My wife and I committed to a family Christmas in Cape Town, and subsequently tacked on an Eastern Cape hunt safari to follow in the New Year. To facilitate the first part of the trip we flew LHR-CPT direct with British Airways. To say their firearms protocol is confused and expensive is understating the case. They charge £125 per firearm, per direction. They advised that ammunition must travel separately from the firearm, but that locked ammo container can go with your hold baggage. Well that is their central office position. In practice, each of Heathrow's terminals have security protocols that vary. And ammo in luggage is a CAA/IATA no-no so the BA official line is foo. But BA outsource firearms/certificate checking in the airport to G4 who know the law and [in my experience at LHR T3 two weeks ago] directed BA to accept the rifle case and ammunition case using two tags and handled in the same way via security. This, however, provoked a job's-worth fee generating frenzy on the part of BA ground staff. I was then charged and additional £125 for the ammo case [2nd firearm, geddit?] and £65 for excess baggage. Even though rifle, ammo and all my wordly goods on this flight weighed 18kg. G4 were aghast and embarrased. This they advised was a uniquely T3 interpretation of the protocol. Had I flown out of T5, separating ammunition and firearm provokes zero additional cost as staff there realise they are component parts of the same package. So, the fee for taking my rifle to South Africa with BA via LHR T3 was £315. Of course, there was still the matter of the return journey... Will I ever fly BA again? Possibly. But I will exhaust all other options first.
British Airways: confused and expensive firearms protocol
- Thread starter zambezi
- Start date
Skietindiekop
Well-Known Member
Back in 2010, BA and G4S managed to refuse boarding of four 308s as they are ‘military’ calibers stating that we should have pre booked them? Yet they would carry the 243 one of us had?
One of us had to miss the flight and take everything to a RFD (an employee for legal possession) yet could not retrieve his luggage which was airside as he had firearms!
Absolute farce it was all caused because the so called airport experts couldn’t read the Home Office Firearms Regulations that clearly states 308 sporting rifles are common and can be deemed as having a magazine of 5 rounds or less.
We ended up hiring rifles and buying ammunition which did spoil the trip slightly.
Now always use South African Airways. No hassle and NO CHARGE for sporting goods.
One of us had to miss the flight and take everything to a RFD (an employee for legal possession) yet could not retrieve his luggage which was airside as he had firearms!
Absolute farce it was all caused because the so called airport experts couldn’t read the Home Office Firearms Regulations that clearly states 308 sporting rifles are common and can be deemed as having a magazine of 5 rounds or less.
We ended up hiring rifles and buying ammunition which did spoil the trip slightly.
Now always use South African Airways. No hassle and NO CHARGE for sporting goods.
tusker
Well-Known Member
This subject has been discussed on here many times. In fact I think I actually brought it to attention about 4 years ago. For future reference if I am flying with an airline that I have not flown with before I always ask on here.
I will state again never ever fly with B.A. if you are taking firearms..at least Rick Turpin wore a mask.
Tusker
I will state again never ever fly with B.A. if you are taking firearms..at least Rick Turpin wore a mask.
Tusker
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Yep, BA = Burglar Association, or words to that effect
It's a pity BASC or one of the others can't take them to task and get clarification.
At minimum, BASC should post a warning on their site against all airlines known to be defective/expensive.
There is a good article in the news section of the Countryside Alliance website which sets out clearly the charges for firearms on several airlines. My experience with Croatian airlines is good but make sure you have a receipt for payment as they have outsourced checking in to Menzies (?) who will charge you again if they can. Easyjet clear and helpful as was Monarch before they folded. As noted avoid 'make it up as you go along' British Airways whenever possible.
tusker
Well-Known Member
Easyjet, very good. Lot very good. Finn Air excellent. Norwiegen very good.
Tusker
Orion
Well-Known Member
Don't hold your breath hoping for that!
Here's information from the CA - an organisation that is becoming more procative in firearms matters: http://www.countryside-alliance.org/cost-tcs-carrying-firearms-ammunition-airlines/
Thanks Orion. Pity BASC don't have a similar airline page for their members. Maybe time to switch shooting association camps. Reviewing the BA page revealed via url supplied on the CA site, I read these words: "If you're travelling to/from South Africa or Italy, or from Romania, check in your firearms and ammunition in separate locked cases, aside from the checked bag with your personal belongings. In this instance, you will not be charged an extra baggage fee for the separate ammunition case..."
Just goes to show what a shambles BA at LHR T3 really are. And mendacious.
devon deer stalker
Well-Known Member
Damn i had to look that up in the dictionary, but i should have guessed what it meant!
Heathrow can be a nightmare in relation to firearms, let alone BA.
If you come across a jobsworth like i did, no matter what you know, they know it better, it ended up costing Delta a fair bit in compensation when i got home, but i would rather have not had the stress and hassle at all.
What i have learnt are 2 things, print off all information before you go to the check in, don't take ammo with you, order it from the luxury of your UK home, and pick it up at a friends place, at least that works for the US.
Cheers
Richard
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RancidRabbit
Active Member
I second easy jet. Can't remember what the charge was, but I was happy and no real hassle.
Flybe were terrible and horrendously expensive with extra charges added at check in. Staff didn't give two hoots that I was being charged over and above what it should have been. Was told to pay up or don't go.
norfolk shooter
Well-Known Member
Whenever I go to South Africa I fly South African Air. I never have any problems with them or the G4 chaps at heathrow. You dont have to pay anything extra as they class the firearm as sporting equipment and give you an extra 23kg baggage allowance. I have a toughpak and put almost all my kit (with my rifle) in the cavern that it is. I also take another bag for gifts etc on the way home.
NorthDorset
Well-Known Member
I had the same problem with BA when flying to Czechie from LHR. Very officious check in supervisor could not be reasoned with.
I too swore off BA.
I have done that same trip from Gatwick and Bristol with Easyjet with no issues and can recommend Air Canada too.
I too swore off BA.
I have done that same trip from Gatwick and Bristol with Easyjet with no issues and can recommend Air Canada too.
ljs
Well-Known Member
SAA every time !! ,very straight forward just takes an extra 20 mins each time at check in to clear sporting rifles through customs (assisted with G4 ),if I fly into Johannesburg I also use Henry at rifle permits to assist with permits for entry ,but London /Johannesburg /Windhoek peace of cake all with no cost or complications ......
Essexsussex
Well-Known Member
My experience with easyJet is also excellent - I always fly to Scotland with them if I have a firearm
Deeredriver
Well-Known Member
I've flown several times to Jo-berg From Heathrow, I've always used Virgin and never once had a problem. Plus firearms are classed as sporting goods so travel for free.
Deeredriver
Well-Known Member
Check this out,
Additional baggage | Virgin Atlantic
Sports Equipment
- As part of your baggage allowance you can bring sports equipment onto your Virgin Atlantic flight at no extra cost. For any extra bags, you will be charged as per the table above. If it is overweight, you will accrue charges both for an extra bag and an overweight bag.
Sports equipment | Virgin Atlantic
Sports equipment | Virgin Atlantic
Maybe it's changed but I've never been charged.
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