Washington DC Flight to Joburg

littlejoe · Aug 3, 2011

I highly recommend not taking this flight if given the option. It is 17 1/2 hours and you have to stop in Dakar, Senegal to fuel and that takes a couple of hours and you cannot leave the plane.

Delta goes straight from Atlanta to Joburg. That is the flight I will take next time.

Also, I don't recommend South African Air if taking this flight. It is the only flight I have ever been on that does not have air circulating. No fans; no nothing. Unreal!

foundation · Aug 3, 2011

littlejoe are planes that fly international any different size in the seating arrangments ? I'm super long legged , and unless I get a seat over the wing with the exit I'm hating it big time .

How long is that flight from Atlanta to joburg. that you mentioned ?

littlejoe · Aug 3, 2011

I believe that Atlanta to Joburg is 15 hours. I purposely booked the bulk head seats for more leg room. Book far in advance and get that seat. Not the greatest but much better than the regular seats.

The plane I was on was two on the sides and I believe six in the middle. It holds 300-400 people and it was full flying over and 75% full flying home.

foundation · Aug 3, 2011

I'll have to keep that in mind . Last time I flew I was told I couldn't pick or reserve a seat , but that was just local flying also .

15 or even the 17 hours is a dang long time to be cramped up in a little tiny seat . I'll have to do some sleeping pills , and try to sleep most of it . LOL

woodruffhunter · Aug 3, 2011

I absolutely agree! I was talked into taking the direct flight from Atlanta to Jo-Berg for a few extra hundred bucks. Absolutely worth it and it was about 15 hours.

There isn't any comfortable coach flight for that long. But, it beats an extra layover.

Delta is gun friendly and great to deal with. The more layovers the higher chance for lost luggage!

Remember to take noise cancellations headphones, and watch as many movies as you can. Fall asleep and you are there. I'd rake some ibuprofen as well lol...

Feleno · Aug 5, 2011

The stop in Dakar is the highlight of the trip

Next safari we are stopping off in London on the way over then on to JoBerg or direct to Windhoek the next day. Its the only way the wife will go over again.

We were lucky on the way home last trip we lost a whole convention of people getting off in Dakar and not many getting on. We each got 2 seats to ourselves which makes sitting almost comfortable. The stench of the cattle car didn't seem to go away though.

CAelknuts · Aug 7, 2011

The Atlanta to Jo'berg route is quite popular with hunters, but a lot of Americans going over to hunt Africa really like to lay over in either London or Frankfurt for a day and then continue their flight. I've never overnighted in London, but twice I have had a long enough layover there to do some sightseeing and get away from the airport. One time, I got a day room near Windsor Castle, took a nice nap, toured the castle, then went back to take a shower, headed to the airport and was in Africa with no problems and feeling as good as you can on this trip. Last time we went, we had about 8 hours so we took the train from Heathrow into London, did some shopping (which was a big deal since my wife and daughter were along with son and I) and then back to the airport for our flight to Jo'berg.

One thing a lot of guys do to deal with the flight is get a prescription for Ambien, or take an over the counter sleep aid, and they try to sleep as much of the flight as they can. Just remember to drink enough water early even if you're going to sleep, as long flights will leave you dehydrated, and you'll feel like crap when you get to Africa. Better to get up from your sleep to pee a few times and feel good and refreshed when you land.

littlejoe · Aug 7, 2011

I won't fly through London. Heard lots of recent experiences with hunters in London and they were all bad. They are not a very pro hunting airport recently from what I have read.

kilbuc · Aug 7, 2011

Feleno...if going to Windhok, look at going thru Frankfort, Germany. Long lay over 8-10hours but can sightsee in town. I went in 09 and found the 12 hour flight to Frankfort, then another 8-10 hour flight to Windhok much easier than traveling to Jberg from either Dallas or Atlanta and then back to Windhok..

from the "Heartland of Wyoming"

idhunters · Aug 14, 2011

When we flew to Joburg from Atlanta on Delta (a couple years ago)it also had to stop in Dakar for refueling and fumigation (seriously). So I don't know that you would be any better off than the DC flight. We were on the plane app. 19 1/2 hours. Maybe things have changed but I could not locate any true non-stop flights from the states to JoBurg.

The exit seats have a little more leg room. But it is still a cattle car. The ambien suggestion is a good one.

I got to hear an argument between some passnegers. There were 2 people arguing and 2 stewardess' translating about 4 languages. Pretty crazy.

The plane ride is the price you pay for the African experience.

CAelknuts · Aug 14, 2011

Littlejoe, a lot of hunters are hesitant to go through London, such as you mention. However, I've flown British Airways from the states over to Africa twice, going through London both times, and I've never had the slightest problem that wasn't of my own making there. I have had a couple problems, but I contributed to them by some of my own actions. I'd fly through London or Frankfurt without hesitation.

Another option, if you're not flying to southern Africa, is to consider Emirates Air. They're out of Dubai, and the service is said to be very good, and they are very firearms friendly. You do have to take care of your firearms paperwork in advance, especially if you're laying over in Dubai, but they get high marks pretty consistently over on AR.

NiceRack · Aug 25, 2011

I flew AA from LAX to JFK then South African Airways from JFK to Joburg and then to Windhoek. The entire one-way trip was 23 hours with a stop in the Cape Verde Islands for a crew change. I was in a SAA's 747-400. I rode in the cockpit for takeoff from JFK up to cruise altitude of 34000 ft. The pilots were very friendly and accomodating. The flight attendants were great, they set up an entire row for me to turn into a small bunk for sleeping. No issues in either airport, Joburg or Windhoek with firearms, they are both set up for hunters.
On the trip home it was the reverse....route and customer service were great.
As far as ventilation goes, that is controlled by the pilots. There is no incentive to not have "airflow" to the cabin. Could it have been that the odors perhaps were a bit too much for the aircraft to handle? I thought that for a time. I think the majority of the passengers on my flight have a different viewpoint when it came to personal hygene! No matter though, I was way too excited to be starting my safari.
Paul
"Nice Rack" Taxidermy
AA 767 Intl. F/O