DanaA70

HEY All, Now that I may have an itinerary that suits everyone I need to figure out air. We thought East coast (WAS or BWI or NYC or ATL) to Amsterdam (overnight one or two nights) then on to JRO ...Has anyone done this and who did you use; how did you book - any info is most appreciated. I do not have air miles so looking for most reasonable fares for June 2008. Thx.D.

sandi

With the exception of Ethiopian Air that flies via some point in Europe then Addis Ababa, KLM is currently the only airline that going directly into JRO from AMS.

Of late, however, the KLM prices have been getting more costly, that many are choosing to fly into Nairobi and take then the Precision/Kenya Air flight to JRO.

So if you choose NBO, then from IAD, ATL, and JFK or EWR you can get any number of flights into London (British or Virgin), Vienna (Swiss) even Brussels (Brussels Air). If you want to o/n in AMS, then go with KLM or Kenyan Air... usually a code-share). From JFK you can try Emirates via Dubai, which on my recent trip had the least expensive price, allowing me money to spare in order to fly to JRO.

Go to the airline sites directly or search on www.kayak.com and see who comes up with the best price for when you travel. If you travel into NBO, check to see if the carrier of your choice can include the connecting flight on Precision/Kenyan Air, especially if you're making the connection on the same day. If not, and you continue to JRO next day, your tour operator can just as easily book this leg for you.

I'm sure Patty will have suggestions... our airline diva!

Bobcaat

We are flying from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Arusha, Tanzania (JRO) via Amsterdam in September. We booked our air ourselves through Expedia. We are flying:

SEP 05. We depart Dulles International Airport at 5:40PM for a Northwest (operated by KLM) overnight flight to Amsterdam.

SEP 06 We arrive in Amsterdam at 7:15AM. We are staying overnight in Amsterdam at the Renaissance Hotel.

SEP 07 We depart Amsterdam at 10:15AM on a KLM flight to Arusha, Tanzania via Nairobi, Kenya; arriving in Kilimanjaro at 10:20PM. .

SEP 20 We return home with a 10:15 PM KLM Flight to Amsterdam

SEP 21 We arrive Amsterdam at 5:30AM. We are staying overnight in Amsterdam on the return flight also with an overnight at the Renaissance Hotel

SEP 22 We depart Amsterdam at 1:15PM arriving home at Dulles International Airport at 3:30PM.

Our flight is $1,762 pp including all taxes and surcharges; the overnights in Amsterdam did not change our airfare.

Good luck,

stakerk

Who is your tour operator? If you use a U.S. based operator like African Serendipity they can probably get the best fare for you through a consolidator.

Kevin from California

Leely

We flew SFO-AMS-JRO on KLM/KQ last June; be aware that because our travel dates were not at all flexible and we were flying high season, we paid over $2300pp.
You will certainly do better from the East Coast, but June can be pricey so buy early.

Have a great trip, Dana!

jnk

we flew NWA/KLM from JFK to JRO (via AMS) last April for $1650. i believe the fare was lower because it was the non-peak season. you might want to check kayak dot com for options.

Patty

KLM via AMS is your only one stop option from the US East Coast to JRO. Other than that, flights route via NBO or ADD.

There are many more carriers that serve NBO so it's possible a routing via NBO would cost less, but make sure you factor in all of the associated costs including the NBO-JRO flight and the possibility of having to overnight.

If you're planning to stopover in AMS, you can take KLM nonstop to JRO or KLM or Kenya Airways to NBO, connecting with Precision Air (can be booked as Kenya Airways codeshare) NBO-JRO. Keep in mind if routing through NBO that the KLM flight arrives in the evening and the late evening NBO-JRO flight doesn't operate daily. The Kenya Airways flight on the other hand is a redeye, arriving NBO in the early morning.

And if Selous is still where you're ending your trip, check the cost of an open jaw ticketing flying into JRO and returning from DAR.

DanaA70

Thanks ALL! I am trying to book now for next year but of course there is that 330 day problem, but at least I can try to figure out if Nairobi is the place to fly-in! I have contacted local based operators as recommended by so many on this forum so none of them get involved in international air although everyone recommends Kayak - so that's my next stop! Thanks again. D.

ShayTay

There are also travel agents that have special contract fares to Africa, such as Born Free Safaris. I think you can book your air with them, even if you don't book your safari through them. I've used Claudette there on several occasions. There are only so many seats available at these rates, however.

Yes, the fares to Tanzania increase to high season about the last week in May.

sandi

Or contact Premier Tours out of Phila. at www.premiertours.com though best to call. They always have special rates to South Africa, so I'd check to see what they may have to East Africa.

On their website you can go to the "air dept." but the numbers probably aren't current, the reason I suggest you call their 800# and ask for the Air Dept.

QueenofDaNile

The best price I found out of EWR for this October was dealing directly with NWA/KLM. And believe me, I shopped! Couple hundred dollars less pp than what's been posted here, including all taxes and fees, but then again I bought the tickets in March '07.

DanaA70

Again a big thank you. Finding air is the hardest part to me but with your help I have plenty of notes/
Next...I am going to post my "most likely" itinerary - out of a possible 6 I've received from Tanzania based operators. Its pricey so I am still staring at it. D.

ShayTay

Have you contacted Kibo Guides? I'm usually able to get a good price and they stay at their sister properties (Tanganyika Wilderness Camps), such as Ngorongogo Farmhouse, Maramboi Camp, etc.