S A Airlines - Firearms

[Archie Courage]

For those that have hunted in SAfrica - what did you do for rifle,scope,binos insurance please, good/bad tales would be appreciated, am going in 3 weeks - thx

 

[Hanechdene]

All listed on house hold insurance with NFU

 

[Archie Courage]

All listed on house hold insurance with NFU

Thanks mine says they wont cover it for abroad, hence need something extra.

 

[zambezi]

For those that have hunted in SAfrica - what did you do for rifle,scope,binos insurance please, good/bad tales would be appreciated, am going in 3 weeks - thx

I have dedicated global insurance from Gunplan. Never needed it. Hope I never will. I doubt that my all risks domestic insurance would pass muster if tested...

 

[Archie Courage]

I have dedicated global insurance from Gunplan. Never needed it. Hope I never will. I doubt that my all risks domestic insurance would pass muster if tested...

Thx will look it up

 

[Dickie]

Gunplan also for going abroad though hope I never need them to pay out.

 

[MikeZZZ]

Hopefully going to South Africa for first time this year. Any issues with taking firearms on South Africa Airlines? flying from Heathrow to Joburg then to East London.

Thanks in advance
[/QUOTE

IMPORTANT NEWS.

I flew out of Heathrow yesterday 17/5/19 with SAA to South Africa with a firearm which when I booked my ticket earlier in the year was free if taken as my main item of baggage. At Heathrow I got a nasty shock as the airline refused to take my Firearm and Ammunition without an Additional payment of $100 to fly to JBerg and another $30 for the internal flight - a total surcharge of $130 / £101. This charge was introduced yesterday morning, Friday 17/5/19 and applies to everyone flying with SAA irrespective of their ticket. No ifs or buts! You also have to pay the same $130 surcharge on the flight home! This notification should now be on the SAA website - BE WARNED!

 

[zambezi]

I flew out of Heathrow yesterday 17/5/19 with SAA to South Africa with a firearm which when I booked my ticket earlier in the year was free if taken as my main item of baggage. At Heathrow I got a nasty shock as the airline refused to take my Firearm and Ammunition without an Additional payment of $100 to fly to JBerg and another $30 for the internal flight - a total surcharge of $130 / £101. This charge was introduced yesterday morning, Friday 17/5/19 and applies to everyone flying with SAA irrespective of their ticket. No ifs or buts! You also have to pay the same $130 surcharge on the flight home! This notification should now be on the SAA website - BE WARNED!

SAA have been sliding out of profitability for some time [too many staff] and have been bailed by the government more than once. Clearly this is an attempt to extract more cash per passenger to offset the staff costs.

The new Firearm tariffs are indeed on the SAA website. In summary:

 

[Archie Courage]

Useful intel, seems then i will need anotehr $30 for my internal flight then - no drama and good to know in advance

 

[zambezi]

... no drama and good to know in advance...

But for anyone still planning a UK-Namibia trip via JNB, the return cost for firearm alone is $320. To put that in perspective: SAA were at cost parity with other airlines for the LHR-WDH run. That 30% price hike kicks them out of contention. I know they are cash strapped. But this wallet reaming will chase customers to their competitors.

 

[MikeZZZ]

I understand now that SAA realised they were wrong in charging hunters who had booked tickets to SA prior to the above mentioned new Firearms changes introduced in May. We were not charged for our firearms on the way back to the UK, and I will now be chasing them for a refund for the £101 paid at Heathrow on our outbound flight.

 

[MikeZZZ]

From the SAA website 'A handling fee for shooting/hunting (firearms) will be raised for tickets purchased from 15 May 2019 onwards.'

Special Baggage
Do you have any special luggage requirements before boarding your flight with South African Airways? Be sure to read more here.

www.flysaa.com

So if like me, you bought a ticket prior to 15/5/19 then you should be able to reclaim the charges they forced upon us illegally when we arrived at Heathrow in May!!