Travel to Zim on Qatar or Delta

[Altitude sickness]

has anyone used Delta to Joberg. Over night then connect to Harare.

And also flown using Qatar layover in Doha and then into Harare.

I have only used Delta and would like to hear from someone that has done both.


Can I hear your opinions on pros and cons of each company or itinerary. Thank you

 

[Philip Glass]

I've done both. We just used Delta for Zim and flew Premium Select due to great pricing. I detest the JNB gun hustle and checking in with Airlink is a pain as well. City Lodge is great for an overnight If you have to do this route.
I am pricing for next year now and fares are astronomical on both airlines. I WANT TO fly in Qsuite again but don't want to have to sell a kidney to do so!
Seriously though Qatar has a great schedule for these flights out of DFW. Short layovers both ways plus they have great service and no issues with guns.
I will keep looking and with my travel agent Patrick at PWPTravel I am sure we will find something that works for my groups.
Regards,
Philip

 

[Nhoro]

I flew Qatar on part of that route - harare -lusaka and it was very good. I only took camera equipment as I was filming a hunt there but another guy was clearing guns and he seemed to do well, just a little slower than me. So thumbs up for Qatar from me- new plane and Great service.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Thanks Nhoro, im
Leaning that way

 

[WyoBull]

I've done both. We just used Delta for Zim and flew Premium Select due to great pricing. I detest the JNB gun hustle and checking in with Airlink is a pain as well. City Lodge is great for an overnight If you have to do this route.
I am pricing for next year now and fares are astronomical on both airlines. I WANT TO fly in Qsuite again but don't want to have to sell a kidney to do so!
Seriously though Qatar has a great schedule for these flights out of DFW. Short layovers both ways plus they have great service and no issues with guns.
I will keep looking and with my travel agent Patrick at PWPTravel.com I am sure we will find something that works for my groups.
Regards,
Philip

Agree with you on Qatar, Philip. Flew Qsuite on them several weeks ago from Houston through Doha to Joberg and while you have longer flight times doing it that way versus United or Delta, it sure is a comfortable way to go. Definitely on the pricey side and I am not sure if their pricing fluctuates much either throughout the year.

 

[Tanks]

has anyone used Delta to Joberg. Over night then connect to Harare.

And also flown using Qatar layover in Doha and then into Harare.

I have only used Delta and would like to hear from someone that has done both.


Can I hear your opinions on pros and cons of each company or itinerary. Thank you

I have done Qatar through Doha last year, and also will be doing it in less than a month again.

The biggest issue I have for the Delta option is the fact that one would have to go through the hassle of firearms declarations at J'burg, not the mention the cost. For Qatar one hands the firearms in the USA and picks them up at Harare.

Also, unless one wants to take a nap at a Doha airport hotel then one does not have to pay for a hotel room either.

Doha lounge is nice enough for naps, showers etc..

Also, I like the Q-suites.

 

[rookhawk]

has anyone used Delta to Joberg. Over night then connect to Harare.

And also flown using Qatar layover in Doha and then into Harare.

I have only used Delta and would like to hear from someone that has done both.


Can I hear your opinions on pros and cons of each company or itinerary. Thank you

Emirates is another good option. They fly from USA to Dubai to Harare. Their gun permit process is self-service and works wonderfully. It avoids the risks and delays of connecting in RSA, requiring SAPS papers, and the potential your guns don't get on the last leg of the flight where carriage is not guaranteed.

 

[Tanks]

Emirates is another good option. They fly from USA to Dubai to Harare. Their gun permit process is self-service and works wonderfully....

I agree, I took them in 2021. One thing, unless it has changed, Qatar flies Q-suite equipped planes for the Doha to Harare leg and back. Emirates was using the old style reclining (180 deg.) beds.

Also, for the last couple of years, at least from LAX, Emirates have been $1K+ more expensive than Qatar for business class.

 

[rookhawk]

I agree, I took them in 2021. One thing, unless it has changed, Qatar flies Q-suite equipped planes for the Doha to Harare leg and back. Emirates was using the old style reclining (180 deg.) beds.

Also, for the last couple of years, at least from LAX, Emirates have been $1K+ more expensive than Qatar for business class.

Emirates is somewhat unpredictable which aircraft you get. Sometimes its the 777 which is lovely, but other times its their A380 which is a hoot. The 380 has a private bar on board for business and first class passengers. It was super fun drinking craft cocktails and eating hot appetizers at the bar for 8 hours as the time really flew by.

 

[Doubleplay]

has anyone used Delta to Joberg. Over night then connect to Harare.

And also flown using Qatar layover in Doha and then into Harare.

I have only used Delta and would like to hear from someone that has done both.


Can I hear your opinions on pros and cons of each company or itinerary. Thank you

This is no brainer:

Qatar service in any class is way better than Delta or any US airline for that matter.

You'll check in guns once.

You don't need to spend money for gun clearance and hotel.

 

[Chad Arnette]

Agree on all counts. Have done all three - delta, emirates and Qatar. Qatar currently seems to have the best / most efficient schedule out of DFW, as you land in Harare around noon and have plenty of time to charter out to final destination. Doha airport is great. Doha itself isn’t (got stuck there on the return this year). Unfortunately the teaser rates emirates and Qatar used to charge for business class seats are no more - they’ve gone up quite a bit, although still cheaper than delta.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Thank you everyone. I knew you guys would know.
I’m booking Qatar out of Chicago to Doha then on to Harare

 

[Philip Glass]

Agree with you on Qatar, Philip. Flew Qsuite on them several weeks ago from Houston through Doha to Joberg and while you have longer flight times doing it that way versus United or Delta, it sure is a comfortable way to go. Definitely on the pricey side and I am not sure if their pricing fluctuates much either throughout the year.

It does fluctuate quite a bit. Sadly June and July, our favorite hunting months for safaris, are always the highest. I just booked my groups flights for next year with Patrick. He was able to get us a great deal on Qsuite which are rare these days. It is all aggravating with costs, schedule, etc these days. There is no perfect answer so we try to be flexible and focus on the hunt And let the agent find us the best options.

 

[Philip Glass]

I agree, I took them in 2021. One thing, unless it has changed, Qatar flies Q-suite equipped planes for the Doha to Harare leg and back. Emirates was using the old style reclining (180 deg.) beds.

Also, for the last couple of years, at least from LAX, Emirates have been $1K+ more expensive than Qatar for business class.

Doha-Harare was not Qsuite last year and It is not showing to be this year either. It is the older business class but still fine. Nothing like Qsuite in the world!

 

[Doubleplay]

Doha-Harare was not Qsuite last year and It is not showing to be this year either. It is the older business class but still fine. Nothing like Qsuite in the world!

I've flown both and Emirates First Class is better than Q suite actually.
However the price you pay for it is outrageous and not worth the difference.

 

[Scott CWO]

has anyone used Delta to Joberg. Over night then connect to Harare.

And also flown using Qatar layover in Doha and then into Harare.

I have only used Delta and would like to hear from someone that has done both.


Can I hear your opinions on pros and cons of each company or itinerary. Thank you

I have flown QA to Lusaka/Harare from DFW. I avoid JNB like the plague if possible.

Just make sure you recheck gun with QA directly. My first flight is always out of Denver so I have to recheck in DFW because QA does not service Denver but after that, you don’t mess around with guns until final destination. QA will not allow the plane to leave without your guns onboard if you are onboard.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Thanks Scott.

 

[JimP]

I have flown QA to Lusaka/Harare from DFW. I avoid JNB like the plague if possible.

Just make sure you recheck gun with QA directly. My first flight is always out of Denver so I have to recheck in DFW because QA does not service Denver but after that, you don’t mess around with guns until final destination. QA will not allow the plane to leave without your guns onboard if you are onboard.

It might of been a fluke or they may of changed their policy but last year I flew out of Denver on American and then Qatar out of DFW. My rifle was checked all the way through to Joberg from Denver. I did however need to submit my firearm surrender paperwork to Qatar in DFW.

 

[Scott CWO]

It might have been a fluke or they may of changed their policy but last year I flew out of Denver on American and then Qatar out of DFW. My rifle was checked all the way through to Joberg from Denver. I did however need to submit my firearm surrender paperwork to Qatar in DFW.

Not worth the risk. Been told that before and didn’t work out.

 

[cdub]

I just booked our flights for 6/24 to Zim with Gracy. Going business on Qatar DFW-Doha-JBurg-Harare. No overnight in JBurg but there is in Harare for us to catch the Kariba flight the next morning. A bit longer but was half the cost of flying business straight from Doha to Harare. Saved about the cost of a buffalo trophy fee so I can put up with it.

This route was cheaper than busines on United or Delta fwiw.