Travelling With Firearms
- Thread starter Howe1401
- Start date
when I fly to SA you get issued with a piece of paper that becomes your licence whilst in that country. no reason why the same can't apply or they will just allow you to use your FAC.
Yes, but would you be comfortable booking a trip on the 1st of November, if you knew we were leaving the EU on the Oct' 31st ?
sikamalc
Administrator
I have just returned from Hungary, and will also be revisiting in January.
Ok first check with your airline that they carry firearms. Some will not take guns, Ryanair being a prime example. Easyjet does allow firearms, and I assume you will use them to go to Hungary? You will be charged extra for carrying the firearm, about £70 more.
Ok you need to register on line that you are taking a sporting firearm when you book your ticket. On the day of departure make sure you arrive at least 3 hours before departure. You will need your FAC and also your EU firearms passport. You will need to fill in a form at the desk. Your gun case and bag with ammo must be tagged and the tag number put on the paperwork. You will get a copy of this to keep. You will then be escorted to customs, where you will need to open up the case for them to check the firearm against your FAC. You will then be escorted to a special area for the bags to be x rayed and then airport security take control of the firearm and your case with ammo is put on the plane.
Your main bag with the ammo in must be locked, and the ammo must be in a locked box inside the case. The airline will ask you the weight of the ammo as the restrictions are 5 kilo.
On arrival at Budapest you will need to go to the main oversized bag area and airport security will bring the bag and case to you. You then need to proceed through the red channel of customs where they will usually ask for you to open the case up and show them your EU firearms certificate and check the rifle against this.
Coming back from Hungary its a repeat of the same. When you arrive at Gatwick the case and rifle will be bought by airport security to the red channel at customs. You will need to show your British FAC and they will check the rifle serial number against your FAC. After this your on your way home.
As far as the EU and the firearms passport system I wouldn't worry too much about Brexit. Any changes will be taken into consideration and if there is s dramatic change in rules the airline will not take the rifle. I would imagine it will stay the same, at least for the time being.
Ok first check with your airline that they carry firearms. Some will not take guns, Ryanair being a prime example. Easyjet does allow firearms, and I assume you will use them to go to Hungary? You will be charged extra for carrying the firearm, about £70 more.
Ok you need to register on line that you are taking a sporting firearm when you book your ticket. On the day of departure make sure you arrive at least 3 hours before departure. You will need your FAC and also your EU firearms passport. You will need to fill in a form at the desk. Your gun case and bag with ammo must be tagged and the tag number put on the paperwork. You will get a copy of this to keep. You will then be escorted to customs, where you will need to open up the case for them to check the firearm against your FAC. You will then be escorted to a special area for the bags to be x rayed and then airport security take control of the firearm and your case with ammo is put on the plane.
Your main bag with the ammo in must be locked, and the ammo must be in a locked box inside the case. The airline will ask you the weight of the ammo as the restrictions are 5 kilo.
On arrival at Budapest you will need to go to the main oversized bag area and airport security will bring the bag and case to you. You then need to proceed through the red channel of customs where they will usually ask for you to open the case up and show them your EU firearms certificate and check the rifle against this.
Coming back from Hungary its a repeat of the same. When you arrive at Gatwick the case and rifle will be bought by airport security to the red channel at customs. You will need to show your British FAC and they will check the rifle serial number against your FAC. After this your on your way home.
As far as the EU and the firearms passport system I wouldn't worry too much about Brexit. Any changes will be taken into consideration and if there is s dramatic change in rules the airline will not take the rifle. I would imagine it will stay the same, at least for the time being.
EMcC
Well-Known Member
I've booked and paid for a trip in November through Heathrow to Croatia with Croatia airlines.
If we come out of the EU, as is proposed, then I can only assume, rightly or wrongly, that the system will revert to what it was before, a long wait at the landing airport while the Police check you are not on the Interpol wanted list
If we come out of the EU, as is proposed, then I can only assume, rightly or wrongly, that the system will revert to what it was before, a long wait at the landing airport while the Police check you are not on the Interpol wanted list
Whether or not the airline want the ammunition in a lockable box, in your hold luggage, or separate, to travel with the rifle, will depend on the airline, and the airport, and the airport handling company.
If you do pack it in your hold luggage, make sure it's easily accessible, in case they request it's removed, and, if you take it separately, make sure you allow room in your luggage, to pack it.
Easyjet in particular, are very inconsistent.
sikamalc
Administrator
33 years of travelling abroad. Africa, Czech, Hungary and Finland I have NEVER had them ask me to have the box of ammo.put on the plane separately.
As long as it's secure and the bag locked it makes no difference. Besides the bag and rifle box are all x rayed before being placed on the plane.
As long as it's secure and the bag locked it makes no difference. Besides the bag and rifle box are all x rayed before being placed on the plane.
Orion
Well-Known Member
I must be the same exception that proves the rule then!
Every time I’ve travelled I’ve presented the rifle case and a separate small Peli case containing just ammunition. The two items have then been processed through the Border Force check and Secure Handling as per the usual firearms procedures.
Then again I have only ever produced my EFP on one occasion, and that was when leaving Portugal last time round. Otherwise I’ve just shown my UK FAC and provided the serial number matches, the local police/customs have been happy. Makes you wonder if there will be any issues if Brexit does finally happen!
Every time I’ve travelled I’ve presented the rifle case and a separate small Peli case containing just ammunition. The two items have then been processed through the Border Force check and Secure Handling as per the usual firearms procedures.
Then again I have only ever produced my EFP on one occasion, and that was when leaving Portugal last time round. Otherwise I’ve just shown my UK FAC and provided the serial number matches, the local police/customs have been happy. Makes you wonder if there will be any issues if Brexit does finally happen!
EMcC
Well-Known Member
The first 35 years of travelling abroad with firearms and ammunition I never had any problems but the last 10 years have been a nightmare.
Previously all ammo was packed in my hold luggage and rifle separate but over the last ten years it has been hit and miss.
As is said at post 26 sometimes in an asked to get it out and sometimes out and asked to put it in.
On one particular trip going out of Gatwick with Eazyjet it was inside my rifle case in a locked metal money box, coming back I was told to remove it and send it separately.
As the money box was small, fortunately for me another passenger kindly offered to put it in his ammo box and return it to me at Gatwick, which we did.
This is actually not allowed in the T&Cs of the carrier but it went anyway - didn't it Mark
Previously all ammo was packed in my hold luggage and rifle separate but over the last ten years it has been hit and miss.
As is said at post 26 sometimes in an asked to get it out and sometimes out and asked to put it in.
On one particular trip going out of Gatwick with Eazyjet it was inside my rifle case in a locked metal money box, coming back I was told to remove it and send it separately.
As the money box was small, fortunately for me another passenger kindly offered to put it in his ammo box and return it to me at Gatwick, which we did.
This is actually not allowed in the T&Cs of the carrier but it went anyway - didn't it Mark
Malcolm,
I can only comment about my experience over the last few years, and my suggestion covers people for both possibilities.
I would also suggest, that if anyone decides to use a metal money box, as well as locking it, they use some sort of tape (electrical) to secure it, because if it does have to go separately, and it's dropped, it is highly likely to open, and have the ammunition spill out. They are useless.
A small Peli, or similar is far more secure, and can be picked up quite cheaply on Ebay, and easily sold on, if you're unlikely to use it again.
tusker
Well-Known Member
Eddy, the way this lot of disfunctional children that mascerade as polatitions are going on we will still be in EU in 10 years time.I've booked and paid for a trip in November through Heathrow to Croatia with Croatia airlines.
If we come out of the EU, as is proposed, then I can only assume, rightly or wrongly, that the system will revert to what it was before, a long wait at the landing airport while the Police check you are not on the Interpol wanted list
(sorry to hijack thread)
Tusker
EMcC
Well-Known Member
When I made enquiries about flying from Bristol to Zagreb with KLM in November I was told an Import/Export licence was needed at Amsterdam for the change of plane !!
I said the luggage should stay air side so no Dutch import licence needed nor export licence either but they were having none of it.
I managed to get a phone number and spent nearly £30 arguing my point but got nowhere.
I said the luggage should stay air side so no Dutch import licence needed nor export licence either but they were having none of it.
I managed to get a phone number and spent nearly £30 arguing my point but got nowhere.
TH4
Well-Known Member
If you are travelling with a firearm, when you notify the airline, do it by email and print it off and their reply. That way if you get to the check in desk and they insist that they have not been notified you can prove that they have. It has happened to me a couple of times. Without the emails I would not have been travelling.
EMcC
Well-Known Member
Mad tho isn't it.
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