Flights to SA from london

[deerstalker.308]

Just thinking ahead, but what airlines do people avoid or advise for flying to SA?
What are Virgin like to travel with firearms?
I see SAA are likely to crumble imminently so let’s rule them out for now. Would be looking to transfer from Johannesburg to east London.

 

[Hanechdene]

Is there an operator who will take firearms on the domestic flight to East London yet?

I ended up hiring a car in March at East London Airport and driving back to Jo’burg.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Is there an operator who will take firearms on the domestic flight to East London yet?

I ended up hiring a car in March at East London Airport and driving back to Jo’burg.

This is a question I was not aware I needed to ask!

 

[deerstalker.308]

Having just checked you are correct, the firm for that leg does not carry guns....

 

[Hanechdene]

There is a courier who can transport your gun(s) there and back but for me it just added another dimension that one has no control of...... African time and all that....

Port Elizabeth may be a better option as there are more flights (cheaper too) and there was supposed to be an operator taking guns.

From memory the other option is to fly via Cape Town.

Are you on your own or in a group?

 

[deerstalker.308]

There is a courier who can transport your gun(s) there and back but for me it just added another dimension that one has no control of...... African time and all that....

Port Elizabeth may be a better option as there are more flights (cheaper too) and there was supposed to be an operator taking guns.

From memory the other option is to fly via Cape Town.

Are you on your own or in a group?

Solo probably.....

 

[Hanechdene]

The drive from Jo’burg to East London would be a challenge on your own. It’s round a 12 hour journey, the road is straight forward and was in the process of being upgraded to dual carriageway.

 

[Dickie]

I’ve gone Heathrow to Jo’burg twice now with virgin very good and no issues with firearm.

 

[Gsd99]

Whatever you do dont go British Airways, just had my flights cancelled for early May as can be expected. However, this is my second cancellation in 8 months with them and also had a significant flight delay last year also. They have terrible customer service and are trying to fob us off for a refund.

Josh

 

[ColinJ]

Haven’t been in a while but I always flew Virgin. Never had a problem with the airline.

That said, I checked in at Heathrow on Sept 12th 2001, the day after the twin towers, and the woman behind me heard me tell the check in staff that I had a rifle. She screamed, “Oh my God he’s got a gun!” and temporary panic ensued. That was fun...

 

[deerstalker.308]

It’s not the getting there it was the internal flights once there that were posing a problem but it seems SA Airlink actually do carry firearms, it was kalula or whatever they’re called which don’t..... had heard enough about BA to steer well clear so was looking at virgin anyway

 

[Safari Hunter]

Virgin are no issue with firearms. You have to pay for a second case unless you travel light or go business class.
In SA the only carrier for firearms is SA Airlink. At present there is no charge but may change after lockdown. Flights are few so you ill need to get your outward dates correct as the timings are not good. Also look to fly into PE.

Cheers
Adrian

 

[deerpath]

Virgin are the best of a bad bunch. Their premium economy also includes the extra case as a firearm. Their customer care is terrible whereas limping back at end March Ethiopian were very pleasant - £100 extra for the gun case on top of 6 X the normal fare but indirect via Addis Ababa and taking off at 0100 is not much fun !

 

[Hanechdene]

Internal SA operators:

Flysafari - no firearms allowed

Kulula - no firearms allowed

Mango - no firearms allowed

Comair (British Airways) - no firearms allowed

Fly airlink - yes

 

[smullery]

SAA will be no more by the end of this week. Aircraft are all up for sale.

 

[BigPat]

SAA will be no more by the end of this week. Aircraft are all up for sale.

I am not so sure that SAA will go completely out of business. The SA government have sunk 100's Millions (if not billions) into keeping it propped up and if they walk away now that is all lost. Plus SAA is a major employer and focus of the governments BEE policy so again it doesn't play well to let them just disappear.

But, having said all that SAA is clearly a very poorly run business with debts that it will never repay so maybe the government will just cut their losses now and use the C19 crisis as a convenient smoke screen for walking away.

 

[BigPat]

Update...

SAA have closed their customer service phone lines and suspended virtually all staff until C19 is over.

The message on the phone says that the ticket value of any unused tickets can be used for future travel until March 2022 and a free name change is allowed.

The problem is that using the ticket value is only possible if they are still operating and the value transfer could be an issue if they decide to put prices up so the original costs doesn't cover the new flight.

 

[Idahoboy]

Thanks for all the updates on this guys.

Like other posters I've always used SAA because they were gun friendly and could get to PE or SLondon via Link without any issues.

I also suspect, like another poster above, that the RSA government won't let SAA go under completely ... but only time will tell I guess.

 

[Pard 007]

Hi only been lucky enough to go to S Africa once trip was fantastic. Flew with Virgin from Heathrow to J borg then SAA to East London. Both were fine only issue had to pay extra luggage for rifle case & ammo box, with Virgin. If i remmeber right it was£65 per item each way, not that clear when booking.