Info Please on Flying Delta Airlines Non Stop from Atlanta to Africa....

[TakeMeLord]

Do you recommend?

Compare to overnight in Europe?

How did Delta Airlines handle firearms?

Any other info you can offer?

Thanks!

 

[Shootist43]

I've been to Africa only three times, all of them on Delta's Atlanta - Joburg. flight. I check my firearms in at my local Delta terminal and don't see them again till touchdown. Sixteen hours is a long boring flight, movies and sleeping take up a good bit of the time, at least for me. Traveling with guns through Europe can be problematic depending on where you want to land. You need to have all the details worked out ahead of time. I'm sure you will be hearing from others in the very near future.

 

[Hooked Now]

Atlanta is home and I have taken that flight a grand total of one time. Flew premium select (one down from Delta One and one up from Comfort Plus). Extra room was nice. Couldn't figure out when to sleep and was too excited in any case. Checked rifle in Atlanta and never thought about it again until RSA. Easy peezy. Did use Apple air tags to keep track. All in all it was pretty straightforward. Tip for Atlanta is to arrive early or leave a good bit of layover time if you are coming from somewhere else. Security times can be variable and the airport is pretty big if you are going from one gate to another. Enjoy the Sky Club and keep the stress down by allowing yourself time either way. Message me if you need to chat.

 

[samson7x]

I've flown Delta from ATL twice now and will continue with this route despite the increased airfare cost. Buddy chose the Europe route and it ends up being significantly more travel time.

 

[everett]

I prefer it over traveling through Europe or anywhere else. One overnight flight as opposed to two. Spend second night in hotel in Jo’burg. More well rested and adjusted to time before headed on to final stop.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Flown Delta 3 times, Qatar 2, United 1.
I will fly Delta from now on. Check guns in Houston, pick up Johberg. No issues. I like to get it over with and be done.
With layerovers in Europe or Middle East not worth extra time to me even if cheaper on tickets. I fly Comfort Plus, did Preimum Select 1 time and didn’t see advantage is cost upgrade.

 

[Kudu2024]

Do you recommend?

Compare to overnight in Europe?

How did Delta Airlines handle firearms?

Any other info you can offer?

Thanks!

YES, Delta
Indy to Atlanta to Joburg. We leave Atlanta around 10pm and 14-15 hours later land. A few movies, games, a little food service and some sleep and your there. EASY flight.

We check our firearms at Indy and pickup at the police station (in the airport) at Joburg. My outfitter is there waiting and we get to the lodge around 10-11 pm ready to go for the next day safari. about 1.5 hours North.

My outfitter handles ALL paperwork, ALL travel, pickup at Joburg at NO cost. NO hidden costs. My trips have been easy.
Heading back in 29 days.

 

[Green Chile]

I started going to Africa years ago on Delta from ATL...tried a few others in between and then went back to the long haul from ATL to JNB. It's my preferred route.

 

[KuduKiller]

I’ve made the Delta flight from Atlanta 6 times, soon to be 7. In 2021 Delta made us fly through Amsterdam which honestly sucked but KLM was very nice! I’ve heard horror stories about flying through Europe and England.

I fly out of Nashville, 1 1/2 hours to ATL then that 15 to Jo’burg. It’s an easy flight but a bit long. I’d much rather suck it up and deal with it other than breaking it up in stops.

I have Mr. X do our permits and the VIP meet and greet! I highly recommend him for the ease of everything and if a minor problem arises he can easily take care of it!

 

[PARA45]

I've been to South Africa twice, and both times I've used Delta. My first trip was on the 777 acft, and this last time (2022) was in their new Airbus. Heading there again in Jun, and I'm flying Delta again. Yes, 16.5 hrs is a long time; I watched movies or read when I was awake and slept when I got tired. Before I knew it, we were landing.

 

[KuduKiller]

Rum and Coca-Cola with a few Benadryl made that nap a bit easier to come by! Just saying!

 

[Bandera]

6 of us flew the ATL to JNB in 2023.
Me and my wife flew premium select. Only way to fly to JNB
Two guys flew comfort plus
Two flew cattle car.
On gun case arrived with a hinge knocked off. To be fair it was a Plano Case. While TSA rated it was not baggage handler rated. Looks and feels cheap.
All other cases and luggage arrived with no issues.
We boarded flight had dinner, popped 3 Zquill and sleeping pill woke over Namibia.

This trip in June I expect the same. Difference being we are flying from HSV to ATL the JNB. The last trip we opted to do the 4 hour drive to ATL. Post Atlanta traffic, Atlanta Traffic and then parking put us there 2 hours late.
So flying the whole way.

4 hour layover. Leaves time to relax in the Delta lounge. If there is a weather delay still should make the flight.

We are doing an overnight and rest day in J’Burg at Africa Sky. They are handling all the permits.
So far the permit process has been less than on par with the way that Aftons handled permits.
Also communication from Africa Sky has been very slow. Several days to a couple of weeks to respond.

 

[Green Chile]

One thing I’ve learned is that I don’t like airplane food. It just doesn’t agree with me so I take a bit of food that is bland and agreeable and pass on the rest of it. The flights are so much better without an upset stomach! Also take some Imodium with you for the start of trips that have different water and food than is normal. I like Delta because it gets me there the fastest and doesn’t waste precious hours on layovers.

 

[DJStang]

I flew that route in 2022, seating was Comfort +. It wasn't that bad. I'm coming out of West Palm Beach, so PBI to Atlanta, layover there, and then on to Johannesburg. The flight back was direct to Atlanta, but now it looks like it's down to Capetown, then over to Atlanta. I'll be heading back to South Africa in 2026 with the family this time.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

If you adds simply talking flight to Joberg and have a convenient way to fly Emirates, I wouldn’t hesitate. Delta is risky. Been screwed by Delta too many times…

Emirates is nice. Transit and layover in Dubai, is easy and nice…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

If you our simply talking about a flight to Joberg and have a convenient way to fly Emirates, I wouldn’t hesitate . Delta is risky. Been screwed by Delta too many times…

Emirates is nice. Transit and layover in Dubai, is easy and nice…

 

[sgt_zim]

Do you recommend?

Compare to overnight in Europe?

How did Delta Airlines handle firearms?

Any other info you can offer?

Thanks!

Some guys, like @Shootist43 and others have good luck.

I'd rather deal with Emirates or Qatar. I went with Qatar last year. It's about 14.5 hours from IAH to Doha/Dubai, and 8 hrs from Doha to Jo'burg. My buddy flew UA through EWR. They left his gun (and the guns of 8 or 10 other hunters on his flight) in EWR. I've heard of the same thing happening with Delta.

With Qatar and Emirates, you will have a long layover in Doha/Dubai (8 or 10 hours), but my buddy ended up having about 6 or 7 hours at EWR, with 2 or 3 of those hours just sitting in the plane waiting to get wheels up.

Plus, Qatar is less expensive. I upgraded to economy+ for about the same price as Delta/UA regular cattle class.

The SAPS folks at JNB had nothing at all kind to say about Delta or UA. Chronically late, and cancellations are a thing for that flight.

I wouldn't fly through Europe, either. Again, lots of guys here have had no issues doing that. It's not that I'm completely risk averse, it's that I am completely averse to that sort of risk.

 

[Pablo]

I flew Delta in cattle class last July. I picked my seats where I had space in front of me. Granted, it was by the bathrooms, but it wasn’t bad. It was damn convenient for me with my peanut bladder. Only problem for us was the plane was 2 hrs late leaving Joburg and we were the last to get our guns in Atlanta. We had a 3 hr layover planned but by the time we got through customs, our plane was boarding. Guns came in on the next flight and they delivered to my house that night.

 

[Jared640]

Delta direct is the only way I will go

 

[Rare Breed]

Do you recommend?

Compare to overnight in Europe?

How did Delta Airlines handle firearms?

Any other info you can offer?

Thanks!

For my 8 safaris, I have done both...flown Delta nonstop to JNB and gone through Qatar similar to what you would experience with Emitres.(spelling) For me at least, I would rather be hunting rather than having a layover. Maybe when I retire one day that will change. So for me, I will always do the Delta direct from Atlanta where I live to JNB which is always 14.5 hours going and 15 hours coming back due to wind. I get in always at 7 PM, go to City Lodge since I just do not want to leave the airport, have a great meal a few drinks and get a good night sleep. I then fly out in the morning to Zim or wherever I will be hunting. This just works for me. I always arrive at my final destination refreshed after a good night's sleep. Just me.