Africa Report - Travelling with Guns

[skeetshot]

South African Airways must be the most gun friendly airline there is.

This was the fourth time I was flying from Mumbai to Johannesberg with them and as usual their courtesy could not be faulted.

One is allowed 30 kgs on this sector. I was carrying my R 93 with only one barrel, still the gun and case weighed 9.5 kgs. So too my shotgun - 9.5 kgs. And my ammo case came to 4.5 kgs.

The lightest I could make my personal luggage was 15 kgs, not counting my hand luggage.

MO 3 Shooter who was accompanying me was 22 kgs overweight with his two barrels and large Mauser case and shotgun and ammo.

But no problem, SA Airwys did not consider the weight of the guns and ammo.

And coming back, we were even heavier. This time it was a little more complicated, but a few smiles and warthog jokes pulled us through again.

Also, the Jo'berg airport weapons inspection was relatively smooth and some thoughtful soul had put the latest hunting magazines to read while the papers were being processed.

All in all not a bad experience.

[thechamp]

Thanks for the info. The traveling part always bothered me from the 'gun' standpoint. Nice to know they work with you...

[retrieverman]

Very informative report! Thanks!

[Dom]

Very good. I've not had any problems and all went smooth on both SAA and Air Namibia. My worst experience to date was United (but contracted to Lufthansa) to USA, almost went without the rifles! On United website we were in order, but Lufthansa wanted prior 'knowledge' -- worked out but not without going back and forth between the two for about 30 minutes!

Glad to hear you had no issues Skeetshot, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[Olsen]

Nice to hear there was no problems with the guns in airport

Last time I was in England, my blaser only have one number, on the barrel, and I have a lot of problems

They couldent undestand it, and they want to see the number in the system too, but no number there

Not nice trying to convince to policemen with machineguns they are wrong

But I all went well and I get safe home

But now we need to have a number in both barrel and system

[deerhunter338mag]

Last time I went to Darwin I went Jet star from Melbourne Airport was just the wait in line no real problems didn't even ask for shooters licence nothing. Firearms are tape with dangerous goods tape and handled a bit different . On arrival in Darwin nice young bloke just asked for ID checked records all in order have a great trip he said and handed the gun cases over. On the return trip home they checked everything at Darwin airport from licences checks to testing for narcotics. This was all done in a nice way with out any fuss just standard process sent as Dangerous goods as well. All in all I found it to be very easy with out to much fuss. How ever you do get a bit nervous wait for your guns to come out, as it's best if you have mate just to watch the luggage area if some num nut puts them on the turn table for any one to grab. This has happened to a few mates that where at the dangerous good section to fine that the luggage handlers put them through and normal luggage.