As there has been much discussion on this site recently about travelling with firearms, especially with BA. Thought I would share my recent experience.
Self and Mr M have had a few days hunting in the Czech Republic and we took our rifles a 243 and a 308.
We flew with BA via Heathrow T5. Were we asking for trouble or what.
Well it all went without a hitch. We gave ourselves loads of time (about 3 hours) to check at T5, I expected at least an hour in a queue based on T4 on a Saturday. Monday at 6am there was no queue at all. BA staff checked us in once they found someone who knew how (there are 100s of staff employed at Heathrow and few people fly with firearms). A security guy dealt with the paperwork etc after that. Our flight was on time but we still had over 2 hours to kill as the process was not that long so we had breakfast at Heathrow. The biggest delay was getting ourselves through normal passenger security!
At the other end in Prague our suitcase with the ammo was first out on the carosel and the rifle came through outsize luggage. We then waited (but not too long) at the baggage in enquiry desk for the Czech Police to check the serial numbers. We were through the airport in time for lunch!
Coming back was a similar experience very smooth no problems.
We had made sure that at every step we had our paperwork to hand that is EU FP, FAC, normal passport, booking info, and invitation to shoot and we had keys handy to unlock the cases whenever required. We tried to be polite, calm and willing to help (pointing out serial numbers if necessary etc) but we need not have worried, everyone we dealt with was pleasant, polite and professional.
So would definitely do it again especially as we had some great hunting over there but that is another story.
Claire M
Self and Mr M have had a few days hunting in the Czech Republic and we took our rifles a 243 and a 308.
We flew with BA via Heathrow T5. Were we asking for trouble or what.
Well it all went without a hitch. We gave ourselves loads of time (about 3 hours) to check at T5, I expected at least an hour in a queue based on T4 on a Saturday. Monday at 6am there was no queue at all. BA staff checked us in once they found someone who knew how (there are 100s of staff employed at Heathrow and few people fly with firearms). A security guy dealt with the paperwork etc after that. Our flight was on time but we still had over 2 hours to kill as the process was not that long so we had breakfast at Heathrow. The biggest delay was getting ourselves through normal passenger security!
At the other end in Prague our suitcase with the ammo was first out on the carosel and the rifle came through outsize luggage. We then waited (but not too long) at the baggage in enquiry desk for the Czech Police to check the serial numbers. We were through the airport in time for lunch!
Coming back was a similar experience very smooth no problems.
We had made sure that at every step we had our paperwork to hand that is EU FP, FAC, normal passport, booking info, and invitation to shoot and we had keys handy to unlock the cases whenever required. We tried to be polite, calm and willing to help (pointing out serial numbers if necessary etc) but we need not have worried, everyone we dealt with was pleasant, polite and professional.
So would definitely do it again especially as we had some great hunting over there but that is another story.
Claire M