for me, but they were giving us the old “run home’ third base coach arm wind milling thing. Next flight was 2 1/2 hours wait and it just wouldn’t have been pleasant. Guess I am saying it takes longer than two hours to make your connection if it involves your own sports equipment. Atlanta might be smoother than Dulles, but maybe it is worse? Anyhow, with God’s help, my Amharic connection and an Ethiopian porter (who absolutely saved my bacon!) plus the notes on your paperwork, it worked.

2. O.R. Tambo is designed with tipping opportunities at every point, anticipated and actually expected. Afton House, despite that slick video, succeeds because of their veteran staff/ownership experience and contacts inside the airport. Freddie handles incoming, Mr. X is part of both incoming and outgoing aspects, all of it coordinated with driver Maurius. They know which room is for what, and the constant change-up that is the new process. First room is the lady who verifies, hand documents in a ledger that your boarding pass(es) and claim tickets match up. Then you have to find the room where the temporary permit and inspection happens, etc. Next comes driving to Afton House -- quite nice! Freddie gets a tip for smoothing out transfer through customs, and there’s chatting up both clients and airport buddies all along the way. The required overnight stay, when making an internal flight after Jo’burg, means you reverse the process the next day, checking guns back in and shipping ammo in a required separate crate (in my case I already had it packed in the luggage that way the day before.) They have to be received and you go through the rigmarole at P.E. Their expected tip is jokingly in the form of returning with a springbok leg for them, as they explain how the safari return to Jo’burg process works.

3. Returning to international from domestic is designed to confuse and “shake you up”. Every next step is another terminal and/or floor level away, the routes in between long and convoluted. Even people with SAA uniforms are prepped to sell you off to one of the orange vest guys, who’d started in with “It’s my job to help you.” People WOULD tell you where “next” was, and we did have wheels on the gun case, plus a trolley for carry-ons. Our other main luggage was already forwarded to IAD/IAH, so we weren’t toting them. Yet, a porter was eventually unavoidable. But, hey. Maybe I saved ten bucks attempting to handle it ourselves.
Guess I am saying the process is driving using rental rifles rather than taking your own. Less a problem if you aren’t accompanying family / caring for the safety of someone other than a hunting buddy. I got quite exhausted. But, Pamela had a splendid time, and I have a happy wife to go with a powerful experience of my own. (That’s later, called UNRAVELING and in process at this point.) You made it possible, too, Linda. The heart operation thing and delay made it unique, and we needed all your expertise to still “make it happen.”

Again, outstanding work! (Uitstekend!) Gig ‘em!

Barry Nagel

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I don't understand the tipping problem. I stayed at the City Lodge at the airport. I hired Air 2000. Their employee met us at the end of the jetway, stayed with us through customs, police check and escorted us to the hotel. I tipped him. The next morning, he escorted back to the police station and to our gate, so he was tipped again.

Coming back was a little more convoluted I picked up my rifle in a secured area, then had to wait for the police check in a secured area, the employee was not allowed in there. Once clear, employee took us to our driver we hired from Air 2000. He took us around Joburg, and to Cambanos and Son. Great shop.

Returned to airport, tipped driver. Was met by Air 2000 employee who took us through the police station and check in. Only tipped the employee and the driver.

Trouble free. This was May 2014. I recommend Air 2000. Anne Burril-Gaines looks after her clients.

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I went to South Africa in August. There was no problem getting thru customs & getting my rifle. I tipped no one & no tried to get one.

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I used Afton House and Mr. X in May of 2016, they both sucked! Mr. X lost my gun permit, he tried to get Analise to fax it and she couldn't do. Two hours later he drove to Afton House and got it. We booked an overnight stay at Afton House, they overbooked and we were funneled to Eland House, owned by a very nice South African Greek. We were funneled back and fourth to Afton House for dinner and breakfast. I got a very small steak for dinner. when leaving Eland House we paid him for our stay, when we got to Afton House to get picked up by our outfitter, Analise wanted paid and we told her we paid the Eland House, she wasn't very happy. Fugg her!

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I have used Gracy Travel for two hunts now, the most recent being just three months ago. Their Meet and Greet people are top notch, and Gracy's info as to what to expect in the African airports was spot on. We never were hit up for tips, either coming or going, on both hunts while travelling through Joburg and Port Elizabeth. We also avoid staying overnight in Joburg, at all costs, having done that once in the distant past.
I highly recommend Gracy to anyone travelling to SA- Debbie Gracy and Shawn Kennedy are top notch pros.


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Interesting comments about Aston house above. I used them in 13 and 14, no problems.


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I was there in August this year. Used Travel With Guns to book travel, riflepermits.com for clearing rifle overnight and check-in the next morning, and stayed at city lodge. No issues at all, very pleasant experience.

Only tips I gave in South Africa were to Anna at riflepermits.com, who assisted me the whole time, and to the guy serving me beer at the craft brewery place in Tambo (whom I think I over tipped based upon how excited and courteous he became after seeing my tip - was about a $3.75 tip).

Now Zimbabwe ... “do you have a tip for me” seemed like the standard salutation at the airport. Still not a bad experience though as I knew they would do that.


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