Heathrow - Export of Firearms Issues - Current as of June 2018

[smullery]

So it seems that some airlines are not able to handle firearms at the moment, worst case was a member of this site turning up yesterday and having to race home to drop off his rifle and get back in time for his flight. (Qatar airline in this case)

Any update on airlines with Terminal would prove helpful over our “summer season”.

Stan

 

[Donnachaidh]

That's not good news as I'm flying with Qatar out of Heathrow on Saturday. Thank you for the heads-up, I'll be on the phone tomorrow morning.

 

[EMcC]

See my post of last week in slightly off topic.

 

[Donnachaidh]

I emailed both Qatar Airways and the UK Border Force at Heathrow last night. UKBF have already replied and told me they are not aware of any restrictions. I will let you know when I hear from QA.

 

[EMcC]

I wasn't aware that Border Force had anything to do firearms going out, I was under the impression it was Customs going out and Border Force coming in !
Also, after being recorded the airlines use a private security firm to handle the carriage of firearms through the airport to the aeroplane.
Perhaps the problem is with the private security firms not willing to carry firearms or ammo.
I was definitely not accepted with mine when trying to book with Lufthansa through Heathrow.

 

[devon deer stalker]

I am watching this very closely!
4 of us flying to Montana later this year, with Delta, but things can change with airlines/airports so quickly, but Delta have been OK in the past with firearms.
Cheers
Richard

 

[VIGILAIRE]

Ed I think border force seem to have taken over from or merged with customs as they were administering VAT refunds at the same time as checking serial numbers.

 

[smullery]

I wasn't aware that Border Force had anything to do firearms going out, I was under the impression it was Customs going out and Border Force coming in !
Also, after being recorded the airlines use a private security firm to handle the carriage of firearms through the airport to the aeroplane.
Perhaps the problem is with the private security firms not willing to carry firearms or ammo.
I was definitely not accepted with mine when trying to book with Lufthansa through Heathrow.

Eddy,

Customs and Border Force are the same organisation.

Stan

 

[Hornet 6]

Eddy,

Customs and Border Force are the same organisation.

Stan

I'm surprised, Customs have operated at Heathrow for accessing import duty on things coming from abroad for many years.
Now it is done by Border farce in Coventry, not great considering the charges raised, items from the USA now take a week to get
to the UK and two to three weeks to get from Heathrow to Essex.

Neil.

 

[EMcC]

I still reckon it's the private security firms, the ones doing the lifting and shifting, that are causing the trouble.
I did hear of an incident where a round was discharged when serial numbers were being checked so perhaps the H&S rep for the lift and shift company are a bit more wary.

 

[smullery]

I'm surprised, Customs have operated at Heathrow for accessing import duty on things coming from abroad for many years.
Now it is done by Border farce in Coventry, not great considering the charges raised, items from the USA now take a week to get
to the UK and two to three weeks to get from Heathrow to Essex.

Neil.

Neil,

”Customs” activity at ports and airports have been a function of Border Force since it’s inception in 2009.

Stan

 

[smullery]

I emailed both Qatar Airways and the UK Border Force at Heathrow last night. UKBF have already replied and told me they are not aware of any restrictions. I will let you know when I hear from QA.

In case you haven’t seen it this was posted in another thread on Friday afternoon.


Aug 2013LocationArgyllPosts12

[h=2]Some help for those travelling to Africa with guns[/h]

If anyone is travelling with Qatar Airways, they can only export firearms through Birmingham at present. Which they didn’t tell me until I tried to check in at Heathrow 2 hours ago, despite emailing me all of the paperwork in February and me returning it last month. I’m currently in an airline sponsored taxi to race home, put my rifle away and get back in time for the flight! Fortunately the outfitter in Namibia is sorting a rifle for me.​

Stan

 

[Donnachaidh]

Stan, I hadn't seen that so thanks for the link. I will phone Qatar straight away.

 

[Donnachaidh]

Not looking good; QA has just told me that Heathrow Airport's licence to handle firearms has expired and my rifle cannot be accepted! UKBF told me this morning that they were unaware of any restrictions at Heathrow but recommended that I check with QA.

 

[VIGILAIRE]

I speak under correction but I understood the individual airlines had each a license to handle firearms and not Heathrow Airport itself. I seem to remember South African Airlines ended up without its license to handle for a period of time a year or two ago. It may be that QA is attempting to field responsibility.

 

[Donnachaidh]

Yes, that was my take on it too.

 

[rogue trader]

Does anyone know the charges or have a link to charges for flying a rifle plus a box of rounds to Edinburgh from Heathrow. Got stung a few years ago flying to Germany and want to get an idea of how much I’ll get stung this time.

Cheers

 

[EMcC]

Does anyone know the charges or have a link to charges for flying a rifle plus a box of rounds to Edinburgh from Heathrow. Got stung a few years ago flying to Germany and want to get an idea of how much I’ll get stung this time. Cheers

Can't help you with that I'm afraid, having been told already that no firearms or ammo is being let through Heathrow, if you fly anywhere, or from anywhere, with BA you will be stung.

 

[Tazz]

There have been a number of threads around exporting rifles through Heathrow of late. Heathrow allow airlines to carry firearms but they have to be licensed for each airport they intend to offer this service. border Force run the Gov checks and serial number checking. Clearly some carriers mentioned here Quatar being one of them do not have a current license for Heathrow but do for Birmingham. Most of the posts on BA is around their charges and admin which is a different issue but they still have a license. Check your carriers web site Virgin and EasyJet put firearms under sports equipment and don’t charge extra. I have flown SA airlines and Virgin in the last 12 months both out of Heathrow to Johannesburg with no charges and no issues

 

[EMcC]

Check your carriers web site Virgin and EasyJet put firearms under sports equipment and don’t charge extra.

I don't know about Virgin but with EasyJet the firearms are listed under the Sports Equipment drop down menu with the relevant charge of £50.00, certainly not free. They used to charge £30.00 and were the cheapest.
BA quoted me in January from Heathrow to Zagreb, £50 for the firearm, £50 for the ammo which had to be in a separate, secure locked box and a £50 admin charge, each way !!!!!
I telephoned on three separate occasions to make contact with a different person hoping the first person I spoke to had made a mistake but no, each one said the same.
One of them did suggest I might like to take a chance and pack my ammo in with the rifle to save the extra £50 but wasn't sure whether it was allowed !!!