Luggage check at Fed Air terminal?
 

Hi all ... based on the very good advice given to me by many on this board, all of our SA honeymoon is booked, and we're down to the details. Here's our current dilemma: We are doing a week in CT & winelands before going to Singita for 5 nights. The Singita folks have told us our luggage limit on Fed Air will be 20 kilo pp, so we're thinking we will need to bring two bags, a "city" bag and a safari bag. We are staying at the airport IC overnight before heading to Singita, but before I start making pricey long-distance phone calls to the hotel, does anyone have some advice on what to do with our city bag while on safari? Does Fed Air or J'burg airport have *secure* baggage checks? Or is it better to try and leave it at hotel? We don't love either option but there is no way either of us can pull off two wardrobes for two weeks on less than 20 kilo pp, esp with our camera gear.

As always, many thanks in advance for your helpful guidance!

There is a "left luggage" on the lower floor of JNB International Terminal.

In addition to the airport, you can leave it at the hotel or with the people at Federal Air. We traveled by Federal Air and though we didn't leave bags, they had some there, and were asking people coming off the flights if they had left luggage.

CW

Thanks. Any idea how secure either of those options (Fed Air or left luggage) are? We've heard such nightmares about luggage theft @ JNB that we're rather cautious.

The JNB left-luggage counter looked quite secure. I know others here on the board have first-hand experience. Don't know where the luggage is kept at Federal Air but they are extremely efficient and I would expect that they would take good care. People leave luggage there all the time.

That being said, I usually don't put anything in my checked bags or left luggage that is valuable or irreplaceable.

CW

While I wouldn't check a camera, cash or jewelry, I have checked luggage, largely clothing, in JNB. I would guess its no more or less secure than "left luggage" facilities at other airports. The luggage is kept in a large room behind the office, and passengers are only admitted with an employee. I didn't even lock my stuff, but if you're concerned, a small lock would help.

Have left luggasge with Federal Air--no problems whatsoever.

Have also left luggage at the Intercon JNB, also no problem. Especially if you leave at the Intercon, I'd put small locks on the bag and give the porter a few extra American dollars. I've never had ANY problem at all with my belongings at the Intercon, but a little extra security and goodwill will buy peace of mind.

Will be heading down there on Sunday and plan to use the Intercon JNb as our "launching point" at the beginning, middle, and end of our travels through Bots and SA.

We had artwork delivered to the Fed Air terminal and held for return from Singita. Everything was waiting for us when we returned. Also, although I'm sure luggage that is obviously over the weight limit will not be allowed, we didn't notice anyone weighing our bags on our 4 Fed Air flights. So, if you anticipate being significantly over the weight limit, it probably makes sense to make plans to leave baggage. If you're just a bit over, you may still be able to take the bags with you.

We also left our "city" luggage at JNB with our laptop locked within, for 10days with no problems-all bags were locked though.

Haven't the slightest what you may be packing, but 20Kg is almost 50/lbs. the max on most international flights. With 50/lbs you should be able to pack both "city" and "safari" clothing (and have room to spare).

CPT is a very casual city. The same twills you'd wear on safari you can wear in CPT. You even have room to pack something "nice casual" if you feel this is necessary - black slacks with a great sweater and chunky jewelry can be worn for dinner at Singita. You'd be surprised how many people want to get out of their safari khaki at night.

Hi , we left our bags at Federal Air - we use the usual TSA locks and locked them without a problem - picked them up on our return.Had to do a quick repack in the Fed Air lounge on our return as we were then taking a flight to CPT and would have had too many hand bags.

They store them in a locked cage.

Miriam

Fed Air facility will be perfectly fine. What noboby has told you is that Fed Air facility is at complete different part of the airport away from the international/main domestic terminal where the hoards of people are. Fed Air is in a secure part of the airport. The Left luggage facility is safe too at JNB. We had to use both for different parts of our trip. Other tip - pack less for safari. Remember they wash your clothes each day and return to you by dinner. 2 sets of safari clothes should do it. We packed too much

i left two bags for about a month at left luggage in jnb.

right outside the door to the storage is a wrapping guy. for a very small fee he wraps the bag in plastic. it is impossible to open without a knife, therefore once it is wrapped it is all secure and can be checked right onto your flight home.

each of my bags had a small lock and he wrap. very very secure, very nice people. manned 24/7. accept credit cards.

This is so incredibly helpful - thanks so very much! It's sounding like Fed Air will be the easiest plan.

Please post on your Singita trip upon your return. Excited to hear about the resort- am looking to go there next year. Which one are you staying at?

FedAir will look after you luggage, I promise you.
Mark

I definitely owe the board a trip report after the amount of advice I've gotten! We will be there May 2 - May 18. In Singita, we are doing 3 nights Boulders and 2 nights Lebombo, on the rec of the Singita agents themselves. I was torn between the two, and they said it's actually quite common to stay just a few nights at each place, so we are doing the longer stay at Boulders first and then Lebombo the last 2 nights.

My wife and I will be staying at Singita between May 6th - May 10th. I'm tentatively scheduled to stay at Lebombo for four nights. However, I have asked to stay at Bolder for the duration or break it up and due two nights in Lebombo and two nights at Bolder. What have you heard regarding the game at Lebombo? I hear Bolder may be better becasue it's in Sabi Sand. Any advise / guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Does anyone know if FedAir holds luggage at KMIA? My husband and I are going to be flying from Capetown to KMIA and road transfering to Sabi. We would like to road transfer back to KMIA and fly to Johannesburg. Can we keep our luggage at KMIA with FedAir? This luggage situation is a great concern of mine. Does anyone know if the 20 kilo limit is for only one bag or can I have two totaling 20 kilos? Thank You!

You can have two bags totaling 20.