Travelling internationally with a gun?

[albatross710]

Ok, this is a serious thread!

My current project of getting a person from BNE-HRE just got a little more complicated now that I've found out that 2 hunting rifles will be going as checked baggage and preferably matching sports ammunition.

Australian Customs and Defence Dept have two very informative documents outlining the procedure to obtain their permission. For reference these docs are http://www.defence.gov.au/strategy/deco/publications/Export_Controls_Firearms.pdf and firearms and weapons.

Has anyone had any experience as to how happily airlines handle the carriage of weapons?

Would one routing via QF BNE-SIN-JNB-HRE be easier/harder than say SQ BNE-SIN-JNB-HRE?

Any experience on pulling this one off is appreciated.

Alby

 

[PaulC83]

I have only had experience domestically with Qantas but the conditions of carriage show the same (section 7.3)

Book - Flights - Conditions of Carriage - Full

Virgin don't need prior notice but as stated in COC for QF you need to give at least 2 days notice and it is at their discretion (but I have never had trouble taking a sporting shotgun). Most local sporting clubs (gun ones) etc. have a "proforma" letter that you can get off them. The firearms will need to be in a seperate LOCKED container, and you may need to demonstrate that the firearm is disassembled, and unloaded. If carrying ammo it needs to be in a seperate container. It will be marked as restricted luggage and you'll need to grab it from the oversized baggage area, usually signing something (again I can only comment domestically).

I'd be more concerned about the rules in the country you will be visiting/taking your luggage through customs. Australian customs I've found are quite good / helpful if you declare things, its when you don't that they give you the 101 of pain.

 

[albatross710]

OK thanks PaulC83.

There may be a leg of QF domestic (BNE-SYD) and then having to pickup the gun and carry it to the International terminal to then declare it to Customs.

It's a case of working out the logistics and then making sure everyone has been notified.

 

[PaulC83]

Oh and just one other thing, again this only applies to my experience domestically, but like most things with customer service, not all QF staff are on the ball in terms of restricted luggage etc. etc. so remember to be patient and ask to clarify with supervisors if required, and use passive terminology, I am very used to calling it a firearm these days rather than a gun, a comment regarding boarding a flight and the terms "guns" and "a weeks worth of ammo" don't always get interpreted the way it was intended.

Incidently if anybody is travelling to Ayers Rock/Yulara and are interested in giving clay target shooting a go, feel free to PM me. It is a good fun serious sport.

 

[trooper]

I can't comment on what is required documentation-wise at HRE... but I have travelled many times to the USA with 4 firearms (rifle/shotgun/pistols x 2)... in fact I am there right now at a competition!

I have never had a problem with QF, UA or NZ flying out of Australia....the requirements for carriage are straightforward and readily available IME...

As long as you have your Customs docs done you should have no problem on exit.. and have your B709's for coming back in...

While it shouldn't be a concern for hunting rifles it should be remembered that the max amount of ammo allowed per pax is 5kg... (IATA agreement?)

 

[albatross710]

Thanks Trooper, it is becoming clearer as I work through the procedure.

One question, do you ever have issues transiting a country?

For instance, if he goes via Singapore as a transit stop, do they require any additional work or is it treated as not clearing customs as those transits.

 

[trooper]

Ah.... now THAT is a more difficult one...

I avoid transiting (other than NZ) when travelling with firearms.. Given the local laws many Asian countries have I'd be very reluctant even to try a transit... so I can't help with that.. Sorry!

I imagine IN THEORY it should be possible.. but I'd sure want something in writing from that nations embassy/consulate...

In fact I want to attend the European Championships of my sport in the future.. AND I want to fly on NZ (points upgrades/status etc) which would mean transiting LHR with 2 handguns in my checked baggage.. items Brits are not allowed to own... so I will be talking (at length I expect) to the High Commission staff in Canberra!!!

Sorry I can't help... and good luck! Please, please report back on this OK?

 

[albatross710]

Just an update on this little tale.

We have discovered a minor charge by the carrier for the outbound leg. SQ have a S$45 voucher charge. Passenger will be putting ammunition in as checked luggage. Not a significant amount but a charge that he needs to be prepared to pay at check-in.

Will be great if passenger, rifles & ammunition make it to Zim.

 

[trooper]

Thanks for that...

PLEASE keep us in the loop about how it all goes OK!!!!! :shock:

 

[albatross710]

PLEASE keep us in the loop about how it all goes OK!!!!! :shock:

With 48 hours to departure I really hope it all works. Would love to be on the trip myself to guide it all through. Arrival in JNB & HRE are my only concerns at the moment. I will report back with an update after his arrival in HRE.

 

[albatross710]

Everything worked! F-I-L is in Zimbabwe complete with weapons.

There was some expected confusion on check-in regarding the amount of ammunition allowed to be carried. This was sorted out by advising the check-in agent of the allowance. I guess that can be expected but does reinforce the ongoing need to be aware of the procedures.

He also had to clear customs in JNB as bags were only able to be checked from BNE to JNB.

Thanks Trooper and PaulC83 for assistance with this project.

 

[trooper]

SCORE!!!:mrgreen:

Glad to hear everything went well..... it is sometimes easy to feel "put upon" when travelling with THAT particular type of sporting equipment..Having to point out the rules to staff is a bit disappointing!

Fr'instance...... I am currently in the NZ lounge at LAX... and for the FIRST time ever I had a minor hassle with check in for my flight home...

Check in agent insisted my shotgun had to be "in the original box"..

WTF????

I travel with my firearms in a conventional hard shell suitcase.. and have done so for years... it doesn't look at all like a "gun case" so I feel much more secure...

I got a bit hot under the collar (rather tired today..) but agent was more than willing to seek advice from "higher authority" and all ended well....

Still...... :shock::?:

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Trooper

Check in agent insisted my shotgun had to be "in the original box"..

Sounds as though something got 'lost in translation' there. I think perhaps they were getting confused between the weapon and the ammo - the latter having to be in original packaging.

Close but no cigar !!

 

[trooper]

You have (of course) nailed it....

As i said I was rather tired at the time.. after a combined MR/visiting friends trip involving 15 flights (Transpac/Transcon x 2 etc)in the 4 days prior to return from LAX...:mrgreen:

Feel REALLY stupid for that not having occured to me at the time!!!:shock:

P.S. If you are going to travel with Dillon 550 spares in your carry on you ARE going to spend some time having them looked at by the screeners!! Nary a problem.. but those bits must surely show up well on the scans!