My bags are being checked straight through from JFK to CPT, and our first flight is very early in the morning, 8 or 7am on a weekend. Same thing with the CPT to JNB flight - a 6AM flight mid-week, I doubt the wrapper will be open. Ugh. We may reconsider checking bags now - or just show up to the BA first class check-in with our bags saran wrapped from home!

I was not aware of the carry on item limits in SA, just for our charter. I will have to look into it. I think we are allowed 2 bags, 18 pounds each max as carry on. I do know that for our federal air charter our carry on baggage is limited but I'm not worried about that flight as I think they will load the bags in front of us.

I always lock my bags with TSA approved locks. We won't really have anything of value with us to check - we will hand carry the cameras and ipads. We're going on safari so we will be fairly bare bones with stuff. 2-3 pairs of jeans or pants (will cut out the labels), some work out type pants with tops for layering, some blouses/sweaters, pjs, etc. I might just try to bring everything in a small duffel as a carry on.