Hello all
Having a read a few threads recently asking for help with travel to Africa with guns, I thought I’d offer what I can. This is predominately based around travel to South Africa but the Heathrow elements (at least for terminal two – South African Airways) will be common. Here we go. If other SD readers can supplement with details please don’t fight the urge to do so.
The SAA check in at Heathrow opens at 2pm – pointless to get there before this time but do allow a good two hours for the check in process.
There seems to be little point in informing the airline that you’re traveling with firearms as they never seem to have note on your booking and, to be honest, it makes little difference. Despite what some may say, don’t try to slip your ammo into your hold luggage. Make it explicit and get the ammo case, gun case and travel luggage tagged this will save the irritating announcement for passenger XXX to come to the SAA desk about an hour after you’ve gone through security lol . The desk will take your hold luggage and ask you to wait for security to come and take your guns – usually a little way from the check-in desk. This can take anything from 10 to 50 mins depending whether they are currently in T2 or elsewhere.
Security will then – with you – fill out a form specifying what you’re traveling with (guns, ammo) and issue you a receipt for your guns; they do not open your case at this point. They know what they are doing and are generally very efficient. You then need to go through the normal passenger security check and head (once airside) to the VAT reclaim office (situated up a corridor besides the Dixons store). Once there, you just wait for the security guy you initially met to reappear with your guns and ammo (having had them X-ray’d). The border control police will then open the guns and check them off against your FAC and take copies of your FAC. They then take the guns and off you go to have a much needed wee and get a glass of wine and wait for your flight.
When you get to the boarding gate do check that the guns have been loaded. Board, fly, sleep, arrive.
On arrival in Johannesburg collect your hold luggage (even if booked through to another internal destination) and go to the totally unmarked firearms collection point office by carousel 7 in the baggage hall to 'claim' the guns before leaving the baggage hall. It is not marked but is like a gap between two parts of the buildings and there is a small office. Your guns go there first. They check them in and take some details and then walk the guns to the firearms import/export area (this is done without you). You then leave the baggage hall with your hold luggage and head landside. At the arrivals area you can see the signs for the firearms import/export permit office where you do the paperwork with the SAP 520 to actually collect the guns. They will have the guns there when you arrive (probably) and you’ll then open the case and check off your guns against the SAP520. This can take a while. Be patient, polite and calm. They have a job to do and if they don’t do it you don’t get your guns.
If you have an internal flight then go up a floor to the check-in floor to get your bag checked in at the airline desk to its final destination and then take the guns to the internal firearms office to the left of the internal flight security check. It’s worth noting that when you leave the main point where you collected your guns at the firearms import/export area the you’ll get approached by the porters who are dressed in black and orange. I’d use one if I were you to move you about the airport – they know the score and I’m generally knackered at this point and they know where they are going. 20R is about what you should pay - worth every cent.
The internal flights firearms office will take the guns and do the checks against the numbers against the import documentation that you’ve just been issued with at the firearms import/export area. You then head through the internal security check to go airside. Don’t rush – there is bugger all to do airside in the internal flight departure lounge
At Port Elizabeth (PE) (which is my final point) the guns will go to the local firearm office - which is to the right of the security check - at which point you show the documents issued at the firearms import/export area at Johannesburg then you’re free to go.
For the return, at PE – or your departure airport - get your hold bag checked right through to London and get the guns tagged. Take the guns to the office that you originally collected them. They’ll do the check and then take them.
Don't go into departures too soon as there is sod all to do.
At Johannesburg go through to baggage collection (even though hold luggage is checked through and there is no need to collect it) and go to the collection point (barely marked) to the right of the exit door - it's just a black door beside the orange 'mango' baggage assistance point opposite carousel 5.
Wait there until your guns arrive. They’ll do the mandatory checks against the documents and off you go landside.
Go to the SAA check in desk in terminal B and get the gun tagged.....but only if they've ripped it off at the first office....which they frequently do. If tag intact, then go straight to the export firearms check-in on the second-floor mezzanine. This is a different place from where you collected them on arrival and is only sign posted when you’re on that floor. Again, another check and they then keep all your originally issued documents. They then take your gun. All done.
Again, when boarding, check they have been loaded on the flight
At Heathrow collect your hold luggage from baggage collection go through the red channel (something to declare) and tell them you're collecting firearms....then just wait. They check off the guns against your FAC and then you leave.
I hope that helps.
FN
Having a read a few threads recently asking for help with travel to Africa with guns, I thought I’d offer what I can. This is predominately based around travel to South Africa but the Heathrow elements (at least for terminal two – South African Airways) will be common. Here we go. If other SD readers can supplement with details please don’t fight the urge to do so.
The SAA check in at Heathrow opens at 2pm – pointless to get there before this time but do allow a good two hours for the check in process.
There seems to be little point in informing the airline that you’re traveling with firearms as they never seem to have note on your booking and, to be honest, it makes little difference. Despite what some may say, don’t try to slip your ammo into your hold luggage. Make it explicit and get the ammo case, gun case and travel luggage tagged this will save the irritating announcement for passenger XXX to come to the SAA desk about an hour after you’ve gone through security lol . The desk will take your hold luggage and ask you to wait for security to come and take your guns – usually a little way from the check-in desk. This can take anything from 10 to 50 mins depending whether they are currently in T2 or elsewhere.
Security will then – with you – fill out a form specifying what you’re traveling with (guns, ammo) and issue you a receipt for your guns; they do not open your case at this point. They know what they are doing and are generally very efficient. You then need to go through the normal passenger security check and head (once airside) to the VAT reclaim office (situated up a corridor besides the Dixons store). Once there, you just wait for the security guy you initially met to reappear with your guns and ammo (having had them X-ray’d). The border control police will then open the guns and check them off against your FAC and take copies of your FAC. They then take the guns and off you go to have a much needed wee and get a glass of wine and wait for your flight.
When you get to the boarding gate do check that the guns have been loaded. Board, fly, sleep, arrive.
On arrival in Johannesburg collect your hold luggage (even if booked through to another internal destination) and go to the totally unmarked firearms collection point office by carousel 7 in the baggage hall to 'claim' the guns before leaving the baggage hall. It is not marked but is like a gap between two parts of the buildings and there is a small office. Your guns go there first. They check them in and take some details and then walk the guns to the firearms import/export area (this is done without you). You then leave the baggage hall with your hold luggage and head landside. At the arrivals area you can see the signs for the firearms import/export permit office where you do the paperwork with the SAP 520 to actually collect the guns. They will have the guns there when you arrive (probably) and you’ll then open the case and check off your guns against the SAP520. This can take a while. Be patient, polite and calm. They have a job to do and if they don’t do it you don’t get your guns.
If you have an internal flight then go up a floor to the check-in floor to get your bag checked in at the airline desk to its final destination and then take the guns to the internal firearms office to the left of the internal flight security check. It’s worth noting that when you leave the main point where you collected your guns at the firearms import/export area the you’ll get approached by the porters who are dressed in black and orange. I’d use one if I were you to move you about the airport – they know the score and I’m generally knackered at this point and they know where they are going. 20R is about what you should pay - worth every cent.
The internal flights firearms office will take the guns and do the checks against the numbers against the import documentation that you’ve just been issued with at the firearms import/export area. You then head through the internal security check to go airside. Don’t rush – there is bugger all to do airside in the internal flight departure lounge
At Port Elizabeth (PE) (which is my final point) the guns will go to the local firearm office - which is to the right of the security check - at which point you show the documents issued at the firearms import/export area at Johannesburg then you’re free to go.
For the return, at PE – or your departure airport - get your hold bag checked right through to London and get the guns tagged. Take the guns to the office that you originally collected them. They’ll do the check and then take them.
Don't go into departures too soon as there is sod all to do.
At Johannesburg go through to baggage collection (even though hold luggage is checked through and there is no need to collect it) and go to the collection point (barely marked) to the right of the exit door - it's just a black door beside the orange 'mango' baggage assistance point opposite carousel 5.
Wait there until your guns arrive. They’ll do the mandatory checks against the documents and off you go landside.
Go to the SAA check in desk in terminal B and get the gun tagged.....but only if they've ripped it off at the first office....which they frequently do. If tag intact, then go straight to the export firearms check-in on the second-floor mezzanine. This is a different place from where you collected them on arrival and is only sign posted when you’re on that floor. Again, another check and they then keep all your originally issued documents. They then take your gun. All done.
Again, when boarding, check they have been loaded on the flight
At Heathrow collect your hold luggage from baggage collection go through the red channel (something to declare) and tell them you're collecting firearms....then just wait. They check off the guns against your FAC and then you leave.
I hope that helps.
FN